INDIA & MOHANDAS GANDHI.   Term Paper ID:25935 Click to get this paper

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Paper Abstract: Brief history of nation, National Congress, Gandhi's non-violent philosophy of mass action, aims, effects. Paper Introduction: GANDHI AND THE POLITICS OF MASS ACTION As outlined in Chapter 16, "The Struggles for Asia, 1920-1945" Mohandas Gandhi appears to be an unparalleled leader and inspirer of human political motivation. The book implies that Gandhi was responsible for the transformation of the demand for independence into a nationwide mass movement that mobilized every class of society against the imperialist forces of Britain. As is often the case, the free India that came into being, divided and committed to a program of modernization and industrialization, was not the India of his dreams. The highlights of his life show a man of action. Born Oct. 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India, in 1893 he went to South Africa to battle for the rights of Indians, an event which would influence his initial struggle in 1915 for India's independence. A Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. In 1944 he was released and became a major figure inthe postwar negotiations that resulted in Indian independence in 1947. These days, few people pause to consider the complex character ofGandhi's personality, the ambiguous nature of his achievement and legacy,or even the real causes of Indian independence. The Indian National Congress and the Moslem League demandedconstitutional reform. As is often the case, the free India that came intobeing, divided and committed to a program of modernization andindustrialization, was not the India of his dreams. Later, he was obliged to revise hisopinion, and concluded that while the British had responded to suchtechniques because of their own nature, other oppressors might not (Popham,1997, 3). But Hinduism revived and eventually predominated.During the Gupta kingdom, 4th-6th century AD, science, literature, and thearts enjoyed a "golden age." Arab invaders established a Moslem footholdin the West in the 8th century, and Turkish Moslems gained control of NorthIndia by 12 . Nationalism grew rapidly afterWorld War I. Partial revelation of the truth. He was on one such prayer vigil in New Delhi when he was fatallyshot by a Hindu fanatic who objected to Gandhi's tolerance for the Muslims.An Assessment of the Philosophy Gandhi believed that the politics of passive resistance andnonviolence should be effective in any situation, at any time, even againsta force as malign as Nazi Germany. In addition, Indian society at the time of Gandhi was divided intofour "varna," or social classesCthe "Brahmans," (priests and scholars);"Kshatriyas," (military and rulers); "Vaisyas," (farmers and merchants);and "Sudras," (peasants and laborers). India: 5 years of independence: Tales offreedom and anguish, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, A12. The British government gotits foothold in India in 16 9 when the British East India Co. Desmond, E., Pratap, A., & Shah, A. Online. He became a proponent of "satyagraha" passive resistance to Britishrule. "He turned to the legends and storiesfrom India's popular religious traditions, preferring their lessons to thesupposed ones of history" (Desmond, Pratap, & Shah, 1989, 53). TIME, 53. When the British jailed him in 1942 after he refused to cooperate andlet the Indians continue weaving cotton that was critical to the war effort(Popham, 1997, 3). Andby standing alone, he was able to motivate millions of downtrodden Indiansto stand with him and refuse to obey unjust laws (Gardini, 1996, 21). Parabola, 2 -22 Microsoft Encarta, (1998). Untouchability was legallyabolished in 1949, only after Gandhi's death.The Indian National Congress and Gandhi The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 to promote economicreforms. (1997, August 15). Saga of Mahatma memorial shows spiritualfather has no place, Independent, 3. This was the hardest to accomplish, since it was a part of the castesystem which was a ranked hereditary social classification. The natural wealth and resources of India, as well as its giganticsize, made it a prize for mercantilistic Europeans. Operating as the East India Co. Rigidlyrestricted occupationally and socially, members could not marry outside thecaste level in which they were born. Regardless of the power of the effect of Gandhi, one element of thehistorical record will survive. Below the Sudras were theuntouchables, who performed menial tasks. Gandhian nonviolence is widely believed to be the method bywhich India gained independence. Moreover, the ruinous economic