Question

why Satyagraha not to be classified as passive resistance according to Gandhiji

Answer 1

The year 1919 marked the entry of Mahatma Gandhi in the freedom struggle that changed the course of national movement spreading to new areas, incorporating new social groups and developing new methods of struggle. Mahatma Gandhi was great thinker, nationalist and a reformer who laid out new methods of agitation. Satyagraha as active resistance meant the following:

Mahatma Gandhi who had successfully fought the racist regime in South Africa with his novel idea of struggle called Satyagraha emphasized on the power of truth and the need to search for truth.

He believed that if our cause of struggle was true then we need not resort to aggression or physical violence and that a satyagrahi could win the battle through non violence by changing the conscience of the oppressor.

Gandhiji believed that his idea of satyagraha was not meant for thinking and preaching rather action by the people. That is why he referred it as active resistance which calls for active participation by the masses. In this context, he organized satyagraha movements in various places like Champaran struggle in Bihar, Peasants movement in Kheda district of Gujarat and Ahmadabad Mill Strike where he compelled people to remain non violent and organize peaceful protests against the oppressor .

One can give examples of his major mass movements like non cooperation, civil disobedience in which he used new forms of agitation like salt march, defying laws, boycotting of foreign goods, schools, colleges, legislative councils incorporating people from all sections of Indian society and does not accord passive role to them.

It also meant remaining non violent which was a symbol of strength rather than cowardice.