Date:19/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/19/stories/2007101961721100.htm

Tamil Nadu

Satyagraha: India’s gift to the world

Special Correspondent

PUDUKOTTAI: The concept of Satyagraha is a gift presented by India to the world, said speakers at the Satyagraha centenary celebration held at H.H. Rajah’s College here on Tuesday. The celebration was organised by the history department.

V.S. Ramalingam, advocate, was the chief guest. He said though the concept of ‘ahimsa’ was practised from ancient days, it was Mahatma Gandhi who gave a new definition, meaning and dimension to it. Satyagraha not only preached non-violence but also opposed harassment of others for the sake of achieving one’s goals. A true ‘Satyagrahi’ would never harass others and would always lead a disciplined life.

Mr. Ramalingam said never in the history of the world such a large number of people, including women, participated in various struggles to free the nation from the clutches of the British. This was mainly because of the Satyagraha movement launched by Gandhiji.

The world of late understood the important role that Satyagraha could play in solving problems. Hence, the U.N. declared Gandhiji’s birthday as International Day of Non-Violence. This was a great honour bestowed on the Mahatma and on Indian heritage.

Additional head of the department of history S. Viswanathan said that September 11, 1906 was a memorable day in world history as it was on this day that Gandhiji launched the Satyagraha movement in South Africa. Satyagraha always led the people to the path of peace. Revolutionaries and social reformers such as Baba Amte, Bahuguna, Medha Patkar, Martin Luther King always preferred Satyagraha in order to achieve their goals.