The Small Man Who Led a Big Nation
Mahatma Gandhi was a national icon for the people of India between the years 1869 and 1948. He is still remembered all over the world today. To follow the path of Gandhi one must traverse all regions of India, from the houses of the highest officials to the poorest villages where the word poverty does injustice. Gandhi led a fearless resistance against the British government, that oppressed his people, and an endless pilgrimage to lift the spirits of his people(the people of India) to maturity. Gandhi was very unique in his approach as he preached non-violence and led a life similar to that of the most downtrodden people of India.
Gandhi was born into a family of high standing. His family had been advisors of some of the rulers of India.(Spodek 663) Gandhi’s mother, Putlibai, was a traditional Indian woman; she was of high morals and deeply religious. In Gandhi’s later years his mothers impact is apparent as he fasts many times and becomes a vegetarian. She also had a moral influence on her son. One of Gandhi’s early teachers encouraged him to cheat on a spelling test in order to impress a school inspector, but he refused. Despite all his good traits Gandhi was a below average student and did not show much promise in academics.(Wolf 171) Nevertheless he traveled to England to attend law school in 1888 in accordance with the desires of his family. He studied for three years in London where he “began to come alive, intellectually and spiritually”(Wolf 171).
Upon his return to India, Gandhi was hired by an Indian firm to take a case in South Africa. While there Gandhi witnessed several cases of injustice against himself and the Indian population in South Africa. Gandhi himself was thrown out of a first-class train car because he was not white. The demeaning approach the government of Africa took against the Indian population ignited Gandhi’s fire to fight human injustice. This began Gandhi’s communal living and his methods of resistance.
Gandhi established a new form of nonviolent resistance against government he called satyagraha or “truth force”. Satyagraha “manifested in self-sacrificing, non-violent mass demonstrations, demanding that the persecutors recognize the immorality of their own position and ...
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...nd traveled with the poor he helped them feel connected with the other leaders of the movement. One of Gandhi’s greatest marches towards independence was the Salt March. The British had a monopoly on salt production and sale. Gandhi marched 241 miles to the beach and gathered his own salt and this led to hundreds of peasants doing the same. That is just another example of Gandhi going to jail for his cause.(Wolf 173)
During his time, Gandhi shined as a spiritual reformer and political activist to try and change the hearts of his opponents. His characteristic non-violent movements have been copied by many great men that have come after him. He held himself no higher than the poorest man of his country and that is why his country loved him.
Works Cited
Sherman, Dennis. World Civilizations . Massachusetts:
Mcgraw-Hill; 1998.
Spodek, Howard. The World’s History. New Jersey: Prentice
Hall; 1998.
Wolf, Ken. Personalities and Problems. Massachusetts:
McGraw-Hill; 1999.
Background: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was and still is one of the most influential people in India’s Independence history. His role as a leader and a pacifist eventually taught the Indian public about the importance of satyagraha.
...Because of Gandhi’s power, his flaw, and his catastrophe, one would say that Gandhi fits the model of a Greek tragic hero. Gandhi’s power was his heightened goodness, proven by his innumerable civil disobedience acts, where he continued to fight even while he was regularly jailed. His flaw was his tolerance and acceptance of everyone which led to his catastrophic assassination by Nathuram Godse. Gandhi’s teachings of nonviolence and peace still live on today, as they have inspired many other human rights leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Gandhi’s teachings are responsible for the successes of civil rights movements in other countries. He not only helped free India from British rule, but also gave people new thoughts about violence and imperialism around the world. Even today, India continues to live and remember the tutelage of Gandhi.
Mohandas Gandhi was a non-violent promoter for Indian independence.He was married young at 13,and went to London to go to law school.Gandhi got his degree there and was on his way to being a lawyer.He went to his first case,but couldn't even speak. Gandhi then got invited to South Africa from a businessman. Gandhi’s luck their was no good either.European racism came to him,after he got kicked off of a train,because he was “colored” and was holding a first class ticket.When Gandhi fought back because of it,was arrested and was sent to jail.After this, he became know as as a leader.Gandhi returned to India in 1896,and he was disgusted by it.British wanted them to wear their clothes,copy their manners,accept their standards of beauty,but Gandhi refused.Gandhi wanted people to live free of all class and wealth.Gandhi tried so hard and was more successful then any other man in India.They won independence in 1947. Gandhi’s non-violent movement worked because,Gandhi used clever planning, mass appeal, conviction, and compassion to win independence for India.
Gandhi had worked out the basic strategy of nonviolent resistance, which he called satyagraha. It consisted of training a core of volunteers who helped to lead mass marches and mass violations of specific laws that resulted in intentional mass arrests. Three satyagraha campaigns made him famous in India even before he returned. While he was still in South Africa, Gandhi wrote about India in his pamphlet, "Hind Swaraj,” and targeted industrial civilization because he thought that was the real enemy.
