Satyagraha is the heart and soul of Gandhism. It was one of the major contributions of his political philosophy. It played a crucial role in shaping India’s freedom struggle and gave a new direction to political resistance. Gandhi used it as a disciplined way of fighting injustice, where moral strength became more powerful than physical force. Through Satyagraha, he connected the struggle for independence with a larger vision of truth and self-rule. It is the milestone through which we can achieve Swaraj. His concept of Satyagraha is an exceptional and novel way to resist evil.
1. Satyagraha is the ideal and the highest concrete reality, which is essential for achieving Swaraj.
2. It is a powerful weapon in the hands of the unarmed against the unlawful authority.
3. It is a non-violent battle against injustice and an unlawful system for the victory of truth.
4. It is a power of the human soul against the socio-economic and political domination.
5. It is a technique of resisting all that is unjust and evil.
6. It is a powerful device against the injustices, untruthful, and evils of British colonialism, which were strongly resisted.
What do you mean by Satyagraha?
Satyagraha is a major moral and political philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. Satyagraha is a Sanskrit word, which is derived from two Sanskrit words, Satya, which means truth, and Agraha, which means fairness or holding first. In simple terms, Satyagraha means firm insistence on truth or holding fast to truth.
Gandhi described Satyagraha as a non-violent method, which is a positive force based on truth, non-violence, and moral courage. The aim of Satyagraha is to win the heart of enemies through non-violence and fasting. For Mahatma Gandhi, it is a philosophy and practice that emphasizes the power of truth and moral strength in social and political struggle. Gandhi used methods like peaceful protest, non-cooperation, civil disobedience, and fasting. In simple words, Satyagraha can be described as fasting and fighting against injustice without hatred, using truth and non-violence as weapons.
Origin of Satyagraha
The origin of Satyagraha can be traced back to Mahatma Gandhi’s experience with racial discrimination against the Indian community in South Africa. It was during the early 20th century that he visited South Africa to practice law. He stood against it and sought a non-violent movement to resist injustice. He was deeply influenced by theories, civil disobedience, and Tolstoy’s non-violent philosophy. In 1906, the Transvaal government ordered Indians to carry registration certificates with fingerprints. He opposed this order through civil disobedience and established the Passive Resistance Association. He led this movement in South Africa between 1907 and 1914. This movement of Gandhi shaped it into Satyagraha as a moral philosophy. At the same time, it became a political weapon against injustice. In 1950, he returned to India and applied the same strategy in Champaran and the later movement. The Satyagraha of Gandhi became the foundation of the freedom struggle of India.
Difference between Passive Resistance and Satyagraha
1. Passive Resistance is power-oriented and coercive in nature, but Satyagraha is always truth-oriented, i.e., based on truth and non-violence.
2. Passive Resistance is based on force and violence, but Satyagraha is based on truth and excludes violence of any form.
3. Passive resistance is a tool for the powerless, while Satyagraha is for those who are strong and guided by inner courage.
4. While Passive Resistance is meant to destroy or harm the enemy, Satyagraha is meant to win him over, to gain the sympathy of the enemy.
5. While Passive Resistance is a political action, Satyagraha is a moral action.
Principles of Satyagraha
For Gandhi, Satyagraha was more than a political weapon. It was a moral discipline and way of life. At the Sabarmati Ashram, he trained followers to live by principles rooted in truth, non-violence, and self-control.
Key Principles of Satyagraha
- Truthful living: Honesty and integrity in all aspects of life.
- Non-violence (Ahimsa): Resisting injustice without hatred or harm.
- Fearlessness: Facing suffering and oppression with courage.
- Equal respect for all religions: Promoting unity and harmony.
- Non-possession: Practicing detachment from material wealth.
- Body or bread labor: Earning livelihood through one’s own physical work.
- Non-stealing: Respecting the property of others.
- Desire control: Discipline over food and physical desires.
- Swadeshi: Boycotting imported goods and supporting indigenous industries.
Rules for a Satyagrahi
- Must hold unwavering faith in God.
- Lead a chaste and disciplined life, ready to sacrifice possessions or life.
- Practice spinning and wearing khadi regularly.
- Avoid alcohol and intoxicants.
Thus, Satyagraha combined spiritual values with political action, giving Gandhi’s movements their unique strength.
Essential Conditions or Rules for Satyagraha:
Gandhiji prescribes some essential rules for Satyagraha.
- A satyagrahi must have courage and patience to face any situation. He must be guided by his own conscience.
- A satyagrahi must be disciplined. He must be controlled and purify his mind in action.
