Gandhi And Jainism

Author(s): Shugan C Jain
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 77

Gandhi said 'Satyagraha is a priceless and matchless weapon and those who wield it are strangers to disappointments or discomfort 22
Gandhi sailed for India on July 18th 1914 via England to meet Gokhale for advice on implementing his philosophy of Satyagraha in India.
Analysis The shock Gandhi had from his meeting with the political agent in Rajkot, subsequent advices of Sir Pherojshah Mehta, his brother as well as his experience of the way in which legal practice was conducted in India i.e. the atmosphere appeared poisonous to him. How to remain unscathed was a perpetual problem to him. This type of violence24 was the basis of changing the future course of his life. He took the first opportunity to leave this environment (India) to go to South Africa rather than go along the corrupt practices.
In South Africa, in the first few weeks of his arrival, he also experienced extremes of violence meted to Indians and him; for example categorization of Indians as coolies, sammies, indentured and free labourers, traders and so on resulting in discrimination in jobs, travel, dress, mannerism, and moment in specified areas etc.
He started feeling suffocated again but decided to stay and resolve these issues of violence against himself as well as other Indians, rather than return to India.
He called the way of life he adopted in South Africa as Satyagraha or insistence on truth. He further decided that Satyagraha will be based on the use of soul force rather that the brute force or physical force against the oppressors. Satyagraha
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