Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The policy of nonviolent resistance developed by Mahatma Gandhi as a means of pressing for political reform in South Africa and India.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the form of nonviolent resistance initiated in India by Mahatma Gandhi in order to oppose British rule and to hasten political reforms

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Sanskrit satyāgrahaḥ : satyam, truth (from sat-, sant-, existing, true; see es- in Indo-European roots) + āgrahaḥ, determination, insistence (ā-, to + grahaḥ, act of seizing, from gṛhṇāti, he seizes; see ghrebh- in Indo-European roots).]

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Examples

  • The result was a methodology for organizing and life that he termed "Satyagraha" -- a Sanskrit word usually translated as "truth force" or "soul force."

    Ben Brandzel: Rally to Restore Satyagraha? Ben Brandzel 2010

  • Mahatma Gandhi awakened the largest Democracy on earth and forged a shared resolve with what he called Satyagraha or truth force.

    CNN Transcript Dec 10, 2007 2007

  • Is it true that during and after these struggles, Gandhi coined the term Satyagraha and began to expound the theory that lay behind it?

    EXAMINATION BY MR. KATHRADA 1960

  • Gandhi, who coined the term "Satyagraha" or nonviolent resistance and fasted repeatedly against British rule.

    Yahoo! News: Business - Opinion 2011

  • Gandhi, who coined the term "Satyagraha" or nonviolent resistance and fasted repeatedly against British rule.

    The Seattle Times 2011

  • * 1906 - Mahatma Gandhi coins the term Satyagraha to characterize the Non-Violence movement in South Africa.

    the wellingtonista - a blog about wellington, new zealand 2008

  • And the surprising home-made signage in yesterday's crowd offers a great a deal of hope that Satyagraha is not only still possible, but could be wildly successful in modern progressive organizing.

    Ben Brandzel: Rally to Restore Satyagraha? Ben Brandzel 2010

  • This staging of Satyagraha is a major accomplishment long overdue in this specific corner of the opera world.

    Archive 2008-05-01 2008

  • This staging of Satyagraha is a major accomplishment long overdue in this specific corner of the opera world.

    I read the news today, oh boy 2008

  • 1906 - Mahatma Gandhi coins the term Satyagraha to characterize the Non-Violence movement in South Africa.

    Nothingandall 2008

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