The Religions Book

124

NONVIOLENCE

IS THE WEAPON

OF THE STRONG

HINDUISM IN THE POLITICAL AGE

I

t was while working to oppose

racial discrimination in South

Africa that Gandhi coined the

term satyagraha—“holding on to

the truth.” It was to become the

key theme of his campaigns of

nonviolent civil disobedience,

both there and later in India.

Although raised a Hindu,

Gandhi was deeply influenced

by Jainism, with its emphasis on

nonviolence and the welfare of all

creatures. However, he was opposed

to the idea that, in the face of social

injustice, a person should simply

retire into private spirituality and

avoid confrontation. Hinduism had

long been divided between those

who thought that they should follow

their social duty, as determined

by their class and stage of life,

and those who opted out of society

in order to follow an ascetic path

of personal religious discipline.

Gandhi felt committed to seek

political and social justice, while

at the same time maintaining the

fundamental ascetic value of

IN CONTEXT

KEY FIGURE

Mahatma Gandhi

WHEN AND WHERE

1869–1948, India

BEFORE

From 6th century BCE

Ahimsa or nonviolence is the

key ethical principle of the Jain

and Buddhist religions.

3rd century BCE The Emperor

Asoka converts to Buddhism

and initiates social reforms

inspired by nonviolence.

2nd century BCE The Hindu

Bhagavad-Gita explores the

dichotomy between ahimsa

and the duty of the warrior

class to fight in a just war.

AFTER

1964 The Baptist minister

Martin Luther King preaches

the use of nonviolent means

to oppose racial inequality

in the United States.

Inactivity and detachment allow social

injustice to continue unchecked.

But violence only leads to retaliation and

further violence, which is self-defeating.

Therefore social and political change is best achieved

through nonviolent protest and a determination to

stand by the truth, whatever the consequences.