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Freedom Movement turns retrograde
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Radha Rajan
- Contrary to Aurobindo’s assertion that passive resistance was a necessary tactical move to invoke and strengthen in citizens the much-needed qualities of endurance, capacity for suffering pain and punishment, unflinching courage and the moral strength to ultimately launch if need be, a full-scale war against foreign rulers, Gandhi’s passive resistance became a goal in itself for ordinary ‘Gandhian’ Indians to practise and achieve successfully. But the unanswered question remains - what did Gandhi really desire for the Indians who followed him on the streets? Self-Rule as inner liberation, Home-Rule as the Home Rule League wanted or small victories with passive resistance in local issues? What goal did he explicitly set for the INC?
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Gandhi's passive resistance only delayed political independence and facilitated the exit of the British on their terms and at a time of their choosing. Thus:
Because Gandhi's resistance to British rule was 'passive', it was essentially non-violent.
Passive resistance by Gandhi's own admission could not be employed for a general objective, but only locally for a limited purpose.
Passive resistance was therefore not intended to end British rule in India or for India's political independence.
Passive resistance was meant only to resist specific, unfair and repressive laws in India.
Gandhi's political career in India was only a continuation of his career in South Africa, both in terms of the methods he employed and his objectives.
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Sunday, July 26, 2009
Freedom Movement turns retrograde - Vijayvaani.com
