Reflections on Non-violence

Oct 03, 2009 Editorial

Two years ago, the UN declared October 2 “International Day of Non-violence”. That day was selected because it was the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the man who literally introduced the notion of using non-violence as a tool to deal with political oppression.
Of great interest, of course, is why did the UN take sixty years after the death of the great man to declare a day of observance for its very raison d’etre. The UN, after all, was formed in the aftermath of the greatest orgy of violence mankind had ever engaged in – WWII – and had been specifically mandated to work towards avoiding violence as a means of settling political disputes.
A welter of various and sundry “days” had been declared since the launching of the UN in 1945– so one can only surmise that the idea of non-violence has possibly now become more acceptable at a deeper level in the thinking of world leaders than the lip service that has usually been their wont.
It is our hope that this consciousness has also finally percolated into the psyche and consciousness of our local leaders in Guyana. Born out of the womb of severe ethnic violence, our fledgling republic has never had a fair chance to fulfill its potential primarily because of the penchant of our politicians and other activists to resort to violence to address what they identify as injustices.
Gandhi rose to prominence at a time when after almost forty years, the Indian struggle against the injustices of British rule had been checkmated. The leaders were becoming frustrated and violence was increasingly being seen as an option.
Gandhi immersed himself into the lives of the ordinary people and came up with a radically different strategy. He organised and led many peaceful public protests, which often took the form of non-co-operation with India’s colonial rulers or resistance against them.
Gandhi’s strategy and philosophy was based on three fundamental principles: satyagraha — resolving conflict using active nonviolence; sarvodaya — working for the betterment of all in society; and swaraj — achieving self-government through community-based development.
But the most important of these was nonviolence. Arguing that its purpose is “to convert, not to coerce, the wrong-doer,” Gandhi addressed the basic morality of people – including the oppressors. He changed their hearts and minds, rather than achieving victory over them with physical force. And it worked: India became independent in 1947 – the first colony in the entire British Empire – and fired the imagination of politicians in every other colony, including our own British Guiana.
But the efficacy of the new method of fighting oppression reverberated even beyond the confines of the British Empire.
In the 1950’s the American civil rights movement took up Gandhi’s ideas about nonviolence. Following discussions with Gandhi’s followers, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. became firmly convinced peaceful resistance was the most potent weapon available to correct the injustices experienced by Black Americans. He also came up against those in his community who were just as convinced about the efficacy of violence. But Dr. King persevered with peaceful protests and today the wisdom of his stance is appreciated by all.
Gandhi’s power came from the fact that he didn’t just talk about his ideas. He lived them. A humble and deeply spiritual man, he lived a life of complete simplicity, not seeking wealth or material possessions, political office or public recognition. Gandhi addressed the basic morality of people. He changed their hearts and minds, rather than achieving victory over them with physical force.
We commend the essentials of the Gandhian way of fighting oppression to our present crop of leaders: Nonviolent strategies lead to positive social change; consistently walking one’s talk sends a powerful message; speaking to people’s higher values results in personal and collective transformation.
We notice that not much was done on October 2nd in our country. Let us forthwith honour the International Day of Nonviolence by remembering Gandhi’s legacy and applying his ideas to bring peace to our troubled country.

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Reflections on Non-violence

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