Thoughts of Gandhi - Essay Example

Gandhi Introduction Gandhi left a significant mark in the hearts of the Indians in South Africa. His teachings and his battle for the Indians against racism and social injustice did not only give an enlightenment on these people but to the entire humanity as well. Gandhi became an inspiration to the people he had met personally as well as the people who know nothing much of his existence. His thoughts on a non-violent fight against the negative forces within the society gave as much wisdom as to the people who soon realized the great sacrifices that he made to free his Indian brothers from being socially and morally harassed by the people taking advantage of their weaknesses. Ahimsa 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. Indians believe that cows are sacred therefore they do not eat its meat. A mere attempt of killing one of them is already considered to be a great sin that one should pay for. The Significant Turning Point of Gandhi's Life 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 modernization in such a way that he believes that a person loses his spirituality because of modernization. Modern technologies brought about by civilization would only take away man's ability to do things by himself. Technologies will have to perform the tasks that a man should do. Man will no longer exercise his manual capability since machines will be taking over the tasks. Man will lose his physical strength because machines takes over the things that man was supposed to be doing. Physical health however is in relation to spiritual health. Thus, a healthy body is relative to a healthy soul. "Good travels at a snail's pace" according to Gandhi. However, evil travels at a fast pace that may have been brought about by civilization. Gandhi thought that railways causes evil to travel in a fast pace that will eventually rule the society. Evil may be the people from other parts of the world coming into the country and ruling over the Indians and taking away their own culture and tradition. Doctors and lawyers do not at the same time make any good impression on Gandhi. He believes that these people who give false hopes to the society. The following quote directly states his disappointment on the doctors who gives dying patients a wrong notion that they will be cured even though the doctors knew that it is the other way around. "Doctors assure us that a consumptive clings to life even when he is about to die. Consumption does not produce apparent hurt it even produces a seductive color about a patient's face so as to induce the belief that all is well." (http://www.mkgandhi.org/swarajya/coverpage.htm, para 6) Non-violent Acts Implication to the Society Non-violent acts in resolving conflicts are yet to be considered one of the best things that would allow us to get what we hoped for. In all forms of organizational conflicts, we may tend to react violently and therefore get back at our enemies violently. But Gandhi proves that non-violent protests and sacrifices can be made in order to solve any conflict that arises in any forms of organization. Loving one's enemy would probably be the hardest act that one would be able to do. However, just like what the Holy Scriptures had always taught us, it still applies even at these times. It may have been the hardest thing to do for each one of us yet it is the most rewarding act that will soon reap great harvests of peace and harmony among us all. Works Cited: "Hind Swaraj". http://www.mkgandhi.org/swarajya/coverpage.htm. May 17, 2006. "The Gandhi Nobody Knows". http://history.eserver.org/ghandi-nobody-knows.txt. May 17, 2006. "Gandhi". http://www.neoncarrot.co.uk/h_reviews/india_movies/gandhi.html. May 17, 2006 "Interpreting Gandhi's Hind Swaraj". http://www.swaraj.org/interpreting.htm. May 17, 2006. "Gandhi (1982)". http://www.film.u-net.com/Movies/Reviews/Gandhi.html. May 17, 20 Read More