Ahimsa is a weapon of the strong Rucha Kulkarni-shinde Asst. Prof. (LL.M.) (TMv’S LOKMANYA TILAK LAW cOLLeGe, PuNe) every man, therefore disturbances, hatred, violence, and immorality can be removed from life by means of love and sacrifice. Keywords: Gandhi, Truth, Non-vio- lence, Peace, Satyagrahi.

Ahimsa is a weapon of the strong Introduction: Gandhi believes that World Peace, Harmony and non-vio- man is a part of God, all men share lence common origin and common destiny Abstract: Gandhi conceptualized and so they are fundamentally same so applied ‘non-violence’ to create, Gandhi holds that what one man is widen and deepen the scope of non- capable of achieving is possible for violence. Non-violence is the weapon all men to attain it. Therefore, instead of the bravest of the brave as a brave of using the violent means to convert as such a true Satyagrahi drew his the opponent it is better to destroy strength from within and steeled by him by nonviolent means. The most inner conviction about the moral fundamental principal of his ideology basics of his or her goal, be it against to maintain peace is non- violence i.e a colonial power, or against terror, or Ahimsa which is opposed to violence, social injustice or communal violence. the cause of hatred, death and destruc- His non-violence was not that of a tion and in harmony with law of love, weak or afraid against the strong. His life and creation. Gandhi’s only non-violence educated and empow- weapons against all social evils were ered people. According to Gandhi truth and non-voilence.and he strong- peace and harmony can achieved by ly believed that, If one has to reach love, non-violence, truthfulness, real peace in this world or has to carry friendliness, compromise and cooper- on a real war against war, one has to ation. He was of the opinion that truth begin with children; and if they will and non-violence binds us to one grow up in their natural innocence, another and also to God. For him all one won’t have to struggle, but one men are essentially equal and there is shall go from love to love and peace an element of goodness present in to peace, without passing fruitless,

3 Mahratta SEPTEMBER - 2019 idle resolutions Gandhi was a great to hurt any living thing, the abstention philosopher, lover of truth and non- from hostile thought, word or act. violence and says that self realization Gandhi says in its negative form it cannot be attained without truth and means not injuring any living being non-violence. So if one wants to whether by body or mind. In its posi- attain salvation one must be the lover tive form ahimsa means the largest of truth and non-violence. Gandhi love for enemy or a stranger. uses truth and non-violence as social According to him, it is superior to and political weapons in fighting violence; it knows no defeat; it never against evils and injustice. Gandhi thinks of victory; it aims at achieving employed the moral weapons of truth a good result; and by renouncing and non-violence to end domestic , himsa, ahimsa should be displayed. social , political , economical ,reli- Gandhiji summarised the implications gious and cultural problems and con- and conditions of the force; flicts removal of untouchability ,com- (i) Non-violence is greater than and munal harmony, solution to unem- superior to the physical force ployment, illiteracy economic and (ii) It does not avail to those who do religious equality were the social eco- not possess a living faith on love and nomic and political targets to be sense of honour; achieved through this great weapon. (iii)Non-violence provides full protec- His philosophy of truth and non-vio- tion to one's self-respect lence transcends all regional, religious (iv) Individuals or nations who prac- and cultural barriers. It is global and it tice non-violence must be prepared to comprehends not only humanity but sacrifice all their possessions except the whole living world. honour; (v) Non-violence is a power which The concept of Ahimsa (Non-vio- can be wielded equally by all; lence): (vi) Non-violence does well for soci- Gandhiji listed eleven ethical princi- ety as a Doctrine or Principle ples for the individual and social (vii) Non-violence is the first and last development. They are truth, non-vio- article of faith lence, non-stealing, non-possession, celibacy, fearlessness, removal of satyagraha: (Doctrine of Satyagraha) untouchability. Gandhiji observed Gandhiji evolved the technique of ahimsa as not a mere philosophical satyagraha, a novel and a unique way, principle but as the rule and breath of to resist the evi. It is a device through his life. Ahimsa means non-injury or which the unjust, impure, untruthful more narrowly non-killing, but and evil are visited through love self- Gandhi says it is also the renunciation purification and self-suffering. of the will to kill and of the intention Satyagraha consists of two words, i.e.,

