Indian Indepdendence and Mahatma Ghandi

1746 Words4 Pages

World War I was making the British busy. Many people question why Gandhi did not break apart from the British while they were vulnerable, but the answer is simple. Gandhi vowed to not take advantage of his opponents troubles. Instead of fighting the British, Gandhi influenced people. He used satyagraha to change inequities between Indians. For example, Gandhi persuaded landlords to stop forcing their tenant farmers to pay increased rent and mill owners to peacefully settle a strike. Gandhi's goal was not to make everybody do exactly as he does, but to understand why he does and learn the ideals. Gandhi also believed in the ideas of Swaraj and Dharma. In Simone Panter-Brick's book, Gandhi and Nationalism: The Path to Indian Independence, these terms are explained and explored. "Swaraj is formed of two Sanskrit words: swa (self) and raj (rule). Thus, it can be construed either as rule over the self — the spiritual assertion of every person — or as self-rule — participation in the political affairs of the nation as citizens fully conscious of their rights and duties. For Gandhi, it was both"(Panter-Brick,24). Swaraj is used to stress independence and can also replace the word independence. Panter-Brick talks about dharma as a person's duty, thus relating to Gandhi's duties to the empire. "Gandhi’s entry into politics sprang from the firm belief that a citizen has rights and duties, and that he, as an Indian, had a duty to perform. This Indian conception of one’s life task is best expressed in the word dharma or righteous performance of one’s duty in life" (54). This author talks about how Gandhi used his ideals to unify India from the inside and this created a stronger opposition to the British. Mahatma Gandhi was not always suc... ... middle of paper ... ...th Centuru." Bbc. Last modified February 17, 2011. Accessed March 10, 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/how-did-the-british-gain-control-of-india/13349.html. Naidu, Ch. M., Dr. "Jinnah's Opposition to Gandhi." Yabaluri. Accessed April 6, 2014. http://yabaluri.org/TRIVENI/CDWEB/jinnahsoppositiontogandhijul91.htm. North Gwinnett Middle School. "Indian Nationalism and Gandhi." Slide Share. Last modified February 2, 2011. Accessed January 16, 2014. http://www.slideshare.net/templep79/indian-nationalism-and-gandhi. Rosenberg, Jennifer. "Gandhi - Biography of Mahatma Gandhi." About.com. Last modified 2014. Accessed March 27, 2014. http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/a/gandhi.htm. Trueman, Chris. "India 1900-1947." History Learning Site. Last modified 2013. Accessed January 16, 2014. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/india_1900_to_1947.htm.

Open Document