Premium Essay

Mohandas Gandhi and Nelson Mandela

In:

Submitted By abdulmohsen
Words 736
Pages 3
Two of the most famous leaders Mohandas Gandhi in India and Nelson Mandela in African. There are many notable peacemakers who are famous in recent history. Mohandas Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 and Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918. One many have heard about, and the other some might not have heard about. However, they both are well known for many of their good deeds. This essay will show how much the two leaders are different and similar.
Mohandas Gandhi was born in Porbandar, India and was killed by a fanatic, he studied law and came to advocate for the rights of Indians, both at home and in South Africa. Gandhi became a leader of India's independence movement, organizing boycotts against British institutions in peaceful forms of civil disobedience, in 1948. As a nationalist leader he studied law in London and England, but in 1893 went to South Africa, where he spent 20 years opposing discriminatory legislation against Indians. As a pioneer of Satyagraha, or resistance through mass non-violent civil disobedience, he became one of the major political and spiritual leaders of his time. Satyagraha remains one of his most potent philosophies in freedom struggles throughout the world today. For example he said, “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind."(progressive.org). And “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” (progressive.org).

Nelson Mandela was born in Mveso, Transkei, South Africa. Becoming actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement in his 20s, Mandela joined the African National Congress in 1942. For 20 years, he directed a campaign of peaceful, non-violent defiance against the South African government and its racist policies. In1993. Mandela and South African President were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to dismantle the country's apartheid system. In 1994,

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Summer Assignment

...regarding Gandhi, King and Mandela: What Made Non-Violence Work? Any suspicion of plagiarism will result in a non-submission of assignment. Failure to complete assignment by the start of the fall semester or suspicion of plagiarism will result in a 5% loss of class average for the first semester grade. Read the background essay to gain more knowledge about these men. Answers should be typed. Plagiarized responses will receive no credit. Document D Questions: 1. What non-violent tactic is being threatened by Gandhi to protest the salt tax? 2. What is civil disobedience? 3. Provide an example of civil disobedience. 4. Inference: Why did Gandhi write the letter to Lord Irwin, telling him in advance what he intended to do? 5. What are the risks of civil disobedience to society? Document E Questions: 1. What is a lunch counter sit-in? 2. Is a lunch counter sit-in an example of civil disobedience? Why? 3. Explain the difference between a strike and a boycott? 4. How does King justify breaking the law at his trial? Examine the Picture 5. What can you tell me about the sit-in and the times from Blackwell’s photo? Explain. a. b. c. Document F Questions: 1. Does the document provide evidence that Mandela supported civil disobedience? Explain. 2. Did Mandela believe that acts of civil disobedience must be non-violent? 3. Under what circumstances might have Mandela supported...

Words: 4410 - Pages: 18

Premium Essay

Jijmu

...following questions regarding Gandhi, King and Mandela: What Made Non-Violence Work? Any suspicion of plagiarism will result in a non-submission of assignment. Failure to complete assignment by the start of the fall semester or suspicion of plagiarism will result in a 5% loss of class average for the first semester grade. Read the background essay to gain more knowledge about these men. Answers should be typed. Plagiarized responses will receive no credit. Document D Questions: 1. What non-violent tactic is being threatened by Gandhi to protest the salt tax? 2. What is civil disobedience? 3. Provide an example of civil disobedience. 4. Inference: Why did Gandhi write the letter to Lord Irwin, telling him in advance what he intended to do? 5. What are the risks of civil disobedience to society? Document E Questions: 1. What is a lunch counter sit-in? 2. Is a lunch counter sit-in an example of civil disobedience? Why? 3. Explain the difference between a strike and a boycott? 4. How does King justify breaking the law at his trial? Examine the Picture 5. What can you tell me about the sit-in and the times from Blackwell’s photo? Explain. a. b. c. Document F Questions: 1. Does the document provide evidence that Mandela supported civil disobedience? Explain. 2. Did Mandela believe that acts of civil disobedience must be non-violent? 3. Under what circumstances might have Mandela supported violence? 4....

Words: 4409 - Pages: 18

Premium Essay

What Made Gandhi's Non-Violence Movement Work?

