October 29, 2025

Who Was Mahatma Gandhi And What Non Violent Strategies Did He Employ Against British Rule

Q: What is Satyagraha and how did Gandhi use it?

Satyagraha is Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance through truth and self-discipline. He used it in campaigns like the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922), where Indians boycotted British goods and institutions, fostering national unity without violence.

Q: Why did Gandhi choose non-violence over armed rebellion?

Gandhi believed violence perpetuated cycles of hatred and weakened moral authority. He argued non-violence empowered the oppressed by appealing to the oppressor's conscience, making it sustainable and ethically superior, as seen in his opposition to the 1857 Indian Rebellion's violent tactics.

Q: How did the Salt March contribute to Indian independence?

The Salt March symbolized defiance against unjust laws, inspiring millions to join the independence struggle. It highlighted British exploitation, drew international sympathy, and led to widespread protests, weakening colonial control and paving the way for negotiations.

Q: Was Gandhi's non-violence always effective, or were there failures?

While successful in key movements, non-violence faced setbacks, like the 1922 Chauri Chaura violence that ended Non-Cooperation. Critics argue it prolonged the struggle, but Gandhi viewed such 'failures' as learning opportunities to refine moral resistance, ultimately proving its efficacy in achieving independence.

Discover Mahatma Gandhi's life, philosophy, and key non-violent strategies like Satyagraha and the Salt March that led India's independence from British rule.

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Who Was Mahatma Gandhi?

Mahatma Gandhi, born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India, was a pivotal leader in India's struggle for independence from British colonial rule. Known as the 'Father of the Nation,' he was a lawyer, social reformer, and advocate for non-violence (ahimsa) and truth (satya). Influenced by his experiences in South Africa fighting racial discrimination, Gandhi returned to India in 1915 and transformed the independence movement through peaceful means, inspiring global civil rights efforts.

Core Principles of Gandhi's Non-Violent Philosophy

Gandhi's strategies were rooted in Satyagraha, meaning 'truth force' or non-violent resistance, which emphasized moral persuasion over force. He believed in confronting injustice without hatred, using methods like civil disobedience, boycotts, and fasting to expose oppression and awaken public conscience. This approach rejected violence, focusing instead on self-suffering to highlight the oppressor's wrongs, drawing from Hindu, Jain, Christian, and Tolstoy's influences.

Practical Examples: The Salt March and Quit India Movement

A landmark example was the 1930 Salt March, where Gandhi led a 240-mile march to the sea to produce salt, defying the British salt monopoly and sparking nationwide civil disobedience; over 60,000 were arrested, galvanizing global attention. Another was the 1942 Quit India Movement, where Gandhi's 'Do or Die' call urged mass non-cooperation, including strikes and protests, pressuring Britain amid World War II and accelerating independence in 1947.

Impact and Legacy of Gandhi's Strategies

Gandhi's non-violent methods not only dismantled British rule in India but also influenced leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. They demonstrated that moral force could achieve political change, promoting unity across diverse groups and addressing social issues like untouchability. Though India gained independence, Gandhi's assassination in 1948 underscored the challenges of non-violence in divided societies, yet his legacy endures as a blueprint for peaceful activism worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Satyagraha and how did Gandhi use it?

Why did Gandhi choose non-violence over armed rebellion?

How did the Salt March contribute to Indian independence?

Was Gandhi's non-violence always effective, or were there failures?