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satyagraha
satyagraha (‘hold fast to the truth’) A tactic of civil disobedience, passive resistance, and non-cooperation developed by M. K.Gandhi in South Africa (1907–14), where it enabled him to unite the disparate Asian community and force the South African government to repeal many of its discriminatory acts. Gandhi led three satyagraha campaigns, though in each case these were more about uniting nationalist opposition behind himself, than about forcing the British out of India, which remained a more long-term objective. His first satyagraha (1920–2) saw him become the uncontested leader of Congress. It also marked a last period of nationalist cooperation between Congress and the Muslim League. He hoped to restore this unity in the second satyagraha of 1930–4, when he embarked on his Salt March. Though spectacularly successful in demonstrating his leadership of Congress and the volatility of British rule against united Indian resistance, this time Gandhi failed to unite the Muslims behind the campaign. Instead, the Muslim League responded with Iqbal's demand for a separate Muslim homeland in the west.
Finally, the third satyagraha, also known as the Quit India Campaign, represented an attempt to maintain his authority over the radical wing of Congress led by Bose, which demanded resistance against Britain because of its declaration of war on Germany on India's behalf in 1939. Thus, while failing to keep the unity of the nationalist community, the satyagrahas did maintain the unity of the predominantly Hindu Congress. They were successful because of their focus on Gandhi's personality and leadership, and the existence of a liberal colonial government which, on the whole, did allow a free press, and which was constrained by the rule of law. This explains why the method was less successful in other contexts, e.g. in South Africa under apartheid, where such tactics were rendered ineffective by the extent of state repression and the absence of an independent press. |
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JAN PALMOWSKI. "satyagraha." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAN PALMOWSKI. "satyagraha." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-satyagraha.html JAN PALMOWSKI. "satyagraha." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-satyagraha.html |
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satyagraha
satyagraha (Hindi, “holding to the truth”) A policy of civil disobedience employing PASSIVE RESISTANCE, developed by Mohandas GANDHI in South Africa and widely used in India as a weapon against British rule. Frequently, campaigns of civil disobedience have degenerated into violence, but the method has had some success against liberal governments reluctant to use force. The technique continued to be employed in India and elsewhere after 1947, for example in Goa in 1955, when the satyagrahis were fired on and defeated.
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"satyagraha." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "satyagraha." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-satyagraha.html "satyagraha." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-satyagraha.html |
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Satyāgraha
Satyāgraha (Skt., ‘truth force’). The power of truth without force or violence to change political and other circumstances. It was developed by M. K. Gāndhī, drawing on an association of sat with satya (‘truth’), and agrah (‘grasp firmly’). It puts together the power associated with tapas and the tradition of ahiṃsā, and is often equated with non-violence as such.
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JOHN BOWKER. "Satyāgraha." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Satyāgraha." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Satygraha.html JOHN BOWKER. "Satyāgraha." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Satygraha.html |
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satyagraha
sat·ya·gra·ha / səˈtyägrəhə; ˈsətyəˌgrəhə/ • n. a policy of passive political resistance, esp. that advocated by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule in India. |
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"satyagraha." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "satyagraha." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-satyagraha.html "satyagraha." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-satyagraha.html |
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