Indian traditions of nonviolence

Hinduism

• In ancient times, no emphasis on nonviolence.• The ‘Mahabharata’, or ‘Just’ War

Jainism

• Strong stress on nonviolence (ahimsa)• Committing violence against someone is

committing violence against oneself• Complete ahimsa is unattainable• Try to minimise, e.g. by wearing masks to stop

them inhaling insects• Anekantvad – acceptance of multiple

viewpoints

Buddhism

• The First Precept of Buddhism – forbids the taking of life

• Nonviolence as passive or active?

Guru Jambheshwar

The Bishnois: a nonviolent community of nature worshippers of Rajasthan in western India.

Founded by Guru Jambheshwar before 1451 after a drought in the Marwar region of Rajasthan.

He laid down 29 principles to be followed by the sect.

One of them was: JEEV DAYA PALNI, RUNKH LIL0 NAHI GHAVE - ‘protect trees and animals’

The Guru directed the worship of Lord Vishnu . Thus the sect is called Vishnoi or Bishnoi.

Trees and animals were considered to be sacred by the Bishnois. Killing animals and the felling of trees were banned.

A religious sect

Cenotaph of Bishnoi martyrs at Khejarli, who laid down their

lives in 1730 AD protecting trees

•In 1730, Maharaja Abhay Singh, ruler of the kingdom of Jodhpur in the Marwar region sent out men to cut trees for the construction of his new palace.•It was prohibited to cut green trees according to Bishnoi principles. Sar santey rookh rahe to bhi sasto jaan (If a tree is saved even at the cost of one's head, it's worth it)•1730, a Bishnoi woman of Khejarli village, Amrita Devi, protested against this by putting her body between the axes of the tree-cutters and a tree. Her head was cut off as a result. Her three daughters offered their heads too.•The news spread like wildfire. The felling of green trees was continued; thus it was decided that for every green tree to be cut, one Bishnoi volunteer would sacrifice his/her life. •363 Bishnois, young and old, men and women, married and unmarried, rich and poor, died in this way.

The Bishnois

•The tree-felling party was badly shaken. With their mission unfulfilled, they left for Jodhpur to relay these events to the Maharaja. As soon as he learned about it, he ordered the felling of trees to be stopped.•Honouring the courage of the Bishnoi community, Maharaja Abhay Singh apologised for the mistake committed by his officials and issued a royal decree, engraved on a copper plate ordering the following:

• All cutting of green trees and hunting of animals within the boundaries of Bishnoi villages is strictly prohibited.

• If any individual violates this order, he will be prosecuted by the state and a severe penalty imposed.

A Bishnoi woman

The Bishnois

•Risaamanu meant non-violent protest against the government.

•Often involved self-inflicted harm. Based on the belief that self-inflicted suffering generates an immense power that may even move the gods.

• Such methods relied on both bringing pressure to bear on the oppressor, and also making an emotional appeal. Fasting could achieve such an aim.

•Traga - the infliction of self-harm if a grievance was not addressed. •Dharna - stationing oneself near the place of abode of the ruler or oppressor to call public attention to a cause.•Dhandak, a practice in the Himalayan hill states where people marched to the capital city and demanded an audience with the monarch; who, in turn, would promise to look into the matter.•Hijrat, which denotes mass migration. During the Mughal period, peasants often protested against excessive tax demands by migrating to the territory of another ruler.

Dharampal, Civil disobedience and Indian tradition with some early nineteenth century documents, Varanesi: Sarva Seva Sangh Prakashan, 1971, p.xxvi

‘…civil disobedience and non-co-operation were traditionally the key methods used by the Indian people against oppressive and unjust actions of government.’

Protest against house tax, Banaras 1810-11

• 1810, the British impose a new tax on houses and shops. If it was not paid, the property could be confiscated and sold.•The people of Banaras argued that former rulers had not levied any such tax, and that it was unjust. They claimed that many householders could not afford the tax., due to severe price inflation under British rule.

Protest against house tax, Banaras 1810-11

•On 25 December 1810, the people of Banaras – Hindus and Muslims alike – took an oath to stop all work in protest. They closed their shops and stopped work, and assembled together to protest. Those who would not join the protest had penalties imposed on them, and were put out of caste. •The people left the city and gathered at a particular spot outside, resolving to remain there until the government took a decision. Over 20,000 people were reported to be sitting on dharna , declaring that they will not disperse until the tax was abolished. More and more joined the dharna over the next two weeks. •On 1 January 1811, the Collector reported: ‘At present open violence does not seem to be their aim, they seem rather to vaunt their security in being unarmed in that a military force would not use deadly weapons against such inoffensive foes. And in this confidence they collect and increase knowing that the civil power cannot disperse them, and thinking that the military will not.’•The protest petered out in Banaras by February 1811. However, there were similar protests elsewhere, and at the end of 1811, the British cancelled the tax.