Gandhi Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gandhi - Essay Example Ahimsa, being rooted deeply in the Indian culture than in other cultures believes that non-violence is the best way of solving all other forms of conflicts. This is a practice that the Indian culture had been living up to even at present. Gandhi exemplifies best of this practice such that he remained to eat nothing of any meat but of vegetables alone. There were even times when he deprived himself from taking in any kinds of foods to be able to live up to this Indian cultural practice. Racism and social injustice have been dominant in South African culture. Unaware of such change in the society, Gandhi, after finishing his studies in England travels on a first class train ticket. While the excitement coming back to his homeland plays in his thoughts, a rude guard threw poor Gandhi off the train for his being black at the very next station. Shocked beyond words by such injustice, Gandhi realized there is nothing left for him to do but to protest against the law and the government of such injustice and racism. This had become a turning point of Gandhi life as he has realized the need for the poor Indian natives to lift themselves up from the discrimination of the British men. (http://www.film.u-net.com/Movies/Reviews/Gandhi.html, para 1) Gandhi at the same time observed that the most of the Indian minorities lack unity making it easier for the British to take away their self-respect and implement an injustice system in their government. This was the first issue that Gandhi attempted to provide a solution such that they will regain their significant roles in the society that they belong. However, because Gandhi believes in a non-violent act of protests, he begins to form contacts with the Indian worker minority through mingling with them at the same time attempting to kindle within them a sense of injustice. Regardless of their religion, he organized meetings with them to let each one of them know their significance in the society that they belong, know their rights to fair treatment among the British. (http://www.film.u-net.com/Movies/Reviews/Gandhi.html, para 2) Unused to public speaking, Gandhi resorts to direct action wherein he burned his identity card in front of the police which led him to his assaults. (http://www.film.u-net.com/Movies/Reviews/ Gandhi.html, para 2) We hear no talk from Gandhi of war sometimes being a "necessary evil," but only him announcing--and more than once-"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." In a scene very near the end of the movie, we hear Gandhi say, as if after deep reflection: "Tyrants and murderers can seem invincible at the time, but in the end they always fall. Think of it. Always." (http://history.eserver.org/ghandi-nobody-knows.txt, para 23) The Hind Swaraj In 1909, Gandhi wrote the "Hind Swaraj" where he condemned the British rule as well as modernization in general. However, the book does not reject the liberal contribution of modernization. Gandhi, however, attempts to integrate its positive elements with a liberating re-interpretation of tradition. (http://www.swaraj.org/interpreting.htm, para 1) He had criticized