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Mahatma: The Great Soul Mohandas Gandhi is known to many as a motivating leader whose sacrifice, demonstrations of diplomacy, and

commitment to non-aggression has inspired and captivated the world. He has influenced civil-rights movements and activists in every nation; and though Hinduism was his foundation and many times his guiding light, his actions spoke a language that resonated across the globe. Gandhis extraordinary actions, passive resistance, and constructive ideology created a colossal pathway for social change long after his passing. Cesar Chavez, for example, was one of several renowned figures who was moved by Gandhis peaceful protests and based many of his tactical approaches off of his guiding principles. Chavez was particularly moved by Gandhis show of dedication through fasting, and also chose this method as a way to peacefully combat political injustice. This significant demonstration of non-violence was particularly momentous and proved to be one of Gandhis most noteworthy displays of successful peaceful resistance. There are many events in Gandhis life that can be celebrated and admired, however his ability as a political tactician separates him apart from other philosophers. A great illustration of this took place on April 6th 1919 when Gandhi initiated a national day of prayer and fasting in which all of Indias labor force partook. As a result, India essentially went dark for an entire day (Gandhi Film). Everything shut down country-wide, including transportation, communication, public works, and the like. Consequently, the British occupants were forcibly cut-off from the rest of the world, sending a clear message that Gandhi and his followers had more power than anticipated. This noteworthy protest was in response to the Rowlatt Act against suspected terrorism, which further oppressed anyone who spoke of revolution. Gandhis writings, in particular, were considered seditious material, and those caught in possession would be

imprisoned without trial. Nonetheless, Gandhi continued to be celebrated as an emerging national leader, and the people of India reveled in his devotion to peaceful liberty. Though this day marked the first uprising on a national scale and a small triumph for the peasants of India, the struggle for independence had only just begun. Only six days after the Hartal, one of the bloodiest massacres of Indias liberation took place. In the northern Indian city of Amritsar on April 13, 1919 Brigadier-General Reginald E.H. Dyer marched a platoon of armed soldiers into a courtyard where an approximated 10,000 men, women, children, and elderly had gathered for an annual festival in celebration of their culture (Bulliet 680). Dyer, who had declared martial law in the Punjab province prohibiting public assemblies, deemed that all those in the congregation were in direct violation of his decree. Hence, Dyer ordered fifty of his riflemen to open fire on the crowd and directed the assault into the thickest parts of the crowd. The brutality lasted for ten minutes, and ceased only after all ammunition was spent. When asked, General Dyer callously stated that if he had the opportunity, he would have authorized the use of the tank mounted machine gun as well (Fischer 66). The amount of spent ammunition shells reached up to 1,650. Although the number of casualties has been disputed, the Indian National Congress later placed the number at higher than 1,500 with 1,000 dead. Six months after the massacre of Amritsar, General Dyer was called to testify in front of the Disorders Inquiry Committee to explain his actions (Fischer 67). He declared the attack was a warning to all those connected to the independence movement or who dare to revolt against the British Empire. It was no longer a question of merely dispersing the crowd, but one of producing a sufficient moral effect not only on those who were present, but more especially throughout the Punjab. There could be no question of undue severity (Fischer 67). Although the committee openly condemned his behavior, there was no punishment for his

ostensibly cruel actions. Moreover, he was even celebrated in London as a war hero who averted a large scale terrorist attack. Nevertheless, despite Dyers malicious conduct and persistent warnings, the massacre and his repetitive threats only further fueled the anti-British campaign. In 1929, Gandhi struck another blow to the British targeting their monopoly on the salt trade. The heavy taxes on salt made the commodity difficult to acquire for the peasant class who relied on large stocks of the spice to replenish their bodies after sweating all day in the tropical sun. British Law claimed that anyone in possession of salt not purchased from the government would be considered a criminal. After contemplating for many weeks, Gandhi decided to write a letter to the viceroy Lord Irwin stating that he wished for a compromise: I respectfully invite you to pave the way for the immediate removal of these evils, and thus open a way for a real conference between equals (Fischer 97). Gandhi further explained that his intention was to subvert the salt laws at any cost and that a public display would be conducted on the 12th day of March 1929. However, this letter went unanswered, and Lord Irwin refused to meet with Gandhi on the issue, yet neither did he choose to arrest him (Fischer 98). Consequently, Gandhi and seventy-nine male followers left the Ashram on a two hundred forty one mile march to the sea where Gandhi openly broke British law and collected salt from the shores of India. The journey took a total of twenty-four days, and along the way, thousands of people joined their beloved Mahatma to defy the rigid subjugation of British rule. This renowned act of defiance empowered Gandhis followers and enraged the government. Soon after, flourishing salt markets sprang up all along the coast of India, where thousands of locals would openly procure salt from the sea. Only one month after Gandhis demonstration on the beach, the British police made over 60,000 arrests (Bulliet 681); yet true to the belief in Gandhis wisdom, the people of India never acted out in violence.

One of Gandhis greatest roles throughout his life was as a spiritual leader. He was known to his countrymen as Mahatma or great soul, and more informally, Bapu or father. Although he considered himself a Hindu at practice, he was very well versed in all of the major religions, and one of his closest companions was actually a Christian priest (Gandhi Film). Gandhi seemingly went beyond the scope of merely religious ideology, delving into a deeper realm of consciousness that people of all religions could relate with in one way or another. He was very passionate about spirituality and one of the greatest messages he gave to the world was that of Satyagraha, or soul force, which essentially the search for truth. is Furthermore, Gandhi spoke of Satyagraha as the vindication of truth not by infliction of suffering on the opponent but on ones self...the opponent must be weaned from error by patience and sympathy (Fischer, 35). When he was a lawyer in South Africa, Gandhi first spread the message of Satyagraha when writing for the paper, demanding the equality of all men under the flag of the British Empire. For instance, a colored man walking upon the sidewalk was considered highly offensive, however, instead of initiating violence, Gandhis attitude was to let the truth be seen through the oppressors own brutality. Truth, itself can be considered subjective, yet Satyagraha appears to encompass every mans desire for his own truth. Satyagraha not only clearly depicted Gandhis stance in the independent movement, but in one word described Gandhis core self, and much of who he was as a man. One of Gandhis explanations for Satyagraha was that it bids goodbye to fear and that the soul force does not depend on numbers but rather on the degree of firmness (Fischer 36). Gandhis soul force served him well during his tirade of defiance for British rule; despite his many arrests he strongly believed that the truth shall make you free (Fischer 40).

Satyagraha eloquently captures Gandhi's essence of integrity and peaceful protest and continues to be a model of inner truth and personal encouragement for many to follow. Mohandas Gandhi, Mahatma, Bapu, or the father of India, was assassinated by a Hindu fundamentalist on January 30th 1948, only a year after India gained its independence. His body was burned on a pyre where millions gathered to mourn the loss of the nations leader. His timeless message of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha has carried thru the decades and has touched countless lives. The small framed skinny old man who was known for challenging a tyrannical giant will never be forgotten.

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