satyagraha

Satyagraha is a philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance developed by Mahatma Gandhi, combining truth (satya) and insistence or firmness (agraha). The term is often translated as "truth-force" or "soul-force." It emphasizes nonviolent means and moral power to convert the opponent rather than defeat him.

Gandhi developed satyagraha in South Africa in the early 1900s during campaigns for Indian rights, and later applied it in India as part of the freedom movement. It rejects coercion and violence, aiming to persuade opponents to change laws through civil disobedience, noncooperation, and peaceful protest. It rests on adherence to truth and nonviolence, and the belief that suffering inflicted in a just cause can win the opponent's understanding and transform social relations. The practice includes organized mass actions, such as boycotts, marches, and refusal to comply with unjust laws, alongside constructive programs.

Historically, satyagraha shaped several campaigns, including Champaran (1917), Kheda (1918), Salt Satyagraha (1930), the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22), and the Quit India Movement (1942). These efforts sought political reform and independence through disciplined, nonviolent means, often involving negotiation and civil disobedience.

Legacy and critiques: Satyagraha influenced civil rights movements worldwide, notably Martin Luther King Jr. and the broader American nonviolent movement. Critics note limits in practice, especially under violent repression or where power structures resist negotiation. The concept remains closely tied to Gandhi's interpretation but also reflects broader roots in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist ideas of ahimsa and truth.