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paradigm-shifts.org |
a site dedicated to uplifting the human spirit |
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More Information |
from the
fear-based one of divide and conquer/rule
"An
injury to one is an injury to all."
In order to support the corporate agenda (in this case a British monopoly), the British colonial government passed the salt laws. These laws made it a criminal act for Indians to make their own salt, a necessity of life in a hot country. Gandhi was searching for the answer as to what would be the next step in the struggle against oppression. The answer came to him in a dream; on March 12, 1930, he (and some trusted followers) would walk 240 miles to the coast where mother nature provided salt free for the taking. On a given signal the salt protest would begin. When they reached the coast 24 days later the marchers had increased from 78 followers to several thousands. Mohandas Gandhi stooped down and picked up a pinch of salt from the sand. All along India's coastline people of all ages gathered the "illegal" salt; people in cities bought the contraband salt. Individuals acted in direct disobedience to this oppressive British law. This was a watershed; the whole country knew it had thrown off its chains even though many were punished. Gandhi was arrested and imprisoned many times. He embraced the prospect of imprisonment with such joy and good humour that people all over India began to laugh off their own fear. He was free whether he was inside a prison or not. By his example he showed the Indian people how to negate the energy of fear. An Injury to One is an Injury to All: Gandhi said, "All of us are one. When you inflict suffering on others, you are bringing suffering on yourself, When you weaken others you are weakening yourself, weakening the whole (nation)." |