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- Title
The Republic of China and a new opportunity: The revolution through non-violence by Mahatma Gandhi.
- Authors
De Togni, Monica
- Abstract
The history of how the nonviolent proposal of Mahatma Gandhi resonates with Chinese intellectuals is a history of variability. In the late Forties, it seems appealing to some Chinese politicians who actually apply non-cooperative means, whereas during the Twenties, even if it was not at all a dominant idea, it resonates well with some Chinese intellectuals. However, during the Thirties, after Gandhi refused to compromise with Stalin, and while the Marxist proposal disseminated worldwide, the nonviolent leanings were no longer supported in China. In Hu Yuzhi, we find an example of this attitude toward nonviolence: he was a strong supporter during the Twenties, becoming an opponent in the Thirties. Copious are the difficulties in combining other political proposal with Gandhism, which is a comprehensive proposal, not only a political one. Someone perceived Gandhism as a competitor in the supremacy over the masses. Others disagreed about the possibility to use violent means. Another leading theme of objection concerned the industrialization, strongly opposed by Gandhi because of its deadly effects over the Indian population. Generally, an intense opposition came from the misunderstanding of the nonviolent path as a passive one. Moreover, the consideration of Gandhi's experiments changed from a perception of it as a native one because it comes from an Asian country, and in opposition to Marxism coming from Europe, to a perception of it as an external one when Marxism was "sinicised." Anyway, the main reason of the difficulty in implementing Gandhism is that it does not aim to triumph over the opponents; it is a way to individuate and assert the Truth (satyagraha), with both sides winning. When this intent is absent, it is impossible to realize it.
- Subjects
GANDHI, Mahatma, 1869-1948; REVOLUTIONS; SENSORY perception; INDUSTRIALIZATION; NONVIOLENCE; INTELLECTUALS; OPPONENTS; ASIANS; NATIVE Americans
- Publication
Kervan: International Journal of Afro-Asiatic Studies, 2019, Vol 23, p87
- ISSN
1825-263X
- Publication type
Article