Explain how satyagraha helped India achieve independence.
Satyagraha was a nonviolent resistance movement that was used by Mahatma Gandhi to help India achieve independence from British colonial rule. This approach was based on the principles of truth and nonviolence, and involved peaceful protests, civil disobedience, and noncooperation with unjust laws and practices.
Satyagraha helped to mobilize and unite the Indian people in their struggle for independence, providing a powerful and morally legitimate alternative to violent methods of resistance. By adopting nonviolent means, the movement was able to attract widespread support from diverse segments of Indian society, including peasants, workers, students, and intellectuals.
Gandhi's satyagraha campaigns, such as the Salt March and the Quit India Movement, were instrumental in exposing the injustices of British colonial rule and increasing pressure on the British government to grant independence to India. The movement also garnered international attention and support, further isolating the British and weakening their hold on India.
Ultimately, through the use of satyagraha, the Indian people were able to demonstrate their resilience, courage, and commitment to freedom and justice, which played a crucial role in forcing the British to recognize India's right to self-determination and grant independence in 1947. Thus, satyagraha played a key role in India's struggle for independence and continues to inspire movements for social change and liberation around the world.