Question

Gandhi's idea of Satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for __________.
A] Atma
B] God
C] Spirit
D] Truth

Answer 1

Hint: Satyagraha is a concept which was introduced by Mahatma Gandhi in order to resist the opposition in a non-violent way. Gandhi made use of the term satyagraha during the Indian independence movement and his earlier struggle related to his career in South Africa. Mahatma Gandhi designates a determined but nonviolent resistance to evil and that major tool in the Indian struggle against British imperialism and has since been adopted by protest groups in other countries. The concept of satyagraha has been adapted by many world leaders like Nelson Mandela during their struggles.

Complete answer: Satyagraha is a term that is adopted from the Sanskrit language which means “holding onto truth”. The concept was introduced by Gandhi and was used by a huge amount of his followers during the freedom fights. The concept became a dominant tool in the Indian struggle against British imperialism and has since been adopted by protest groups in other countries.
According to the philosophical aspects of Satyagraha, practitioners of this will be able to achieve clear insight into the reality of an encountered evil situation just through observation, by politely enquiring about the truth, and by undergoing a rigorous process of self-scrutiny. By following these ideal behaviours, the satyagrahi will meet the truth in the end. Refusal of submission to the wrong or to cooperate with it in any way, the satyagrahi disgraces that truth. Throughout the process, the satyagrahi must stick to nonviolence, for to employ violence would be to lose correct insight. Satyagrahis will be open to their opponents about their intentions and satyagraha forbids secrecy to one’s advantage. Satyagraha includes more than civil disobedience.

Hence, the solution is option D.

Note: Satyagraha draws from the ancient Indian ideal of ahimsa (“noninjury”), which is pursued with particular rigour by Jains. Satyagraha critics have claimed, both in Gandhi's time and subsequently, that it is impractical and incapable of universal success, since it relies on the opponent's high standard of ethical action, the representative of evil, and requires an unrealistically strong degree of devotion from those striving for social change.