non violence

‘An for an makes the whole world blind.’

Mohandas Gandhi

Understanding Gandhi in his own terms…

• Satyagraha• Ahimsa• Tapasya• Swaraj

Ahimsa• Ahimsa means non-violence. • Also defined as “presence of love”.• It is “Non-Injury” (“abstention from

harming others”)

Keeping it Simple…

• Satyagraha – “truth force”• Ahimsa – “non-injury”• Tapasya – “self-suffering”• Swaraj – “self rule”

Mohandas Gandhi was born in the state of Gujarat, India in 1869.

At the age of thirteen Mohandas was married to Kasturba.

The marriage had been arranged for him by his family.

They had four sons.

He returned to India in 1891, then accepted a job at an Indian law firm in South Africa.

When he was about to return to India, he heard that a law was going to be passed to prevent Indian people from voting.

He decided to draw attention to this injustice and became an activist.

However, Gandhi said:

‘There are many causes that I am prepared to die for, but no causes that I am prepared to kill for.’

He spun his own yarn and made his own cloth. He encouraged others to do the same, instead of buying imported British material.

At this time Indian villagers were poorly paid, and many were dying of famine.

In 1918 Gandhi began a campaign to get them to stand up for themselves against the British who were ruling India.

It was at this time that Gandhi became known as Mahatma, which means ‘Great Soul’.

We call Gandhi ‘The Father of the Nation.’

Gandhi’s birthday, October 2nd, is known

as non-violence day.

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‘‘Be the Change you want to see Be the Change you want to see in the World!’in the World!’

Mohandas Gandhi

Relevance: Non-violence is an essential element of any ‘trust’ – “a feeling of security and self-identity is acquired through developing a sense of security in responses of others removed in time and space.” Violence may be defined as a deliberate act of aggression, doing physical or mental injury to others or creating a situation in which others are deprived of the necessities that otherwise they would have got. Thus lack of violence creates an assurance for the person interacting in a situation to cooperate with others. Non-violence also remains actively engaged in creating a situation that may lead to the emancipation from fear cultivating the capacity for sacrifice of the highest type in order to be free from fear. It helps in developing social capital of a society.

Conditions that can ensure Non-violence….• Individual – Any conflicting situation should be faced

with a commitment for self-suffering and a positive attitude to change the heart of the opponent.

• Economic – Reliance on cottage industries and just distribution of wealth through Trusteeship.

Gandhi in Noakhali, 1946 - Amidst Fierce Communal Riot

Emptied of all but love…

•Thank you

SHAHID VALLAPUZHAshahidvallapuzha@gmail.comshahidvallapuzha@gmail.com