Article: “Hong Kong trial invokes Gandhi’s name”
Context: A leading Hong Kong democracy activist Lee Cheuk-yan, facing jail invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s civil disobedience campaign in court on Wednesday .”We are all followers of Gandhi’s idea of non-violent struggle, hoping to bring democratic reforms to Hong Kong,” he said.
Gandhian Strategies
The Gandhian strategy is the combination of truth, sacrifice, non- violence, selfless service and cooperation. According to Gandhi one should be brave and not a coward. He should present his views, suggestions and thoughts without being violent. One should fight a war with the weapons of truth and non violence. Gandhi said that "There is no god higher than truth." According to Gandhi's thoughts, non- violence is ultimate solution of every kind of problem in the world.
In present scenario, Satyagraha is more than a political tool of resistance. It is a holistic approach towards life, based on the ideals of truth and moral courage. Gandhi used non violence in India's freedom struggle as main weapon and India became independent from British rule. In present times, there are some live examples which show the success of Non- violence resistance by using Ghandhian strategy.
The Gandhian Strategies/Methods of Struggle
Satyagraha: The goal is winning over people's hearts, and this can be achieved only with tremendous patience. Gandhi's system of Satyagraha was based on nonviolence, non-cooperation, truth and honesty. Gandhi used non violence in India's freedom struggle as main weapon and India became independent from British rule.
Truth: It is the foundation of Gandhi's teachings, and the spirit of his whole life to examine and understand for oneself, and not take anybody or any ideology for granted. Gandhi said: The Truth is far more powerful than any weapon of mass destruction. The tenets of Truth or Satya and nonviolence were pivotal to the Satyagraha movement and Gandhi ensured that the millions of Indians seeking an end to British rule adhered to these basic principles steadfastly.
Non-violence: The fundamentals of Gandhi's non violence theory, Jainism and Buddhism were the most important influence. Both Jainism and Buddhism preached non-violence as the basic principal of existence. Gandhi was also influenced By Bhagvad Gita with its stress on non attachment and selfless action, Christianity, along with its massage of love and compassion, extended even to one's enemies, was another important influence on Gandhi's life. He always disliked war on the ground of its violent nature. According to him violence cannot do anything good to human beings. For Gandhi, means were as important as the end and there could be only one means- that of non-violence.
Mahatma Gandhi was against any form of exploitation and injustice. According to him, evils must be opposed at any cost. But he insisted that the weapons must be non violent and moral ones. The adoption of peaceful method made one superior and put the enemy at a disadvantage but the condition is the opponent must be dealt with mutual respect and love. Gandhi believed that only through love an enemy could be permanently won.
Relevance of Gandhian Strategy in Modern Context
In modern times, nonviolent methods of action have been a powerful tool for social protest. There are many examples of non violence like civil resistance, non-violence resistance, and civil revolution.
Martin Luther King adopted the methods of Satyagraha in his fight against the racial discrimination of the American authorities in 1950.
Anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare in 2011 was based on truth and Satyagrha. Hazare believes that our freedom is at the teeth of danger due to corruption and unless it is eliminated, the country will not be free in its true sense. Therefore, a peaceful war has been waged against corruption with the help of immense support from people.
Pro-democratic Protests in the Sudan and Hong Kong (Civil Disobediance Movement).
Gandhi dreamed of a new world of non-violence with overall peaceful environment. Non-violence is a universal phenomenon and it has great relevance and significance. It is the ultimate solution of all kinds of problems and conflicts in the society, nation and world. However, its result depends upon its understanding and proper application.
Undoubtedly, the social doctrine of non violence that has emerged from Gandhian ideas has now become the key to forge and sustain the new social and political order. Today, there is need to adopt Ghandhian philosophy and ideology in overall world to remove all kind of problems and creating peaceful environment. Gandhi is not the past, he is the future. He is an early sign of what we can be.
It is essential that the nations of democratic system of government should be free from the problems, must be capable of ensuring equal development of their all citizens and the citizens concerned must march forward on path of progress in unified way along with rendering contribution to world peace. Gandhism is very much contextual today on this accord.
Gandhian strategy of Truth and Non-violence is not meant for individuals alone but can be applied in national and global affairs too (like Leftwing Extremeism and Terrorism). The main cause of worry today is intolerance and hatred leading to violence and it is here the values of Gandhi need to be adhered to with more passion. He is relevant not yesterday or today but forever.