Mahatma Gandhi:Mahatma Gandhi:1869-19481869-1948

Consider:Consider: Strength does not come Strength does not come

from physical capacity. It from physical capacity. It comes from an comes from an indomitableindomitable(very brave and (very brave and determined)determined) will. will.

The weak can never The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. attribute of the strong.

Whatever you do will be Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very insignificant, but it is very important that you do it. important that you do it.

Consider:Consider:

When I despairWhen I despair(feeling hopeless)(feeling hopeless), I , I remember that all through history remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always. they always fall. Think of it--always.

You must be the change you want to You must be the change you want to see in the world. see in the world.

You must not lose faith in humanity. You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.not become dirty.

Consider:Consider:

What difference does it make to the dead, the What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy? ~ Mahatma Gandhi, "Non-democracy? ~ Mahatma Gandhi, "Non-Violence in Peace and War“Violence in Peace and War“

Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary. ~ 'Satyagraha defeat, for it is momentary. ~ 'Satyagraha Leaflet No. 13,' May 3, 1919.Leaflet No. 13,' May 3, 1919.

- An eye for an eye makes the whole world - An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. blind.

Freedom is not worth having if it does not Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err. It passes my connote freedom to err. It passes my comprehension how human beings, be they comprehension how human beings, be they ever so experienced and able, can delight in ever so experienced and able, can delight in depriving other human beings of that precious depriving other human beings of that precious right. right.

Consider quote about Non-Consider quote about Non-Violence:Violence:

To those who preached violence and called To those who preached violence and called nonviolent actionists cowards, he replied: “nonviolent actionists cowards, he replied: “I I do believe that, where there is only a choice do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence....I would rather have India advise violence....I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honour resort to arms in order to defend her honour than that she should, in a cowardly manner, than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonour....But I believe that own dishonour....But I believe that nonviolence is infinitely superior to violence, nonviolence is infinitely superior to violence, forgiveness is more manly than punishmentforgiveness is more manly than punishment.” .”

What was Gandhi’s view of What was Gandhi’s view of non-violence?non-violence?

““Satyagraha” is the ‘force’ of truth and love.”Satyagraha” is the ‘force’ of truth and love.”

In contrast to civil disobedience which is to defeat the In contrast to civil disobedience which is to defeat the opponent or frustrate the opponent’s objectives or achieve opponent or frustrate the opponent’s objectives or achieve one’s own objectives, Gandhi’s notion of non-violence is:one’s own objectives, Gandhi’s notion of non-violence is:

““The Satyagrahi’s object is to convert, not to coerce, the The Satyagrahi’s object is to convert, not to coerce, the wrong-doer.”wrong-doer.”

Success is defined as cooperating with the opponent to meet a Success is defined as cooperating with the opponent to meet a just end that the opponent is unwittingly obstructing. The just end that the opponent is unwittingly obstructing. The opponent must be converted, at least as far as to stop opponent must be converted, at least as far as to stop obstructing the just end, for this cooperation to take place.obstructing the just end, for this cooperation to take place.

What was Gandhi’s view of What was Gandhi’s view of non-violence?non-violence?

The means and ends are inseparable. You do not achieve The means and ends are inseparable. You do not achieve peace with violence but peace with peace.peace with violence but peace with peace.

As Gandhi wrote: “They say, 'means are, after all, means'. I As Gandhi wrote: “They say, 'means are, after all, means'. I would say, 'means are, after all, everything'. As the means so would say, 'means are, after all, everything'. As the means so the end...”the end...”

Satyagrapha vs. Satyagrapha vs. Duragrapha:Duragrapha:

Satygrapha is the ‘force’ of truth and love:

Goal: End antagonism without harming the

antagonists by transforming the

antagonist.

Means & End: Truth and love.

Focus: Moral power.

Duragrapha is the “force of bias.” Passive resistance:

Goal: End antagonism even if that means harassing the

antagonists without personal transformation of truth and

love.

Means & End: Selfish Obstinacy

Focus: Physical Power.

In response to In response to Duragrapha:Duragrapha:

He wrote: “There must be no impatience, no barbarity, no

insolence, no undue pressure. If we want to cultivate a true spirit of

democracy, we cannot afford to be intolerant. Intolerance betrays want

of faith in one's cause.”

11 Principles of Satyagraha to 11 Principles of Satyagraha to follow:follow:

1.1. NonviolenceNonviolence2.2. Truth (includes honesty, but goes beyond it to mean living Truth (includes honesty, but goes beyond it to mean living fully fully

in accord with and in devotion to that which is true) in accord with and in devotion to that which is true) 3.3. Non-stealing Non-stealing 4.4. Chastity (includes both sexual chastity & subordination of Chastity (includes both sexual chastity & subordination of other other

sensual desires to the primary devotion to truth) sensual desires to the primary devotion to truth) 5.5. Non-possession (not the same as poverty) Non-possession (not the same as poverty) 6.6. Body-labor or bread-labor Body-labor or bread-labor 7.7. Control of the palate Control of the palate 8.8. Fearlessness Fearlessness 9.9. Equal respect for all religions Equal respect for all religions 10.10. Economic strategy such as boycottsEconomic strategy such as boycotts11.11. Freedom from untouchabilityFreedom from untouchability

~ ~ Gandhi, M.K. Gandhi, M.K. Non-violent Resistance (Satyagraha)Non-violent Resistance (Satyagraha) (1961) p. 37 (1961) p. 37

Series of Rules for Resistance that were proposed by Gandhi:Series of Rules for Resistance that were proposed by Gandhi:

