Background:
In 1904, Mahatma Gandhi established a farm at Phoenix near Durban, South Africa. The purpose of this farm was to create a community where Gandhi and his friends could live in a simple and disciplined manner, practicing self-sufficiency and engaging in manual labor. This initiative was influenced by a book that had an immediate impact on Gandhi's thinking.

The Book:
The book that influenced Mahatma Gandhi to set up the Phoenix farm was "Unto The Last" by John Ruskin. This book, published in 1862, consists of a series of essays that advocate for economic and social reform. Ruskin criticizes the prevailing capitalist system and promotes the idea of a more equitable society based on principles of justice and fairness.

Key Ideas:
The key ideas presented in "Unto The Last" that resonated with Gandhi and inspired him to establish the Phoenix farm include:

1. Service to Others: Ruskin emphasizes the importance of living a life of service to others and the community. He argues that true wealth lies in the well-being of society as a whole rather than individual accumulation of wealth.

2. Simple Living: Ruskin advocates for a simple and frugal lifestyle, free from materialistic pursuits and excessive consumption. He believes that simplicity leads to inner contentment and harmony with nature.

3. Manual Labor: Ruskin highlights the dignity and value of manual labor. He argues against the prevailing notion that some types of work are superior to others and promotes the idea that all forms of labor are honorable and necessary for a balanced society.

4. Self-Sufficiency: Ruskin emphasizes the importance of self-sufficiency and self-reliance. He encourages individuals and communities to produce their own goods and services, reducing dependency on external sources and fostering a sense of autonomy.

Influence on Gandhi:
These ideas resonated deeply with Gandhi and aligned with his own philosophy of life. Gandhi was already inclined towards a life of simplicity, service, and self-reliance, and "Unto The Last" provided him with a theoretical framework and inspiration to put these ideas into practice.

Gandhi believed that establishing the Phoenix farm would allow him and his friends to live out these ideals, experiencing firsthand the benefits of simplicity, hard work, and community living. The farm became a place for experimentation and learning, where Gandhi could apply the principles he found in "Unto The Last" to his own life and share them with others.

Through the Phoenix farm and his subsequent endeavors, Gandhi became a leading advocate for social and economic reform, promoting concepts of self-sufficiency, nonviolence, and communal living that would play a crucial role in his later work for Indian independence and the philosophy of Satyagraha.