Gandhiji Reflection

The life of Gandhi can be considered a success for many reasons. The first reason he is considered an accomplished leader is due to the government reforms that he championed. While applying principles of nonviolence, he was influential in shifting the British rule to grant India its independence. Likewise, Gandhi used his influence to calm civil unrest through fasting; additionally, he led nonviolent marches of thousands of Indian citizens. His life echoes the words of Socrates, “a good man is not harmed in life death or death.” Moreover, his influence only grew as he was tormented in life and his spirit continues to illuminate in the souls of million even in his death. He believed God is truth and he lived a simple life of civility and

Mohandas Gandhi was born in 1869 in the Indian coastal city of Porbandar (Background Essay). He then studied law in London, where he noticed that Indians were expected to imitate their rulers, the Englishmen (Background Essay). Gandhi wanted all people to live free, even those imposed by India’s caste system so he decided to take action in a peaceful manner (Background Essay). By doing so he was able to gain India’s independence in 1947 (Background Essay). This caused Gandhi to be known as “ Mahatma” or “ Great Soul” because he was able to do it without violence (Background Essay). Gandhi’s nonviolent movement worked because he accepted the consequences to his actions, strived for fairness to all mankind, and didn’t think of the British as enemies.

As we dive into Gandhi's world together I am going to cover key topics to better your understanding

British rule was tough on many Indians. Gandhi, an Indian born lawyer, believed in freedom and peace for his people. He once experienced racism when he was kicked out of a train in Europe. He changed people’s point of view without breaking the law, which was tough for him. Gandhi made his nonviolent movement work through the use of determination, peaceful civil disobedience, and being a powerful leader.

Furthermore, Gandhi spent years in London as a student of law, where he further explored vegetarianism and began his “intellectual awakening, his moral maturation and the opening of his mind to spiritual questions” (34) and concerned himself with politics. Gandhi then went on to South Africa from 1893 to 1914 where many Indians were residing. Arnold recounts his various anti-racism strategies, and reveals how Gandhi acquired his title as the mahatma or “great soul”. South Africa is also where he began his non-violent methods of dealing with racial discrimination laws and Hind Swaraj, which is “Indian self rule”, against the British. He fought for the rights of Indians in Africa, especially against General Smuts’ plans “of stopping their immigration to South Africa”(60) using satyagraha, “truth force or struggle for truth”, campaigns. But these campaigns did not work to the full degree, as there was still “anti-Indian prejudice” (60).

He became a leader for independence and Hinduism rights. He had thousands of followers and of course non followers. Including the English soldiers that patrol India, they threw Gandhi in jail several times for different things.

Gandhi was a human rights activist who enacted change by peacefully protesting racial discrimination. In the article Satyagraha: Gandhi’s Legacy it says, “Gandhi developed his philosophy of ‘Satyagraha’, or resistance through non-violent civil disobedience to defend his rights and the rights of all Indians and non-whites.” Gandhi was so devoted to gaining and defending rights for his people, he dedicated his life to protesting peacefully for their rights. The article also says that although Gandhi had many goals including: protesting unfair taxes and oppressive discrimination, alleviating poverty, helping in the women’s liberation movement, and ending discrimination between social classes in India, his main goal was to help the Indian people

He had a mission to fight the “deep disease of color prejudice”. This was aimed at India’s discrimination, among others. Gandhi was driven to undertake his mission because he had witnessed horrible acts of discrimination from being told to take his turban off to being forcibly thrown off of a train. Gandhi was very successful in accomplishing his mission, as he achieved worldwide recognition for his peaceful methods, and became a “beacon of hope for the oppressed and marginalized people around the world.” The peaceful activist eventually was assassinated by a Muslim extremist, but left a worldwide legacy and even influenced Martin Luther King Jr.’s peaceful

His work contributed to the rise of the Civil Rights movement with most notably his “I Have a Dream” speech at Washington D.C. Similarly, Gandhi headed the struggle of Indian people for a better life. He had many followers walking with him on his salt march as well as being repeatedly imprisoned by the British. When he was he resorted to hunger strikes as part of his many acts of civil disobedience.

