6c. Gandhi's Ideas

Gandhi’s thinking about how to confront conflict was based extensively on his own Hindu faith but he also drew from Christian, Buddhist, and other philosophical influences.

Here are characteristics of this thought that underlie the strategies he used. Included are important Hindu phrases that refer to specific concepts central to Gandhi’s ideology and plan of action. To hear the pronunciation of these terms, click on the linked word.

Satyagraha

This is the main term to define Gandhi’s idea and method of nonviolent resistance. Try pronouncing it. It is:

• direct action based on truth, nonviolence, and courage;
• both the principle and the term to describe his campaigns;
• directed to the structures of society in order to change them;
• sometimes called ‘truth force’ – holding firmly to truth despite suffering;
• the foundation of nonviolent action which is about holding fast to the truth.

Ahimsa

This is:

• the foundation of satyagraha: ahimsa is the means, while satyagraha is the ends;
• literally means nonviolent love towards all things;
• based on the assumption that since no one has absolute knowledge of the truth, no one should use violence to force another to act against their own different truth;
• a kind of love that also means no harm to any living thing, including non-humans;
• an idea that Gandhi found in all major religious traditions and also thinkers like Tolstoy.

Tapasya

• means self-denial and suffering;
• one has to be willing to suffer for the sake of the movement;
• belief that the power of the people increases as oppressors see the suffering, and that the oppressor will change heart when convinced that people will hold fast to their truth;
• belief that the nonviolent suffering experienced by the protestor will elicit doubt and empathy on the part of the oppressor;
• rejects cowardice;
• Gandhi used fasts to emphasize his own self-denial or to protest the suffering of others;
• utilized in the U.S. civil rights movement when lunch counter protestors and bus protestors allow themselves to be beaten.

Simplicity

Gandhi believed that living a simple, indeed austere and self-denying, lifestyle was an important political part of his movement. And so, he:

• called ‘things’ tools, not possessions, and was against ownership (similar to Tolstoy in this regard);
• became celibate at age 37;
• became vegetarian and included this as part of his nonviolent belief;
• rejected the western clothing of the British, and so wore a traditional Indian dhoti;
• rejected the import of cloth and encouraged the use of Indian hand-spun cloth called khadi; by encouraging everyone to spin their own cloth, he hoped to generate self-respect amongst the poor;
• emphasized the importance of manual labour;
• identified with the poor because self-respect was a key to the success of nonviolent resistance movements.