Mohandas Gandhi And Henry Thoreau And Civil Disobedience

Mohandas Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in what is now the Indian state of Gujarat. Also known as Mahatma, a title of respect which means “Great Soul” in Sanskrit – the language of Hinduism and Buddhism, he was the child of a minister; his mother was a devoted practitioner of Vaishnavism – an ascetic religion governed by the tenets of self-discipline and nonviolence. According to Gandhi, to act out against a law that was unjust or immoral was an act of civil disobedience. In order for resistance to be civil, Gandhi set forth certain criteria that had to be met including (1) An individual would harbor no anger. (2) On would have to endure an opponent’s anger and attempts to harm him – never taking action against the other person.

Mahatma Karamchand Gandhi was a humanitarian who used peaceful topics to fight for the freedom of India. He walked 250 miles from his Ashram to Dandi, a coast off of Eastern India. He then proceeded to pick up a lump of salt, thereby defying British Law. This story leads us to ask the question, why did Gandhi’s nonviolent movement work? Basically, he could convince the people to join him instead of killing off nonbelievers. He also because of how crippled Britain was, and the fact that his base of followers was so devoted and big. These three reasons combined were the main reasons that Gandhi won freedom for his country.

“It was inevitable that Britain should some day refuse to rule India and that India should some day refuse to be ruled.” Mahatma Gandhi is known as one of the 20th century’s most influential people and is seen in India as the Father of the Nation. How he achieved such status was through his attempts at protest, negotiation and non cooperation through his philosophy of Satyagraha to better the lives of the Indian people. While in the end his policies got the job done, one can ask if unwavering nonviolence really was the most effective way at ousting the British from India. Though failed non cooperation movements show Gandhi’s policy as being somewhat ineffective, analysis of the of the Salt March, its results and the way that Gandhi was able to rally followers show its importance. Gandhi’s policy of Satyagraha was in fact the most effective method of gaining India’s independence from Britain.

Both Civil Disobedience and the Gandhi article are alike based on the fact they both discuss civil disobedience, attending prison, and standing for one’s beliefs. Civil disobedience can be seen as a good thing and a bad thing depending on to what extent one is breaking the laws. Some people may break the law because they feel that it is unfair to them but others break the for the simple fact of doing what they want in order for it to benefit themselves. Laws are meant for the majority which means even if they are not pertaining to certain citizens. Thoreau targeted laws that pertained to him, Gandhi went on strike for the better of his country and people. Gandhi and Thoreau had many similarities and differences about civil disobedience.

Mohandas Gandhi was a “key figure in the Indian struggle for independence.” He worked to use nonviolent ways to fight for equality and change in India. Gandhi was able to unite many groups and “inspired the common people of India to work for change.” In addition, Gandhi advocated using a more traditional approach (Wadley 202). Although Mohandas Gandhi 's satyagraha campaign caused violence, his advocacy for those who were discriminated against in Indian society led to the initial unification of India to gain independence from Great Britain. Gandhi’s attempt to peacefully fight for independence still left a considerable amount of violence during protests. Gandhi advocated for oppressed or mistreated groups, such as untouchables, women, and those

In Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience, he explains his beliefs, criticizes the issues he sees within the government, and proposes how we should handle these injustices especially after experiencing jail. Thoreau didn't pay poll taxes, which supported a war and slavery itself (Costly, n.d.). Thoreau regards that the government shouldn’t completely interfere with our lives, but should not be completely done away with. Also, that it is not used correctly and tends to only benefit the majority who may or may not have logical or just views. People are supposed to do what they think is right and not go against their conscience, but to follow it and not what is proposed by the majority. He also believes that a person should distance themselves from government, especially if it is unjust and should refuse to follow such institutions that go against one’s beliefs of doing wrong acts. Although Thoreau affirms we should rebel against what is wrong, we should also be peaceful when doing it like he does, for example, and not participate in passive waiting for something that may be deemed as unjust to change. Do what justice requires no matter what but always be aware of the consequences and do not do unjustly acts when refusing

Throughout Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience,” it is evident that his stance on wealth is firm. He believes that “the rich man…is always sold to the institution which makes him rich” (Thoreau 9). The rich are said to be the ones less likely to practice civil disobedience because they have conformed to the government, prospering under it. On the other hand, Thoreau is not entirely hateful towards the wealthy. He explains that “the best thing a man can do for his culture when he is rich is to endeavor to carry out those schemes which he entertained when he was poor” (Thoreau 10). Because the rich are normally those who have power, his stance on that particular matter put him in a dangerous position. Thoreau had great influence on future leaders.

