Mahatma Gandhi developed satyagraha in South Africa.
Gandhi coined the term during his campaigns against discriminatory laws affecting the Indian community in the Transvaal and Natal. Satyagraha is often translated as “truth-force” or “truth holding.” It described resistance based on truth, self-discipline, nonviolence, and willingness to accept suffering rather than inflict it.
The method was more than passive refusal. Gandhi believed participants should confront injustice openly, obey moral principles, avoid hatred, and accept legal penalties when necessary. This distinction matters because Gandhi rejected the idea that satyagraha meant simply doing nothing.
He later adapted the method in India during campaigns against colonial rule, including non-cooperation, the Salt March, and the Quit India movement. “Ahimsa,” meaning nonviolence, was a closely related ethical principle, but satyagraha specifically refers to the active method of nonviolent resistance and persuasion.