E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi and Contemporary… 109brings the self, other human beings and communities in aninterlinked relational mode and at the same time not ruling outthe possibility of nonviolent action campaigns against unjustlaws, authorities, and institutions without breaking thisrelational framework. It requires courage in the face ofrepression, reconciliation with opponents, attacking oppressivesystems rather than personally targeting the oppressors;accepting self-suffering and renouncing violence. Positivenonviolence of the Gandhian variety seeks to achieve deepertransformation. 12One of the strengths of the Gandhian type of nonviolentaction is that it allows space for self-reflection by allowing timefor withdrawal and constructive engagement. This constructiveengagement enables people to be less agitated, anddispassionate. Agitation alone is unable to produce a new order.Therefore every agitation should be accompanied by aconstructive element. This fact is often forsaken by manynonviolent movements. As Gandhi Said:. “[The] handling ofcivil disobedience without the Constructive Programme,….[is]like a paralyzed hand attempting to lift a spoon”. 13In Tunisia and Egypt women played a key role with 20percent of the protesters being women, often coming with theirhusbands and children. Given the refusal of political rights towomen in the Arab world, these movements are likely to havesome positive impact in broadening of democracy in thesecountries. The Saudi government has now given women votingrights. Tunisia was the first to recognize gender parity in theelection to the Constituent Assembly, which was alsofacilitated by the high literacy of women. Many women hadparticipated in the Khudai Khidmatgar movements as well.Irom Sharmilla’s refusal to take food shows a rare kind ofdetermination that has no parallels anywhere in India. Women