Fasting in Satyagraha:

January 25, 2014 :Fasting in Satyagraha has well-defined limits. You cannot fast against a tyrant, for it will be a species of violence done to him. You invite penalty from him for dis-obedience of his orders, but you cannot inflict on yourselves penalties when he refuses to punish and renders it impossible for you to disobey his orders so as to compel infliction of penalty. Fasting can only be restored to against a lover, not to extort rights but to reform him as when a son fasts for a father who drinks. It need not be pointed out that the above remarks are of a gender character. The words tyrant and lover has also a general application. The one who does an injustice is styled “tyrant”. The one who is in sympathy with you is the “lover”… there are two conditions attached to a satyagrahi fast. It should be against the lover and for his reform, not for extorting rights from him… I can fast against my father to cure him of a vice, but I may not in order to get from him an inheritance. The beggars of him, who sometimes fast against those who do not satisfy them, are no more satyagrahis than children who fast against her parent for a fine dress. The farmers are impudent, the latter are childish… a satyagrahis first concern is not the effect of his actions. It must always be its propriety. He must have enough faith in his cause and his means, and know that the success will be achieved in the end.

                                                                                                --- Excerpts from Mahatma Gandhi’s preaching