Satyagraha © 2006 David Roth

“ Satyagraha” is the Sanskrit word for “truth”; agraha from the Sanskrit prefix a and the root grah, means "to grasp or hold". The two words compounded may be rendered as “grasping/holding the truth” and also represent the philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance developed by Gandhi as related in this piece ~ with additional thanks to Steven Feig for bringing this bit of history to my attention

One hundred years ago, halfway ‘round the world
A fertile seed took hold in a barren field
A lawyer thrown from a train, ticket in his hand
Spent the night in the station, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Satyagraha, satyagraha
Satyagraha, clinging to the truth
Satyagraha, satyagraha
Satyagraha, clinging to the truth

Struggling with his rage, shaping his transformation
Alchemizing shame into dignity
Tuesday night they came, three thousand men and women
Invited by the one taken from the train, it was time for change

Satyagraha, satyagraha
Satyagraha, clinging to the truth
Satyagraha, satyagraha
Satyagraha, clinging to the truth

The man was Mohandas Ghandi, the year was 1906
The date was September 11th, there was a problem he needed to fix
And that was the night civil disobedience
Came into the light of our consciousness

One hundred years ago, now one hundred years beyond
One hundred and eighty degrees, we must turn around
Return to peace
Satyagraha, satyagraha

Satyagraha, clinging to the truth
Satyagraha, satyagraha
Satyagraha, clinging to the truth