Published October 4, 2026
Satyagraha and Ahimsa
How non-violence (ahimsa) sits at the centre of Satyagraha and what Gandhi required beyond avoiding physical force.
Ahimsa (non-violence) is inseparable from Satyagraha. Gandhi treated it as more than “do not hit anyone.” It includes refusing hatred, insult, and the wish to destroy the opponent.
In Satyagraha, truth is the goal; ahimsa is the method. If you use violence or vindictiveness, the campaign ceases to be Satyagraha even if the demand is just. Self-suffering is preferred to imposing suffering: you accept arrest, hardship, or loss rather than force the other side by fear.
That is why Gandhi rejected secret violence and “ends justify the means.” Means and ends must both stay clean.
Meaning: What is Satyagraha · Guidelines: Guidelines · Homepage: main guide.