Understanding the Origin of Satyagraha

The question asks about the place where the technique of Satyagraha was invented, based on the provided passage about Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's return to India from South Africa.

Let's read the relevant part of the passage carefully:

In January 1915, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi returned to his homeland after two decades of residence abroad... It was in South Africa that Mahatma Gandhi first forged the distinctive techniques of non-violent protest known as satyagraha, first promoted harmony between religions, and first alerted upper-caste Indians to their discriminatory treatment of low castes and women.

The passage explicitly states:

• Mahatma Gandhi spent significant time in South Africa.
• It was specifically in South Africa that he "first forged the distinctive techniques of non-violent protest known as satyagraha".

This sentence directly answers the question. The technique of Satyagraha was first developed or invented in South Africa.

While Mahatma Gandhi later successfully used Satyagraha in various places in India, such as Champaran, Kheda, and Ahmedabad, the passage makes it clear that its initial development occurred during his time in South Africa.

Based on the passage, the location where the technique of Satyagraha was invented is South Africa.

Therefore, the correct option is South Africa.

Revision Table: Key Facts from Passage

Additional Information: The Concept of Satyagraha

Satyagraha is a philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience. The term was coined by Mahatma Gandhi. It means "truth force" or "soul force".

Key principles of Satyagraha include:

• Truth (Satya): Belief in the power of truth.
• Non-violence (Ahimsa): Refusal to inflict injury upon others.
• Suffering: Willingness of the satyagrahi to endure suffering rather than inflict it.

Gandhi first put these ideas into practice in South Africa to protest against discriminatory laws and practices targeting the Indian community. These early struggles helped shape the strategies and principles he would later apply on a massive scale in the Indian independence movement.

Some early applications of Satyagraha in India after Gandhi's return include:

• Champaran Satyagraha (1917): Against oppressive indigo planters.
• Kheda Satyagraha (1918): Supporting peasants refusing to pay taxes due to crop failure.
• Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918): Supporting textile workers for better wages.

These movements solidified Satyagraha as a potent tool for social and political change, but its foundation and initial formulation, as the passage states, were in South Africa.