Gandhi: A Revolutionary Rebel

Introduction

Most people have regrets in life. Most people wish they would have done more. They wish that they could have left their mark on this earth. Very few men die as they had wished. Gandhi is an exception; he died in the service of brotherhood and for the amity of his nation. He was an astonishing man; he was the imitation of three major revolutions of the 20th century: the revolutions against colonialism, racism, and violence.

Early Influences

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born October 2nd, 1869 into a Hindu Modh family in Porbanadar, Gujarat, India. His father Karamchand, was the Chief Minister of the city of Porbandar. His mother, Putlibai was a housewife. She looked after Mohandas and his siblings. Mohandas Ghandi had two elder brothers Laximidas and Karsandas, as well as a younger sister, Raliatbehn. The Gandhi's came from a long line of grocers and money lenders. However, seeing as how Karamchand Gandhi was involved with politics, this had some influences on Mohandas' career choice.

Mohandas Gandhi was raised in a household where they practiced vegetarianism. He learned tolerance and non-injury to living beings from an early age. He did not consume meat, alcohol or partake in promiscuity. However, when with other boys, he secretly smoked, ate meat, told lies or wore western clothing. This acts caused him to suffer from great feelings of guilt which later made him make a life decision that were to remain with him.

From his childhood, Gandhi learned an abundant amount of information from his mother who practiced Jainism. Through his mother he was taught traditional ideas such as non-violence and vegetarianism. Gandhi’s mother spiritual qualities proved to be a lasting inspiration for Gandhi. Gandhi stated that he was most influenced by his mother, whose life “was an endless chain of fasts and vows.”

Later Influences

Gandhi married young; by the age of 13 he was already betrothed. Gandhi married Kasturbai (ba) Makhanji in 1882, she was illiterate at the time, and also 13 years of age. This marriage was arranged by Mohandas’ and Kasturbai’s parents. Kasturbai was a loyal wife, and supported Gandhi in all that he did, whether or not she agreed with him. Their marriage endured until Kasturbais’s death in 1944 of natural causes. Kasturbai suffered from chronic Bronchitis during the quit Indian movement, her condition worsened, and her health began to decline. She then became victimized by pneumonia. After not receiving any penicillin, she died February 22, 1944 from a major heart attack.

Gandhi and Kasturbai had four children in their time together. Their first son, Harilal was born in 1888, right before Gandhi left for schooling in LondonEngland. Their second son, Manilal, was conceived shortly after Gandhi graduation from law school and in 1891 and was born in 1892. After which, Gandhi accepted a job in South Africa, where the family lived for several years. In South Africa, the Gandhi’s conceived two other sons, Ramdas, born in 1897, and their youngest, Devda, born in 1900.

Being betrothed at such a young age seemed to have diverse effects on Gandhi. Their marriage complicated Gandhi’s attitude towards sex, and charged it with feelings of guilt. This is said to be the reason for Gandhi’s following brahmacarya, a complete renunciation of the pleasure of the skin, also celibacy. However, for Gandhi brahmacarya was part of a larger discipline in food, sleep, thought, prayer, and even daily activities, all designed to aid him in being completely committed to his cause, whatever it may be. During his time with his wife he also read “Civil Disobediences” by David Thoreau, which inspired his devotion to his principles, mainly of non-violence.

Education and Career

As a child, Gandhi was well educated, and quite literate. At the age of 18, he left home in Porbanadar for the University of Bombay, where he studied law for a year. After which he arrived in London, England to study law at the University College London, from which he successfully graduated from in 1891, and was admitted to the bar of England. However, throughout his education, he was socially awkward. He was determined to become an English Gentleman. After three months of education, dancing, and violin lessons he returned to his old life. Simply being himself, he was able to make friends at a vegetarian restaurant.

Gandhi's efforts to practice law met with almost no success, until he moved to South Africa. I was there that he was offered a position with an Indian firm. Gandhi quickly became a successful advocate for Indian rights. During his time in South Africa, Gandhi led a campaign at civil disobedience to protest the harsh treatment of Indians in South Africa. From 1899-1904, Gandhi helped in organizing the transport of wounded soldiers on stretchers in the Boer war, and the Zulu wars. In 1906, he first put into action (Satyagraha) his technique of nonviolent resistance. His success in South Africa earned Gandhi an international reputation. They had no idea what was to come from this young father.

Gandhi returned to India in 1915, during the First World War. Gandhi’s first significant public campaign was in Indio on behalf of the workers in Bihar. He managed to win substantial redress of grievances for the workers. In the same region, he also established schools maintained by the villagers. After the war had ended, Gandhi began a movement of nonviolent resistance towards British rule. Between 1920 and 1922, Gandhi launched the noncooperation movement. Between these times, Indians boycotted courts and councils as a signal to the British that Indians are not in favor of being ruled by the English. In this movement the boycott of English cloth was also intensified. Khadi, homespun cloth became very popular and the “livery of freedom”. The reason for this movement included the governments failure to redress grievances in Punjab, Britain’s conflict with turkey (a cause that agitated Indian Muslims), and Gandhi’s own disappointment with India’s progress towards self-rule.