Most people have at least heard his name. Mohandas Gandhi is one of the most notable characters in our fairly recent history. Born and raised a Hindu, he was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in the British-ruled India. He led India to independence and inspired many movements for civil rights across the world. Gandhi also assumed the leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921; effectively becoming the leading figure in India’s struggle for independence. He is known for many accomplishments. Women’s rights, the ending of untouchability, and the decline poverty of poverty in India are just a few of his accomplishments. During his conquest he was imprisoned multiple times, undertook a number of hunger strikes, and dressed only in a loincloth and shawl-and devout Hindu faith. Mohandas Gandhi's most significant accomplishment however, was uniting the Hindus in India with the Muslims of Pakistan to break free of British rule peacefully.
Gandhi was a well knowledgeable and unique person who found hope in struggles that he never thought would shape who he was. Gandhi was born in a Hindu family, and even though he was the youngest he made a huge impact on others (“Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi” pg 3). He had his older brother who helped him with his education when his father passed away (“Mohandas Gandhi”). Gandhi was very religious even when he was little his brothers tried to make him eat meat (it wasn’t bad to eat meat in Hinduism when you are little), but he refused (“Mohandas Gandhi”). Gandhi respected his religion and was a respectful towards others.
In the beginning, Gandhi states, ”You must be the change the world wishes to see” (Gandhi article). This reveals that often if there is a change in the world that needs to be made, heroes are the ones who initiate the change. Gandhi fought for India’s rights peacefully. For example, he made an agreement with Lord Irwin to end the Salt Satyagraha in exchange for concessions that included the release of thousands of political prisoners. Secondly, when other countries declared war on India, Gandhi pleaded other countries representatives discuss their perspective till a solution was formed. Finally, in the end of his book,Gandhi, An Autobiography Mahatma Gandhi reveals, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” This shows that Mahatma Gandhi only cared for the people and the independence of his country, yet not himself. Gandhi did not take these actions for wealth, and fame, he did it out of the kindness of his
“Be the change.” This was one of Gandhi’s most famous quotes. He did exactly that too, he was the change that helped India become a free country. Britain’s Salt Act would not let Indians collect or sell salt, which is a staple for Indian’s diet. Gandhi led the Salt March also known as the Dandi March was a nonviolent disobedience. This march was to protest British rule. For his protest he would dress in plain clothes and not bring any other items with
Gandhi has influenced many around the world with his non-violent protests and motivated changes in civil rights for countless others. Truth and nonviolence were Gandhi's key ideas. He lived simply but changed so much and continues to influence plenty of people today.
Mohandas Gandhi was one of Indias most popular leaders. A Lawyer by trade, he left the law to fight personally for his peoples' rites against their British rulers. Deep comitted to nonviolence Gandhi was determined to win India's freedom by avoiding confrontation.
Gandhi, the first employed non - violent act of civil disobedience that he has been in was as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa ( Gandhi ) . The Britain’s Salt Acts made the citizens forcibly buy the mineral from the British. India was interdicted to accumulate salt or sell it. ( Gandhi ) . Nevertheless after living for two decades in South Africa, where he fought for the civil rights of Indians residing there, Gandhi returned to his native country in 1915 and soon began working for India’s independence. ( The Rise to Fame ). That day Gandhi declared resistance to British Salt Policies to be the unifying theme for his campaign “ The Satyagraha “. Also called the “ Mass Civil Disobedience. “
When Gandhi returned back to India from Europe in 1896 he was sickened. The British Raj had formally taken over, so he decided to make a change and stop the unfair treatment of everyone in India. As Gandhi said himself, “My ambition is no less than to convert the British people though nonviolence and thus make them see the wrong they have done to India..” (Document A, Gandhi). His whole reason of practicing civil disobedience was to show the British that no matter how hard they hit, the people of India would never give up. With these peaceful protests Gandhi made a point to the British, he but a mere man could but tame a ferocious lion. (Document D). Gandhi and his supporters were constantly being attacked and yet they never stopped protesting.
Gandhi then took the British apart with Satyagraha (non-violent non-cooperation) and was imprisoned for two years in1922. When he got out he took a brake from his politicalnes and traveled around India working various jobs among the peasants. Then in 1930 he was at it again writing the declaration of independence for India and making salt in protest of the British monopoly on salt. This act of treason inspired many more across the country rendering the British helpless once again forcing tem to invite Gandhi to London for meeting on how India’s independence would work with a Muslim minority and a Hindu majority.
Gandhi's teachings of non-violent resistance, known as satyagraha, has had a lasting effect and influence on the world today. He has been the role model for many famous, influential people such as American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. and former South African President Nelson Mandela. His continued influence can still be felt today in many non-violent peace organizations around the world bearing his name or teaching his philosophy.
Gandhi was inspirational for many people. As General George C. Marshall, the United States secretary of state from 1946 to 1949, said at Gandhi 's death, “Mahatma Gandhi was the spokesman for the conscience of mankind.” (Bio.com.) He is only one of many who believed in what Gandhi was fighting for. Many people not only believed in what Gandhi stood for but they also follow in his footsteps and try to do what Gandhi accomplished. (“Gandhi, Mahatma”)