...Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, born in 1869, was one of the world’s most influential figures. He led many protests that revolutionized the idea of civil disobedience, or non-violent protest. Gandhi rallied thousands to disobey the oppressive and racist British government as an Indian nationalist movement to free India. Under his leadership, the Indian Congress launched a series of mass movements: the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Non Cooperation Movement in 1920s and 1930s. The former was triggered by the historic Salt March, when Gandhi led a group of followers from his ashram on a 200 mile march to Dandi on the west coast in order to prepare salt in a violation of British law. Gandhi soon earned the title “Mahatma,” or Great Soul. In August 1942, the Quit India movement was launched. The British resorted to brutal repression against non-violent protesters. It was evident that the British could only maintain the empire at enormous cost to themselves. At the end of World War II, the British began to transfer power to the now sovereign State of India. Throughout the major events of his life, the concept of Satyagraha, or non-violent, peaceful resistance remained a foundational basis for all of his major movements. Gandhi’s philosophy of Satyagraha encompassed his most central core value and belief of the truthful pursuit of non-violence. This idea is displayed through the formation of his ideas on civil disobedience, his implementation of the historic Salt March, and his reaction...
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...Thesis Statement: Henry David Thoreau is one of the pioneers of Transcendentalism, and his famous work, Civil Disobedience has great effect on Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology and movement which drives the India for independence. Outline 1. Introduction 1. Brief introduction of Henry David Thoreau 2. Brief introduction of Mahatma Gandhi 2. Writing background and cores of Civil Disobedience 2.1 Writing background 2.2 Cores of Civil Disobedience 2.2.1 Conscience of human 2.2.2 Effect of morality 2.2.3 Suspicion of American’s democracy 2.3.4 In-cooperation with government 3. Embodiment on Mahatma Gandhi 3.1 Effect on Gandhi’s ideology 3.1.1 Works of Gandhi 3.1.2 Speeches of Gandhi 3.2 Effect on Gandhi’s movement 3.2.1 Gandhi in South Africa 3.2.2 Gandhi in India 4. Conclusion 1. Introduction 1.1 Brief introduction of Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau was one of the most famous writers, naturalist, philosophers, abolitionists, and the pioneers of Transcendentalism in America in 19 century. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts, 1817. Thoreau met Ralph Waldo Emerson when he studied in university. And he was deeply influenced by Emerson who advocated that man should be true to himself and close to nature. Emerson was not only a friend but also a teacher to Thoreau. They had edited the journal Sundial together. Thoreau graduated from Harvard College in 1837 and worked as...
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...Method Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 and was a great figure when it comes to the issue of the non – violent persistence or civil disobedience. He was born in Porbander in Western India. Ghandi made a huge change to the India and their society during his life; his actions and famous method of nonviolent approach against the British instead of violent one. He believed that method would bring and provoke less negative reaction in the British at that time. Like Mohatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr. was also an advocate and supporter of the same method of passive resistance, which he believed, was the better method at the time and situation. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in January 15, 1929 in Atlanta. He died due to assassination on a hotel balcony on April 4, 1968. Later on in his life, he became the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference which had a purpose to provide a new leadership to the movement of Civil Rights which ideology was based on Christianity, whereas the actions and procedures more based on Gandhi; Martin Luther King Jr. practiced Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence. Both Mahatma Gandhi’s and Martin Luther King Jr.’s core belief and the way to attain their goals were pretty similar in a way. Mahatma Gandhi believed that with nonviolent method of fighting with the political or social issues in his times was the best way. He did it through protests for example like the March that inaugurated the Civil Disobedience which...
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...A Philosopher's Life and Thought: MAHATMA GANDI 1) MAHATMA GANDI LIFE Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, more commonly known as ‘Mahatma’ (meaning ‘Great Soul’) was born in Porbandar, Gujarat, in North West India, on 2nd October 1869, into a Hindu Modh family. His father was the Chief Minister of Porbandar, and his mother’s religious devotion meant that his upbringing was infused with the Jain pacifist teachings of mutual tolerance, non-injury to living beings and vegetarianism. He began his activism as an Indian immigrant in South Africa in the early 1900s, and in the years following World War I became the leading figure in India’s struggle to gain independence from Great Britain. Known for his ascetic lifestyle–he often dressed only in a loincloth and shawl–and devout Hindu faith, Gandhi was imprisoned several times during his pursuit of non-cooperation, and undertook a number of hunger strikes to protest the oppression of India’s poorest classes, among other injustices. In 1883, all of 13 and still in high school, Gandhi was married to Kasturbai as per the prevailing Hindu customs. For a person of such extraordinary visionary zeal and resilience, Mahatma Gandhi was by and large an average student in school and was of a shy disposition. After completing his college education, at his family's insistence Gandhi left for England on September 4, 1888 to study law at University College, London. During his tenure in London, Mohandas Gandhi strictly observed abstinence from meat and alcohol...
