Mahatma (Mohandas) Gandhi
Aubrey Wynn 7
About Gandhi
Mohandas Gandhi was the peaceful leader of the Indian Independence movement against British rule in India and lived through 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948. He believed in handling issues in a calm, organized manner. Gandhi demonstrated civil disobedience thought the "Salt March" that took place March to April 1930, as well as many other peaceful protests against the British rule throughout his time. His actions and way of life inspired movements such as the Civil Rights movement to take place.
Images
Public speaking
Gandhi speaking about "The right to protest: the responicbility to resist violence
Salt March
Gandhi leading other peaceful protesters in the Salt March through India
Hunger Strike
Monandas Gandhion hunger strike, after being arrested while in prison
Mahatma Gandhi Biography
The Connection between Gandhi and Ideas of Henry David Thoreau
The Salt March was the first major act of civil disobedience led by Gandhi in India. Over the years salt had become and major resource to the population of India, and contributed to the economy due to the production and distribution of salt. The British rule in India passed multiple laws banning the Indian population for buying and selling salt independently. Instead of producing salt on their own, the Indian people were forced to buy heavily taxed and imported salt. This affected many people in India who could not afford these high prices due to poverty. On March 12, 1930 Gandhi and a few dozen other followers followed him on foot on a march to protest the new salt laws. Each day the group would stop at villages and raise awareness of their journey and peaceful protest. Gandhi and his followers stopped at shores and collected salt in their hands, calmly breaking the salt laws, by producing salt without going through the British government. Gandhi's actions in the Salt March can connect to Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience". One of Thoreau's main ideas was that when a government is doing something wrong and unjust the people need to stop it before it goes any further, rather than obeying the law and watching. Thoreau explained that people should protest for what they believed was right in a non-violent matter. Throreau explains in "Civil Disobedience", "I have paid no poll-tax for six years. I was put into jail once on the account". Throreau dint agree with the poll tax so he simply chose to not pay it and accepted his consequences when they were given. Gandhi's Salt March demonstrated key points in "Civil Disobedience". Gandhi believed in protesting for something he believed in, in a peaceful and civil matter. Gandhi's actions and Thoreau's ideas eventually contributed to the success of other political leaders such as MLK Jr. who expresses that Gandhi's actions inspired him to do the actions he took to be successful. Gandhi and Thoreau both positively contributed to the way the world is today.