Mahatma's Address

Satyagraha Never Fails: Gandhiji

Following are excerpts from the
Presidential Address of Mahatma Gandhi
at the AICC Session at Belgaum in 1924

From the September of 1920 the Congress has been principally an institution for developing strength from within. It has ceased to function by means of resolutions addressed to the Government for redress of grievances.

The most important boycott was the boycott of violence. Whilst it appeared at one time to be entirely successful, it was soon discovered that the non-violence was only skin-deep.

I contend that non-violent acts exert pressure far more effective than violent acts, for that pressure comes from goodwill and gentleness. Boycott of foreign cloth exerts such pressure.

Organisation of Khaddar is thus infinitely better than cooperative societies or any other form of village organisation. It is fraught with the highest political consequence, because it removes the greatest immoral temptation from Britain's way.

I do not endorse the proposition that supply follows demand. On the contrary, demand is often artificially created by unscrupulous vendors. And if a nation is bound, as I hold it is, like individuals to comply with a code of moral conduct, then it must consider the welfare of those whose want it seeks to supply.

I am no more trying to present for national acceptance all my views on machinery, than I am presenting the whole of my belief in non-violence.

Hindu-Muslim unity is not less important than the spinning wheel. It is breath of our life. I do not need to occupy much of your time on this question because the necessity of it is almost universally accepted.

The Hindus can live in the midst of an overwhelming Musalman majority only if the latter are willing to receive and treat them as friends and equals, just as Musalmans, if in a minority, must depend for honourable existence in the midst of a Hindu majority on the latter's friendliness.

It is a blasphemy to say that God set apart any portion of humanity as untouchable. And Hindus who are Congressmen have to see to it that they break down the barrier at the earliest possible moment.

The end we do not know. For me it is enough to know the means. Means and end are convertible terms in my philosophy of life

I have repeatedly stated that Satyagraha never fails and that one perfect Satyagrahi is enough to vindicate Truth.