Lecture on Nonviolent Resistance and Mahatma Gandhi's Role

Introduction

Narrator: Discusses the imprisonment of a young Indian lawyer in South Africa, Mohandas Gandhi, in 1907. Gandhi led a nonviolent struggle against racial oppression.
Key Quote: "Nonviolent refusal to cooperate with injustice is the way to defeat it." - Gandhi
Satyagraha: Gandhi's term for nonviolent resistance, meaning 'holding to truth'.

Gandhi returned to India from South Africa and became a dominant political figure.
He understood that British control depended on Indian cooperation.
Proposed mass civil disobedience as a strategy.

Location: Gandhi's Ashram near the Sabarmati River.
Initial Strategy: Challenge the British salt tax and monopoly.
Gandhi wrote to Viceroy Lord Irwin explaining the injustice and his plan to make salt illegally.
March Details: A 240-mile march from the Ashram to the sea, starting on March 12th with 78 marchers.
Symbolism of Salt: Essential for life, making it a powerful symbol.

Public Reaction: Thousands joined the march; worldwide media coverage.
British Dilemma: Arresting Gandhi could incite mass protests; allowing him to continue would undermine British authority.
Gandhi's Arrest: On May 4th, Gandhi was arrested, which ignited widespread civil disobedience.
Aftermath: Thousands of Indians were arrested, boycotts, and protests continued.

Negotiations: Gandhi negotiated with the British, securing the release of political prisoners and the lifting of repressive ordinances.
Long-term Impact: Although British rule continued, Gandhi's efforts delegitimized British authority and awakened Indian nationalism.

James Lawson: A Methodist minister inspired by Gandhi, taught nonviolent resistance in Nashville, TN.
Sit-ins: Students organized sit-ins at segregated lunch counters, facing arrests and violence without retaliation.
Boycotts: Expanded the movement by boycotting downtown shopping areas, significantly impacting the local economy.
Outcome: Led to the desegregation of Nashville's public facilities.

Leaders: Mukhuseli Jack and Janet Cherry organized boycotts and civil disobedience against apartheid.
Consumer Boycott: Aimed to pressure the white community by avoiding white-owned businesses.
Government Reaction: Imposed states of emergency, arrests, and repression.
International Impact: Global economic sanctions and corporate withdrawals increased pressure on the apartheid regime.
Outcome: Nonviolent resistance contributed to the eventual fall of apartheid and the release of Nelson Mandela.

Gandhi's nonviolent strategies have inspired numerous global movements for justice and equality.
His approach of civil disobedience and non-cooperation remains a powerful tool for social change.
The ultimate success of these movements demonstrates the effectiveness of nonviolent resistance in overcoming oppression.