


"Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err. It passes my comprehension how human beings, be they ever so experienced and able, can delight in depriving other human beings of that precious right." This quote was said by a revolutionary man;Mohandas Karamchad Gandhi more widely known as Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi among other great things attempted to bring the Muslims and Hindus together for their country of India. After the first World War and before the second World War India was searching for independence from Britain. While the first World War wagged on hoses hopes of freedom were put aside. Many people thought that the Indian population would take this chance to provoke their want of freedom. This idea soon failed when India united with Britain for the better cause of the war. It seemed as though the war was turning into a great cause not only for India but in the whole world. Indian and British troops united under one single goal and accomplished it together.Because of the Indian's willingness and loyalness to Britain they expected some freedom in return but did not receive any. Instead the British created the Government of India in 1919. This act did not give many freedoms but did allow voting from the wealthiest men in India. Gandhi saw this and was soon a prime figure for India's liberation. Earlier in his life he was a lawyer and played roles in the Zulu War of 1906 and World War I. When Gandhi returned to India he started to become a political activist. One of his main reasons for this was the improper salt taxation in India. He believed very strongly in Non-violence which led him to marches and boycotts. While Gandhi refused violence it was simply inevitable between the Hindus and Muslims. Before the war Hindu nationalism was rapidly growing which created even more tension in between both of the groups. Later The Muslims created the Muslim League; a group pushing Muslim nationalism. Gandhi saw these two parties and knew that they had the same goal of freedom. With his undying character he attempted to unite these two groups for the better of their country. Although Gandhi was a very important and key character in the independence movement he was not the only one. Jawaharlal Nehru was more on the political side of everything. After the World War Nehru wanted to start taking action by marching and protesting Gandhi preferred not to right away."But if it was Gandhi who alerted the world to India's struggle, it was Jawaharlal Nehru... who alerted India to world struggle" John Keay. Nehru a son to a political leader of India really transferred into politics with the help from mentor;Gandhi. Nehru and Gandhi became good friends and primary leaders of the movement. In 1929 Nehru was elected President of the Congress Party which let to the Civil Disobedience of 1930 lead by Gandhi. This movement really worked and in 1935 Britain issued the Government of India Act. There was still a problem though. The Hindus and Muslims were still unhappy with this act because Britain still had veto power.Gandhi tried as hard as he could to make these two live in peace with non-violent solutions but since there were more Hindus and less room for Muslims in the movement Muslims got frustrated which frustrated the Hindus even more. They still were not appeased when India got its independence in 1947. They had to create the Partition of India. This created India as a country and Pakistan as a country as well. When the borders were drawn many innocent people were killed including Gandhi. He was assisted by a Muslim nationalist in New Delhi on January 30th 1948. He will always be remembered as a spiritual leader a non-violent activist and a gift to the world.
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I learned a lot about India and Gandhi from this post. Good information and i liked all the pictures! Good job! :)
ReplyDeleteKelsie Schiffer
Why did the Muslims and Hindus hate each other so much? Is there still tension today?
ReplyDelete-Hallie Rohr
Thanks Kelsie!
ReplyDeleteYah there is still much tension in between India and Pakistan today and I don't think it is going to stop anytime soon.
I learned a lot by reading your article. You did an amazing job:]
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting! I always hear about Ghandi in movies and stuff but i never actually knew who he was. He was kind of like the king of peace. I love that he was non-violent, i wish that everyone else in the world could learn from his actions.
ReplyDeleteWe all can recognize how admirable Gandhi was, but was he unrealistic? The partition is a major failure for him. Has the current nuclear standoff between India and Pakistan reduced him to a footnote in history, or can we still see his influence out there somewhere?
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