Discuss Gandhiji's view on satyagraha with special reference to means and methods adopted for satyagraha.

Satyagraha is a term used by Gandhiji for the type of
pacifist and non-violent movement led by him for securing independence of India from the
British rules and for bringing about social change against opposition from the
established institutions and established social systems. Satyagraha is a Hindi word
which literally means truthful insistence, is almost a synonym of
English terms like passive resistance and nonviolent
resistance.

The basic approach of satyagraha originated
much before the movement started by Gandhiji. It includes ideas and actions of Henry
David Thoreau (1817-1862) described by terms like civil disobedience and passive
resistance.

The method of satyagraha developed by G is
based on principles of courage, nonviolence, and truth. It involves five basic stages. 
First, there must be some perception of injustice.

The
second stage is that of proper response, that is based on courage to fight injustice.
This response is different from violent retaliation as well as submission out of
fear.

The third stage involves choosing the field of action
to highlight the injustice.  Often this involves deliberate, nonviolent defiance of the
unjust law and readiness to suffer the consequences of such
defiance.

The next stage covers conduct of a satyagraha
activist during a  campaign of satyagraha, which aims at winning over an opponent
through love and self-sacrifice.  Gandhiji insisted that in Satyagraha there is no place
for hurting an opponent or exploiting his weakness.

The
final stage is the resolution of the conflict. This requires an attempt on the part of
the satyagraha activist to see an opponent's point of view. Gandhiji believed that a
satyagraha is successful only when both sides are satisfied with the final
outcome.

The method of satyagraha developed by Gandhiji has
been the inspiration and guide for similar movements in many other parts of the world.
For example, it had immense influence on Martin Luther King's struggle against racial
discrimination in the United States.  Many groups of activists round the world, involved
in causes such as nuclear disarmament, animal rights, and environmental protection,
continue to use the basic method of satyagraha even today.