Nonviolence and Satyagraha

Where it surfaces

• VIII: Stealing and Atonement

  His father's forgiving response is described as an object-lesson in Ahimsa, showing the transformative power of nonviolent love.

• What It Is to Be a “Coolie”

  Gandhi refuses to take legal action against the policeman who assaulted him, choosing forgiveness and non-retaliation.

• Colour Bar

  Gandhi chooses to obey the court order to remove his turban to reserve his strength for bigger battles, illustrating the spirit of compromise as part of satyagraha.

• Two Passions

  Gandhi's growing commitment to ahimsa leads him to reject the violent language in the National Anthem.

• The Storm

  Gandhi articulates his commitment to nonviolence, stating he would forgive attackers and refrain from legal action, even under threat of violence.

• The Test

  Gandhi refuses to prosecute his attackers, embodying non-retaliation and trust in truth.

• The Boer War

  Gandhi's choice to serve in a non-combatant ambulance corps reflects his commitment to nonviolent service, even in wartime.

• A Month with Gokhale—II

  Gandhi's visceral reaction to animal sacrifice at the Kali temple underscores his deepening commitment to nonviolence and protection of all creatures.

• A Tussle with Power

  Gandhi applies the principle of separating the sinner from the sin, helping the corrupt officers despite their actions, which he later identifies as essential to satyagraha and ahimsa.

• A Sacred Recollection and Penance

  Though not directly about nonviolence, Gandhi's reflection on his past 'blind love' and harsh treatment of his wife contrasts with his later ideals of ahimsa and restraint in personal conduct.

• The Zulu “Rebellion”

  Gandhi's sympathy for the Zulus and his choice to nurse them rather than fight reflects his commitment to nonviolence and compassion, even within a military context.

• The Birth of Satyagraha

  The chapter details the birth of satyagraha as a distinct principle of nonviolent resistance, contrasting it with passive resistance.

• Training of the Spirit

  Gandhi's regret over using corporal punishment and his subsequent commitment to nonviolent correction reflect the core principle of nonviolence.

• My Part in the War

  Gandhi advocates for nonviolent cooperation with the British war effort, arguing that love and service can convert opponents, even while acknowledging the inequality of the colonial relationship.

• A Spiritual Dilemma

  Gandhi deeply examines the principle of ahimsa, acknowledging its comprehensive nature and the impossibility of complete freedom from himsa in social life.

• Miniature Satyagraha

  Gandhi and the Corps engage in a miniature satyagraha—a nonviolent protest against the Commanding Officer's authoritarian actions—demonstrating the application of satyagraha even in a military context.

• The First Experience

  Gandhi offers a 'little satyagraha' by insisting on speaking Gujarati at a Gujarati gathering, challenging established practices.

• Was It a Threat?

  Gandhi explains satyagraha as an absolutely nonviolent weapon and defends its use against accusations of being a threat.

• Abolition of Indentured Emigration

  Gandhi considers satyagraha as a potential method for the abolition agitation and later notes that 'potential satyagraha hastened the end.'

• Face to Face with Ahimsa

  Gandhi's civil resistance to the order to leave Champaran exemplifies satyagraha, as he disobeys legally but maintains correct conduct toward officials.

• Case Withdrawn

  Gandhi's civil disobedience is a direct application of satyagraha, submitting to the penalty while asserting moral duty.

• Methods of Work

  Gandhi's approach includes treating C.I.D. officers with courtesy and seeking to win over planters through gentleness rather than confrontation.

• In Touch with Labour

  Gandhi advised strikers to never resort to violence, never molest blacklegs, and maintain peace and self-respect throughout the 21-day strike.

• A Peep Into the Ashram

  The practice of not killing venomous snakes and the association of the Ashram's location with jail-going for satyagrahis reflect nonviolent principles.

• The Fast

  Gandhi's fast is a satyagrahic act to uphold truth and the strikers' pledge, though he acknowledges its coercive pressure on mill-owners.

• The Kheda Satyagraha

  Gandhi advises the Patidars to resort to satyagraha—nonviolent resistance—by refusing to pay revenue and accepting legal consequences.

• The Onion Thief

  The chapter illustrates the practice of satyagraha through civil disobedience, emphasizing civility and fearlessness.

• End of Kheda Satyagraha

  The chapter reflects on the principles of satyagraha, emphasizing that a worthy end leaves satyagrahis stronger and more spirited, and that the campaign rooted satyagraha in Gujarat's soil.

• Passion for Unity

  Gandhi reflects on his South African experiences and sees the Hindu-Muslim unity question as the severest test of his ahimsa, emphasizing moral consistency in political action.

• Recruiting Campaign

  Gandhi justifies his participation in the war effort as a means to popularize soul-force (love-force) over brute force, and to demonstrate the law of suffering.

• The Rowlatt Bills and My Dilemma

  The chapter details the inception of the satyagraha movement against the Rowlatt Bills, emphasizing nonviolent resistance.

• That Wonderful Spectacle!

  Gandhi conceives the hartal as an act of self-purification and satyagraha, emphasizing nonviolent resistance against the Rowlatt Act.

• That Memorable Week!—I

  Gandhi insists on peaceful civil disobedience, selling proscribed literature openly and urging calm despite police violence.

• That Memorable Week!—II

  Gandhi insists that satyagraha is a weapon of the truthful and requires nonviolence in thought, word, and deed; he suspends mass satyagraha when violence erupts among his followers.

• A Himalayan Miscalculation

  Gandhi discusses the essential discipline and understanding required for civil disobedience as a form of satyagraha.

• Navajivan and Young India

  Gandhi emphasizes the importance of maintaining nonviolence and uses his journals to expound the inner meaning of satyagraha, even as he refrains from civil disobedience in the heated Punjab atmosphere.

• XXXVI: The Khilafat Against Cow Protection?

  Gandhi presents his viewpoint of nonviolence at the conference and introduces noncooperation as a form of nonviolent resistance.

• XLII: Its Rising Tide

  Gandhi emphasizes the importance of nonviolence in the noncooperation resolution, correcting the omission of the word 'nonviolent' and discussing its compatibility with Islam.

• At Nagpur

  The Congress adopted the condition that means for attaining swaraj must be peaceful and legitimate, reinforcing the commitment to nonviolence.

• Farewell

  Gandhi asserts that Ahimsa (nonviolence) is essential for self-purification and the realization of Truth, and that it must extend to all fields of life, including politics.

• Endnotes

  The note defines ahimsa as 'not-hurting, nonviolence,' a core principle of Gandhi's philosophy.