How did Mahatma Gandhi negotiate with Jan Christian Smuts in South Africa?

Mahatma Gandhi’s negotiations with Jan Christian Smuts were the culmination of a seven-year struggle characterized by satyagraha, a philosophy of nonviolent resistance.1

Following the 1906 Transvaal ordinance that required the registration of the Indian population, Gandhi led a movement where the Indian minority defied discriminatory laws, choosing to endure imprisonment and hardship rather than submit. This sustained resistance, which included strikes by mine workers and mass imprisonment, eventually became a significant political liability for the South African government.1

Under mounting pressure from the governments of Britain and India, the South African administration agreed to a compromise negotiated directly between Gandhi and Smuts. The negotiation was defined by a lack of personal rancor; notably, while imprisoned, Gandhi even crafted a pair of sandals for Smuts. Smuts later reflected that their mutual respect created an atmosphere where a "decent peace" could be concluded, demonstrating that even in intense political conflict, it is possible to maintain human dignity and ethical conduct toward one's adversary.1