Do Gandhi's Non-violent Weapons still Relevant: Analysis with special reference to Environmental Movement

Can it be said that Gandhi was relevant yesterday and is relevant today as well? The values that the freedom movements gathered and strengthened through various efforts are still present in society? With these all questions, this paper is an attempt to examines the continued relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence in the context of modern environmental movements. Through a critical analysis of Gandhi’s ideas on non-violent resistance, Satyagraha, and Ahimsa, this research explores how these concepts can be applied to contemporary environmental struggles. Recent environmental movements, such as the anti-coal protests in Singrauli, India, and the global climate strikes led by Fridays For Future, demonstrate the effectiveness of non-violent tactics in challenging environmentally destructive policies and practices. For instance, the successful campaign against the Vedanta bauxite mine in Odisha’s Niyamgiri hills, led by the Dongria Kondh tribe, showcases the power of non-violent resistance in protecting indigenous rights and the environment (The Hindu, 2013). Similarly, the peaceful protests against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in the United States, led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, highlight the importance of non-violent activism in defending environmental justice (The New York Times, 2016). By drawing parallels between His’s methods and modern environmental activism, this research demonstrates the enduring relevance of His’s non-violent approach in addressing the complex environmental challenges of the 21st century.