Odisha Review October - 2013

Satyagraha, the Gandhian Weapon

Prabodha Kumar Ratha

The Domiciled Indian Immigrants in South Africa kingdom was not of this but of the other world. suffered from many political, economic and social Gandhiji's life on the other hand was devoted to disabilities. So Gandhiji had to search for a method the solution of political, economic and social and technique of resistance which would remove problems. He said that he was a politician trying these disabilities. His movements in South Africa to be a saint. have been variously called passive resistance, Civil Some other thinkers believed that Disobedience, non-cooperation. But Gandhiji has Gandhji’s idea of Satyagraha has been derived not satisfied with these terms. He therefore gave from the writings of Tolstoy. Tolstoy’s ideas about them a significant name “Satyagraha”. It means truth and non-violence were derived from the the pursuit of truth and steadfastness therein. New Testament. Satyagraha (Satya : Truth + Gandhiji, the ascetic revolutionary of the human Agraha) = Firmness means determined adherence civilization delivered the philosophy of Satyagraha to truth of one’s own perception. The term was by the amalgamation of his moral, political, originally coined by Gandhiji in 1907 when he economic, social and educational thoughts. tried to advance struggle by passive resistance Gandhi conceived Satyagraha as an instrument method. It is the weapon of the brave and only of the spiritually and morally strong. be followed by the brave. Satyagraha as a Satyagraha believes in the brotherhood technique evolved by Gandhiji bears the imprints of man. It rejects the biological concept of the of his long experience of over last 4 decades of struggle for existence and the survival of the fittest. his life from his early days of struggle in South It rather believes in love, mutual aid and co- Africa he had been in search of experience out of operation. It believes in the Vedantic doctrine that non-cooperation, Civil Dis-obedience, Hartal, “all life is one.”1 It also believes in the Christianity Dharna, Hazarat, Fasting, individual Satyagraha “we are members of one another.” and mass Satyagraha which are all manifestations From which sources Gandhiji got his idea of the principles of Satyagraha. Satyagraha of Satyagraha is a debated issue. Some western associates it’s doer, the Satyagrahi with a number thinkers believed that he got the idea from the of determinations. The Satyagrahi wins the heart New Testament, specially from the sermon on the of the opponent by ways of love, persuasion and mount. It is true that Gandhiji has greatly self suffering. He must be honest, truthful and impressed by the sermon. Gandhiji also received fearless. this idea from his Vaishnavite faith. The song of Gandhiji accepted the technique of Narasima Mehta, “Vaishnava Jana to Tene Satyagraha as a potent weapon to solve all Kahiye” (He is a Vaishnava who feels other’s individual, political, international and social sufferings as his own) was his favourite and was problems. Satyagraha is the culmination of often sung at his prayer meetings. Jesus held his Gandhian religiosity, spiritualism and ethical and

86 October - 2013 Odisha Review spiritual approach to the solution of individual and defending the diminishing rights of his countrymen social problems. It synthesizes all the supreme and settled there. Though he introduced and subtler values cherished by Gandhiji such as truth, implemented the concept of Satyagraha in South love and non-violence. Hence, Gene Sharp has Africa but he never claimed that it was his own. rightly observed Gandhiji’s philosophy of life and He always branded him as a commentator. his method of opposing evil are both called All his Satyagraha campaigns were Satyagraha”. 2 Certain virtues like bravery, followed by open letters to the authorities sacrifice, patriotism discipline etc. have been demanding redress of grievances and at the failure traditionally associated with war. War only works on the part of the authorities by the stipulated time, for destruction and ruin, physical and moral. campaigns were launched. He utilsied his ‘Indian Furthermore instead of solving the problems it opinion’ in South Africa and the ‘Harijan’ and complicates them. History reveals that imbalance ‘Young India’ in India to give publicity to his and injustice generated by a previous conflict were strategy against the Government, whether in South the cause of a subsequent conflict. These were Africa fighting for vindication of the rights of the already proved in the circumstances of the two coloured people, or in India fighting for the World Wars. Evil cannot be cured by evil. liberation of the motherland, he applied this Gandhji’s Satyagraha shows the way. It is a moral technique of Satyagraha or soul force or the substitute for war. So the first condition of technique of love and non violence.5 Satyagraha is strict regard for truth. Non- Now-a-days we can witness number of violence is the natural consequence of truth. Dharanas, strikes, fasts, Satyagrahas, Gandhiji said “Truth and non-violence are like the Gheraos, pickettings, Boycotts on various two sides of an unstamped coin. demands like formation of new state, starting of a Satyagraha can rid society from all evils- new project, new railway-lines, introduction of political, economic and moral.3 If Satyagraha has new trains and new passenger halts, change in been adopted by Gandhiji is a technique for social university curriculum- cancellation of fee hike, transformation then how this technique shall extension of Examination Schedule, regularization operate through which media. How can of service, shifting of office, introduction of new Satyagraha succeed in resolving the administrative systems, changes in constitution and contradictions of a society which was suffering election procedure etc. was Gandhiji well aware from exploitation, wants, misery etc. According about these fallacies of Satyagraha. The need of to Gandhiji if Satyagraha is practised in personal the hour is that we must apply the Gandhian life then only it will help a lot for the purification of technique to achieve better results for the society. 6 the society. The practitioner of truth is a true Satyagrahi. Gandhiji prescribed for the References : Satyagrahis and the inmates of his Satyagraha 1. G. Sharp, Gandhi wields the weapon of moral Ashram observance of certain rules and power, P. 4 regulations. By following these regulations one 2. Ibid should make him a true Satyagrahi. The five 3. B. Pradhan, The Socialist thought of Mahatma valuable regulations are Truth, Ahimsa, Non- Gandhi, Delhi, 1980, P. 219 possession, Non-stealing and Brahmacharya. 4. M. K. Gandhi, Harijan 20.7.1947 Satyagraha when applied as a technique 5. J. B. Kripalini, Gandhi: his life and thought, New Delhi, 1912, P. 345. for social change is a civilized method.4 6. Bijoyini Mohanty, Mahatma Gandhi, his Political Satyagraha proceeds from a spirit of love and Philosophy, Bhubaneswar,1991 not hatred, Gandhiji thought of the idea of Satyagraha in South Africa as a practical way of Prabodha Kumar Ratha, 184, Paikanagar, Bhubaneswar-3.

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