E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

132 Contextualising Gandhian Thoughtobjective; it is not a condition precedent for action.Even as an objective 'consensus' cannot be a paramountobjective for a Satyagrahi, - because, for a Satyagrahi what isparamount is Truth (which here means, as often explained byGandhi, his current understanding of truth, or the relative truth,as he sees it), and not its acceptance by others. Acceptance byanother, or by a group, cannot be the test of truth, except whereempirical evidence is concerned. A Satyagrahi, must be readyto face even martyrdom to vindicate his perception of truth orhis faith in his perception of truth. He does not dilute hisperception, to secure social acceptance. Gandhi alwaysdescribed himself as a man of peace and compromise. But hewas equally clear that his eagerness for compromise did notinclude compromise on fundamentals. On them he was firm asrock. There should be no dilution of principle "to accommodatea situation."Gandhi leaves no room for doubt on compromise onfundamentals. "All compromise is give and take, but there canbe no give and take on fundamentals. Any compromise onfundamentals is surrender. For it is all give and no take." 16 "Ihave made up my mind to surrender every non-essential... Fullsurrender of non-essentials is a condition precedent toaccession of internal strength to defend the essential bydying." 17Thus Gandhi makes a distinction between essentials orfundamentals, and-non-essentials; he rejects compromise onfundamentals, and recommends renunciation of non-essentials,not so much for pleasing an adversary as for increasing one'sown combat-potential, when one is joining battle to defend theessential even by dying. In combat phraseology, it is thejettisoning of all superfluous weight that may adversely affectstrike potential or manoeuvrability.The willingness to compromise is thus confined to non-