In the post below share your thoughts and reactions to the movie about Gandhi. What did he accomplish? Was the world a better or worse place because of him? Was he a positive influence on others? Was the US Civil Rights Movement more successful than Gandhi’s own movement? Was he motivated by religious commitments? In what ways was religion involved in the events in India that the movie recounts?
Gandhi is extremely important to the evolution of altruism in the leadership of the world. His method of non-violence had a potent energy behind it that revealed in everyone a deep form of understanding that is not thought of these days. He relied on a common sense of decency between people that prevented them from progressing toward evil intentions. He preferred to be a “Better Man”, something an enemy never wishes to come across because it enfeebles the resolve to fight. It isn’t possible to kill a man you respect, but you can fight him.Gandhi’s ability to cross, or to be exact, hope to cross religious boundaries was one of his greatest hopes. He would often identify with his muslim, christian, and sikh counterparts as a way to build solidarity in his fledgling country. It didn’t work as wellas he hoped but he was capable of extracting from the most damaged hearts a great kindness that is impossible to grasp. A new identity.
Martin Luther King Jr. was known for having a great admiration for Gandhi, in part of because of his non-violent methods of civil disobedience. Such a technique was effective for both Gandhi and the American Civil Rights Movement. For both movements it would take years for its affect to be felt. Gandhi would spend the better part of a century trying to get the British to leave,while the American Civil Rights Movement would accomplish its main goal in twenty years or so. In terms of time the American were victorious. But in therms of gravity Gandhi was liberating a country.
Despite his best intentions religious violence was inevitable due to the painful history of violence. It was easier to kill your new friend then love him.He hoped to achieve a new identity for his country that was not absorbed by hatred and century old clashes. The formation of Pakistan was a result of this religious hatred that led to two Indias, one Muslim and one Hindu
I felt Gandhi accomplished a great deal considering he was one man who was able to influence an entire nation to come together as one to push out the British. Although his overall success to bring both the Muslims and the Hindus together was not so successful, overall he’s accomplished where others failed to do, with civil disobedience and non violence. Gandhi succeeded in saving India from British rule, but could not save India from themselves, just as Martin Luther king shook the nation with his movement, but did not completely rid it of racism today. Overall both movements were both very successful. Gandhi him was not motivated by religion, but did try to use religion as a base to get everyone together as one, although that movement was not very successful, because in the end neither Muslim or Hindu could get past their differences to obtain peace.
@ Jamil, I agree with most of what you are saying. However, I respectfully disagree though, when it comes to the civil rights being more successful. Both movements were successful in their own right, however a true indicator of success would be how the current situation is like post-movement. It would be hard for me to distinguish the current situation in India as I was never there and have no knowledge of the race/religious wars there. However, it would be easy to assess the situation in America post civil rights movement, however I feel we are still many decades (and possibly generations) away from Dr. King’s goal. We are still separated in regards to economic disparity, women are still unequal, and there is still a politically orchestrated civil war going on, which has divided us. To decipher which movement was more successful is subjective.
Ok, now I have this figured out, I thought you had to register or log in. I’m glad to see that you don’t have to do either of those things in order to respond to the topic.
Anyway, back to Gandhi. I want to state right at the onset that my only opinion of Gandhi is based on this movie and Hollywood is ripe with creative license. Do I think Gandhi accomplished what he set out to do? Which I believe was that he wanted India for Indians, which he did get. However, he did not take into consideration the many different types of Indians that there were. It would be like saying Ireland for the Irish and then forgetting that the Catholics and Protestants don’t get along. Now for all I know there were people in his life reminding him of this daily, but this is Hollywood.
I believe he did accomplish freedom for India, which is why it is now divided. Any time people can live as they choose to it is always a good thing. The world is most definitely a better place because of Gandhi. He showed that you can effect change without violence, we need more of this.
The US Civil Rights Movement… I think they might be neck and neck. Where as the African American person is free, there are always prejudices to deal with. I will end my sentence there, as I am not African American and therefore do not have a leg to stand on. I believe that the same prejudices exist in India. Ultimately we are human and prone to conflict, it seems to be a part of what makes human. There has been a war or fighting on this planet since time began. It’s just the way it is.
I don’t believe Gandhi was motivated by religious commitments. I believe it was more of desire to be treated fairly regardless of what work you do.
I am coming up empty on the religious aspects of the movie, I saw more of a caste system that was being addressed.
I thought that the movie did a great job on educating others Gandhi had and expressed.He definitely has shown that violence isn’t always the answer, “an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind,” but unfortunately wasn’t able to reach everyone, but he tried. Due to his teachings of non violence I would say that he was a positive influence. I think that the civil rights movement was more successful, not completed, but if you look at today, well we have a black president. I do feel that both movements were necessary though. Finally, I feel that Gandhi was able to use every religion in terms of proving a point, but didn’t favor one religion in particular.
