💖 Ahimsa as active love
Gandhi did not think ahimsa meant only 'doing nothing'. He taught that it was active love, a strong power that refuses to hate even an enemy. He said non-violence takes more courage than fighting.
Hindu Beliefs about Peace and Conflict » Pacifism, Satyagraha and Gandhi
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 1, 3.2 (Hinduism)
- What Satyagraha means and how Gandhi used it
- Why Gandhi saw ahimsa as active love that accepts suffering
- The Champaran campaign of 1917 as an example
- Why some Hindus do not accept pacifism
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Unlock This CoursePacifism and Hinduism
Remember from Peace, Pacifism, Forgiveness and Reconciliation that pacifism is the belief that violence and war are wrong and that disputes should be settled peacefully, and that ahimsa means not harming living things. This lesson looks at how Hindus have turned these ideas into action.
In India, non-violence has a long history. Many Hindus teach that all living things share the same atman (the soul or true self), so hurting another being means hurting something connected to yourself. In the twentieth century, Mahatma Gandhi turned this old idea into a method of standing up to injustice without using force.
Key terms:
- Satyagraha: a Sanskrit word meaning 'holding firmly to truth'. It is Gandhi's method of non-violent resistance.
- Passive resistance (recap from Just War Theory, Holy War and Passive Resistance): refusing to obey an unfair law or order without using violence.
- Mahatma: a title meaning 'great soul', given to Gandhi (1869-1948).
Satyagraha: holding firmly to truth
The word comes from satya (truth) and agraha (holding firmly). Gandhi developed the idea while he lived in South Africa, then used it in India. For him, truth and non-violence belonged together. A satyagrahi (a person who practises satyagraha) does not use force, lies or hatred.
💪 Accepting suffering
A satyagrahi accepts suffering rather than causing it. They may be arrested, fined or beaten, but they do not hit back. The aim is to show the opponent the injustice of what they are doing.
The aim was never to defeat the opponent. Gandhi wanted to win them over, so that they changed their mind and the two sides could work together afterwards. This links to the Hindu belief that the same atman is in friend and enemy. Satyagraha used practical tools such as peaceful marches, public meetings, refusing to co-operate with an unjust rule and going on strike.
An example: the Champaran campaign, 1917
Champaran is a district in Bihar, in north India. At that time India was ruled by Britain. Many poor farmers there were forced by landlords to grow indigo, a plant used to make blue dye, on part of their land. They were paid very little and had to pay extra charges as well.
A farmer named Rajkumar Shukla asked Gandhi to come and see for himself. Gandhi arrived in 1917. The local authorities ordered him to leave. He politely refused to go and said he was ready to accept the punishment. The case against him was then dropped. Gandhi and his helpers went on to collect the statements of thousands of farmers, peacefully and carefully.
An official inquiry followed. As a result, a law passed in 1918 ended the system that forced the farmers to grow indigo, and the farmers received some money back. It was Gandhi's first major use of satyagraha in India.
Why Champaran matters
It shows the method working: the truth gathered peacefully, no violence from the farmers, suffering accepted willingly, and a result that changed the law. (Gandhi's later Salt March is studied in Varna, Caste and Gandhi's Salt March.)
Why some Hindus do not accept pacifism
Hindus do not all agree. Many follow Gandhi's example, but others believe force is sometimes right.
✅ For pacifism
Ahimsa is a very high duty. The same atman is in everyone, so harming others harms the self. Gandhi showed that peaceful resistance can change laws.
🛡 Against pacifism
A kshatriya (a warrior) has a duty to protect the weak. As you saw in Just War and Weapons of Mass Destruction: Hindu Views, the Bhagavad Gita says there is nothing better for a warrior than a righteous war. If good people never fight, the wicked may harm the innocent.
So some Hindus say non-violence is the highest duty for most people, but defending others can be a duty for a soldier. See Hindu Attitudes to Conflict, Duty and Holy War for more on this.
Common mistakes
- Saying satyagraha means 'doing nothing'. It is an active, brave method.
- Saying all Hindus are pacifists. Hindus hold different views.
- Describing Champaran without saying what happened as a result. Always link the action to the outcome.
Exam-style question
(a) Identify three things a satyagrahi does or avoids. [3 marks] (Paper 1, AO1)
(b) Choose one religion. Outline two teachings about passive resistance in this religion. [4 marks] (Paper 1, AO1)
(c) Choose one religion. Explain why there are different attitudes to pacifism in this religion. [6 marks] (Paper 1, AO1 and AO2)
(d) 'Non-violent protest is always better than fighting.' Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks] (Paper 1, AO1 and AO2)
Model answer
(a) 1. Holds firmly to truth (1). 2. Accepts suffering without hitting back (1). 3. Avoids hatred and violence (1).
(b) In Hinduism, Gandhi taught that ahimsa is active love (1), so a person should resist injustice without hating the opponent (1). He also taught that people should accept suffering rather than cause it (1), in order to win the opponent over and show the injustice (1).
(c) Hinduism has different attitudes to pacifism. Many Hindus follow Gandhi because they believe ahimsa is a very high duty (1). They think the same atman is in everyone, so harming others harms the self (1). Satyagraha also worked at Champaran, which shows non-violence can change unfair laws (1). However, other Hindus do not accept pacifism because a kshatriya has a duty to protect the weak (1). They point to the Bhagavad Gita, which says a righteous war is good for a warrior (1). They argue that if good people never fight, wrongdoers may hurt the innocent (1).
(d) Plan. For: ahimsa and the shared atman; Gandhi at Champaran changed the law with no killing; the opponent is won over, so peace lasts. Against: some Hindus say a kshatriya's duty is to fight a righteous war to protect others; a non-violent protest may fail against a ruthless enemy; non-religious people may also say force is sometimes needed to stop a greater harm. Possible conclusion: non-violent protest is usually better because it keeps relationships open, but it is not always enough, so 'always' is too strong.
Exam tip
In a 'different attitudes' question, give a view for and a view against, and say why each group holds it. Use Hindu terms such as ahimsa, atman and kshatriya.