UCLA Asia Institute
Today in Asian History
March 22
1907 Mohandas Gandhi continued his career as a social and political activist leading opposition to the Transvaal's Asiatic Registration Act. Gandhi had already experienced bias due to his caste in India, his ethnicity in England, and in 1893 he was tossed from a South African train for daring to sit in a "whites-only" section. The resistance that he displayed then became a full-blown and ultimately successful movement from 1906 to 1914 to oppose the pass laws for Asians in South Africa. Gandhi developed the concept of satyagraha (steadfastness in truth) applied to non-violent protest during this period.
In 1914, Gandhi quoted himself in an article he wrote in Indian Opinion of the struggle in South Africa:
"My faith in truth was unshakable [even though early on some said in the effort was dead] and I replied, 'The people, having tasted once the joy of struggle, will fight now with even greater zeal.' ... 'Satyagraha is a kind of struggle in which there can be no defeat and no cause for regret. A man can only become stronger through the struggle. He suffers no exhaustion and at every stage he gains fresh strength.'"
The African National Congress website includes an extensive article on Gandhi's work in South Africa and his contribution to breaking down the barriers among people.
In 1998, the BBC marked the 50th anniversary of Gandhi's assassination with a print and audio report on Gandhi's life and contributions. Kids-rights.org has produced materials on non-violent protest which include sections on Gandhi's work in India.
The AI "Today in Asian History" page was compiled by Clayton Dube. He welcomes your comments and suggestions. Send them to <cdube@isop.ucla.edu>.
Search
