Satyagraha
Lifestyle for the Youth of Today
A perspective of yesteryear youth
According to
Gandhiji: “Satyagraha is not the weapons
of the weak, but the weapon of the Strong willed”.
Satyagraha
literally means “hold onto the truth”.
Gandhiji coined this word for nonviolent resistance.
Truth in speech,
as opposed to falsehood; What is real, as opposed to falsehood; Good as opposed
to evil.
Today’s youths
consider themselves as ”modern day Satyagrahi” and actively engaged in a force
action against corruption of any kind; conflict and violence at all levels;
harm to animals; and the destruction of environment. But they harbor hatred or
even anger against their opponents. Gandhiji didn’t emphasized these actions as
Satyagraha. Satyagrahi is dedicated to truth force against himsa.
We may recall
Gandhiji’s stand in the first Satyagraha event in Champaran movement, hundred
years ago. He was very clear that the opposition to the injustice must be
anchored in a cold and confident determination to end and not by the heat of
anger.
This quality is
the most essential one for today’s youth, to observe Satyagraha. But it is
difficult to follow because of today’s social media. Present day social media
promotes aggressive expression of anger, resentment and hatred is celebrated.
If any small flash news sparks in social media, created by anonymous person, on
social issues, without verifying the authenticity, youths assemble in flash mob,
to express their opposition. It creates law and order problems and affects common
people to the extreme level. Because of their mass action, they never think to
resolve the conflict, even if the news is of genuine nature, very rarely! They
behave simultaneously in a similar way but individually and without
coordination. Then where are the Gandhian values in today’s youth?
Gandhiji gave us
the lessons of tolerance, nonviolence, satyagraha and of belief in one’s own
faith. Today’s youth can learn to be
resolute and focus towards their “purpose’ despite all hardships. Here, the
“purpose” should be for all the living beings and not one’s selfish.
Gandhiji’s vision
should not be lost in religious, political and emotional fervors. Satyagraha does not depend on the outside help,
it derives all its help from within. However, if the energy of youth can
receive honest and selfless motivation and direction from the experienced, then
surely they have the ability to transform the lives of many people from
sufferings to happiness and peace. Let us be part of changing the lifestyle of
youth from their mundane lifestyle to Satyagraha Lifestyle.
To explore
further, today’s youth may go through the qualifications of a Satyagrahi as
defined by Gandhiji in ‘Harijan” issue dated March 23,1939.
To conclude, in
Gandhiji’s own words: A Satyagrahi is nothing if not
instinctively law-abiding, and it is his law-abiding nature which exacts from
him implicit obedience to the highest law, that is the voice of conscience which overrides all
other laws. (SW, p. 465)
Presented by : M.D.Chander, Gandhi Peace
Foundation, Madras.
Date: 10th August 2019
