Religion Practice and Science of Non Violence

Author(s): O P Jaggi
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt Ltd

Page 77

Practice of Non-Violence
67
satyagrahis from entering the road. The police formed a cordon across the road. According to Gandhi's instructions, the satyagrahis then stood opposite the police barrier in an attitude of prayer. They organized themselves into shifts, taking turns in standing there for six hours at a time. They built a hut nearby, undertook their duties on a religious basis and did handspinning while not on active duty. At no time did they use violence. Such a state of affairs continued for months.
Later when Gandhi got well, he visited Vykom. Talking to the satyagrahis there, he told them of the wider implications of their struggle and enunciated before them the satyagraha principles. He said," ... It is a struggle deeply religious for the Hindus. We are endeavouring to rid Hinduism of its greatest blot. The prejudice we have to fight against is an agelong prejudice. The struggle for the opening of the roads round the temple which we hold to be public to the untouchables is but a small skirmish in the big battle. If our struggle was to end with the opening of the roads in Vykom, you may be sure I would not have bothered my head about it. If, therefore, you think that the struggle is to end with opening of the roads in Vykom to the untouchables you are mistaken. The road must be opened. It has got to be opened. But that will be the beginning of the end. The end is to get alļ such roads throughout Travancore to be opened to the untouchables, and not only that, but we expect that our efforts may result in amelioration of the general condition of the untouchables, and “unapproachables.'
As regards the means required to wage such a struggle, he said, “... We should carry on this struggle on the lines of strict non-violence i.e., by suffering in our own person. That is the meaning of satyagraha. The question is whether you are capable of every suffering that may be imposed upon you or may be your lot in the journey towards the goal. Even whilst you are suffering you may have no bitternessuno trace of itagainst your opponents. And I tell you it is not a mechanical act at all. On the contrary, I want you to feel like loving your opponents, and the way to do it is to give them the same credit for honesty of purpose which you claim for yourself. I know it is a very difficult task ... It is true that they have their ends to serve. But so have we our ends to serve. Only we consider