Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy was deeply rooted in the idea of self-reliance and the dignity of manual labor, as expressed in his book "Hind Swaraj" (1909).
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Gandhi was a staunch critic of Western "modern civilization," which he felt was focused on material greed rather than moral growth.
He believed that the large-scale industrialization of the modern age replaced human skill with soulless machines.
According to Gandhi, instead of machines serving humanity, humans were becoming "slaves to the machine."
He argued that this mechanization led to mass unemployment in villages and stripped workers of their independence and creative spirit.
Step 3: Final Answer:
He criticized the modern age because he believed machines enslaved humans.