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...Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela Non-violence is a concept that people participate in social and political change without violence. It is a form of social and political change between passive acceptances and armed struggle. Non-violence way to participate in the social and political change is including nonviolent civil disobedience against, acts of civil disobedience or other powerful influence uncooperative antagonistic form; it is similar with pacifism, but it is not pacifism. Since the mid-20th century, nonviolence and civil disobedience become the main form of social change, and it also is respected political and social philosophy. As the practice of social and political change, non-violent has the essence difference with pacifism, it is contrary to the wishes of the oppressed, and it struggle with any injustice and power political. In my final paper, I will instruction three famous Non-violence movement leader: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela; and also I will compare the similar and difference between them. Mahatma Gandhi was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in Britishruled India. Employing non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world. A very important turning point in Gandhi’s life is he arrived in South Africa to work as a legal representative for the Muslim Indian traders based in the city of Pretoria...
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...Mahatmas Gandhi and Martin Luther king were few of the brave leaders that lived in the 20th century. They fought and led many people to obtain their freedoms through nonviolent ways. Both were extraordinary men who were influenced by Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience. Gandhi used what he learned in Civil Disobedience to help free India from imperial Britain. While King used his new knowledge to led the Civil Rights Movement in order to improve the injustice that was directed toward the African America citizens. Both Gandhi and King used similar methods to lead their movements in a nonviolent manner. They both had four basic steps for the ideal passive resister or nonviolent protester. Between their ideals, there is not...
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...Civil disobedience is an active refusal to obey certain laws, commands, and demands of a government in a nonviolent way, in hopes to influence the government to change the rules and regulations they had put in place for a single group of people. Henry David Thoreau wrote a book titled "Civil Disobedience"; he wrote this book to protest slavery in the United States and the Mexican-American War. (Why Did Thoreau) He rebelled by not paying taxes because when he paid taxes the funds were going to both events he did not support at all. He stayed true to his morals so much so he was even put in jail for a night. The acts of Thoreau showed the Americans that if nobody spoke up, they could be stuck in the same unjust that they were used to living...
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...1. Namethe French artist who made a series of paintings visualizing his dreams of democracy republic? Ans. Frederic Sorrieu 2. What had the French artist visualized as world made of democratic social republics? Ans. In 1848, Frederic Sorrieu, a French artist, prepared a series of four prints visualizing his dream of a world made up of ‘democratic and social Republics’, as he called them. In Sorrieu’s utopian vision, the peoples of the world are grouped as distinct nations, identified through their flags and national costume. Leading the procession, way past the statue of Liberty, are the United States and Switzerland, which by this time were already nation-states. France, identifiable by the revolutionary tricolour, has just reached the statue. She is followed by the peoples of Germany. Following the German peoples are the peoples of Austria, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Lombardy, Poland, England, Ireland, Hungary and Russia. 3. What are absolutist’s regimes? Ans. Literally, a government or system of rule that has no restraints on the power exercised is known as an absolutist regime. In history, the term refers to a form of monarchical government that was centralized, militarized and repressive. 4. What is a utopian society? Ans. A vision of a society that is so ideal that it is unlikely to actually exist 5. What is a plebiscite? Ans. A direct vote by which all the people of a region are asked to accept or reject a proposal 6. What was the concept of European...
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...Martin Luther King, Jr said, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” Civil disobedience is part of our culture. People stand up for themselves when laws, rules, or just when things are unfair and unjust. Martin Luther King, Jr is a prime example of civil disobedience. In his “Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” he describes his own thoughts on civil disobedience through real life experiences. David Thoreau is also a main figure in civil disobedience from his letter, “Civil Disobedience.” He talks about what he did to stand up for what he felt was right. There is a couple of reasons to believe in civil disobedience , one it can bring attention to main topics and also create real change in society. Civil disobedience is only...
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...II 12 December 2014 Gandhi and King the Road to Peace Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were two extraordinary men who shared a similar philosophy for the road to peace. Both men believed in nonviolent protest or nonviolent resistance to injustice and used nonviolent methods to push forward their cause. For Gandhi this cause was lobbying against the British rule, the unification and independence of India (Adams, Langer, Hwa, Stearns, and Wiesner-Hanks,). For Dr. King the cause was civil rights and social injustice to the black population in America, but also the social issues of racism, capitalism, poverty and militarism. Dr. King also took up the cause of speaking out against the war in Vietnam and lobbied for the U.S. government to withdraw from Vietnam (King Jr.). I believe that both of these men, although differed in some aspects, believed in a philosophy of peace, love, and human brotherhood and as such their philosophy and views hold relevant material for us today as we journey through tumultuous times and navigate the social injustices that remain. Gandhi fought for the independence of India and the right for India to self-govern and attain rights for the citizens of India. Mahatma Gandhi took up the cause of fighting against British rule with unequal laws in a unique way. He encouraged nonviolent protest or what he termed “nonviolent civil disobedience” in the face of aggression or violence, defying the laws of the time (Gandhi). Whereas, Dr. King’s...
