Civil Disobedience in Indian Tradition, with Some Early Nineteenth Century Documents c5.s3.1

c5.s3.1

The story of the 1810-11 protests at Benares and other towns does not necessarily include every form of protest resorted to by the Indian people in relation to governmental or other authority. A more systematic exploring of eighteenth and early nineteenth century primary records (as well as records of still earlier periods—if such exist) may well disclose several other forms of protest and their principal features. Yet it should establish beyond any doubt that the resort to non-cooperation and civil disobedience against injustice etc., are in the tradition of India. It also confirms Gandhiji's observation that 'in India the nation at large has generally used passive resistance in all departments of life. We cease to cooperate with our rulers when they displease us.' It further suggests that either intuitively or through knowledge of specific instances, Mahatma Gandhi was very much aware of such a tradition.