Between the 2 articles on similar themes, there are 4 reasons. (1) Gandhi and Thoreau both would not agree in certain things like laws. (2) Gandhi and Thoreau discussed civil disobedience. (3) Gandhi and Thoreau were influenced in writing their expressions, and how both wrote their expressions against the government and laws. Gandhi and Thoreau have different perspectives of the laws, and what people should follow. As their are many reasons of Gandhis and Thoreau, they both have different influences.Gandhi and Thoreau are influential people that changed history today

Although, violently fighting the British may have eventually won India its independence, Gandhi choosing to be nonviolent caused India to learn how to do things on its own while still reaching its goal of actually being independent from the British significantly faster. Gandhi’s use of nonviolence was because he didn't want to hurt anyone, he just wanted India to be independent. Going to jail gained Gandhi attention, followers and respect, and lastly, Gandhi not seeing the British as his enemy contributed to a more peaceful way on how to gain India’s freedom. Gandhi doing this caused India to eventually gain it’s independence in

Henry David Thoreau committed a crime in the name of civil disobedience and thus for such disobedience was imprisoned. Henry David Thoreau took a stand for what he believed, his sacrifice was significant for these 3 reasons. First, Mr. Thoreau had strong moral values which made him oppose slavery and the Mexican American war. Secondly, Thoreau’s act of civil disobedience was a powerful statement in which he peacefully refused to pay his poll tax. Finally, Mr. Thoreau willingly accepted the consequences of his actions in order to prove his point.

India’s leader Mohandas Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi) was influenced by David Thoreau 's Civil Disobedience arguments while sitting in jail. Gandhi loosely adopted the term “civil disobedience” for non-violent protests and refused to cooperate with injustice. Following his release, he protested the registration law by joining labor strikes and organizing a large non-violent march. After the marches, the Boer government finally agreed to end the most divisive sections of the law. In 1907, he campaigned in South Africa and wrote a translated synopsis of Thoreau 's argument for the Indian Opinion. Mr. Gandhi credited Thoreau 's essay with being "the chief cause of the abolition of slavery in America"; furthermore, he stated, "both his example and writings are at present exactly applicable to the Indians in the Transvaal(a region under British rule. Known as South

Gandhi created a revolution of change in India. He had an enormous impact that forever that vibrant country, and he did it all with nonviolence. Gandhi led people and taught them to stand up for themselves and in the process made India a free and independent country. The unfair treatment would no longer stand, it was time for change. The nonviolence policy worked because Gandhi did not give in, he accepted punishment and responsibility, and his followers were loyal.

The 20th century, the most prominent examples of non-violence that induced a dramatic change in India in presence of vicious violence. One of the great souls Mahatma Gandhi’ who was born on October 2, 1869, in the Indian coastal city of Porbandar and sustained the most authentic life but was fully determined to give up his complete life for the good sake of India under British rule. From all of his experience getting married at young age, studying at London to thrown out of the train in South Africa just because of being colored and being arrested for getting uncontrolled over by the British he became to be known as a leader one by one to all the Indian community. His rules were always to fight against British but with nonviolence. What made

Mohandas Gandhi is one of the greatest nonviolent activists ever. Gandhi came up with the word ahimsa, which meant nonviolence. He also introduced to the world the word satyagraha, which meant peaceful civil disobedience. In 1930 Gandhi and a group of followers began a march of more than 200 miles. Three and a half weeks later they made it to their destination, the sea. At the sea, Gandhi picked up a handful of salt. This act went against the British law mandating that they buy salt from their government and this law did not allow them to collect their own salt. That act was made to let the British government know that the Indian people were tired of being under Britain’s rule and they were tired of following all of the unjust laws that were

One of the greatest leaders that greatly impacted society and still influences culture today is Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi was an advocate for peaceful resistance, he believed in standing up against injustices with peace. On the contrary, there is another great author who impacted society with his literature, and his name is Henry David Thoreau. Henry Thoreau believed in a much different manner of resisting in society. He believed in nonconforming and breaking the law. His literature greatly impacted how society views nonconformity today. Gandhi and Thoreau have many similarities and differences about the way things in society should run, and how the government should govern.