Qualities of a Satyagrahi

Gandhi Blog Series #13

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.

Gandhi

In the last blog, we saw the moral, social, and political impacts of Satyagraha. The non-violent protest appeals to the goodness inside the oppressor and encourages him to see his mistake. The struggle also bids public sympathy with its pacifist approach, moral uprightness, and iron will to endure suffering.

Nevertheless, not everyone can wield this powerful weapon. Some qualities are indispensable for making satyagraha effective. Gandhi explicitly mentioned that to tap into the infinite power of Satyagraha a person has to abide by these values.

Attributes of a Satyagrahi

The necessary traits of a Satyagrahi are

1 He should be law-abiding

Only someone who respects the rule of law has the moral right to criticize an unjust law. Gandhi believed that to point out the flaw in a system, satyagrahi has to believe in the system first. A criminal mind cannot question the prevalent evil rule.

2. He should be a pacifist

A satyagrahi should not brew resentment towards the tyrant. He should distance himself from all forms of violence. Physical force, profane language, hatred, and destruction of public property are not allowed.

3. He should be brave

Satyagraha demands heroic courage. Someone with even a tinge of fear in his being cannot fight against evil. He should be ready to endure all forms of torture and even give up his life if that is what it takes in the path of non-violence. Hence he should purge his soul of all fears before attempting the protest.

4. He has to undergo self-scrutiny

Gandhi insisted that before satyagraha, the protestor should spend a couple of days in silent meditation. He believed that it would help the satyagrahi find the inner strength to go through the demanding process.

5. He should be motivated by love

Above all, satyagraha should be the expression of satyagrahi’s love and sympathy towards the tyrant. If hatred and resentment are his motivations, he will fail in his attempt to convert the wrongdoer.

Power of a Pure Soul

Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.

According to Gandhi, a Satyagrahi, by the purity of his soul, gets insight into the situation, however evil it may be. His nonviolent mind gives him clarity of the problem. Though he empathizes with the oppressed, he never brews contempt for the oppressor.

The unemotional approach and undeterred focus influence the tyrant. As the intention is not to punish or hurt, but to appeal and correct, the tyrant will eventually pay heed to the satyagrahi. His nonjudgemental approach and nonviolent protests prompt the evildoer to see the mistake.

Satyagraha aiming at universal change

Satyagraha can rid society of all evils, political, economic and moral.

Gandhi

Gandhi was an optimist. He believed that people are inherently good. But sometimes they act out of ignorance, fleeting emotions and prejudices, causing misery to others. If someone motivated by love can enlighten him of his mistake, he will indeed repent.

Gandhian philosophy aimed at empathetically approaching the person responsible and appealing to the goodness in him. But to transform the evil doer it demands purity of soul and great moral strength. Thus Gandhi taught the oppressed be pure before protesting against evil.

The system thus aims at the spiritual growth of both the oppressor and the oppressed. If we abide by it, we can uplift humanity through satyagraha.

In a world ravaged with violence, can’t we heed the philosophy of Gandhi and create a new age of love like the one in his dreams?

Thank you for reading. Please post your valuable opinions in the comment box below.