Who Was Ghandi Misunderstood?
“To be great is to be misunderstood,” a famous quote written by the transcendentalist, Emerson, in Self-Reliance. Going by the nickname “Mahatma” which truly means “great soul”, Ghandi was one of the most misunderstood people in history. Ghandi is characterized as a scrawny simplistic dressed man born in 1869 in India, however he is one of the most complex and contradictory characters in all of history (McGeary). Ghandi was raised under two religious parents who practiced Hinduism, and pushed for him to become a government minister, taking after his father (Adams). Being extremely shy, Ghandi did not suit the job of being a lawyer well a fled to India (McGeary). In South Africa Ghandi was quickly discriminated upon by the white British inhabitants,
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which fueled his drive to become the inspiring man who he died as. It has been sixty eight years since Gandhi’s death, yet he is still remembered by leading India’s Independence movement through his peaceful techniques. When Ghandi is mentioned, a word that would come to mind is simplistic, however Ghandi was one of the most complex characters in all of history which is why he is often misunderstood.
“The Great Soul” was often misunderstood during his time mainly because his diversification in character. He always took the “middle path” due to his peaceful beliefs. Trying to label Ghandi is extremely difficult due to his complexity, he did not have a set religion nor was he understood by the people of his time for following his unique beliefs. Ghandi has also been criticized due to a mistake which will stick with him forever. He did not present himself as being an extremist because he was softly spoken, in all the great events that happened during his time not once was Ghandi screaming about any issues nor reaching extreme measures. He peacefully led strikes, being a strong believer in nonviolence (Simonowitz). Contributing to the misinterpretation of Ghandi, he did not have a specified religion. Although Ghandi was raised under the Hindu religion, he became an “unconscious” man, which was what he referred to his religion as (Krokus). According to reports, Ghandi recited verses of the Qur'ān and addressed the Muslim crowd several times by calling them “blood-brothers” (Krokus). Ghandi has also been reported to be chanting, “Ram, Ram” as he died, which is believed
to show his love for the Ramayana, from the Hindu religion (Krokus). Ghandi being in an “unconscious” religion meant that he was implicitly aware of being Muslim, Christian, and Hindu all at the same time. Another aspect which led to the confusion about Ghandi was, while his father was at his death bed, Ghandi left to go have intercourse with his wife whom he married at the age of thirteen (McGeary). Due to this mistake he is widely criticized, and he refers to this mistake as a “double shame”. Ghandi was never able to forgive himself, however, because of this he strived to become a better person by practicing self-control (McGeary). Not only being critiqued for this mistake, Ghandi is also criticized by Winston Churchill for starting a “radical movement”, although his activism was based solely off of peace and non-violence. Churchill, being the former British Prime Minister, criticized Ghandi for his “radical movement” solely because of the reason that he was afraid of what Ghandi was doing (McGeary). Due to these misconceptions, Ghandi can be looked upon as a radical, unstable man, although in reality he was an honest man as peaceful as a dove.
Despite aspects making Ghandi appear as a radical character, his great impact on the world cannot be overshadowed by his misconceptions. Ghandi is mainly known for his non-violent and peaceful ways of dealing with the problems that were going on during his time, many of which were strikes. His most brilliant strike was his noncompliance of the law that forbade Indians of making their own salt. Beginning with over seventy-eight followers which later turned into over hundreds of people, Ghandi set out to the coast to make salt until the law was repealed (McGeary). Due of this act of civil disobedience, Ghandi was thrown into jail along with 60,000 Indians whom were his followers (McGeary). Following this event Ghandi urged his followers to boycott anything British from schools and goods to the English language, in order to achieve Indian independence. Contributing to his greatness, Ghandi created the idea “passive resistance”, meaning they would achieve political rights through love, truth, and personal suffering (Simanowitz). Ghandi’s famous hunger strikes allowed his powerful method of “passive resistance” to be conveyed to the public, he believed that “fasting is the one weapon God has given us for use in times of utter helplessness”, which is exactly what he did (Simanowitz). Not only did Ghandi peacefully achieve independence for India from Britain, he also shaped the Trade Union Movement in India. He believed that “a worker should not economically blackmail his employer, but appeal to his spiritual self to secure higher wages and better working conditions” (Adams). From practicing civil disobedience and passive resistance to being thrown in jail and continuing to lead, Ghandi left an everlasting impact on the world through his peaceful techniques. Although Ghandi was misunderstood during his time by many people, he continued to lead his peaceful strikes and ignore the negative opinions of other people, in order to achieve greatness. Not only did Ghandi lead events that he knew he would be criticized and hated for, even after being thrown into jail several times Ghandi continued to be a strong leader. If “Mahatma” would have stopped due to the negativity being thrown at him, he would have never turned into a great leader. Emerson stressed the idea that many great men have not been understood by society, as earlier stated, “To be great is to be misunderstood,” which relates to Ghandi being misunderstood by the people of his time, especially the British. Through all of the hardships Ghandi faced, even through a massacre of over 400 of his men by British soldiers (McGeary), Ghandi continued being fearless in leading his people and stayed true to himself. Being both the most misunderstood as well as one of the greatest leaders of all time, Ghandi perfectly fits Emerson’s belief of being “great is to be misunderstood”, and no amount of criticism can diminish Ghandi of his remarkable impact on the world.
which fueled his drive to become the inspiring man who he died as. It has been sixty eight years since Gandhi’s death, yet he is still remembered by leading India’s Independence movement through his peaceful techniques. When Ghandi is mentioned, a word that would come to mind is simplistic, however Ghandi was one of the most complex characters in all of history which is why he is often misunderstood.