1.1. Harbor no anger; Harbor no anger;

2.2. Suffer the anger of the Suffer the anger of the opponent;opponent;

3.3. Never retaliate to assaults Never retaliate to assaults or punishment; but do or punishment; but do not submit, out of fear of not submit, out of fear of punishment or assault, to punishment or assault, to an order given in anger;an order given in anger;

Series of Rules for Resistance that were proposed by Gandhi:Series of Rules for Resistance that were proposed by Gandhi:

4.4. Voluntarily submit to Voluntarily submit to arrest or confiscation of arrest or confiscation of your own property;your own property;

5.5. If you are a trustee of If you are a trustee of property, defend that property, defend that property (non-violently) property (non-violently) from confiscation with from confiscation with your life;your life;

6.6. Do not curse or swear;Do not curse or swear;

7.7. Do not insult the Do not insult the opponent;opponent;

Series of Rules for Series of Rules for Resistance:Resistance:

8.8. Neither salute nor insult the Neither salute nor insult the flag of your opponent or your flag of your opponent or your opponent’s leaders;opponent’s leaders;

99 If anyone attempts to insult or If anyone attempts to insult or assault your opponent, defend assault your opponent, defend your opponent (non-violently) your opponent (non-violently) with your life;with your life;

10.10. As a prisoner, behave As a prisoner, behave

courteously and obey prison courteously and obey prison regulations (except any that regulations (except any that are contrary to self-respect);are contrary to self-respect);

11.11. As a prisoner, do not ask for As a prisoner, do not ask for

special favorable treatment. special favorable treatment.

12.12. As a prisoner, do not fast in As a prisoner, do not fast in an attempt to gain an attempt to gain conveniences whose conveniences whose deprivation does not involve deprivation does not involve any injury to your self-any injury to your self-respect;respect;

13.13. Joyfully obey the orders of Joyfully obey the orders of the leaders of the civil the leaders of the civil disobedience action;disobedience action;

14.14. Do not pick and choose Do not pick and choose amongst the orders you amongst the orders you obey; if you find the action obey; if you find the action as a whole improper or as a whole improper or immoral, sever your immoral, sever your connection with the action connection with the action entirely entirely

Series of Rules for Resistance:Series of Rules for Resistance:15.15. Do not make your Do not make your

participation participation conditional on your conditional on your comrades taking care of comrades taking care of your dependents while your dependents while you are engaging in the you are engaging in the campaign or are in campaign or are in prison; do not expect prison; do not expect them to provide such them to provide such support ;support ;

16.16. Do not become a cause Do not become a cause of communal quarrels; of communal quarrels;

Series of Rules for Resistance:Series of Rules for Resistance:17.17. Do not take sides in such Do not take sides in such

quarrels, but assist only quarrels, but assist only that party which is that party which is demonstrably in the right; demonstrably in the right; in the case of inter-religious in the case of inter-religious conflict, give your life to conflict, give your life to protect (non-violently) those protect (non-violently) those in danger on either side; in danger on either side;

18.18. Avoid occasions that may Avoid occasions that may give rise to communal give rise to communal quarrels; quarrels;

19.19. Do not take part in Do not take part in processions that would processions that would wound the religious wound the religious sensibilities of any.sensibilities of any.

What was Gandhi’s view of What was Gandhi’s view of non-violence?non-violence?

The theory of satyagraha sees means and ends as inseparable. The The theory of satyagraha sees means and ends as inseparable. The means used to obtain an end are wrapped up and attached to that means used to obtain an end are wrapped up and attached to that end. Therefore, it is contradictory to try to use unjust means to end. Therefore, it is contradictory to try to use unjust means to obtain justice or to try to use violence to obtain peace. As Gandhi obtain justice or to try to use violence to obtain peace. As Gandhi wrote: “They say, 'means are, after all, means'. I would say, 'means wrote: “They say, 'means are, after all, means'. I would say, 'means are, after all, everything'. As the means so the end...”are, after all, everything'. As the means so the end...”

Gandhi used an example to explain this:Gandhi used an example to explain this:

““If I want to deprive you of your watch, I shall certainly have to If I want to deprive you of your watch, I shall certainly have to fight for it; if I want to buy your watch, I shall have to pay for it; fight for it; if I want to buy your watch, I shall have to pay for it; and if I want a gift, I shall have to plead for it; and, according to and if I want a gift, I shall have to plead for it; and, according to the means I employ, the watch is stolen property, my own the means I employ, the watch is stolen property, my own property, or a donation.property, or a donation.

What was Gandhi’s view of What was Gandhi’s view of non-violence?non-violence?

Gandhi rejected the idea that injustice should, or even could, be Gandhi rejected the idea that injustice should, or even could, be fought against “by any means necessary” — if you use violent, fought against “by any means necessary” — if you use violent, coercive, unjust means, whatever ends you produce will necessarily coercive, unjust means, whatever ends you produce will necessarily embed that injustice. To those who preached violence and called embed that injustice. To those who preached violence and called nonviolent actionists cowards, he replied:nonviolent actionists cowards, he replied:

“ “I do believe that, where there is only a choice between I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence....I would cowardice and violence, I would advise violence....I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honour rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honour than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonour....But I believe that helpless witness to her own dishonour....But I believe that nonviolence is infinitely superior to violence, forgiveness is nonviolence is infinitely superior to violence, forgiveness is more manly than punishment.”more manly than punishment.”

Gandhi identified 7 deadly Gandhi identified 7 deadly social sins:social sins:

““Politics without principle; Wealth Politics without principle; Wealth without work; Commerce without without work; Commerce without morality; Pleasure without morality; Pleasure without conscience; Education without conscience; Education without character; Science without character; Science without humanity; Worship without humanity; Worship without sacrifice.”sacrifice.”