How did Mohandas Gandhi’s How did Mohandas Gandhi’s philosophy of civil disobedience lead philosophy of civil disobedience lead

to India’s independence?to India’s independence?

Homework: Create an obituary for Homework: Create an obituary for Gandhi.Gandhi.

Accomplishments Accomplishments • Born October 2, 1869 - died January 30

1948 • Major political and spiritual leader of India • Leader of the Indian Independence

movement. • Believed in Satyagraha, philosophy based

on truth and non-violent resistance • This philosophy was the way India gained

independence • Inspired movements for civil rights and

freedom across the world.

Gandhi as a young boyGandhi as a young boy

Accomplishments Accomplishments

• When he returned to India, he organized poor farmers and others to fight against discrimination and taxation.

• Leader of the Indian National Congress • Led campaigns to end poverty, liberation of

women, brotherhood among religions • Wanted to end caste discrimination• Swaraj, the independence of India from

foreign domination. • Salt March in 1930, a major peaceful

protest to end British imperialism

BiographyBiography

• In May 1883, at the age of 13, In May 1883, at the age of 13, Gandhi was married through his Gandhi was married through his parents' arrangements parents' arrangements

• They had five children, the first of They had five children, the first of whom died in infancy. whom died in infancy.

• At the age of 18 on in 1888, Gandhi At the age of 18 on in 1888, Gandhi went to Britain to study law went to Britain to study law

Gandhi and his wifeGandhi and his wife

The Vegetarian SocietyThe Vegetarian Society

• A group Gandhi A group Gandhi became associated became associated with while living in with while living in BritainBritain

• He promised his He promised his mother that he mother that he would observe all would observe all Hindu traditionsHindu traditions

BiographyBiography

• After graduating from law school, he moved to After graduating from law school, he moved to South Africa to practice law.South Africa to practice law.

• He encounters racism.He encounters racism.

• Indians were not considered full human beings.Indians were not considered full human beings.

• Thrown out of a first-class railway compartment Thrown out of a first-class railway compartment car, though he held a first-class ticket.car, though he held a first-class ticket.

• This event leads him to be leader of the Indian This event leads him to be leader of the Indian community.community.

Law careerLaw career

• Practicing law in Practicing law in South AfricaSouth Africa

• The skills he The skills he obtained in law obtained in law school will help him school will help him in his quest for in his quest for Indian Indian independence. independence.

PhilosophyPhilosophy

• Truth could only be attained through Truth could only be attained through ahimsaahimsa (non- (non-violence, love) and violence, love) and brahmacharyabrahmacharya (celibacy, (celibacy, striving towards God). He was imprisoned striving towards God). He was imprisoned numerous times in both South Africa and India.numerous times in both South Africa and India.

• Gandhi practiced non-violence and truth, in all Gandhi practiced non-violence and truth, in all situations.situations.

• He lived simply, organizing an ashram that was He lived simply, organizing an ashram that was self-sufficient in its needs. self-sufficient in its needs.

• Made his own clothes – dhoti and shawl woven Made his own clothes – dhoti and shawl woven • Vegetarian diet. Vegetarian diet. • He underwent long fasts, for both self-purification He underwent long fasts, for both self-purification

and protest.and protest.

HomespunHomespun

• Gandhi encouraged Gandhi encouraged Indian’s to be self Indian’s to be self sufficient. sufficient.

• He believed the He believed the less dependent less dependent upon the British upon the British the more likely the more likely they were to gain they were to gain their independencetheir independence

Peaceful ProtestPeaceful Protest• Britain instituted a new tax on Britain instituted a new tax on

Salt. Salt. • Indians were outraged by this Indians were outraged by this

new tax.new tax.• March 12 to April 6 Gandhi and March 12 to April 6 Gandhi and

his followers launched a his followers launched a peaceful protest peaceful protest

• The famous Salt March lasted The famous Salt March lasted for 248 miles from Ahmedabad for 248 miles from Ahmedabad to Dandito Dandi

• Thousands of Indians joined him Thousands of Indians joined him on this march to the sea. on this march to the sea.

• This campaign was one of his This campaign was one of his most successful at upsetting most successful at upsetting British ruleBritish rule

• Britain responded by Britain responded by imprisoning over 60,000 imprisoning over 60,000 peoplepeople..

Return to BritainReturn to Britain

• 1915 returns to India 1915 returns to India • He only makes one trip He only makes one trip

outside of India.outside of India.• 1930 goes to Britain to 1930 goes to Britain to

discuss: discuss: – Independence Independence – Freedom for political Freedom for political

prisonersprisoners– Signs the Gandhi-Irwin Signs the Gandhi-Irwin

pact that halts civil pact that halts civil disobediencedisobedience

AssassinationAssassination• On January 30, 1948, On January 30, 1948,

Gandhi was shot and killed Gandhi was shot and killed while having his nightly while having his nightly public walk public walk

• The assassin, Nathuram The assassin, Nathuram Godse, was a radical HinduGodse, was a radical Hindu

• Godse held Gandi Godse held Gandi responsible for weakening responsible for weakening India India

• Godse and his co-Godse and his co-conspirator Naravan Apte conspirator Naravan Apte were later tried, convicted; were later tried, convicted; they were executed on they were executed on November 15, 1949 November 15, 1949

• Gandhi’s last words were Gandhi’s last words were "Oh God". "Oh God".

India GrievesIndia Grieves• Jawaharlal Nehru radio address:Jawaharlal Nehru radio address:• ““Friends and comrades, the light has Friends and comrades, the light has

gone out of our lives, and there is gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere, and I do not darkness everywhere, and I do not quite know what to tell you or how to quite know what to tell you or how to say it. Our beloved leader, Bapu as we say it. Our beloved leader, Bapu as we called him, the father of the nation, is called him, the father of the nation, is no more. Perhaps I am wrong to say no more. Perhaps I am wrong to say that; nevertheless, we will not see him that; nevertheless, we will not see him again, as we have seen him for these again, as we have seen him for these many years, we will not run to him for many years, we will not run to him for advice or seek solace from him, and advice or seek solace from him, and that is a terrible blow, not only for me, that is a terrible blow, not only for me, but for millions and millions in this but for millions and millions in this country.country.””

• Why was Gandhi's death a terrible blow Why was Gandhi's death a terrible blow to India? to India?

The Legacy The Legacy

• The legacy of Gandhi The legacy of Gandhi lives on. He has lives on. He has influenced such influenced such leaders as Martin leaders as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela.

• Both of these leaders Both of these leaders have used his have used his principles of civil principles of civil disobedience as a disobedience as a way to enact change. way to enact change.

ACTIVITY!!!ACTIVITY!!!

•Write an obituary for Write an obituary for Mohandas Gandhi.Mohandas Gandhi.

•It should include 10 facts It should include 10 facts about Gandhi, and explain about Gandhi, and explain how he help India become how he help India become independent.independent.

Obituary: a notice of the death of a person, Obituary: a notice of the death of a person, often with a biographical sketch, as in a often with a biographical sketch, as in a newspaper.newspaper.