Duty to one's community
In Gandhi's writing, the reader sees as his mind is opened to the idea that one's life is not for one's own good. Instead of living the easy life that could have been his by privilege, Gandhi famously picked a path that was for the benefit of his community, although he was accepting persecution to do so. He comments in his writings about the religious aspect of this, drawing from Krishna and Arjuna's conversations about "Dharma" in Bhagavad Gita, and from Jesus's teaching and persecution in the Gospels.
Political injustice and social order
The premise of Gandhi's worldview is that because of power, the world has been thrown out of balance. He sees the issue as political and social, because the assumptions of people are at play in these writings. The question is what then, is the most effective way to change a person's mind? Instead of leaning on violence and terrorism, Gandhi's Political Writings point toward non-violent demonstration, making one's point of view unignorable, but without inflicting violence on one's community.
Persecution and martyrdom
The essays comment on the relationship between religious sacrifice and persecution. By becoming a voice of reason, one signs up to a life of oppression, frustration, and persecution. This constitutes a kind of martyrdom, especially for those who are able to truly accomplish change. Gandhi comments on Jesus's persecution as a valid depiction of this dynamic, and he comments on the unique suffering that Arjuna undergoes in the battle of his community in Bhagavad Gita.