...was that both of them had been colonies of England. And like England both countries thought law was very powerful – more powerful even than government officials. The second condition was the presence of violence. Without the possibility of a violent revolution, the government might not have been willing to change. The third condition was the presence of a leader – Mohandas Gandhi in India and Nelson Mandela South Africa. Each of these men was so charismatic he could lead his followers to a non-violent victory. Both of them gave their lives to the cause. Gandhi was shot by an assassin while Mandela spent almost twenty-seven years of his life in prison. These are their stories. Mohandas Gandhi – “An eye-for-an-eye only makes the whole world blind” Mohandas Gandhi was born in 1869, in Porbandar, India. His father taught his son respect for all religions. His mother taught him that all living things are holy. Following custom, Gandhi married at age 13; his wife, Kasturbai, was even younger. At age 19 he went to London to study law, and at age 22 Gandhi completed his studies. He now felt more than ever that the English, who had ruled India for almost two...

Words: 564 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Gandi's Leadership Qualities

...Mahatma Gandhi – Father of the Nation Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2nd 1869 into a middle class Indian family. Unlike any of the other leaders we have examined throughout this course, Gandhi did not possess any leadership qualities as a child. In fact, he was a very mediocre student in school and admitted to not being “good at anything”. In contrast to Nelson Mandela, there was nothing distinguishing Gandhi from any of his peers. As a boy, Gandhi was shy, introverted, and always kept to himself. He was not a born leader nor did he possess any leadership qualities. Another example of how Gandhi was not a born leader was during his studies and upon his return to India. At the age of 18, Gandhi moved to England to study law. After three painstaking years of rigorous study, he managed to pass the bar exam; however, upon his return to India, Gandhi quickly discovered that he could not practice law in India because he could not be objective, he was not capable enough, and he did not know enough about Indian law. This proves that Gandhi was not a genius, nor was he exceptional during his early years. Gandhi is indeed a true example of how leadership is not innate, but learned. The fundamental turning point in Gandhi’s life was upon his return from England after obtaining his law degree. Gandhi accepted a job in South Africa where he realized his higher calling. He experienced direct discrimination because of his ethnicity. Although he was dressed like a high class...

Words: 1130 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Gandhi

...Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi also known as “Mahatma (Great soul) Gandhi” or “Bapu (Father of the nation)” was the leader of Freedom fight and Indian Nationalism on the British rule in India. Mahatma Gandhi was the primary leader of India's independence movement and also the architect of a form of civil disobedience that would influence the world. Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in India. He was the youngest child for his parents Mohandas Gandhi and Putlibai Gandhi. He spent his childhood and his schooling in the city of Porbandar. Gandhi in his own biography describes his father as lover of his clan, truthful, brave and generous, but short-tempered, incorruptible and his mother being a very religious person. He also describes her as having very strong commonsense and highly intelligent. His father died before Gandhi could finish his schooling, and at thirteen he was married to  Kasturbai, who was of the same age as Mohandas himself . She was illiterate. By nature she was simple, independent, persevering. They had 4 children together. At age 18, Gandhi left India, in order to study to become a barrister (lawyer) in London. His three-year stay in London he was a serious student and living a very simple lifestyle and stayed as a vegetarian. Gandhi successfully passed the bar on June 10, 1891 and sailed back to India. For the next two years, Gandhi attempted to practice law in India. Unfortunately, Gandhi found that he lacked both knowledge of Indian law and self-confidence at...

Words: 2147 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Mahatma Gandhi

...Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Born October 2, 1869 Porbandar, Gujarat, British Indian Empire Died January 30, 1948 (aged 78) New Delhi, India Cause of death Shooting Nationality Indian Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Hindi: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी; Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was a leader of nationalism in British-ruled India. He is more commonly called Mahatma Gandhi;[1] mahatma is an honorific meaning "high-souled" or "venerable" in Sanskrit. He was first called this in 1914 in South Africa. He is also called Bapu in India (Gujarati endearment for "father", "papa"). He was the Martyr of the Nation since 1948. Rabindranath Tagore gave him this name.[2] Gandhi was one of the most important people involved in the movement for the independence of India. He was a non-violent activist, who led the independence movement through a non-violent protest. Early life Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat, India.[3] Several members of his family worked for the government of the state. When Gandhi was 18 years old, he went to England to study law.[4] After he became a lawyer, he went to the British colony of South Africa where he experienced laws that said people with dark skin had fewer rights than people with light skin. He decided then to become a political activist, so he could help change these unfair laws. He created a powerful, non-violent movement. During Gandhi's life, India was a colony of the United Kingdom,...

