What is Satyagraha? | FAQs - Myths about Mahatma Gandhi

On September 11, 1906, Mahatma Gandhi coined the term "Satyagraha" to characterize the non-violence movement in South Africa. An excerpt from the article:

"Gandhi called his overall method of non-violent action Satyagraha. This translates roughly as "Truth-force." A fuller rendering, though, would be "the force that is generated through adherence to Truth."

Nowadays, it's usually called non-violence. But for Gandhi, non-violence was the word for a different, broader concept-namely, "a way of life based on love and compassion." In Gandhi's terminology, Satyagraha-Truth-force-was an outgrowth of nonviolence.

It may also help to keep in mind that the terms Satyagraha and nonviolent action, though often used one for the other, don't actually refer to the exact same thing. Satyagraha is really one special form of

nonviolent action-Gandhi's own version of it..."