Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of Sarvodaya aimed at rural reconstruction and uplifting the people of rural India by peaceful and cooperative means.

Sarvodaya, in simple terms, means welfare and upliftment of people and of all living beings . It means the welfare of not only oneself but of others as well. Sarvodaya stresses coexistence and love.

Ideals of Sarvodaya:

• Economic implications-Under this philosophy, one should be given the opportunity to contribute to national production. The surplus should be distributed equally and inequalities of wealth should be reduced. Sarvodaya also emphasizes that industries should be decentralized and land should be redistributed.
• Based on Trusteeship-This philosophy involves that everyone must utilize only that part of his wealth that enables him to lead an honorable livelihood and the rest of the wealth belongs to the community and must be used for its welfare. So all industrialists must act as trustees of wealth and not its owners.
• Social implications- In the social aspect, this philosophy believes in individual freedom, opposes untouchability, and promotes widow remarriage. It believes in the promotion of brotherhood and human dignity Sarvodaya believes in functional education and decentralized society.
• Political implications- In Sarvodaya philosophy, political power is not an end in itself but it is only means to an end, the end is human welfare. It believes in the universal adult franchise and favors decentralized democracy. Sarvodaya condemns the majority rule and centralization of power and majorly believes in self-sufficiency. 

Hence, the philosophy of Sarvodaya is an example of the Gandhian philosophy of ‘Simple living and high thinking. It envisages a new pattern of life-based on the decentralization of economic and social power, ensuring the moral freedom of man.