My role model: Mahatma Gandhi

The purpose of this essay is to talk about Mahatma Gandhi’s worldview. In this essay I am going to focus on Gandhijee’s career, his way to solve the social issue and his nature of God. I have chosen Mahatma Gandhi as my role model, I have a strong believe that Gandhi’s world view is similar to my world view; for example Gandhi was a vegetarian, a concept I personally practice. Gandhi believed in nonviolence in solving disputes, personally I value nonviolence in dealing with issues and that Gandhi’s lived simple life like I do. His view inspired me and others, Gandhijee’s profession was lawyer, he believed and supported nonviolence and truth, and his nature of God was Hinduism with influence of Jain belief.

Mahatma Gandhi was originally born as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in 1869 and passed away in 1948. Gandhi was a renowned leader among the Indian Nationalism under the rule of the British India (Krokus, 2012). Gandhi was influential in engaging non-violent civil disobedience to propel his agendas for the nation. It has been noted that Gandhi inspired movements and led India to freedom and civil rights, he was concerned on social issues in India. The term ‘Mahatma’ was applied to mean the venerable and with a high soul, Indians also referred to Gandhi as ‘Bapu’ with the meaning of a ‘Papa’ or father; Gandhi was assassinated through shooting (Krokus, 2012). Gandhi is well known for a number of social issues identifying with Indian leadership, philosophy of Satyagraha, independence movements, pacifism and non-violence or Ahimsa. Indian National Congress was the main vehicle used by Gandhi, in his operations (Krokus, 2012).

Non-violent civil disobedience was initiated in South Africa where he was working as an expatriate lawyer as his profession, Gandhi was highly concerned on civil rights in India. Gandhi led urban laborers, farmers and peasants in protesting against discrimination and excessive taxes on land; this was after Gandhi returned to India in 1915. Gandhi led the Indian National Congress in 1921, where he led campaigns at the national level on expanding the rights of women, easing poverty, building ethnic and religious amity, achieving self rule or Swaraj and ending the notion of un-touchability concept in India (Soni, 2010).

Gandhi’s religion was Hinduism with influences of Jain. He strongly believed that irrespective of one’s religion affluences, non-violence was the preferred mode of forwarding grievances to the relevant authorities, and that the Nature of God supported non-violence in solving disputes. Gandhi led the 1930’s Dandi Salt March and the 1942’s call for the British to Quit India; a move that led to his imprisonment in India and South Africa on a number of occasions. In diverse situations, Gandhi engaged truth and non-violence as the propellers of his agendas which was in accordance with the will of God; Gandhi believed that even his followers had to follow his footsteps (Swyngedouw, 1982). Gandhi used long fasts as part of social protest and self-purification; he lived a modesty life, ate traditional food and wore traditional Charkha.

The vision of Gandhi was on a free India which was facilitated by religious pluralism. In 1948, he challenged the new Muslin nationalism which was calling for a separation of the Muslim homeland from the main India (Patel & Meyer, 2010). Gandhi believed that India was one as directed by God and that different religions were expected to act as one, since God is one; the British empire divided India into Muslim Pakistan and the Hindu majority mainland; a move that led to religious violence in Bengal and Punjab, which was against Gandhi’s vision, who supported religious harmony (Krokus, 2012). Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus had to migrate to their new lands. Sources refer Gandhi as father of the nation to some extent; 2^nd October is remembered as an International Day of Non-Violence in the world and in India, a national holiday to honor Gandhi is known as Gandhi Jayanti.

In my opinion, Gandhi is my hero, he sacrificed his life for a better India in the future, and he was successful. I do not think that I can sacrifice myself to that extent, I’m skeptical on my abilities if I was in Gandhi’s position. I support the non-violence means of solving disputes and in dealing with social issues. God is orderly and does not support violence, as Gandhi supported truth and non-violence; I support the same model in reflecting the will of God. Gandhi is my role model; his leadership was based on non-violence and truth, an indication that he supported human rights. In my view, I value human rights under all contexts.

Gandhijee was a big believer of equal rights. He treated everyone same. Even though he was Indian but he started his fight in South Africa that proves that he always cares about the human and he wasn’t a selfish person. Usually people fight for their country or for their own people but for him whole world was his own. He also believed in peace that is the reason he chose nonviolence path to fight against British. Lots of people called him mahatma because of his simple living and his way of living inspired lots of people. He also believed in one God and said that truth and nonviolence will help you reach God.

References

Krokus, C. S. (2012). Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism in Louis Massignon’s appropriation of Gandhi as a modern saint. Journal Of Ecumenical Studies , 525-540.

Patel, E. & Meyer, C. (2010). Religious education for interfaith leadership. Religious Education , 16-19.

Soni, V. (2010). Religion, world order, and peace: a Hindu approach. Cross Currents , 310-313.

Swyngedouw, J. (1982). Mahatma Gandhi and Comparative Religion. Japanese Journal Of Religious Studies , 322-323.