S. S. I completely disagreed that Gandhi’s movement is more successful than the US civil rights movement.It speaks for itself judging where equality, freedom of speech, liberty and social justice for all is the order of the day. In comparism to Gandhi’s India where women are being forced into arrange marriages to older men some even old enough to be their grandfather.The atrocities being commited against women in India is so dispeakable that the world civil Human right group had to come to the resque,like the recent Raping of a young lady and many more.Obviously equality for all in that part of the world in any yard stick can not match that of United states of American.
@Tanika Davidson: I agree with what you said: ” i do not believe Gandhi made the world a better or worst place but, instead inspired others to take alternative actions when it comes to dealing with conflicts.”
Polly Li ,I forgot to write your name in my previous comment but it is to answer you back.
Gandhi was a good model to follow for other. It show that is not easy to make a change when internal conflict (beliefs) separate people to achieve it .
Liang Liu Situ Wing, I agree with you that religion is a motive that can cause hatred. Most people cannot tolerate the religion of other people based on the fact that some people may believe that their religion is superior. Therefore, it isn’t hard to discriminate because people have different opinion. Gandhi was surely an positive influence on people as he kept his word to not used violence.
Polly Li, I think Gandhi wants equality which is it reflect in the idea of world peace. Actually, he wants all the people to be treating the same since we are all humans being … All the things you wrote I like it
Mohandas Gandhi has accomplished something that not many people have ever achieved. He had gained India independence without demonstrating violence against the British. Because of his involvement, he was able to influence people to used non-violence mean to gained independence from the British Empire. Gandhi, being the first person to not used violence, has inspired people like Martin Luther Jr. to help advocate a non-violent protest. It was due to the influence of Gandhi’s that Martin Luther Jr. was able to start his own civil right movement to help end inequality among people. Gandhi’s movement and the US Civil Rights movement had made people become more aware about human issues that people face. These two movements were both successful since their main purpose was to deploy non-violence mean to address the problem of injustice. About Gandhi’s religious commitment, I can only assume that he was influence by the religion of its principle left behind. One of his principles was his belief about how one’s should not live a life full of violence and hatred. I believe that Gandhi’s main intention was driven by his desire to help people and somehow, people might have incorporated this desire as religion. Whether he is religious or not, his desire for peace is shown through by his action. In the movie, Gandhi’s fasted for his cause to end the conflict between different religions and to prevent more pointless death from taking place. What Gandhi’s may have wanted was perhaps peace and I believe that it is because of him that we can view the world in a positive way.
I believe the Gandhi movie shed a light on the struggles and determination that it takes to lead,motivate and inspire.I do not believe Gandhi made the world a better or worst place but, instead inspired others to take alternative actions when it comes to dealing with conflicts.Gandhi in my opinion did have a positive influence on others because many world leaders emulated his methods when it came to peace and unification.The civil rights movement and Gandhi’s movement in some aspects to me seems very similar. The intentions of both movements was to removed barriers and provide equal rights and opportunities for the oppressed.There were successes and failures with both movements.I do not believe Gandhi was motivated by religious commitments but was instead by spiritual and moral beliefs.Religion was involved in the events in India within the movie with the division and warfare that played out between the hindu and muslims.
Typo: 31 years should be 40 years. It took 40 years after the civil right movement for America to elect an African-American President
The 1982 movie, “Gandhi”, which dramatizes the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the leader of India’s non-violent and non-cooperative independence movement against the British was inspiring and informative.
After watching the movie, I felt Gandhi accomplished his goal of obtaining India’s independence from the British.
Gandhi, without a doubt, was a positive influences on others. His actions and message had positive affect not just on the people of India, but on the likes of Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. Both men applied Ghandi’s philosophy of non-violence to create social change.
In terms of achieving specific goals, I feel that the US Civil Rights Movement was equally successful as Gandhi’s movement in India. The goal of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. was to end racial segregation and discrimination against black Americans and enforce constitutional voting rights to them, that was achieved. Gandhi’s movement in India was obtain independence from Britain, goal achieved. Both movements had positive and negative unintended consequences. When you judge both movements on their long term effects on the people and countries, I feel that Civil Rights Movement was more successful. The Civil Right Movement did more than change the social conditions for Blacks in America, it went on to influence the mental models of the people in America, not all, but enough to point only 31 years later, an African-American is president.
I don’t feel Gandhi was motivated by religious commitments but by the idea he felt Indians were equal to British, and should be treated as such. Furthermore, to gain independence from the British.
In the movie, I think Gandhi under estimated the influence of religion over the Indian people. I think he believed independence from the would create a new identity that would unite all Indian regardless of religion, instead it caused division and war. You start believe that all of Gandhi’s hard work was for nothing.
oluwole Bilewu I think the same, he fell politically to keep different religion together. It can seem that every religious groups had different goals to achieve. But, at least, in the end of the movie there is tolerate of religious. I think this is what Gandhi wants beside Independence of India.