Gandhi continued to make India less violent as the time passes. In 1924, he supported a Satyagraha movement at Vaikam to give untouchables the right to use a road passing a temple. In 1925, Gandhi was elected as president of the Congress of India. Although he only served one term, others still saw him as a "permanent super-president," and looked to him for guidance. By the mid-1920s, Gandhi (or now known as mahatma, meaning "great soul") also worked to improve social and economic conditions in India. Gandhi wanted to make each Indian village dependable on itself, and only itself. This talk included sanitation, literacy cattle-breeding, and paper making in all villages. Gandhi also encouraged peace between the Hindus and the Muslims in his country, and fasted to demand better treatment of the Dalits, the lowest members of Hindu society. Independence finally came to India in 1947. However, because the Hindus and Muslims could not agree on a government, the country was divided into two separate nations—India and Pakistan.

Life Philosophy/ What Makes Gandhi a “Rebel”?

Gandhi had many goals throughout his life, many of which the average man would never dream of. It was Gandhi himself that once said: “I am not strange, I am just not normal.” His many goals included above most to help other, to ease poverty, to expand women’s rights, to build religious and ethnic amity, to increase economic self-reliance, and for India to become an independent nation. An excerpt from Young India, one of Gandhi’s journals, taken July 2, 1925 read “My mission is to teach by example and precept under severe restraint the use of the matchless weapon of Satyagraha, which is a direct corollary of nonviolence and truth.”

Gandhi’s life philosophy can now be summed up with one word “Gandhism.” Gandhism is the collection of inspirations, principles, beliefs and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. There are many components of Gandhism, some simple, and some complicated. The simplest components are vegetarianism and Ahisma, or nonviolence, passes to Gandhi from his mother. There is also truth or Satya, in Gandhi’s philosophy, truth is God. He also practiced Hindu universalism. Although Gandhi was raised Hindu, he believed and taught others that all religions are true, although they are also all flawed, they all deserve equal respect. Gandhi was a firm believer in the Khadi program, or homespun cloth. He believed that Khadi would improve the economy of India. Another component of Gandhism is Brahmacharya. At the age of 36, Gandhi took a vow of celibacy or Brahmacharya to be able to focus all his sexual energy on other more important tasks. There is also Satyagraha, a nonviolent resistance, in which he used to strengthen India. This method is widely know around the world, and has been used in many pacifist battles.

Gandhi experience many accomplishments while fighting for his country. However, he also experienced many unpleasant times. In 1891, Gandhi was thrown out of a first class train compartment in South Africa for being a colored person. This was a crucial turning point in his life as it was the first time he was a victim of racial discrimination. During Gandhi’s life he spent a total of 2,338 days in jail as a political prisoner, tallying up to more that six years behind bars. However, Gandhi always had a way or making the best out of a bad situation. He once said: “I always get the best bargains behind prison bars.” Gandhi always found a way out of prison as well. He fasted numerous times until the British would release him on the account that they were afraid of his health deteriorating. In the end, it was Gandhi’s search for an independent India that resulted in his assassination. It seems that not everyone was pleased with the work he was contributing to his nation.

His Death

Gandhi died January 30^th, 1948 at 5:20 pm after being shot tree times in the chest. His assignation took place at the Birla House in New Delhi while he was arriving for prayers. He was killed by Nathuram Godse, a young Brahman extremist. Godse believed that Gandhi had weakened India by befriending Muslims. Godse was also against the partition of India. Godse was standing only a few meters from Gandhi when he pulled the trigger, surrounded my many other citizens. Godse was then convicted of assassination and was executed a year later. Gandhi’s famous last words are controversial. However, the majority of patrons who witnessed the act said that his last words were “He Ram!” meaning “Oh God!” After Gandhi’s tragic death, the entire country of India went into mourning for 13 days. During this time, Gandhi’s ashes were divided and sent to each state of India to be scattered in the rivers.

In Remembrance

Gandhi's name is recognized all over the world. After his death, many monuments and tributes were made in his honor. His birthday, October 2nd, is now celebrated as a national holiday in India; this day is recognized as 'Gandhi Jayanthi'. Some of the world's greatest minds mourned India's lost. After Gandhi's assassination, Albert Einstein said: "Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth!" In recent years, many continue to look towards Gandhi for spiritual guidance, and follow his was, such as Vinoba Bhave, a land reformer in India, and Martin Luther King, Jr., the black civil rights leader in the United-States.

Conclusion

Gandhi won the affection and loyalty of gifted men and women, young and old; of Europeans; and of Indians of almost every political line. Gandhi accomplished so much in his life time that it proves difficult for even the most gifted people to stand tall beside the mere image of the "Father of the Nation." Although Gandhi made many mistakes in his life, he never regretted them, but learned from them. As he once said: "Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes." One of Gandhi's most famous quotes, as well as the most influential quotes was to "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." People have modified this statement many times, and it is used very frequently. However, it always passes on the same message—live life to the fullest; which is exactly what Gandhi did.