III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 357 

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. WARNER, and Mr. CORNYN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma 

Gandhi. 

Whereas Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in the modern-day state of Gujarat, India, 

and October 2, 2019, represents the 150th anniversary of 

his birth; 

Whereas, following his admission as a lawyer to the bar in 

England, Mohandas Gandhi moved to South Africa, 

where he experienced state-sanctioned racial discrimination firsthand; 

Whereas that experience motivated Mohandas Gandhi to develop and teach the concept of ‘‘satyagraha,’’ meaning 

‘‘truth-force,’’ which involves using methods of nonviolent 

dissent such as civil disobedience in the face of injustice; 


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•SRES 357 IS 

Whereas Mohandas Gandhi would spend nearly 20 years in 

South Africa using the principles of satyagraha to speak 

out and organize against the injustices of racial segregation; 

Whereas, in 1919, several years after his return to India, 

Mohandas Gandhi called for a campaign of satyagraha in 

response to British authorities issuing the Rowlatt Acts; 

Whereas Mohandas Gandhi began a decades-long movement 

of nonviolent dissent to gain self-rule for India, including 

campaigns to boycott British goods and develop the economic independence of India; 

Whereas Mohandas Gandhi persisted in his advocacy for selfrule for India despite multiple arrests; 

Whereas Mohandas Gandhi advocated for the rights of the 

lowest classes in India, whom he renamed the 

‘‘Harijans,’’ or ‘‘children of God,’’ and thereby spurred 

reforms that improved the legal status of those individuals; 

Whereas the vision of Mohandas Gandhi for India was of a 

secular and pluralistic home for people of different religions and backgrounds; 

Whereas the followers of Mohandas Gandhi named him ‘‘Mahatma,’’ meaning ‘‘great soul’’ in Sanskrit; 

Whereas the nonviolent dissent movement started by Mahatma Gandhi resulted in India gaining its independence 

from the British Empire; 

Whereas the principles of satyagraha inspired civil rights 

leaders and movements around the world, including Dr. 

Martin Luther King, Jr., in the United States; 


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•SRES 357 IS 

Whereas Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said that the philosophy of nonviolent dissent of Mahatma Gandhi is ‘‘the 

only morally and practically sound method open to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom’’; and 

Whereas the teachings and work of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. 

Martin Luther King, Jr., continue to inspire countless 

people worldwide: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) celebrates the 150th anniversary of the 

3 birth of Mahatma Gandhi; 

4 (2) honors the accomplishments of Mahatma 

5 Gandhi and the impact of his philosophy of 

6 satyagraha, including its influence on civil rights 

7 leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and on the civil 

8 rights movement in the United States; 

9 (3) recognizes that the principles of nonviolent 

10 dissent in the face of injustice remain relevant and 

11 necessary today; and 

12 (4) continues to champion the principles of 

13 peaceful protest and nonviolent dissent advanced by 

14 Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Æ 


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