Gandhi as an Outlaw Leader and his non-violent Movements

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Outlaws! The word often haunts us, as we sit and ponder over it. Usually it brings with it, a sense of insecurity and fear. Sometimes after watching a movie or after reading a crime story, we are scared about going out alone, or sometimes, even in the house we have a feeling, as if someone is watching us.

Why is all this? Why are we scared in our own house? Why are we scared to go out? It is because after watching so many movies, reading the papers and being aware about the crimes happening all around us, we just don’t want to take a chance with our lives. Life is to precious a thing to take chances with.

Often we ask ourselves, who are all these people who commit crimes, are they not aware of their actions? Are they the same as us, do they come from the same kind of society as we do?

These criminals are the same as us, they come from the same kind of society as we do, eat the same kind of food, wear the same kind clothes, but still in a way are very different from us. They commit crimes! That is, probably one of the only things, that can differentiate them from us. But why do they commit crimes is the question?

Sometimes it is due to the lack of money, when people are trying to find a quick way to earn some money. Sometimes, it is for revenge and sometimes without any reason. But there are different kinds of outlaws. A person maybe an outlaw in the eyes of some, and innocent according to others. For ex. Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. They fought for the right of the people and did not give into the system and hence in the eyes of the government were considered to be outlaws.

Gandhi played a major role in the fight against the British for the Independence of India. He led India towards Independence and hence is called the “Father of the Nation.” Before coming to India he was in South Africa for some time and there, he practiced non-violence, to fight for the rights of Indians, residing in South Africa. He was sentenced to prison and after being released; he came back to India. Here he again practiced non-violence and in harmony with a number of other people, was able to force the British Government to leave India and go back to there own Country.

He preached and practiced non-violence and gave it a new name, he called it “Satyagraha”. According to Gandhi “Satyagraha is the vindication of truth not by infliction ...

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.... At the factory the satyagrahi’s who did not lift their hands, as they were practicing non- violence, were knocked of like pins, by the policemen who were armed with mettle tipped lathis (sticks) (Fischer 273).

Eventually Gandhi came out of the prison and after talking with the Government and after having many such movements, was able to force the British out of India.

Throughout this period, when he was fighting the British, the British considered him and every single person fighting for independence, as an outlaw, just because they were fighting for their right’s and their freedom.

In my view, the people who fought for the independence are dispensable, for, it is them who got the Indians freedom and it is because of them, that the Indians today, are living the way, they do.

These kinds of people are also considered as outlaws, because they fight for a cause. The cause being religion, freedom, racial discrimination or even injustice done to them. They are outlaws in the eyes of some and law-abiding citizens in the eyes of others. It is just the way you look at things, just as an optimist would say, that a glass is half full and a pessimist would say that it’s half empty.

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