- He must be prepared to suffer and sacrifice.
- He must strengthen his body through physical exercise.
- He must follow the principle of truth and non-violence.
- He must be a man of strong morality and must have faith in God.
- He must not submit out of fear of punishment to any authority or order, etc.
Technique of Gandhian Satyagraha.
Some of the major techniques of Satyagraha are
- Non-cooperation
- Civil disobedience
- Hijarat
- Fasting
1. Non-cooperation.
Gandhiji opposed every form of oppression, suppression, and domination. To face an oppressive system, non-cooperation is the best technique. It is one of the most effective techniques. The primary aim of non-cooperation is to capture the attention and imagination of the people.
He prescribed several methods of this technique.
- Harthal. It means a peaceful stoppage of work as a mark of protest against the unlawful authority, government, etc. But this stoppage of work must be voluntary, non-violent, and should be restored sparingly or usually.
- Social ostracism. Social ostracism is a form of boycott used against people who go against public opinion. Those who do not cooperate in Harthal should be socially boycotted.
- Picketing. A person or a group of persons standing outside the workplace trying to persuade others not to enter the workplace during a strike. Gandhi pleaded for avoiding the use of force and coercion to make picketing effective and complete.
2. Civil disobedience:- It is one of the most drastic forms of non-cooperation. To him, it is a completely effective and bloodless substitute for any armed revolt. It requires careful planning and practice, and without completing the full act, it may lose its effectiveness.
3. Hijarat:- Etymologically, the term implies voluntary exile from one’s permanent place of habitation. One key reason for hijarat is when individuals lose their self-respect or face injustice, prompting them to move elsewhere. Gandhi suggested it for those who are unable to organize satyagraha against the injustice of the oppressor. They should leave their ancestral place as a mark of protest against the oppressor.
4. Fasting:- This represents the highest form of Satyagraha. To him, it requires both mental and physical courage to make it complete and effective. But he held that fasting should be used as a last resort.
Satyagraha movements by Gandhi in India
There are some important satyagrahas led by Gandhiji that are
1. Champaran Satyagraha in India – 1917
Champaran Satyagraha was the first Satyagraha movement of Gandhi in India. He led this movement in 1917. In Champaran, indigo farmers were forced into oppressive cultivation by European planters. Local farmer leaders Rajkumar Shukla invited Gandhi, and he visited Champaran and listened to the problems of the indigo farmers. He supported them and started there, which is called the Champaran Satyagraha. As a result, European planters were forced to refund money and reduce the exploitation of indigo farmers. Due to this movement, Gandhi emerged as a mass leader in India.
2. Kheda Satyagraha, 1918
In 1918, peasants of the Kheda district, Gujarat, faced a huge crop failure and demanded remission of land revenue. But the British government denied their demands. To stop this injustice against peasants of Kheda, leaders like Gandhi and Sardar Balabhai Patel guided the movement. The British government was bound to suspend revenue in badly affected villages. This victory bought peasants’ trust in Gandhi’s leadership.
3 . Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918, Gujarat)
Textile workers demanded higher wages due to rising prices, but mill owners resisted. Gandhi, with Anasuya Sarabhai and Shankerlal Banker, organized a peaceful strike. After Gandhi’s hunger strike, workers received a wage increase. It showed the strength of Satyagraha in labor struggles.
4. Dandi March or Salt Satyagraha (1930, Gujarat)
Gandhi marched from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi with followers like Sarojini Naidu, C. Rajagopalachari, and Abbas Tyabji. The aim was to defy the British salt tax. The march inspired nationwide civil disobedience. Thousands were arrested, and British authority was challenged.
5. Quit India Movement (1942, Bombay)
Launched during World War II, this was a mass demand for immediate British withdrawal. Leaders included Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Abul Kalam Azad, Aruna Asaf Ali, and Jayaprakash Narayan. Though suppressed and leaders jailed, it created a wave of resistance that directly paved the way for independence in 1947.
FAQs on Satyagraha
Q1: What is Satyagraha?
Satyagraha is non-violent resistance based on truth, aimed at confronting injustice without hatred.
Q2: Who can be a Satyagrahi?
Anyone with moral courage, discipline, and commitment to truth and non-violence can be a Satyagrahi.
Q3: Difference between Passive Resistance and Satyagraha?
Passive Resistance is force-based, used by the weak, while Satyagraha is truth-based, used by the strong to win over opponents morally.
Q4: What are the key techniques of Satyagraha?
Non-cooperation, civil disobedience, fasting, and hijarat (voluntary exile).