“The Great Soul” was often misunderstood during his time mainly because his diversification in character. He always took the “middle path” due to his peaceful beliefs. Trying to label Ghandi is extremely difficult due to his complexity, he did not have a set religion nor was he understood by the people of his time for following his unique beliefs. Ghandi has also been criticized due to a mistake which will stick with him forever. He did not present himself as being an extremist because he was softly spoken, in all the great events that happened during his time not once was Ghandi screaming about any issues nor reaching extreme measures. He peacefully led strikes, being a strong believer in nonviolence (Simonowitz). Contributing to the misinterpretation of Ghandi, he did not have a specified religion. Although Ghandi was raised under the Hindu religion, he became an “unconscious” man, which was what he referred to his religion as (Krokus). According to reports, Ghandi recited verses of the Qur'ān and addressed the Muslim crowd several times by calling them “blood-brothers” (Krokus). Ghandi has also been reported to be chanting, “Ram, Ram” as he died, which is believed
to show his love for the Ramayana, from the Hindu religion (Krokus). Ghandi being in an “unconscious” religion meant that he was implicitly aware of being Muslim, Christian, and Hindu all at the same time. Another aspect which led to the confusion about Ghandi was, while his father was at his death bed, Ghandi left to go have intercourse with his wife whom he married at the age of thirteen (McGeary). Due to this mistake he is widely criticized, and he refers to this mistake as a “double shame”. Ghandi was never able to forgive himself, however, because of this he strived to become a better person by practicing self-control (McGeary). Not only being critiqued for this mistake, Ghandi is also criticized by Winston Churchill for starting a “radical movement”, although his activism was based solely off of peace and non-violence. Churchill, being the former British Prime Minister, criticized Ghandi for his “radical movement” solely because of the reason that he was afraid of what Ghandi was doing (McGeary). Due to these misconceptions, Ghandi can be looked upon as a radical, unstable man, although in reality he was an honest man as peaceful as a dove.
Despite aspects making Ghandi appear as a radical character, his great impact on the world cannot be overshadowed by his misconceptions. Ghandi is mainly known for his non-violent and peaceful ways of dealing with the problems that were going on during his time, many of which were strikes. His most brilliant strike was his noncompliance of the law that forbade Indians of making their own salt. Beginning with over seventy-eight followers which later turned into over hundreds of people, Ghandi set out to the coast to make salt until the law was repealed (McGeary). Due of this act of civil disobedience, Ghandi was thrown into jail along with 60,000 Indians whom were his followers (McGeary). Following this event Ghandi urged his followers to boycott anything British from schools and goods to the English language, in order to achieve Indian independence. Contributing to his greatness, Ghandi created the idea “passive resistance”, meaning they would achieve political rights through love, truth, and personal suffering (Simanowitz). Ghandi’s famous hunger strikes allowed his powerful method of “passive resistance” to be conveyed to the public, he believed that “fasting is the one weapon God has given us for use in times of utter helplessness”, which is exactly what he did (Simanowitz). Not only did Ghandi peacefully achieve independence for India from Britain, he also shaped the Trade Union Movement in India. He believed that “a worker should not economically blackmail his employer, but appeal to his spiritual self to secure higher wages and better working conditions” (Adams). From practicing civil disobedience and passive resistance to being thrown in jail and continuing to lead, Ghandi left an everlasting impact on the world through his peaceful techniques. Although Ghandi was misunderstood during his time by many people, he continued to lead his peaceful strikes and ignore the negative opinions of other people, in order to achieve greatness. Not only did Ghandi lead events that he knew he would be criticized and hated for, even after being thrown into jail several times Ghandi continued to be a strong leader. If “Mahatma” would have stopped due to the negativity being thrown at him, he would have never turned into a great leader. Emerson stressed the idea that many great men have not been understood by society, as earlier stated, “To be great is to be misunderstood,” which relates to Ghandi being misunderstood by the people of his time, especially the British. Through all of the hardships Ghandi faced, even through a massacre of over 400 of his men by British soldiers (McGeary), Ghandi continued being fearless in leading his people and stayed true to himself. Being both the most misunderstood as well as one of the greatest leaders of all time, Ghandi perfectly fits Emerson’s belief of being “great is to be misunderstood”, and no amount of criticism can diminish Ghandi of his remarkable impact on the world.