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| GANDHI'S PHILOSOPHY OF NON-VIOLENCE: A CRITIQUE |
File Information
| Document Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | GANDHI'S PHILOSOPHY OF NON-VIOLENCE: A CRITIQUE |
| Article Credit | IJELLH, ISSN: 2321-7065, Vol.: V, Issue: VII, Year: 2017, (Pubd in: Academia.edu) |
| Author | SMART M O V E S J O U R N A L IJELLH (Dr. Vibha Tiwari: Associate Professor in English, CBRG Government Girls' PG College, Sriganganagar, Rajasthan; Abha Tiwari: Ph.D. Research Scholar, Banasthali Vidyapith & Lecturer in English, SGN Khalsa PG College, Sriganganagar) |
| Subject | This paper critiques Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence (ahimsa), examining its theoretical foundations, its application in South Africa and India, and its relevance and criticisms in the modern world. |
| Category | Philosophy |
| Country of Publication | India |
| Main Topics | Gandhi's concept of non-violence (ahimsa), Truth (satya) as the ultimate end, Satyagraha as a method of nonviolent resistance, Application of nonviolence in South Africa and India, Criticisms of Gandhi's nonviolence, Relevance of nonviolence in the modern world |
| Number of Pages | 10 |
| Language | English |
| File Type | |
| File Size | 155.4 KB |
Summary Note of this Document
This paper critiques Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence (ahimsa), which he developed as a weapon against violence and hatred, based on the principle of love for all and hatred for none. Gandhi defined violence as any act that denies a person's legitimate rights through force, injury, or deception, and he insisted that nonviolence means avoiding violent means to achieve any end, however lofty. He grounded his philosophy in the Bhagavad Gita's teaching of following the right path without attachment to outcomes, and he drew inspiration from Jain and Buddhist texts like the Acharanga Sutra. Gandhi applied nonviolence first in South Africa against racial discrimination and later in India's freedom struggle, employing Satyagraha (soul-force) in movements such as the non-cooperation movement and the Salt March. The paper discusses the success of these methods in achieving Indian independence in 1947, but also addresses criticisms from figures like G.V. Desani, Salman Rushdie, and Arthur Koestler, who questioned the practicality and universal applicability of nonviolence. It also notes the paradox of violence during partition and the doubts of even Gandhi's close associates. The paper concludes by affirming the universal appeal of Gandhi's nonviolence, citing its influence on leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, and its continued relevance in addressing modern crises.
Core Themes
- Non-violence as a means to truth
- Satyagraha and civil disobedience
- Critique of violence and its consequences
- Religious and philosophical roots of ahimsa
- Relevance and criticisms of Gandhian nonviolence
Keywords
About Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi lived from 1869 to 1948. Born in India, he trained as a lawyer and became a political thinker. Colonial rule repelled him. He opposed it fiercely and eventually led India’s independence movement.
Gandhi pioneered Satyagraha, the power of truth and nonviolent resistance. He put these ideals into practice during political and social upheavals. Over twenty years in South Africa shaped his thinking. That’s where he developed his tactics of nonviolent defiance. He returned to India in 1915 and launched major movements against British rule. Non-Cooperation Movement. Salt March. Quit India Movement. Each one challenged colonial domination.
In 1883 he married Kasturba Gandhi. Marriage and family life remained central to who he was. He spoke powerfully about his beliefs. His writing included Hind Swaraj, Satyagraha in South Africa, and The Story of My Experiments with Truth, his autobiography.
His vision stretched beyond political independence. Religious harmony mattered to him. Social equality. Self-reliance. Women’s rights. Ending untouchability. All of these were part of what he fought for.
Nonviolence and Satyagraha shaped movements worldwide. Civil rights activists drew from his example. Freedom struggles across the globe felt his influence. His approach changed how people thought about resistance and change.
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