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	Gandhi rejected artificial birth control methods and this is the most controversial aspect of his theory of population. In this respect, he is closer to Malthus than to Marx. Interestingly Malthus was a clergyman and Gandhi too strongly believed in religion. Except for a brief period during his stay in England as a student, Gandhi was always against using external family planning methods. His commitment to brahmacharya (celibacy) was basic. Initially, he used it for the limited purpose of restricting family size but as his thoughts matured, he advocated it essentially for Truth realization. To follow brahmacharya completely is to realize Truth, said Gandhi. He claimed to have found it experientially and continuously, step-by-step (Gandhi, 1957) and subsequently confirmed it with statements enshrined in religious literature. It may be said that for Gandhi brahmacharya in itself, was not a means but a value. According to him, the sole purpose of the reproductive organs was to produce offspring (of high quality); it was wrong to use them for gratification. Gandhi was not addressing the sanyasins : he was proposing brahmacharya to ordinary householders. He said that a householder can also lead a life of brahmacharya if he controls his semen, except on the occasion of cohabitation for the purpose of childbirth. If he does so he is as good as an avowed brahmachari. He said that in the life of a healthy and virile man or woman, there may be only one such occasion. One may argue that a man or a woman may want more than one child. In that case, among ordinary householders, sex for the purpose of childbirth (once or more) may not lead to violation of the vow of celibacy, but sex for pleasure does. Socio-economic consequences of celibacy are obvious. It may look difficult or even impossible to practice celibacy but if practiced, it would lead to replacement level or even lower levels of fertility quite fast. Many Western countries have limited family size using natural methods at a time when state and religion were not supportive of birth control at all. But Gandhi was not looking for solution to population problem only. For Gandhi the root meaning of celibacy or brahmacharya was different: it is a conduct which puts one in touch with God. “The conduct consists in the fullest control over all the senses. This is the true and relevant meaning of the word” (Gandhi, 1954).