Kira E. Brannigan I agreed with you. the fact that Gandhi or Hitler’s belief made a impacted into a entirely group of people to follow them is impressive. it showed that one’s strong idea can become enough for people to believe. It made a change in history and the way things are
Now thinking back reading the comments of my fellow classmates and doing further research i also believe Gandhi’s movement was more successful than the US Civil Movement.
Gandhi helped India achieved independence from British through Non violent civil disobedience and had inspired movements of civil rights and freedom across the world. However he failed politically despite going on fasting to preserve Hindu and Muslim relationship.”Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is”, said Gandhi. I concur, the significant of religion crises today across the globe can not be over emphasized in the sense that independence nations like the sunis and the shias in Iraq, muslims and the Christians killings in Nigeria, the muslim brotherhood bloodshed in Egypt,the jewish and the palastinians comflict and many more are politically motivated.In a nut shell bridging the gap battle between Religions have proven to be a loss war, in which Gandhi had failed to achieve.
I do not think Gandhi was fueled by politics or religion, but rather from a humanitarian point of view. By not adhering to any set of religious views, but rather to a set of humanitarian behaviors and beliefs. I think to try and compare the civil rights movement here and the movement in India is a hard comparison to make, although I can see the comparison. I believe it depends on the person you speak to.
Gandhi was able to band Indians, ALL Indians, together for the greater good. His goal was to make Indians treated as equal British citizens in the eyes of the British, and if we evaluate him on those criteria alone, I think it’s clear he won the battle, even if in the process he lost the war. Muslims and Hindus were willing to put differences aside in order to pay homage to their motherland, where no matter whom they prayed to, they were equal. It’s pretty powerful when you consider that he was just a man like anyone else. Yes, he was highly educated, but he was still, a simple man that wholeheartedly believed in his cause. Think about it this way, Hitler was also able to get an entire country behind his cause, and he caused one of the largest genocides in history. He used weapons, created a regime to follow through his orders, and depreciated the value of the human race. He created a legacy for himself, and so did Gandhi. Gandhi was able to accomplish abolishing the pass laws in South Africa, and further his efforts in India.
Mahatma Gandhi was an empowering, spiritual and well know leader who fought and achieve independence for India by leading several non violent demonstrations against the British Empire. He made the world a better place by showing that changes can be made not only by violence but by doing it in a peaceful and respectable manner. This had a positive influence on many and many people respected him because of that. His philosophies opened the door to Martin Luther King Jr a well known activist who fought for equal rights amounts black people. I personally think that Gandhi’s own movement was more successful than the US Civil Right Movement because he did something that was impossible. Defeating a powerful nation peaceful and graining control of his country’s independence. Because of Gandhi’s success, it paved the way from Martin Luther King Jr to lead the US Civil Rights Movement which ultimately gave black people their equal rights. I don’t believe Gandhi was motivated by religion but I believe he was more motivated by spiritual and moral beliefs. He saw everyone as being equal and felt that they weren’t being treated that way especially in their own country. After independence was declared to Indian, the Hindus and the Muslims started to fight each other causing many to die due to their conflicts. Gandhi wanted the two religions not to fight but to live as one. He started fasting until the both religion came to an understanding, which they did at the end of the movie. I enjoyed watching the film because it showed me how one person can change a whole nation just by words of wisdom and proper guidance.
Mahatma Gandhi had accomplished the Independence of India by nonviolent civil disobedience. The world became a better place because of him since he created an identity for Indians regardless of their religion. He was a positive influence to others by teaching them that violence is not the solution to their problems. In my opinion, Gandhi’s own movement was more successful than the US Civil Rights movement; because he united the whole country with his beliefs, defeated a powerful country like the British Empire. He was a great influence, especially on Martin Luther King, Jr. King’s philosophy of nonviolent civil disobedience was derived largely from that of Gandhi. In the movie, Gandhi never mentioned about religion as the motive to gain independence for India, his ideas were more spiritual – he believed that Indian are equal to any other human beings and should not be discriminated by color, race, etc. Also, he believes the country India should be ruled by Indians instead of a foreign power. On the other hand, Religion was a motive for people in India to start has intolerance of religion and hatred toward each other’s beliefs. The movie recounts this incident with the killed of innocent people, chaos on the street, and most important violence from different religious groups. Therefore, Gandhi was one of the most influential religious leaders in history.
Gandhi was able to give Indian their independence from the British.However, they began to fight amongst each other which at first defeated his ultimate purpose of having one India. Gandhi did make Indian a better place in some ways but in others not so much due to every culture wanting to rule over the rest.I believe Gandhi did have a positive influence in India he showed his people that he could accomplish a lot more without the blood shed and wars there were use to and thought solved everything. I don’t believe Gandhi was more so motivated by moral beliefs than religious beliefs because he claim no religious in particular but many.However, he follows one rule in all to live amongst each other freely and in one peace. Religion i believe was the cause of the wars and segregation.One religion always thought they could live above and rule and were better than the others people used religion i believe as a weapon more than a peace agreement as Gandhi had hoped to use it.The US Rights Movement was indeed more successful or the same as Gandhi it impacted the generations to come.