Nonviolent Resistance

Martin Luther King pinpoint the oppressed should be able to raises their high dignity and do not come with the hate and malice to the injustice system. He also indicates the nonviolent resistance contribute to the moral way and will be a positive model for the next generation. At last, Martin Luther King conclude his argument with his philosophy of how to deal with the oppression, and to clarify that the nonviolence resistance is not against the people but against the

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.

Mohandas Gandhi’s methods not only led to India’s independence from Britain but also had victories over racial

In his letter to the clergy he justified the use of ‘nonviolent direct action’ as tactical means to bringing parties together to negotiate. He vehemently condemned all forms of violent action but insisted that it was strategic and constructive to employ the nonviolent tension as a powerful alternate to negotiation. Similarly, Dr. King Jr. stressed to his audience in his momentous speech in Washington DC, that the desire to attain set goal must not be tainted by any acts of retaliation and cautioned the crowd to avoid the temptation of being ‘guilty of wrong doing”. He emphasized the importance of adhering to strict discipline and conducting their struggle in the highest form of respect for human dignity.

One of the best memories in the history of nonviolent resistance was when Martin Luther King Jr., known as the advocate of civil disobedience through nonviolent resistance, said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” When the African Americans were struggling with equality and racism, and they were being treated poorly by the rest of society, Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t give up. One of King’s ideas as a young man was obtaining growth through struggle. He showed the rest of the world that using violence is not the way to fight back. He wholeheartedly believed that the world could overcome its struggles through this method of nonviolence, but at the same time too many people would just keep absolutely silent, hoping someone else will fix the problems. Through the examples of Martin Luther King Jr. and the dedication of his life towards the success of the African American Civil Rights Movement, nonviolent resistance has been proven the best approach to handling racism, discrimination, segregation and other acts of inequality, like the African Americans faced.

Throughout modern history, Britain’s exponential growth inevitably affected the future of many nations in the contemporary world- in particular, the culturally intertwined state of India. Even in the initial stages of colonisation, India was forcefully occupied by the British East India Company; however, it was not until 1858 that a dictatorship was officially announced and the nation was forced to regard England as 'the true homeland'. Amidst societal unease and a growing discontent with the British rulers by the poor peasants, India's emancipation seemed inevitable in order for the nation to truly progress. In effect, a revolutionary leader spawned; Mohandas Gandhi. His great philosophical mind held innovative ideas which were instrumental in the achievement of Indian Independence- with his thoughtful ideologies and beliefs paving the way for oppressed Indians to ultimately unite against British imperialism. Consequently, this resulted in the monumental Satyagraha campaign that triumphed successfully against the British authorities.

In the first part of the letter, Dr. King stresses that his methods are nonviolent. He explains that there are four steps to a nonviolent campaign: “collection of the facts to determine whether injustices are alive; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action” (page 1). This is similar to the process Gandhi inspired to resist

As both understood the evil of oppression, King and Gandhi conveys that violence could not be used as the measure to achieve equality in their movements. Nonviolence was utilized by both King and Gandhi to bring focus to their oppressors evil actions and show the society that justice can be earned without violence. King used nonviolence as a weapon to stop racism, segregation, and injustice toward African American in the United States. King did a non-violent campaign in Birmingham, as King stated, "four basic steps: (1) collection of the facts to determine whether injustices are alive; (2) negotiation; (3) self-purification; and (4) direct action" (p.234). King believes, the tension created by direct action is the answer to receiving results. Negotiation is an ultimately more humane approach but allows less results. King concluded that direct action would create chaos that would open the door for negotiation. Similarly, Gandhi revealed a method of direct

Harassed, beaten, jailed. Three great leaders fought for their rights through thick and thin, without physically hurting the opposition; these men were Gandhi, Mandela, and King. Here they each faced the problem of inequality and achieved their goal peacefully moreover without harm to their oppressors. They drew attention to their respective plights and converted others to help their cause. Nonviolence implies that the participants will protest without the use of harm to their opponents notwithstanding of what harm falls upon them; they will not even raise a hand to protect themselves from said harm. Nonviolence works because King, Gandhi, and Mandela applied economic pressure, performed civil disobedience, and appealed to conscience; which

In 1757, Great Britain extended its empire into India. This occupation would not fully end until 1947. In the time between, there were many movements by the Indian people to gain independence from the British. The movement that finally succeeded in winning India’s independence was led by one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Gandhi’s methods for fighting against the occupation of the British were very different from those of any of the freedom movements before. And that was why it worked. Gandhi did not agree with the general reasoning of the time: that conflicts could be solved through negotiation and forceful resistance.1 Rather, his faith led him to go

unjust” (Banks 1). “Principle four – accept suffering without retaliation for the sake of the cause to achieve the goal – this characterizes that nonviolent resistance is a willingness to accept suffering without retaliation, to accept blows from the opponent without striking back; accept the violence, if necessary; but to never inflict violence on another” (Banks 2). “Principle five – avoid internal violence of the spirit, as well as, external physical violence – a nonviolent resister not only refuses to fight or shoot his opponent, but he also refuses to hate him; at the center of nonviolence stands the principle of love for one another” (Banks 2). “Principle six – the universe is on the side of justice – this basic fact pertaining to nonviolent resistance is that it is based on the conviction that the universe is on the side of justice which is positive peace, consequently, the believer in nonviolence has a deep faith in the future and therefore, can accept suffering without retaliation. There is a creative force in this universe, that by whatever name we decide to call it, it works to bring the disconnected aspects of reality into a harmonious whole; a universal wholeness for each of us to share with one another and that nonviolence is both the means and the end” (Banks 3). Dr. King also had a couple of

Two twentieth-century leaders who have continued to influence non-violent social protest movements internationally are Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Jr, Of different races and cultures, born on opposite sides of the world in nations vastly different in wealth and technology, these two aggressive men in their later years shared the philosophy of non-violent, but direct, action and expended their lives in pursuit of peaceful solutions to social inequities. An examination of their lives, consequently, reveals both similarities and differences in their family backgrounds, ideology, and plans for social action. Gandhi's and King's family backgrounds show similarities and differences.

This essay will focus on the decolonisation of India by the British Empire and the problems they encountered. It will also aim to bring recognition to the struggle decolonisation brought upon the world after World War II. Pierce states that “after the War concluded, a worldwide process of decolonisation commenced in which Britain granted independence to all of its major colonies, beginning notably in India” (Pierce, 2009). India had struggled with uprisings and conflicts for the many years of British occupation but when Gandhi began sharing his social efforts; the perceptions of colonialism began to change leading to the collapse of the British colonial Empire. Gandhi began changing the lives of regular Indian’s with his popular visions, he also advocated for the people of India in a non-violent

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Nonviolence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our being". The book The Essential Gandhi expresses Gandhi’s views on issues like untouchability, religion, nationality, his movements like civil-disobedience are deeply shown in this book. Readers can learn about Gandhi’s childhood, his early married life, his realization and transition in South Africa, and his ways of approach towards attaining Independence in India. The book did a fantastic job in showing the Gandhi’s principles like non-violence with exemplary contexts.

Aroused by the massacre of Amritsar in 1919, Gandhi devoted his life to gaining India’s independence from Great Britain. As the dominant figure used his persuasive philosophy of non-violent confrontation, he inspired political activists with many persuasions throughout the world (Andrews 23). Not only was Mahatma Gandhi a great peacemaker, but also his work to achieve freedom and equality for all people was greatly acknowledged. Gandhi’s unconventional style of leadership gained him the love of a country and eventually enabled him to lead the independence movement in India.