The world knows him as Mahatma Gandhi, a thin, wrinkled, elderly Indian wrapped in white traditional garb and leaning on a cane. Wire-rimmed spectacles frame the broad, aging face that has come to be associated with peace, wisdom, and the independence of India. Because of his untiring efforts to reform the cultural and political systems in India, Gandhi is well-known for his views on vegetarianism, birth control and the caste system. Most know about the peace-loving liberator of India, but what made Gandhi such a powerful force in the destiny of such a great nation? Many factors early in Gandhi’s life, such as his child-marriage, education, and experiences abroad, strongly influenced his philosophies and eventually compelled him to lead the non-violent movement, a “bloodless revolution,” that resulted in India’s independence.
Bestolarides 1
Paul Bestolarides
Professor Jaoudi
HRS 183: World Religions and Cultures in Cinema
9 March 2016
Ideas and Political Results of Civil Disobedience in Gandhi
The film “Gandhi” convey the events of a man becoming a national hero, by eliciting political ideologies, in order to fight the British colonial rule. In order for Indians to gain independence, Gandhi attracted global attention, insisting that his followers become non-violent. The non-violent civil disobedience campaign originated from Gandhi’s experience on the train in South Africa. The results of the event enlightened him, to further address the central issue of standing against colonial rule, by means of sacrifice.
Worth His Salt:
Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience
The introduction of civil disobedience reminded the world that it had the option of nonviolence and that negative action did not have to be countered with equally negative reaction. Henry David Thoreau’s essay “Civil Disobedience” embraced the idea of a man who took action to maintain his morality, even if it meant defying the government. Mahatma Gandhi, in turn, instigated his own act of civil disobedience in the Salt March where he marched across India and collected salt forbidden by British law. Thoreau’s writings on civil disobedience inspired Gandhi’s nonviolent movement, the Salt March, in which he was compelled to take action against a corrupt government.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The pursuit of truth does not permit violence on one's opponent”. Karamchand Gandhi lived through October 2, 1869 to January 30, 1948. When Gandhi was young, “Mohandas Gandhi was shy, soft-spoken, and only a mediocre student at school.” He got an arranged marriage at age 13 to Kasturba and had four sons. Gandhi’s wife, Kasturba, supported him until her death in 1944 (Rosenberg Para 2). Gandhi is considered the national father of India, also known as “bapu”. He spent 20 years in South Africa fighting for the rights of Indians. He always lived a simplistic lifestyle, and dressed culturally (Para 1). Gandhi’s independence struggle for India, his teachings of nonviolence and “Satyagraha” (truth), and the good deeds of him made him a Mahatma (great soul), which shows that Mohandas .K. Gandhi lived a life of consequence.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (also know as Mahatma, meaning “Great Soul”) is celebrated as the father of the Indian independence movement, and the leading freedom fighter for Indian nationalism in British-ruled India (Nojeim, 57). Gandhi developed his own concept of passive resistance, which he called Satyagraha (meaning “truth and firmness or “truth force”) (Ackerman & Duvall, 65). The concept was a way of non-violent protest against authority and injustice, and Gandhi taught this concept through living as an example of peace and passive resistance (Roberts & Ash, 43).
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.
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever” (Mahatma Gandhi). This quote is just one example of how passionate Gandhi was about life, and sharing the message of peace throughout India and the world. He showed the world that hard work can have a lasting impact on people’s lives. Gandhi is famous throughout the world for his peace activism therefore; in a way he will live forever because of all the valuable lessons we have learned from him.
Anthony Burgess, a late renowned English author, poet, playwright, and composer, once said, “It’s always good to remember where you come from and celebrate it. To remember where you come from is part of where you’re going.” It is also said that one should know of their heritage, country, and background as well as the well-known and prominent figures of their country. Being an Indian, it is vital to me along with my family that I know why I am here as well as I know who I owe my respect to (besides God, of course). Being specifically from Gujarat, there is one name that arises in my mind. Gandhi. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi of Gujarat, the same country I am from, was a very important and momentous man who not just changed Gujarat, but India as a whole. This man signifies India’s independence and freedom from the tyranny of the ghastly British. The way he flourished from being a shy lawyer to a stalwart rebellion leader shows and symbolizes how devoted and steadfast he was to God and his country. The aspect that I desire to learn is the good and bad of his non-violence philosophy and how it influenced and changed the future through analyzing the change he went through, as well as the change India went through. Based on a plethora of prior knowledge, I would predict that it was his words that had gotten through, as well as India’s dedication and determination to the riddance of the British.
Charismatic character. By leading an extraordinary life, Gandhi was successful in gathering the Indian population and mobilizing them to fight for independence, without physically fighting. Though small in stature, Gandhi spoke with confidence and stood up for his
Mahatma Gandhi is one of India’s biggest key factors in gaining its independence from Great Britain. Gandhi became a civil rights pioneer making himself an architect of a non-violent form of civil obedience that would sway the world to a more positive or peaceful perspective on life itself. Mahatma’s eloquent embracement of an abstinent lifestyle based on prayer, meditation, and fasting earned him respect fast to who most around began to call him “the great-souled one”.