Mahatma Gandhi's Role In Civil Disobedience
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was able to raise awareness of the injustice of apartheid; segregation, racism, and oppression of Indian people in both India and South Africa. Through nonviolent protests and a political movement he led, named the Indian National Congress, Gandhi was able to inspire and encourage his followers to stand against injustice. Gandhi was a charismatic and devout man. He studied law, languages, and the philosophical study of religions, including Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and more (Redirecting). Gandhi’s nonviolent, passive movement was named, “Satyagraha,” loosely translated as “moral domination” (Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti in India). Taking their cue from the peaceful salt march, or “Satyagraha or Salt (Dandi) March,”
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(Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti in India). Gandhi led the way for future nonviolent civil rights activists; “Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary” (Mahatma Gandhi). Men such as Martin Luther King Jr. would follow in Gandhi’s footsteps, literally, with his own nonviolent march. Mohandas transformed into Mahatma Gandhi, meaning “Great Soul” (Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti in India), in 1918 when he became well known with his followers as a savior of his people. Although he came from a middle-upper class family and was educated, Gandhi was appalled by the segregation and racial indecency with which Indian people were treated. An incident on a train fueled his desire to help people more and encouraged him to become a civil rights activist. Gandhi’s unwavering devotion to the cause of political independence from the British was named, ‘Swaraj,’ the translation meaning exactly, “complete political independence” (Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti in India). Gandhi saw this “Swaraj” come to fruition when the Indian National Congress and other political organizations, under Mahatma’s leadership, launched a countrywide independence movement. Following 200 years of British colonialism, powers were transferred over to India on August 15, 1947. The people of India celebrate Independence Day on August 15. On this day the people of India avoid eating meat, drinking alcohol; others sing his favorite song, wear flower garlands, or fast completely. Gandhi accomplished many of the goals he set out to achieve for his people, yet it was not without suffering or loss on his behalf.
British leaders knew that Gandhi’s followers held him in such high esteem that they would engage in mass civil disobedience because of political and personal influence. They had no choice, over the course of many years, to negotiate with Mahatma and the Indian National Congress, which resulted in the alleviation of poverty, enshrined rights for women, status to ‘untouchables’, and of course the ultimate goal of Swaraj. However, Gandhi was persecuted, jailed numerous times; one time during which his beloved wife was also jailed and died in prison. Gandhi had many assassination attempts on his life. From June 25, 1934 until his death August 15, 1947 there were six documented attempts on his life by Hindu extremists (Mahatma Gandhi). However, Gandhi never retaliated. He simply was not that kind of man. his retribution came in the form of a hunger fast. The last attempt of Gandhi’s life was to bring Muslims and Hindus together after a long history of hostility. Still, the gentle, force of nature that he was, maintained, “Have faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the whole ocean doesn’t become dirty” (Daman). He peacefully protested for political unity while the British urged forward a Partition that created a Muslim-Pakistan and a Hindu-India; a move that history would prove created the difficulties Gandhi
feared.
Mahatma Gandhi not only liberated his people from the injustice of segregation, apartheid, racism, poverty, and cruelty; he also saved the lives of generations of civil rights victims that followed for years to come. He led the world by example with peaceful protests, non-violent marches, political reform, and fasts, that may have been life threatening to Gandhi yet he believed in his cause, his God, and the people he was trying to save. Gandhi said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.” These are words to truly live by.
(Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti in India). Gandhi led the way for future nonviolent civil rights activists; “Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary” (Mahatma Gandhi). Men such as Martin Luther King Jr. would follow in Gandhi’s footsteps, literally, with his own nonviolent march. Mohandas transformed into Mahatma Gandhi, meaning “Great Soul” (Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti in India), in 1918 when he became well known with his followers as a savior of his people. Although he came from a middle-upper class family and was educated, Gandhi was appalled by the segregation and racial indecency with which Indian people were treated. An incident on a train fueled his desire to help people more and encouraged him to become a civil rights activist. Gandhi’s unwavering devotion to the cause of political independence from the British was named, ‘Swaraj,’ the translation meaning exactly, “complete political independence” (Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti in India). Gandhi saw this “Swaraj” come to fruition when the Indian National Congress and other political organizations, under Mahatma’s leadership, launched a countrywide independence movement. Following 200 years of British colonialism, powers were transferred over to India on August 15, 1947. The people of India celebrate Independence Day on August 15. On this day the people of India avoid eating meat, drinking alcohol; others sing his favorite song, wear flower garlands, or fast completely. Gandhi accomplished many of the goals he set out to achieve for his people, yet it was not without suffering or loss on his behalf.
British leaders knew that Gandhi’s followers held him in such high esteem that they would engage in mass civil disobedience because of political and personal influence. They had no choice, over the course of many years, to negotiate with Mahatma and the Indian National Congress, which resulted in the alleviation of poverty, enshrined rights for women, status to ‘untouchables’, and of course the ultimate goal of Swaraj. However, Gandhi was persecuted, jailed numerous times; one time during which his beloved wife was also jailed and died in prison. Gandhi had many assassination attempts on his life. From June 25, 1934 until his death August 15, 1947 there were six documented attempts on his life by Hindu extremists (Mahatma Gandhi). However, Gandhi never retaliated. He simply was not that kind of man. his retribution came in the form of a hunger fast. The last attempt of Gandhi’s life was to bring Muslims and Hindus together after a long history of hostility. Still, the gentle, force of nature that he was, maintained, “Have faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the whole ocean doesn’t become dirty” (Daman). He peacefully protested for political unity while the British urged forward a Partition that created a Muslim-Pakistan and a Hindu-India; a move that history would prove created the difficulties Gandhi
feared.
Mahatma Gandhi not only liberated his people from the injustice of segregation, apartheid, racism, poverty, and cruelty; he also saved the lives of generations of civil rights victims that followed for years to come. He led the world by example with peaceful protests, non-violent marches, political reform, and fasts, that may have been life threatening to Gandhi yet he believed in his cause, his God, and the people he was trying to save. Gandhi said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.” These are words to truly live by.