Non-Violent ResistanceMohandas Gandhi gained the deep respect and admiration of people worldwide with both his unwavering struggle for truth and justice and his philosophy of non-violent resistance — a philosophy that led India to independence and that was later taken up by the American civil rights movement. This volume presents Gandhi's own clear and consistent vision of that philosophy, which he calls Satyagraha — literally, "holding on to the truth." Through Satyagraha, one brings about change by appealing to the reason and conscience of the opponent and puts an end to evil by converting the evil-doer. The book begins with an introductory explanation of Satyagraha, including a description of how it differs from passive resistance and what it has in common with the civil disobedience of Thoreau and non-cooperation in general. It proceeds with detailed discussions of discipline and self-control, including living simply, recognizing the unity of all loving beings, and serving one's neighbors wholeheartedly; the courage and training necessary for the Satyagrahi; successful on-cooperation and civil disobedience; political power and Satyagraha, the development of a non-violent army; the use and effectiveness of such techniques as non-payment of fines and taxes, social boycotts, fasting, sympathetic strikes, and other forms of non-cooperation; women and picketing; and many other topics. Invaluable to ethicists, political philosophers, students, and participants in the ongoing struggle for human rights, this inspiring book is as relevant today as it was when first published half a century ago. |
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action ahimsa Ahmedabad appeal arms arrest Ashram Bardoli become believe boycott brahmacharya British campaign cause charkha civil disobedience civil resistance co-operation Committee Congress discipline duty evil faith fast fear feel fight force foreign cloth Gandhi Gandhiji give Government graha Gujarat Harijan hartal heart Hinduism Hindus honour imprisonment jail khadi Kheda Kheda district Khilafat living means ment method movement Mussalmans nation necessary never non-co non-co-operation obedience officer opinion opponent organized passive resistance peace person picketing police political possible prayer prisoners programme Punjab Rajkot realize reform refuse regard religious resort Rowlatt Act rule sacrifice salt Satya Satyagraha South Africa spinning spirit strength struggle suffering Swadeshi Swaraj thing tion true truth and non-violence unity untouchability village violence volunteers Vykom weak weapon whilst whole women workers wrong Young India