Gandhi studied law and spent a lot of time fighting against discriminatory legislation in South Africa. Through his ideal of Satyagraha, he inspired others and is now an extremely important figure in the history of the world (Gokhale). His main goal was to achieve equality for the poorest caste (previously known as the Untouchables) and he went against the taxation that they faced. He was very socially aware and even fought for women’s equality as well as ending the caste-system.

As I talked about earlier in this paper Gandhi was immersed in his culture and in his family traditions. They played a huge part in the journey of his life and in even planning significant parts of his journey like his marriage, career path and moral development. His life experiences also played a big role in how he developed his moral reasoning such as when he encountered prejudice on the train and as a result

So he decided to become a lawyer and go to a prestigious British law school. Later in life when he is traveling on a train in 1900 in South Africa, he is discriminated against because he is black. This is an eye opening moment for Gandhi because he has never experienced racism first hand before. He considered himself to be a well-respected and educated man but this does not matter one bit to the officers. All they see is that he is black and s they throw him out of first class. He then realizes the power of the British and decides that he is going to resist this racism but not in a violent way. This is very pivotal because it has never been done before. Gandhi was the first person to figure out that this way of action would actually work because of something called hard power and soft power. Hard power is force and physical harm to make people do what you want and soft power is just the opposite. When one of the powers is lessened the other becomes greater. Understanding this principal is the reason that Gandhi’s way of fighting worked and he ended up winning in the

Once Gandhi’s mission in South Africa was complete, he returned to India and became involved in the home ruling movement. He was concerned with excessive land tax and discrimination, so he organized protests by peasants, farmers, and urban laborers to help them stand tall and fight for what they deserved (Gold 57).

Mahatma Gandhi enacted change by striving to end racial injustice. He did this to show that anyone of any race or religion should have equal rights. According to “Satyagraha: Gandhi’s Legacy”, it states, “Gandhi developed his philosophy of “Satyagraha,” or resistance through non-violent civil disobedience to defend his rights and the rights of all Indians and non-whites” (Studysync Editors). Gandhi himself had been faced with discrimination. However, instead of ignoring the situation, Gandhi took a stand and did what was right to ensure equality among all people. The Studysync Editors stay, “As had been the case in the southern United States, Indians and other non-white people were forced to ride at the back of trains, use separate facilities, and were treated as second-class citizens. Gandhi believed that this was wrong”. With his opinions in mind, Gandhi decided to get his beliefs out by starting non-violent protest. As the leader he was, he lead many protests that included: unfair taxes and oppressive discrimination, as well as alleviating poverty, helping in the women’s liberation movement, and ending caste discrimination. Studysync Editors wrote, “Gandhi's work inspired large-scale global change. Resistance to British involvement in South Africa and in India helped to inspire a movement of decolonization all over the world. Several political and spiritual leaders were inspired by Gandhi's work…”. Gandhi’s influence to the civilization was a huge turning point for those of the non-white race. By his assiduous act and hope of impact, Gandhi didn’t just catch the eye of the discriminated but also the attention of others. Mahatma Gandhi is remembered today as one of the most

During Gandhi’s trip to South Africa, he faced discrimination and debasement of which he was unused to. He was thrown off of the train on his journey as he would not comply with the order for him to leave first class. Furthermore, hotels would not allow his entry due to the colour of his skin. He was suddenly more aware of the plight and the status of his race in the eyes of the British colonists. In his interactions with the locals and other scholars and reformers, he began to understand his own beliefs of independence and non-violent protestation through non-conformity. Also, as he gained adherents, he learned of his abilities in leadership and his charismatic personality. Without these interactions, Gandhi wouldn’t have understood and developed such strong beliefs as he