4 Mahratta SEPTEMBER - 2019 Satya, which means truth and Agraha and Ahimsa are highly powerful to which means 'force', 'request or make any power on the earth to 'strength'. The meaning of the word, realise the lapses and take to the path Satyagraha' is persistence for truth. A of truth, righteousness and justice. satyagrahi should oppose violence by non-violence as well as by the World Peace and harmony: strength of his moral convictions. Global peace has become a major According to Gandhi, it was not concern these days. In the present merely a way of resisting authority time, humanity is facing a terrible but also a way of using love and challenge of its own existence. There moral strength to vindicate truth in is a general restlessness in the entire society. Gandhiji was convinced that world which is leading to widespread violence inflicts injury on others. On violence. Today communal amity has the other hand, use of satyagraha may become essential for national integra- involve suffering of the satyagrahi tion and hence Gandhi gave it the himself. The satyagrahi does not highest priority.Need of Gandhian merely try to win but seeks the larger Philosophy especially today when we good or truth .According to Gandhiji, are surrounded by the forces of dark- a satyagrahi would resolve all con- ness, we need a leader like Gandhi, a flictsby satyagraha. The activity of man of rare courage, character, and satyagraha helps in the elevation of charisma, who dares to tell the truth, the spiritual and moral qualities of an who can overcome violence with non- individual. A believer in satyagraha violence, and who shows us the way does not injure the opponent either by to light. Therefore, Gandhian philoso- appealing through reason or by a gen- phy and thoughts are relevant in the tle rational argument. It is something changing world of today and can help like a sacrifice of a self. in difficult time, and the philosophy is also needed for global peace. Techniques of satyagraha Gandhian philosophy about peace (1) Non-cooperation Mahatma Gandhi believed that the (2) civil disobedience or civil resist- universality of religion can best be ance realized through the universlization of (3) hijrat education, and that such universaliza- (4) Fasting tion is the spring board for national Satyagraha may be viewed as a integration. He and his followers weapon for the vindication of individ- threw the King of england and his ual's rights as against the oppressive, great armies out of India using coercive and vindictive attitude of the weapons of truth and non-violence. oppressor. Gandhiji firmly believed According to Gandhi the universal that the two mighty weapons of satya human value of Ahimsa ought to be

5 Mahratta SEPTEMBER - 2019 cultivated not merely at personal inspired the world with his faith in level, but at social, national and inter- truth and justice for all Mankind. national level too. It is a very power- communal harmony had the pride of ful means to avoid conflict, since it place in Gandhi's constructive pro- springs from inner realisation of the gramme. equality of all human beings. He lived, thought, acted and inspired by salt march/ Dandi march: the vision of a humanity evolving The Salt March began on towards a world of peace and harmo- March 12, 1930 and continued till ny. Peace and Gandhian philosophy April 6, 1930. It was a 24-day non- Peace can be described as: violent march led by Mahatma Absence of war Gandhi. Sense of inner peace and wellbeing Sense of tranquility During that time, the British Harmonious relationships had prohibited Indians from collecting Balance in nature (ecology) or selling salt. Indians were also Forgiving nature forced to buy the staple diet ingredi- ent from the British, who, not only Working for social justice – human exercised monopoly over its manufac- rights, poverty etc. ture and sale but also levied a heavy According to Gandhi ji values like salt tax. The Salt March was a collec- truth, non-violence, humility, forgive- tive beginning of a mass resistance ness, tolerance, love, fairness, and movement against the British tyranny. unselfishness are meant for the peace, prosperity and harmony of the world. upon reaching the seashore If human values are not there, human- in Dandi, Mahatma Gandhi broke the ity will be destroyed. Gandhi’s philos- law by producing illegal salt. This ophy of non-violence has found later turned into a mass civil disobedi- expression in other movements ence movement throughout India as around the world. The force of power millions broke salt laws by either never wins against the power of love. making salt or buying illegal salt. There can be no democracy where there is no harmony, no peace. The Salt March began with Mahatma Gandhi taught us that we around 80 people, but as more and can bring harmony to our world by more people joined in for the 390 km- becoming champions of love and long journey, it grew into a strong peace for all. Peace and Gandhian force of 50,000 people. philosophy Mahatma Gandhi has a source of inspiration, not only for the The Salt March got national nation, but for the entire world. He and international recognition and

6 Mahratta SEPTEMBER - 2019 shook the Britishers with its non-vio- plary figure in politics, spirituality lent nature. It got massive press cov- and nation building, Gandhi must also erage and drew the world's attention be understood rightly. So, Non-vio- towards the Indian Independence lence is applicable in today’s age of Movement. insanity and insecurity at so many levels. conclusion: Peace and non-violence "Nonviolence is a powerful and just are the two pillars of any peace weapon. Indeed, it is a weapon unique process that upholds the human race’s in history, which cuts without wound- very livelihood. These two are in-sep- ing and ennobles the man who wields arable. Peace must be the fruit of any it."- Martin Luther King non-violent action or protest to settle a dispute. Only such a resolved state REFERENcEs of dispute will be full of peace and Wikipedia harmony. As an outcome of the peace Political Science –Dr. S.R.Myneni process, parties concerned must also https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/salt- understand one main fact that there is march-or-dandi-march-date-history- not a clear winner or clear loser. facts-all-you-need-to-know-1822763 When the conflict between two indi- https://www.mkgandhi.org/articles/ga viduals or groups or nations comes to ndhiworldofpeace.html an end, both the winner and the loser http://www.ijhssi.org/papers/v6(6)/e0 will have to be peaceful upon agree- 606014243.pdf ing wholeheartedly to the terms of the https://www.slideshare.net/JaidayalSin winning conditions. And, this is also gh/gandhian-philosophy-in-peace- the fundamental spirit of humanity. and-harmony?from_action=save Therefore, the final accord the parties willing to agree is nothing but the final outcome itself. They shall not build up their conflict on top of the *** outcome of the peace process. To achieve a peaceful treaty is not that simple. Global peace has been hindered by many challenges that include both natural and human-made causes. The rationale behind achiev- ing peace is in the positive under- standing of “give and take”, humanity, forgiveness and nonviolence. The right understanding will take the world in the right path. As an exem-

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