Gandhi As An Agent Of Nonviolent Social Change Analysis

1. In what sense was Gandhi an agent of nonviolent social change? To be an agent of nonviolent social change is to be an instrument of reconciliation in bringing together individuals and groups to resolve conflict in a nonviolent manner. Gandhi embodied these aspects through satyagraha, swadeshi, and sarvodaya. Through the implementation of these revolutionary, yet peaceful initiatives, Gandhi established himself as an agent of nonviolent social change. The first component is satyagraha, which means to be rooted in truth. Satyagraha is enacted through the refusal to act against one’s conscious. Gandhi enacted satyagraha through resisting British colonialism, and again amidst the crises of community conflicts between Indians. Gandhi used …show more content…
Through the power of nonviolent action as a viable means of social protest, Gandhi demonstrated the power of civil disobedience by defying the salt law. This simple act of disobedience to the law was promoted among the masses and demonstrated the powerful effects of civil disobedience, raising questions about the true legitimacy of British rule in India. In non-cooperation efforts against the raj Gandhi called for Indians to leave all councils, courts, and classrooms established by the British, and to also boycott all foreign cloth. The effects of this boycott served to paralyzed British organizations, and the non-cooperation movement gained momentum. Gandhi’s efforts in nonviolent social change through civil disobedience and non-cooperation contributed to public policy, by providing the structure for the 1960’s Civil Rights movement that gave rise to the African American non-violent demonstrations. This movement was expressed through sit-ins, freedom rides, and peaceful marches that exposed and eventually led to the collapse of Jim Crow