Question

why satyagraha was the best form to protest ?

Answer 1

Satyagraha is the most important contribution of Gandhi to social philosophy and movement. It emerged as a weapon of conflict resolution. The concept of satyagraha could be understood in the broader context of Gandhian socio-political thought that developed out of actions, which he called 'Experiments with Truth.

Answer 2

Q. why satyagraha was the best form to protest ?

Answer: Gandhi's satyagraha was an act of moral creativity. For Gandhi, satyagraha was not only a political weapon but a weapon of creativity. Satyagraha is a means of establishing faith inhuman beings as also in God. The philosophy of satyagraha holds that every human being is capable of doing well and thinking good. Satyagraha according to Gandhi was a unique weapon to fight injustice. It was a novel method of mass agitation. It stressed on the principle of truth, non-violence, tolerance and peaceful protests. Gandhi had already organized a successful satyagraha movement in South Africa.

Explanation: Satyagraha is the most important contribution of Gandhi to social philosophy and movement. It emerged as a weapon of conflict resolution. The concept of satyagraha could be understood in the broader context of Gandhian socio-political thought that developed out of actions, which he called 'Experiments with Truth.

He asked satyagrahis to follow the following principles

• Nonviolence (ahimsa)
• Truth – this includes honesty, but goes beyond it to mean living fully in accord with and in devotion to that which is true
• Not stealing
• Non-possession (not the same as poverty)
• Body-labor or bread-labor
• Control of desires (gluttony)
• Fearlessness
• Equal respect for all religions
• Economic strategy such as boycott of imported goods (swadeshi)

Gandhi proposed a series of rules for satyagrahis to follow in a resistance campaign

• Harbor no anger.
• Suffer the anger of the opponent.
• Never retaliate to assaults or punishment; but do not submit, out of fear of punishment or assault, to an order given in anger.
• Voluntarily submit to arrest or confiscation of your own property.
• If you are a trustee of property, defend that property (non-violently) from confiscation with your life.
• Do not curse or swear.
• Do not insult the opponent.
• Neither salute nor insult the flag of your opponent or your opponent's leaders.
• If anyone attempts to insult or assault your opponent, defend your opponent (non-violently) with your life.
• As a prisoner, behave courteously and obey prison regulations (except any that are contrary to self-respect).
• As a prisoner, do not ask for special favorable treatment.
• As a prisoner, do not fast in an attempt to gain conveniences whose deprivation does not involve any injury to your self-respect.
• Joyfully obey the orders of the leaders of the civil disobedience action.