Born: July 12, 1817, Massachusetts, United States
Died: May 6, 1862, Massachusetts, United States
Keywords: Philosopher, Writer, Poet, Historian
Henry David Thoreau, an American writer’s works left a deep impression on Gandhi.
One of his famous works is the essay, ‘Resistance to Civil Disobedience’ which was later republished as ‘ Civil Disobedience’.
Gandhi wrote to one of Thoreau’s biographers, Henry. S. Salt, that he had first read one of Thoreau's writings in Johannesburg when he was already involved in the passive resistance struggle in South Africa. He further mentions how Thoreau’s essay,‘Civil Disobedience’ left a deep impression on him.
Gandhi admitted that after reading Thoreau’s essay he had a ‘scientific confirmation’ for his activities in South Africa.
Gandhi was greatly influenced by Thoreau. Many believe that it was after reading Thoreau’s essay, Gandhi derived the idea of Civil Disobedience, which is a misconception. Gandhi had only used the term, ‘Civil Disobedience’ to describe what Satyagraha means to his Indian followers in South Africa. Satyagraha movement in South Africa evolved long before he had read Thoreau’s essay. Satyagraha is a Sanskrit word which means ‘devotion to truth’. He, in fact, started using the words, Satyagraha and Civil Disobedience interchangeably.
The idea of Civil Disobedience was different for Gandhi and Thoreau. For the latter, it meant to be true to one’s belief whereas, for the former, the idea implied, refusal to cooperate with the British using non-violence as the tool. The idea took the form of a movement to bring about a political change.