impact of World War II on Britain, thegradual collapse of the Raj's bureaucratic hold over India from the mid-'3 s onward did as much to bring about freedom as any action of Gandhi's(Basu, 1997, A12). (1996, March 1). Gardini, W. The Mogul emperors ruled 1526-1857 (Encarta, 1998, Online). He gave up Western ways to lead a life of abstinence andspirituality. The Indian caste system that Gandhifought against was a hierarchy of thousands of distinct "jatis" (ranks)that identified a member's religion, occupation, locale, culture status,and tribal affiliation. Born Oct. He "recoiled" fromHindu nationalism. When violence broke out between Hindus and Muslims, heresorted to fasts and visits to the troubled areas in efforts to end theviolence. Asoka ruled most of the Indian subcontinent in the 3rd century BC, andestablished Buddhism. Popham, P. The book implies that Gandhi was responsible for thetransformation of the demand for independence into a nationwide massmovement that mobilized every class of society against the imperialistforces of Britain. A proponent of non violent civilresistance, he brought his case to the world press in 193 when he ledhundreds of natives and reporters on a long Salt March to Dandi to protesta tax on salt. When the British parliament assumed political direction in 1828,the rule by rajahs was curbed. The highlights of his life show a man of action. To become a leader inthe nationalist movement, he began working for Indian Independence fromGreat Britain. 2, 1869,in Porbandar, India, in 1893 he went to South Africa to battle for therights of Indians, an event which would influence his initial struggle in1915 for India's independence. India came into being as a secularized state. It is probable, in fact, that Gandhian techniques werenot the key determinants of India's arrival at freedom. The harshest truth of allis that Gandhi is increasingly irrelevant in the country whose "littlefather"--Bapu--he was. Hewas deeply distressed by the religious partition of the country into Indiaand Pakistan. GANDHI AND THE POLITICS OF MASS ACTION As outlined in Chapter 16, "The Struggles for Asia, 192 -1945"Mohandas Gandhi appears to be an unparalleled leader and inspirer of humanpolitical motivation. (1989, November 13). They gaveindependence its outward character and were its apparent cause, but darkerand deeper historical forces produced the desired effect. In 1919, inspired byGandhi's speeches, it adopted a policy of "satyagraha" (nonviolentresistance) toward the British (Basu, 1997, A12).Gandhi's Non-Violent Philosophy After practicing law in South Africa, Gandhi fought for the rights ofthe Indian population there, and returned to India. References Basu, M. He received much opposition because of his efforts to rid thecountry of the caste system. Its membership became overwhelmingly Hindu, as mostMuslim members left it for the Muslim League. He asserted the unity of mankind under one God and preachedChristian and Muslim ethics along with the Hindu. sent Capt.William Hawkins to get concessions from the Mogul emperor for spices andtextiles. A leader emerged in Mohandas K. the British gained control of most ofIndia. Yet the Indian revolution did indeedbecome violent, and this violence so disappointed Gandhi that he stayedaway from the independence celebrations in protest. After the Sepoy troops mutinied, 1857-58,the British supported the native rulers. Vasco de Gamaestablished Portuguese trading posts 1498-15 3. India:Puppies and consumer boomers. His efforts led the British to jail him several times, but so greatwas his following that his threats to fast until death usually forced hisrelease. (1997, August 1 ). His solution was to forge an Indian identity out of theshared body of ancient narratives. Excavationstrace the Indus Valley civilization back for at least 5, years.Paintings in the mountain caves of Ajanta, richly carved temples, the TajMahal in Agra, and the Kutab Minar in Delhi are among relics of the past(Encarta, 1998, Online). This led to a nationwide strike in support of him, and in1947 he negotiated an end to 19 years of British colonial rule in India.In 1948 he was killed by a fanatic opposed to Gandhi's tolerance of otherreligions (Popham, 1997, 3).Gandhi's India India has one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Gandhi was strong enough as a human beingto stand alone and unafraid against the strongest power in the world. (MahatmaGandhi on education). It became the spearhead of the Indian movement for independencefrom Great Britain. Gandhi (calledMahatma, or Great Soul), who advocated self-rule, non-violence, and removalof untouchability. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.