A Timely Reminder

 January 30^th, the day Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was assassinated, is observed as Martyrs Day in India. My good friend Dr. Kulandaisamy and I are part of the Gandhi Peace Foundation in Chennai. Our objectives are simple; to encourage youth to take up challenges through the process of personal micro actions and try and solve their problems. We call this Peace Education in Action.

           This morning I received Dr. Kulandaisamy’s note prepared for the youth on the difference between Protest and Satyagraha. Why is it important to know the difference?

            Satyagraha the Sanskrit word means ‘holding on firmly to the Truth.” Truth includes a) Truth in speech, no falsehood, b) what is real as opposed to what is non- existent, c) good as opposed to bad or evil. Truth alone triumphs, never untruth. Mahatma Gandhi practised Satyagraha first in South Africa and then against the colonial ruler in India.

           Protest is a reaction to a situation or condition, Satyagraha is towards ensuring absolute justice; what is good and true and necessary for me is good and true and necessary for everyone. 

           Drawing tremendous inner strength from this non violent form of disobedience, the unwillingness to stand by and witness the practice of falsehood against humanness, every individual can practice Satyagraha, taking up personal micro actions to counter the falsehood. For example Gandhiji advocated spinning the chakra for yarn and wearing clothes made from the homespun yarn. Millions of Indians took this up and boycotted the imported mill spun cloth.

          My cousin reminds me that Dr. King, inspired by Gandhi, expressed the same sentiment in his famous saying: injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere!

         I am sharing with you the message sent out by Dr. Kulandaisamy on the powerful efficacy of Satyagraha.

        Please share if you wish or it resonates with you.

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Protest or Satyagraha? By Dr. Kulandaiswamy

Today is January 30th, the Martyrs day. 

Mahatma Gandhi wrote an entirely new page in the history books that we could get freedom from the British without using violence.

He declared that when what that had never happened in the history happens it becomes history. Thus he created history.

In the name of protests why should we indulge in violence?

Can we not emerge as satyagrahis from the level of mere protesters?

Let's explore the difference between protest and Satyagraha.

One: 

Protest is always understood as fight 'against' injustice, with a warring nature.

Satyagraha is a struggle 'for' establishing justice, with a loving nature.

Two:

The protester attempts to remove only injustice and thus fails to observe holistically. But the satyagrahis explores the truth in the justice that helps him to grow holistically.

Three:

The protest is strengthened by the number of participants. But satyagraha gets strengthened by everyone's inner strength. Number does not help.

 Four:

Satyagraha has a strong platform of even loving the so-called enemies. But protest has no such platform, so hatred and violence may become a part of it.

Five:

Protest implies two warring parties. But Satyagraha helps both to jointly travel in exploring truth and good for both.

Six:

Protest demands a change to happen in the society. But everyone has to become the 'change' in Satyagraha.

Seven:

Protest is based on dealing with facts and figures and long term planning. Satyagraha is based on individual commitment to act immediately.

Eight:

Anyone can join the protest without any training. But the satyagrahi has to train himself in the eternal laws.

Nine:

Protesters can afford to lead any type of life whereas the satyagrahis have to live an ethical life of hard manual labour.

Ten:

In a protest, secrecy, underground dealings, and exploiting the weakness of enemies are celebrated. But clear transparency and taking care of even those who hate are the prerequisite.

Eleven:

In a protest, fight for rights and 'fight to finish' are the norms. In satyagraha, empowerment of oneself by fulfilling duties and accepting even 'one step' towards success are the norms.

Twelve:

In a protest, inflicting suffering on others is accepted. But in satyagraha, self suffering and even 'getting killed for the cause' is the only way out.

Dear youth, why not we attempt to understand this difference and emerge as satyagrahis which only could build a world of Peace and harmony for our children?

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