Ahimsa is a religious Indian principle that means not causing harm to any living thing. Buddhists, Jainists, and Hindus adhere to this practice, and it was something Gandhi promoted, as he wanted to foster an environment that would appeal to many different types of people. In the speech, Gandhi uses it to assuage their concerns; he reminds his colleagues in the congress that even though he is calling for immediate action, he is still very couched in nonviolence.

A Brahmacharri is a person who observes Brahmacharya, a practice of being celibate and renouncing marriage. This belief system was typical among monks in Buddhism and Hinduism. People who observe Brachmacharya are often extremely devoted to their faith and willing to engage in extreme discipline. In the speech, Gandhi uses the term as an analogy for his disciplined and thoughtful approach of the Quit India Movement.

This term is now more commonly known as the Caliphate. In India during this time period, it referred to a specific group of Muslims who were pushing against British colonialism, sometimes on behalf of Turkish Muslims in the Ottoman Empire. This group was run by the Ali brothers that Gandhi references in his speech as his friends.