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...Gandhi, an example of Entrepreneurship Mahatma Gandhi is the best example of social entrepreneurship.. His principles, his strategies, his exemplay execution, and his message was entrepreneurial in every sense. Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. He had a clear vision who lead such a big country country like India to get its independence 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 nonviolent 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 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 South Africa and India. Gandhi attempted to practise nonviolence and truth in all situations, and advocated that...
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...Satyagraha How Gandhi led India to Independence by the Path of Non-Violent Civil Resistance Gandhiji, as he was known affectionately by his followers, most of India, and indeed, a great deal of the world, inspired such extraordinary group dynamics and cohesiveness that he was able to change, not only the lives of millions; but, with his compassion for all life, he literally changed the world. The millions of Indians who treated and acted upon his word as if it were supreme command did so because he “was a man who did what he said and lived an exemplary and transparent life.” (Kamat, 2007). Satyagraha literally means to cling to truth. “Truth can be obtained only by loving service of all, i.e. by non-violence. The values that Gandhi adhered to, lived by, and taught as a Satygrahi included; remaining disciplined in self-control, simplicity of life, recognition of the unity of all life, suffering without fear or hatred, and wholehearted and disinterested service of one’s neighbors. The vows that he elaborated for members of his Satyagraha Ashram at Sabermati are, of interest from this point of view. They were truth, non-violence, brachmachayrya (celibacy), fearlessness, control of the palate, non-possession, non-stealing, bread-labor, equality of religions, anti-untouchability (meaning that no one’s work was above any other, i.e. no untouchables), and swadeshi ( literally translated as self-sufficient; in this context meaning only to use home-spun cloth rather than purchase...
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...Definitions Civil Rights Movement- a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. * The Civil Rights movement of the United States began in 1954 and “ended” in 1968 Indian independence movement- a wide spectrum of political organizations, philosophies, and movements that all aimed at ending British colonial authority in South Asia Satyagraha- originally Sanskrit, loosely translates into “Soul Force”, “truth force”, or “holding on to truth” Ahimsa- the avoidance of violence * An important tenet (law) of Indian religions such as: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism Barrister- a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. * Specialize in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions. Mahatma Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2nd, 1869 in Porbandar, Bombay (then apart of Presidency, British India. He was the son of the diwan or Prime Minister of the Porbander state. He married at age 13, as was custom in the region and had his first child at 15. When he was 18, Gandhi travelled to London, England to study law at University College London and to train as a barrister. Gandhi first employed civil disobedience while an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, during the resident Indian community's struggle there for civil rights. During this time, he wrote articles for Indian newspapers about black people that...
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...the period, Gandhi spoke the final word on behalf of the Indian National Congress in negotiating with the British Government for constitutional reforms, and for chalking out a programme for the national movement. Mahatma Gandhi led the national freedom struggle against the British rule. The most unique thing about this struggle was that it was completely nonviolent. Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2nd October, 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat. After finishing his early education in India, he sailed to England in 1891 and qualified as Barrister. In 1894, Gandhi went to South Africa in connection with a law suit. The political career of Gandhi started in South Africa where he launched a Civil Disobedience Movement against the maltreatment meted out to Asian settlers. In 1916, he returned to India and took up the leadership of National Freedom Struggle. After the death of freedom fighter and congress leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak on August, 1920, Gandhi became virtually the sole navigator of the ship of the congress. Gandhi had whole heartedly supported the British during the 1st World War (1914-1919). The end of war, however, did not bring the promised freedom for India. So Gandhiji launched many movements to force the British to concede India its Independence. The well known being: Non Co-operation Movement (1920), Civil Disobedience Movement (1930) and Quit India Movement (1942). The British passed the Rowlett Act in 1919 to deal with the revolutionaries. Gandhi made the Rowlett...
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...that the state is immoral or unjust, it is his or her duty to persuade the state to act differently. Henry David Thoreau was a philosopher and a transcendentalist in the mid 1800s. He is well known for his essay, “Civil Disobedience,” which he wrote in response to his one-day prison sentence for committing tax evasion. “Civil Disobedience” covers Thoreau’s definition of the social contract. Thoreau claims it is necessary for one to violate the social contract if complying with it defies his or her own moral codes. The social contract can be seen throughout government systems today. The United States government provides for its citizens; examples include equal treatment, free education, and public safety. In return, its citizens must sacrifice some of their freedoms. They must, for example, pay taxes and follow laws, regardless of whether or not they agree with them. However, at times it may be necessary to follow Thoreau’s beliefs and defy the state’s laws if one feels that they are violating their own moral principles. Socrates' interpretation of the social contract can prove to be less advantageous in practice. Thoreau’s method of civil disobedience is the better of the two versions. Body Section 1 (Support of Claim) Henry David Thoreau wrote “Civil Disobedience” in response to his evasion of his delinquent poll taxes. He refused to pay because he felt it was unjust to fund the Mexican-American war. In doing so, he broke the social contract and stood with his own moral codes...
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