Satyagraha is a philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance developed by Mahatma Gandhi, meaning “truth force” or “holding firmly to truth”. It involves using nonviolence to fight injustice by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor, rather than using physical force. A practitioner of satyagraha is called a satyagrahi.

• Origin: Gandhi developed the method of satyagraha in South Africa before successfully using it for mass agitation in India. The first satyagraha movement in India was the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917.
• Core principle: Satyagraha emphasizes the power of truth and nonviolence. It suggests that a struggle against injustice can be won without resorting to physical force, by appealing to the opponent’s conscience.
• Methodology: A satyagrahi must be firm in their cause but also patient and sympathetic towards the opponent, believing that truth is bound to triumph in the end.
• Related terms:
  • Satyagrahi: A person who practices satyagraha.
  • Swachhagrahis: A term used for community-level motivators in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) initiative, named in homage to satyagrahis.

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