Satyagraha and colonial power: a study of Gandhian resistance (1915–1947)

Abstract

This article uses a historical analysis of Gandhian resistance in India from 1915 to 1947 to investigate the connection between Satyagraha and colonial authority. A political strategy focused on truth, nonviolence, self-discipline, and public engagement was introduced by Mahatma Gandhi, who allegedly changed the character of anti-colonial resistance. As a method of moral resistance, Gandhi created Satyagraha to confront British domination on multiple fronts: politically, ethically, and psychologically. This was in contrast to past nationalist strategies, which frequently relied on petitions or elite politics. Champaran, Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, and Quit India are among the significant social movements that this study traces back to Satyagraha’s philosophical roots, which include truth (Satya), non-violence (ahimsa), and self-suffering. Concealment of legitimacy, advancement, and consent are also analysed as mechanisms that upheld colonial rule, in addition to administrative dominance. By drawing attention to the inconsistencies between imperial principles and colonial realities, Gandhi’s tactics of non-cooperation, civil disobedience, and boycott undermined this legitimacy. Specifically addressing caste, economic modernity, and the limits of nonviolence in practice, the article goes on to examine the criticisms and limitations of Gandhian politics. Gandhi, in my view, revolutionized power by showing that a movement characterized by moral fortitude and collective discipline could stand up to imperialism without resorting to bloodshed. According to the research, Satyagraha served as an approach for Indian independence and as a tactic for resistance that has inspired movements for democracy, equality, and justice all across the globe.