The Mahatma.s public life was in itself a testament to his abiding faith in liberal values. Whether it was the right to dissent, his commitment to the public scrutiny of the happenings in the Ashram, his patience in listening to opposing points of view, his abhorrence of violence, Gandhiji was the quintessential liberal. He was a deep believer and he spiritualised politics. But his politics was totally secular. He strongly believed in the dictum that .that government is best which governs the least.. His deep passion for the elevation of the dalits (he christened them Harijans . the Children of God) was abiding and continuous and a considerable measure of his constructive programme centred around Harijan uplift.