Satya(truth) and ahimsa(non-violence)

Gandhiji was uncompromising on two virtues-satya(truth) and ahimsa(non-violence). Truth and non-violence were the corner-stone of his views on religion. Gandhi used to say that his religion was based on the twin principles of truth and non-violence. Truth was his God and non-violence was the means of realizing him. Truth and non-violence laid the foundation for his innovative instrument to fight against oppression, which he called as satyagaraha. In other words, satyagraha was an emancipatory movement based on truth and non-violence.

Gandhi started seeking truth as a seeker strives to realize his God. In his book, Yerwada Mandir, Gandhi has written “There should be truth in thoughts, truth in speech and truth in deeds.” Truth in thoughts is significant because speech and deeds emanates only from a person’s thoughts. A person is complete in his knowledge if he is able to realize the truth. Gandhi felt that no knowledge was outside the scope of truth. Any knowledge which was not based on truth fail to qualify as a true knowledge and that it was equivalent to an unmitigated evil.

Similarly ahimsa or non-violence is an active virtue rather than a passive one. Gandhi regarded non-violence as far more superior than violence. Non-violence require trained mindset, courage, conviction and a higher moral elevation as compared to violence. It requires immense courage and strength of mind not to point a finger against a pointed pistol or desist from hurling stones at a cannonman. He illustrated that blood can be washed not with blood, but with water.

There is another dimension to non-violence. Non-violence is life giving rather than life taking. The fundamental concept of non-violence is shaped by love, compassion, fraternity and admiration for living beings.Many critics of Gandhi who initially favoured strong arm-tactics against the British for achieving independence went on to acknowledge that non-violence had a hidden strength that could overpower adversaries of any sort.