What is the place of Satyagraha in making the rich realize their
duty towards the poor?
A. The same as against the foreign power. Satyagraha is a law of
universal application. Beginning with the family its use can be
extended to every other circle. Suppose a landowner exploits his
tenants, and mulcts them of the fruit of their toil by appropriating
it to his own use. When they expostulate with him he does not listen
and raises objections that he requires so much for his wife, so much
for his children and so on. The tenants or those who have espoused
their cause and have influence will make an appeal to his wife to
expostulate with her husband. She would probably say that for
herself she does not need his exploited money. The children will say
likewise that they would earn for themselves what they need.
Supposing further that he listens to nobody or that his wife and
children combine against the tenants, they will not submit. They
will quit if asked to do so but they will make it clear that the
land belongs to him who tills it. The owner cannot till all the land
himself and he will have to give in to their just demands. It may,
however, be that the tenants are replaced by others. Agitation short
of violence will then continue till the replacing tenants see their
error and make common cause with the evicted tenants. Thus
Satyagraha is a process of educating public opinion, such that it
covers all the elements of society and in the end makes itself
irresistible. Violence interrupts the process and prolongs the real
revolution of the whole social structure.
The conditions necessary for the success of Satyagraha are: (1) The
Satyagrahi should not have any hatred in his heart against the
opponent. (2) The issue must be true and substantial. (3) The
Satyagrahi must be prepared to suffer till the end.
Poona,
4-3-'46
Harijan, 31-3-1946