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What Gandhi Says: About Nonviolence, Resistance, and Courage
By
Norman G. Finkelstein
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
About this ebook
The Occupy movement and the protests that inspired it have focused new attention on the work of Mahatma Gandhi, who set out principles of nonviolent resistance during the struggle for Indian Independence, principles that found their echo in Tahrir Square, Puerta del Sol and Zuccotti Park some half a century later.
If there has been widespread recognition of Gandhi’s role in developing the tactics underpinning the revolutionary upsurges of the past year, few have stopped to examine what Gandhi actually said about the relationship between nonviolence, resistance and courage.
Step forward Norman Finkelstein, who, drawing on extensive readings of Gandhi’s copious oeuvre and intensive reflection on the way that progress might be made in the seemingly intractable impasse of the Middle East, here sets out in clear and concise language the basic principles of Gandhi’s approach.
There is much that will surprise in these pages: Gandhi was not a pacifist; he believed in the right of those being attacked to strike back and regarded inaction as a result of cowardice to be a greater sin than even the most ill-considered aggression. Gandhi’s calls for the sacrifice of lives in order to shame the oppressor into concessions can easily seem chilling and ruthless.
But Gandhi’s insistence that, in the end, peaceful resistance will always be less costly in human lives than armed opposition, and his understanding that the role of a protest movement is not primarily to persuade people of something new, but rather to get them to act on behalf of what they already accept as right – these principles have profound resonance in both the Israel-Palestine conflict and the wider movement for justice and democracy that began to sweep the world in 2011.
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From other countries
Michael Hoffman
5.0 out of 5 stars Surprising insights into Gandhi and a roadmap for victory for Palestinians
Reviewed in the United States on 23 October 2015
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Dr. Finkelstein’s brief book surprised me with its insights. I thought I knew Gandhi, but the author shows that he was not a pacifist. He chose non-violence because that was the only means by which British imperialism could be driven out of India. Finkelstein demonstrates that Gandhi's non-violence was in many respects more brutal than the violence of a military army. Gandhi expected his followers to walk into the guns of the enemy with complete courage and resolve, fully expecting to die. Few soldiers face those kinds of odds on a daily, weekly and monthly basis as did Gandhi’s followers.
Furthermore, the author is passionately committed to mercy and justice for the Palestinian people, and it’s my prayer that the Palestinian masses will heed this call to the only path to victory open to them at present, in their battle with the massive state power of the Israelis: the tactics of Gandhi.
As noted this book is brief, but the scholarship behind it is not shallow. Finkelstein read exhaustively in Gandhi’s papers, including portions seldom if ever quoted. This book is yet another significant contribution to human knowledge by a scholar who has suffered ritual defamation and loss of employment, and his teaching career itself, for his beliefs.
15 people found this helpful
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BuffaloJim
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in Canada on 20 January 2020
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Quite an eye-opening insight into a interesting person
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Manicka
5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended
Reviewed in India on 28 August 2021
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Well researched short book on how Gandhi empowered the powerless 99 percent against the greedy 1 percent. Today, Gandhi is more relevant in India and this book is a very good introduction to understand how we can strive for redistribution / devolution of power to the masses. Recommended.
One person found this helpful
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Shoe Person
5.0 out of 5 stars Has me thinking
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 April 2024
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
It’s been a while since I thought about the teachings of Gandhi. And I’ve read very little on him so I was thrilled to see Norman Finkelstein’s perspective on Gandhi. It has given me food for thought.
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Aastha Mehta
4.0 out of 5 stars Fresh-Take on Mahatma Gandhi
Reviewed in India on 28 June 2020
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A short read of 90 pages compressing the plethora of literature on Mahatama Gandhi's principles of resistance, Satygaraha and non-violence. Norman Finkelstein analyses Gandhiji's doctrine of non-violence and Satyagraha, from a fresh outlook. This book brings to the readers, in a crisp manner, the philosophy of a man who led a revolution based not on brutality, but mutual love, humanity and civil disobedience.
The book draws from three major sources of Gandhiji's work,
1. Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi published by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
2. Essential Writings by Mahatma Gandhi &
3. Non-Violent Resistance (Satyagraha) by Mahatma Gandhi
The book is bound to shock since the interpretation Finkelstein lends to the Gandhiji's various doctrines are not actually a part of mainstream perception associated with him. Contrary to the popular belief that non-violence meant inaction or subjugation on part of the oppressed, the book tells that Gandhiji loathed cowardice and inaction. He often worried that non-violence is used as a cloak for those who fear death by being inactive and coward. In fact, shockingly the book based on his own writings claims that Gandhiji advocated a valliant attitude for those who could not muster up enough courage to face the oppressors non-violently, and therefore fight and die in battle. He also openly supported violence in case of self-defence.
The book then proceeds to claim that the crux of Gandhiji's doctrine lay on the principle of "sacrifice" and fearlessness of death, which is bound to "melt even the stoniest of hearts" of Englishmen. His undying belief in the human capacity to love, made him believe that facing death with a smile on the face is bound to transform the hearts of the oppressors who will then shed their roles of conquerors and see the heinousness of their actions.
While drawing from his writings, Finkelstein points out the inconsistencies and impracticality of his thought process, but at the same time, hoists Gandhiji as a "practical idealist" who believed in action rather than words. It is a book which throws some insight on Gandhiji's principles not from a standpoint of a "reformer" but a politician, an orator and a man with a deep connect with grassroots.
One of the most interesting aspect of the book is Gandhiji's attitude towards participation of Indian troops in World-War II to help the Allies. Some startling facts come to the fore in this book, vis-à-vis his letter to "Dear Friend, Hitler", his advice to the Jews about incorporating non-violent attitude and whether use of violence by Allies makes them any different from Hitler. These are some of the many debatable topics dealt within the book.
2 people found this helpful
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James Kalomiris, The Peripatetic Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Good and Balanced Introduction
Reviewed in the United States on 21 August 2012
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This is possibly the best introduction to Mahatmas Gandhi, his life and philosophy. The great service this book provides is that it shows that there were limits to his philosophy of non-violence. Contrary to what is commonly believed about Gandhi, he did not believe that violence should not be employed at all costs. There was a time and place for everything. This book presents a balanced summary to his entire philosophy.
12 people found this helpful
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anupama
4.0 out of 5 stars written by the brilliant Norman Finkelstein
Reviewed in India on 1 February 2016
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A fascinating book, written by the brilliant Norman Finkelstein. Gandhi as the sum of many faults, contradictions and very human failings. The impracticality of most of his teachings. And yet, noted pacifist and political writer Finkekstein concludes, he was right.
4 people found this helpful
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Rameez Rahman
5.0 out of 5 stars A corrective to two-dimensional caricatures
Reviewed in the United States on 22 July 2013
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I really loved this book. Finkelstein is a great scholar. He has shown a side of Gandhi that I had heard about a bit, but not in this much detail. Great book about a great man (written a by a great man himself!)
5 people found this helpful
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