Gandhi, Satyagraha, and the Western Mind Essay - 955 Words

Gandhi, Satyagraha, and the Western Mind There is much that can be said about such a great leader like Gandhi. He had many skills that were needed to make a difference in the world. Perhaps the most important quality that he possessed was the attributes of knowledge and common sense. These attributes made him a very levelheaded man who knew how to treat his opponent with respect while stating the issue at hand. Gandhi achieved many accomplishments throughout his life. Overall, the most significant was that one man could make a difference within his own country that received worldwide recognition. One of the reasons as to why Gandhi was such a success is in order to be a great leader, one must possess a great deal of inner†¦show more content†¦This is what gave Gandhi and those who followed him, the ability not to strike back. They were able to look within themselves and find peace. An example of how this philosophy played out can be found in an example story told by Gandhi to help others understand how not to fight back with force. The story said that a man was trying to save a scorpion that kept biting him. When asked why did he keep trying to save the scorpion, the man stated that he was a human being and that it was his nature to save, just as it was the nature of the scorpion to bite (Fischer 77). Gandhi was able to declare that he applied true nonviolence to every part of his life. Domestic, institutional, economic, and political problems could all be dealt with by using Satyagraha. Satyagraha can be looked at as a method for resolving conflict. One of the main points is to try and win the trust of the other side. When this is accomplished, the two opposing sides can talk out their differences and try to put an end to them. Satyagraha also uses the readiness to suffer and not fight back. The citizens of India were successful in doing so. Take for example, the time in which Gandhis followers were repeatedly beaten and abused by authorities. They were able to search within their own souls and find the strength to resist violence. The four main weapons used by the satyagrahai are sympathy, trust, patience, and the willingness to suffer (Fischer 221). TheShow MoreRelatedGandhi Satyagraha1402 Words   |  6 PagesA Re-examination of the sources of Gandhis Satyagraha and its significance in the Indian Liberation movement Perhaps one of the most eminent figures in the history of India, Mohandas K. Gandhi, also known as the Mahatma, or The Great Soul, was the spiritual and practical founder of active non-violent resistance, a concept called Satyagraha. Also known as  ¡Ã‚ °soul-force ¡Ã‚ ± or  ¡Ã‚ °truth-force ¡Ã‚ ±, Gandhi developed this revolutionary technique as a method of gaining political and social reforms againstRead MoreMahatma Gandhi Essay1455 Words   |  6 PagesIn the western world the word truth connotes something static and immutable. We see truth as something, that once possessed, will always be valid. But there is a tendency in Eastern philosophy to see truth as something illusive, as something that can only be approximated by a lifetime of philosophical experimentation. The man known as Mohandas Gandhi was this spirit of truth incarnate. But care must be taken not to deify Gandhi, his life was a ceaseless struggle towards deeper understanding, andRead MoreGandhi : The Greate st Leaders Of All Time1450 Words   |  6 PagesMohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in Porbandar, India, on October 2, 1869. He was also known as â€Å"Mahatma† which means great soul and he is known as one the greatest leaders of all time. Gandhi was raised in a middle class Hindu family but he lived in a multicultural community meaning he grew up around different people who practiced different faiths and beliefs. His father was a political figure in Porbandar and was the dewan of Rajkot and Bikaner which is a powerful government official. His motherRead MorePunjabi9291 Words   |  38 PagesCONCEPT OF SWARAJ, SATYAGRAHA AND CRITIQUE OF WESTERN CIVILISATION Structure ! I 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Objectives Introduction The Civilisational Justification and British Rule 19.2.1 Gandhi, Moderates and the Extremists on the Legitimacy of British Rule i I I Gandhis Hind Swaraj 19.3.1 Gandhi, Extremists and British Colonialism 19.3.2 Gandhi, Moderates and British Colonialism 19.3.3 Gandhi on Swaraj 19.4 Gandhis Critique of Modern Civilisation 19.4.1 Western Influences on Gandhi 19.4.2 MeaningRead MoreGandhi Critique vs Rabindranath Tagore ´s Views778 Words   |  3 PagesGandhi Critique: Rabindranath Tagore The term the Indian independence movement refers to the progressive undermining of British Imperial rule in India during the late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century. Though the effort was collective in nature, being that it was popular among the population of India, the means by which many intended to gain their freedom varied greatly. There were many competing political approaches to this movement, but among them all, the messages of Mohandus KaramchandRead MoreGandhi Film Review Essay1580 Words   |  7 Pagesdo not know what religion means† (Gandhi, 1957; 504). These words are only a glimpse of Gandhi’s revolutionary sight that changed Western intellectuals. As we continue to remember his blessings, Gandhi will be known as a leader of the successful freedom struggle and a representative of the highest level of thinking in the Hindu religious tradition. Mohandas Gandhi had many accomplishments throughout his 78 years of life. To briefly outline a few, Gandhi successfully accomplished to abjureRead MoreFanon, Kanye, and Gandhi Essay1277 Words   |  6 Pages Gandhi and Fanon both believed in what was correct and just. They believed that the man should be free, especially if they are being controlled by the colonists’ ideals. This was the case for both Algiers and India. These two countries were being controlled by that one principle of the colonizers which is that they are better and therefore should be in control. In the case of India, they were being oppressed by the British and deprived of having their own land for themselves. Then there was Fanon’sRead MoreBritish Imperialism in India Essay1746 Words   |  7 Pagesterritories, underwent great change under British administration. Originally intended to consolidate their hold on India by establishing a population that spoke the same language as their rulers, the British decision in the 1830s to educate Indians in a Western fashion, with English as the language of instruction, was the beginning of a chain of events, including a rise in Indian nationalism, that led to Ind ian resentment of British imperialism and ultimately to the loss of British control over India. br brOneRead MoreThe Salt Satyagrah Strengths And Weaknesses2516 Words   |  11 PagesThe Salt Satyagraha: Strengths and Weaknesses On 12 March 1930, Gandhi started a historic march to Dandi known as the Salt Satyagraha. It was an act of Civil Disobedience Movement against the British tax law in India. Gandhi and 78 satyagrahis (volunteers) walked for 24 days. On the way to Dandi, they were able to reach 40 villages and towns where about 50,000 people heard their messages. Gandhi broke the salt law on 6 April 1930, and millions of people throughout India followed the act. The entireRead MoreA Brief Biography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi766 Words   |  3 PagesKaramchand Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was Indias greatest political and moral leader. He was born in Gujarat on October 2, 1869 and assassinated on January 30, 1948. In his 79 years of lifetime, he was able to accomplish so many things for the discriminated and all of India. His acts and ideologies still affects the world today. He was born in Gujarat on October 2, 1869 to a prime minister of Rajkot and a faithful Hindu woman. His mother Putilbais faith in Hindu affected Gandhi as a child