FREE ESSAY ON MOHANDUS KARAMCHAND GANDHI

MOHANDUS KARAMCHAND GANDHI

Mohandus Karamchand Gandhi
Mohandus Karamchand Gandhi was a major figure in Indian history. He was best known for
his policy of passive resistance and civil disobedience against unjust laws set by the
British government. He inspired other nonviolent movements notably the U.S. civil right
movement of the 1950's and 1960's lead by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Encarta 98).
Gandhi was highly influential, some say responsible, for India's gain of independence and
the abolishment of untouchability, the lowest rank under the caste system. 
Gandhi was born to a middle-class Indian family in 1869 and married at the age of
thirteen to Kasturbai Makanji. He began to study law at the University of London in 1888
and as he completed his studies and prepared to return home for India in 1891 he had
doubts about his future (Sherrow 34). He lacked the knowledge of Indian law as well as
the social connections needed for a successful career. He had never set foot inside an
Indian courtroom in his life. He attempted to set up a law practice but had little
success. Two years later an Indian firm with assets in South Africa held him as a legal
advisor at its office in Durban.
While in Durban, Gandhi was treated as a member of an inferior race. He was offended and
horrified at the denial of rights and liberties to Indian immigrants. He joined the
struggle for elementary rights for Indians. He stood in South Africa for 20 years. He was
imprisoned many times. Gandhi began to teach a policy of passive resistance to South
African authorities after being attacked and beaten by white South Africans. In 1899 the
trouble that had been brewing between the British and the Boers escalated into war
(Sherrow 47). Gandhi sided with the Boers in what was known as the Boer war but set up a
British ambulance service called the Indian Ambulance Corps. According to Gandhi's sense
of justice, if you wanted the rights of a British citizen you must perform the duties
expected of one. He urged other Indians to serve with him. Because of this act, Gandhi
receives two war medals. In 1914 the government of the Union of South Africa made
important compromises to Gandhi's demands, including recognition of Indian marriages and
the abolition of the poll tax for them (Encarta 98). Seeing his work in South Africa
complete, he returned to India.
Gandhi became a leader in the tough struggle for home rule. After World War I Gandhi
started his movement of passive resistance to Great Britain. He was again urging
Satyagraha (Sanskrit, "truth and firmness). In 1919, Parliament passed the Rowlatt Acts,
which banned terrorism and disloyal acts or resistance toward the government. Satyagraha
spread through India gaining millions of followers. On April 10th 5,000 gathered to
protest the Rowlatt Act. Nearly 400 unarmed Indians are massacred and 1,200 were wounded
at Amristar, where this demonstration was held, by British soldiers to "punish" the
Indians (Sherrow 67). Gandhi declares that Britain must leave India. Britain failed to
make amends and Gandhi launched and organized a campaign of noncooperation. Government
bureaus were boycotted and the streets were blocked by squatting Indians refusing to
leave even when beaten (Encarta 98). Gandhi was arrested but was soon released.
Gandhi realized that Satyagraha would be necessary and that swaraj, or self-rule, must be
their goal. Gandhi asked for massive nonviolent noncooperation throughout India. He urged
a boycott of British goods, British schools, universities, jobs, liquor, stores and
cloth. He carried a portable spinning wheel in hopes of encouraging others to end India's
dependence of British goods (Sherrow 68). He wore simple homemade clothes. Indians saw
him as a saint and began to call him Mahatma, Sanskrit for "great soul". His power was
great and Indians adored him.
In 1930 Gandhi proclaimed a new campaign of civil disobedience. It was necessary for the
Indian population to refuse to pay the British taxes especially the tax on salt. On March
12, 1930 Gandhi set out at dawn with seventy-nine followers to lead a march to the Indian
coast to evaporate the seawater to make salt. This historic march was known as the Salt
March. For twenty-four days Gandhi lead the group on the 241-mile march to the sea.
People cheered along the way and the group grew. By the time they reached the Dandi on
April 5th several thousand people joined them (Sherrow 81). Defying British law the
marchers picked up the salt encrusted sand. Many arrests were wade as salt marches took
place around the country. About 60,000 people were arrested many people were beaten and
injured by police. Less than two weeks later Gandhi was once again arrested but released
stopping the campaign after the British made compromises to his demands.
In 1932, Gandhi started a new crusade. Once again he was arrested for civil disobedience.
While in jail, Gandhi fasted on behalf of the Untouchables. These fasts were effective
because great chaos would have broken out if he had died. He was sixty-three now and his
body was weak from years of fasting and years of hard work. Friends came to prison and
begged him to stop. His wife, Kasturbai, pleaded with him but Gandhi would not end the
fast. Doctors warned him that he was near his death. The British government came to an
agreement that allowed the Untouchables to be represented in the Assembly. There was an
effort to give Untouchables more rights. Due to these changes, Gandhi finally broke his
fast on the sixth day.
By 1945 it finally seemed possible that Great Britain would give India her independence
under the condition that the two nationalist groups, the Muslim League and the Congress
Party, resolve their differences. The two groups were unable to live together peacefully.
Gandhi stood strongly against the partition of India into Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India
but saw that it was essential in order for Great Britain to grant India her independence.
He finally agreed to the separation with hopes that peace would be achieved. India and
Pakistan became two different states and Great Britain granted India its independence
in1947. Riots followed the partition of India and Gandhi fasted until the riots stopped.
This fast was successful and brought about peace. Twelve days after this fast, while on
the way to a prayer meeting, Gandhi was killed by an assassin's bullet. He was cremated
according to Hindu tradition the next day in before millions. All countries sent
condolences to India and Gandhi became a historical part of India's past.
Mohandus Karamchand Gandhi was a huge part of India's past. He contributed many great
things to the world such as passive resistance and civil disobedience against unjust
laws. He was an enormous figure in the campaign for home rule the attack upon the caste
system and the gain of India's independence. He was an Indian nationalist leader who
established his country's freedom through a nonviolent revolution. He was the Mahatma.