Non-violence

Ghandi states that, " My life is dedicated to service of India through the religion of non-violencen which I believe to be the root of Hinduism"(101). Ghandi links his idea of non-violence to the national religion of India, Hinduism. In this statement, Ghandi makes it obligatory as a faithful hindi and indian to follow his principles of non-violence. He thinks that anyone can participate in non-violence and claims that, "the religion of non-violence is not meant merely for the rishis and the saints. It is meant for the comon people as well (99). Ghanid claims that this non-violence that is used in passive resistance has always been a part of india's tradition. He says, " satyagraha and its off-shoots, non-co-operation and civil resistance, are nothing but new names for the law of suffering (99). I thought this was very clever of Ghandi to relate his ideas of non-violence and passive resistance to indian culture and religion. Ghandi shows the average indian that non-violence is not just a method to beat the english but it is a part of them and their history. They would especially want to use non-violence which is an indian ideal in the defense of the nation of India.