Satjagraha je spojením sanskritských slovsatja (znamenajúci "pravda") aAgraha ("nástojčivosť" alebo "pevne sa držať"). Pre Gándhího sa satjagraha stala niečím oveľa viac než "pasívnym odporom". Stala sa silou pri uvádzaní nenásilných spôsobov jednania do života. Podľa jeho slov:
Pravda (satja) implikuje lásku, a pevnosť (agraha) plodí, a teda slúži ako synonymum pre silu. Tak som začal nazývať Indické hnutie Satjagraha, presnejšie sila ktorá sa rodí z pravdy a lásky alebo nenásilia, a vzdal som sa v tejto súvislosti použitia frázy “pasívny odpor” do takej miery, že aj v anglických textoch sme sa jej často vyhýbali a používali sme namiesto toho slovo “satjagraha”....[5]
↑McKay, John P.; Hill, Bennett D.; Buckler, John; Ebrey, Patricia Buckley; Beck, Roger B.; Crowston, Clare Haru; Wiesner-Hanks, Merry E.A History of World Societies: From 1775 to Present. Eighth edition. Volume C – From 1775 to the Present. (2009).Bedford/St. Martin's: Boston/New York.ISBN 978-0-312-68298-9.ISBN 0-312-68298-0. "Meanwhile, Gandhi was searching for a spiritual theory of social action. He studied Hindu and Christian teachings, and gradually developed a weapon for the weak that he called Satyagraha. Gandhi conceived of Satyagraha, loosely translated as "Soul Force,"as a means of striving for truth and social justice through love, suffering, and conversion of the oppressor. Its tactic is active nonviolent resistance." (McKay 859).
↑http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/525247/satyagraha "Gandhi’s satyagraha became a major tool in the Indian struggle against British imperialism and has since been adopted by protest groups in other countries." Date accessed: 14 September 2010.
↑http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=9165422 "In this respect Satyagraha or non-violent resistance, as conceived by Gandhiji, has an important lesson for pacifists and war-resisters of the West. Western pacifists have so far proved ineffective because they have thought that war can be resisted by mere propaganda, conscientious objection, and organization for settling disputes." Date accessed: 14 September 2010.
