Gandhi

Gandhi

1. Mohandas K Gandhi - born in 1869, India

   • India was under British rule at this time
   • Hindu and his family were relatively wealthy
   • Studied law in London - to become a barrister
     • At age 24 he went to South Africa to practise law
       • He first experienced racism while on a train. The staff on the train said that their were no coloured lawyers in South Africa. He was kicked off the train
       • He was discriminated against the whole time he was there.
         • From this he became a more intimate believer in equality.

2. He moved back to India in 1915

   • He wanted to help the poor and get India back from British Rule
   • Became leader of the Indian National congress in 1920
     • Promoted Non-violence and peaceful resistant whilst he 'fought for his cause'

3. Amritsar

   • 10000 people had gathered to hear the teachings of Gandhi
     • The Garden had one entrance and 4 smaller exits
     • General Dyer (British) heard about the gathering
       • He got an army of 110 men and blocked the exits
       • No warning shot was fired to alert the people to leave
         • This is a breech of the law
       • They shot everyone in the garden as they could not leave.

4. The Salt March

   • Salt is vital to people who live in hot climates like India
     • In certain areas people could collect salt from the beach for free
       • The British stopped this and forced people to buy it at very high prices from the refineries
   • Gandhi lead thousands of people, by foot, 241 miles to a beach.
     • After picking up a handful of salt, he was arrested.
       • His followers continued to a refinery.
         • The men would line up to enter the salt refinery where British soldiers were already waiting.
           • When they tried to get past, soldiers would brutally injure them with a stick.
             • If the Indians were able to walk they would line up and continue the process, otherwise the women help them.

5. The Community

   • Indian people followed a social system called Varashrama or 'Caste'
     • It put people into four groups (Varnas - means 'colour')
       • The first group being; academics, priest, kings e.c.t.
       • Once born into a group, you could not change.
       • A fifth group developed called the 'untouchables' - these people were highly discriminated against.
         • Gandhi wanted to change this: he led protests and peaceful methods to abolish the system. In 1950 the system was outlawed.

6. Beliefs & Methods

   • Non -violent peaceful marches and protests to bring attention to his causes
     • Went on hunger strikes
   • Beliefs:
     • Ahimsa - the hindu belief that no harm should come to any living being
     • Satya & Satyagraha - meaning 'truth' and 'firmness in truth'. He believed that people should stick to their religious principles and apply them every day.
     • Atman - this means 'soul', and Hindus believe that it is made of Brahman, the eternal spirit. THis links to all beings and makes everyone completely equal.

7. Quotes

   • An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind
   • Hate the sin, love the sinner
   • I hate violence, because even when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary, the evil is permanent
   • You must be the change you want to see in the world
   • God has no religion