Gandhi

4 Pages 966 Words

Gandhi: A Man with Virtues


Gandhi was an influential figure in our society. He taught many
people about equal rights, honouring thy neighbour, and peace and
tranquillity. Although at times his actions were deemed improbable and
insane nevertheless, they were effective. In my essay I will be discussing
the history of Mohandis Gandhi; the actions he bestowed and took to
accomplish freedom for India; and how Mohandis finally obtained freedom for
India.

Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was born in the present state
of Gujarat on October 2, 1869. He was educated in law at University
College, London. In 1891, after Gandhi was admitted to the British bar, he
returned to India and attempted to create a law practice in Bombay, which
failed. Two years after his failure, and India firm with interests in
South Africa hired him as a legal adviser to work in their office in Durban.
Once Gandhi arrived in Durban he found himself being treated as a member
of an inferior race. He was shocked at the denial of civil liberties and
political rights to Indian immigrants to South Africa. He then “threw”
himself into the struggle for basic rights for Indians.

Gandhi stayed in South Africa for 20 years, being imprisoned many
times. In 1896, after being attacked and beaten by white South Africans,
Gandhi began to teach a method of “passive resistance,” to, the South
African authorities. _Part of the inspiration for this method came from
the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. Christ and Henry David Thoreau, a 19th
century American writer, also inspired Gandhi. In 1914 the government of
the Union of South Africa made important concessions to Gandhi's demands.
They included recognition of Indian marriages and abolition of the poll tax
for them. When his work is South Africa was complete he returned to India.
Following World War I, Gandhi launched his movement of passive resistance
to Great Britain. ...