Manifesto of Peace
A Manifesto of Peace
~ 6 ~
We find a very interesting example of a peaceful
method in India. India’s freedom struggle was
started in 1857. But, even after more than 60 years of
sacrifice, the desired political goal remained a
distant dream. Then, in 1920, Gandhi emerged as
the leader of the freedom struggle. Taking a U-turn,
he abandoned the violent method and opted for a
peaceful course of action for the freedom
movement.
Things took a miraculous turn after that, with the
British Empire becoming paralysed: a non-violent
Gandhi had taken away from the British any
justification for the use of violence. The following
anecdote is an apt illustration. When Gandhi
launched his freedom movement by following a
peaceful method instead of resorting to violent
means, a British officer sent a telegram to his
secretariat in these words:
“Kindly wire instructions how to kill a tiger
non-violently.”
Therefore the success which was not forthcoming,
even after a long and violent struggle, was achieved
by peaceful methods in a short period of time.
