The Non-Violence in the Life of M K Gandhi

The Non-Violence in the Life of M K Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was one of the most famous leaders with a

movement in non-violence. He opposed British imperial rule in India

during the 20th century. In reference to non-violence, Gandhi had two

key teachings of ahimsa and satyagraha.

Gandhi used the principle of ahimsa (doing no harm) that was common to

Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, and used it as the springboard to

large-scale action. He used this concept to fight off not only the

colonial rule but also racial discrimination and social divisions such

as the untouchables in society.

Ahimsa translates as ‘non-violence’ or ‘non-injury’ and this concept

is contained in the Vedas so it is quite an ancient theory. The four

holy books contain a teaching that reads, “Do not kill any living

being”. Gandhi explained that true love could be used to combat

violence using non-violence. He also referred to it as being the

aspect of God or truth. He said in the Harijan, 12 November 1935,

“Non-violence is an active force of the highest order. It is soul

force or the power of Godhead within us”.

Gandhi believed that all people have a capacity within themselves of

non-violence or love so he declared that the best way of overcoming

the evildoers in the world was to not retaliate and make them change

their hearts. He also believed that passive resistance through

motivation of all life could overcome hatred and cruelty.

He said in the Harijan, 5 September1936, “Non-violence is a power

which can be wielded equally by all – children, young men and women or

grown-up people, provided they have a living faith in the God of Love

and have...

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Gandhi used these two key teachings in practice with the miners’

strikes, the massacre of Amritsar, the salt march and in hampering the

British economically by rejecting Western cloth. In all of these

demonstrations he used the teachings of ahimsa (non-violence) and

satyagraha (for non-violent protest), which had a profound effect on

the people around him. He said, “In non-violence the masses have a

weapon which enables a child, woman or even a decrepit old man to

resist the mightiest government successfully”.

So Mahatma Gandhi used the beliefs in Hinduism of ahimsa and

satyagraha mainly to end the colonial rule by the British in India

through means of non-violence. One of his most famous sayings goes “An

eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” and it sums up his key

teaching of non-violence.