Words: 549 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Violence

...Violence is the only effective weapon available to the people who are oppressed. How far do you agree or disagree? I personally do not agree that violence is the only effective weapon available to the oppressed people. It is not the only way for people to get their view across or secure their rights and justice. However, throughout the history of mankind, violence has been widely used as a method to gain control over a person or a group of people or a nation. Unfortunately, the present day media is also filled with news of violence. What exactly is violence? Violence can be described as an act of intentional harm to some individual or group. Violence can be physical, mental or sometimes even emotional. It disturbs peace and harmony in the society and slows down the overall development. Securing ownership over land and resources, power hungry leadership, extremism, racism, sociocultural differences, ethnic and caste conflicts are causes of violence. For example, the violence between the Indians and the Pakistanis over the land of Kashmir is motivated by the desire of securing land and resources. The conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is driven by religious differences and extremism. There are constant fights between different tribes in many parts of Africa. These African tribal conflicts are usually motivated by ethnic and caste differences. Centuries prolonged conflicts between the "blacks" and the "whites" were the results of racism. There are still residues...

Words: 709 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Great Leaders

...2014 Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was a prominent political leader in the Indian Independence struggle. Gandhi is my definition of a great leader. The Gandhian ideology or doctrine of non-violence inspired many great leaders including Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and the Dalai Lama. In India, Gandhi photo is on all paper currency. October 2 is celebrated as a holiday in India, is the day he was born. To be a great leader there are 10 qualities, I feel you should need to be successful. Ambition, patience, humility, humor, vision, compliance, tolerance, courage, accountability and gratitude are the main 10 qualities a great leader should have. Gandhi was boldly driven forward, passionately rising to new heights, clearing a path for those who follow. Gandhi was able to vision the future and articulates, in crystal clear language, a strategic plan to get everyone on board. Gandhi knew how to play by the rules in order to build respect and sustainability. Gandhi knew that people are individuals who thrive best when allowed to choose their own approach to risk and happiness. He blazed an aisle in the aphotic and afford their own light, admitting alive that alarm lurks about corners. He took abounding accountability if there were problems of area mistakes were fabricated or whose achievement was substandard. Gandhi approved acknowledgment audibly and generally to those who accord of themselves to abutment the group's success. Gandhi was...

Words: 774 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Compare And Contrast Gandhi And Martin Luther King Jr

...values and attitudes of modern day society. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were one of the most influential individuals of all time, who used non-violent methods of protest to convey their message to their respective populations, and eventually succeeded through perseverance. Gandhi and Luther King Jr. both travelled extensively throughout their countries, inspiring people towards change and freedom. Gandhi was born on 2nd of October, 1869 (Porbandar, India). He studied law and advocated for the civil rights of Indians in India and South Africa under colonial rule of the British. Gandhi was a lawyer for many years until he fought to free India...

Words: 819 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

...Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (pronounced [ˈmoːɦənd̪aːs ˈkərəmtʃənd̪ ˈɡaːnd̪ʱi] ( listen); 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India. Employing non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The honorific Mahatma (Sanskrit: "high-souled," "venerable"[2])—applied to him first in 1914 in South Africa,[3]—is now used worldwide. He is also called Bapu (Gujarati: endearment for "father,"[4] "papa."[4][5]) in India. Born and raised in a Hindu, merchant caste, family in coastal Gujarat, western India, and trained in law at the Inner Temple, London, Gandhi first employed non-violent civil disobedience as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, in the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights. After his return to India in 1915, he set about organising peasants, farmers, and urban labourers to protest against excessive land-tax and discrimination. Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity, ending untouchability, but above all for achieving Swaraj or self-rule. Gandhi famously led Indians in challenging the British-imposed salt tax with the 400 km (250 mi) Dandi Salt March in 1930, and later in calling for the British to Quit India in 1942. He was imprisoned for many years, upon many occasions, in both...

Words: 12676 - Pages: 51

Premium Essay

Gke Task 2

...The Two Most Significant Social or Political Changes by Martin Luther Nefertiti Aziz GKE TASK 2A Western Governors University There are many great reformers of history like Mohandas Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Benazir Bhutto but I chose to write my essay on Martin Luther who in my opinion one of the greatest reformers of all time . Without even planning to Martin Luther would become one of the great reformers of Christianity and alter the course of Christianity and Western past forever. To me the two most significant social or political changes that occurred as a result of the actions of Martin Luther was the writing of the “Ninety-Nine Theses” with led to the protestant reformation and the translation of the bible in Germany Born to father Hans and mother Margaretta in Eisleben, Germany, in 1483, Martin Luther was one of a family of ten. Although Martin was born in Eisleben his father Hans a prominent business moved his family to Mansfeld and from there Martin went on to become one of the most significant figures in history. In his younger year Martin Luther spent his time as monk and scholar but in 1517 Martin Luther produced a document condemning the Catholic Church's unethical customs of retailing “pleasures” to pardon wickedness. His “Ninety-Five Theses”, which promoted two central beliefs, the first belief is that the Bible is the fundamental religious authority and the second was that individuals may grasp...

