Gandhi And Jainism

SR No.: 007798
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Shugan C Jain
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
Publication Year: 2017
Total Pages: 339
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 120 MB

Page 76

Kallenbach to name a few), survive on lentil-bread/rice meals and undertake all types of physical work including scavenging to keep the Farm clean. Indian women along with men joined him. They left their homes, walked several miles, crossed borders considered illegal at that time and filled jails to support Satyagraha. The volunteers were trained not to use force against the oppressors, instead enhance their soul force based on Gandhi's dictum for Satyagraha 'There is no place for love in passive resistance and there is no place for hate in Satyagraha. Satyagraha can be launched even against the near and dear ones'. All such actions compelled the rulers to accede to the demands.
The force of Gandhi's nonviolent resistance slowly overcame the violence of the South African state. "Soul Force," as Gandhi called it, replaced the separatist and oppressive force of the state. Even General Smuts, one of the men most bitterly opposed to the Indians who had said in 1909 that he would never remove all prejudicial measures against Indians confessed, five years later in 1914, that he was glad to do away with it.20 Later an imperial commission backed Gandhi upon almost every point.
In 1914 an act abolished the three-pound poll-tax, while Natal was opened to all Indians desirous of settling there as free workers. After twenty years of sacrifice nonviolent resistance was triumphant, The Indian Reform bill was gazetted. In his letter of June 30th 1914, Smuts repealed pound 3 tax, legalized marriages performed according to Hindu and Muslim rites, accepted papers with thumb impressions and said other grievances will be looked after soon positively. During Satyagraha, its veterans like Kacchalia, Sorabji, Naidoo, Rustomji and others died.
Gandhi & Jainism | Pg.53