Tolstoy expresses his support for Indian self-determination and non-violent resistance to British colonialism. He argues that violence is a misguided and ineffective means of achieving freedom, and that Indians must instead rely on their own spiritual and moral strength to achieve independence. Tolstoy draws on his own experience as a Christian pacifist to argue that non-violent resistance is a more powerful and transformative force than armed rebellion. His writings were highly influential in shaping the Indian independence movement and the philosophy of non-violent resistance as practiced by Mahatma Gandhi.
Translated by M. K. Gandhi