Words: 814 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Life of Mahatma Gandhi

...The life of Mohandas Gandhi illustrates how strong the ethical positions taken by an individual can direct and nature a mass-movement and lead to fundamental changes in political and social institutions in his own country, as well as to new approaches to political reform around the world. During a long life, Gandhi brought together disparate groups in the search of social justice, and modified the Indian Independence Movement with a philosophy and strategy of non-violence and civil disobedience that proved successful finally in convincing the British to leave India. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in the town of Porbander in the state of Gujarat on 1869, his father , Karamchand Gandhi and mother, Putlibai. He had his schooling in nearby Rajkot. In 1885, Gandhi went to England and study for the bar there–with an English law degree. Gandhi’s primary concerns were those of India’s vast underclasses. He opposed the Indian caste system and worked throughout his life to alleviate the suffering of India’s desperate poor. In Bombay, a remarkable event occurred: The elders of Gandhi's caste, the Modh Banias (a merchant caste, neither as high as the priestly Brahmins nor as low as the shunned untouchables) learned of the proposed trip and objected. No member of their caste could go to England, they solemnly declared, because such a trip would inevitably involve impurity, and Hinduism could not be practiced in Europeanpe. By this point, however, Gandhi was determined to go, and so...

Words: 2796 - Pages: 12

Free Essay

Fines Quotes

...this religion or that religion, we all are seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness… Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them. We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves. If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry.” If you don't love yourself, you cannot love others. You will not be able to love others. If you have no compassion for yourself then you are not able of developing compassion for others. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people. Be the change that you want to see in the world. Before the throne of the Almighty, man will be judged not by his acts but by his intentions. For God alone reads our hearts. Mark Twain Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. Life is at best a dream and at worst a nightmare from which you cannot escape. What is human life? The first third a good time; the rest remembering about it....

Words: 934 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Gandhi Leadership Qualities

...Abstract This study is an analysis of the essential leadership styles utilized by Mahatma Gandhi in his struggle to gain Indian independence from Great Britain. While his time in South Africa undoubtedly effected Gandhi’s decisions in India, this paper focuses primarily on the “Gandhian” era of India from 1915 to his death in 1948. This analysis does not progress chronologically throughout Gandhi’s life, rather, I examine several different events through the scope of his many different leadership qualities.   Being the Change: Leadership Qualities that Transformed a Nation Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, lived from 1869 to 1948, and is better known as Mahatma meaning high-souled, or Bapu in India, which means Father. Gandhi is well known throughout history for leading India to independence through non-violent means. He is often regarded as one of the greatest leaders of all time, and the high esteem in which Gandhi is regarded is pretty much universally accepted throughout the world. What I’m interested in here, however, is determining what specific leadership skills Gandhi mastered in order to achieve not only independence from a harsh, oppressive superpower, but also, the salvation of his followers. That is the issue that I will explore in this glimpse into the life of possibly, the greatest leader the world has ever known. By looking at some specific events, I will show how Gandhi employed both servant, and transformational leadership styles, and also, how he was a remarkable...

Words: 2892 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Organizational Behavior." Studymode.Com. Studymode.Com, 04 2012. Web. 04 2012..

...Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln led the United States through its Civil War—its bloodiest war and its greatest moral, constitutional and political crisis.[1][2] In doing so, he preserved the Union, abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and modernized the economy. On November 6, 1860, Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States, beating Democrat Stephen A. Douglas, John C. Breckinridge of the Southern Democrats, and John Bell of the newConstitutional Union Party. He was the first president from the Republican Party. His victory was entirely due to the strength of his support in the North and West; no ballots were cast for him in 10 of the 15 Southern slave states, and he won only two of 996 counties in all the Southern states.[123] Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American pastor, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights usingnonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs. He was born Michael King, but his father changed his name in honor of theGerman reformer Martin Luther. A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)...

Words: 1509 - Pages: 7