Reflection #3- Gandhi: Hindu and Activist

       In the movie, Gandhi’s idea of Hinduism was Indians showing non-violent actions to convert people’s heart and their mind while fighting against the British. Gandhi thought violence wouldn’t solve any conflicts, but to remain in revenge again. However, non-violent actions from the Indians must be performed first against the British. For example, the British soldiers were guarding the gate where Indians procured salt. The British thought it was their territory and the Indians didn’t have the right to use their resources. In order to fight off, the Indians stood in a row of men and marched towards the guard without any violent actions. The women prepared medical supplies to cure the men. The British kept hitting the Indian men with their weapons and this kept on continuing. Another example took place at Amritsar Massacre. Numerous Indians gathered together at the garden to protest about the arrest of two Indian leaders who were significant. The Indians were unarmed, but the British soldiers shot all of the Indians including babies, women, and men. Even though the Indians were getting shot, they didn’t show any violence. These two examples showed non-violence against the British in the movie.

       One of Gandhi’s quotes, he said, “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks; he becomes.” The quote exemplifies the way Gandhi lived out his faith because in his thoughts and ideas, nonviolence took the first priority. He wanted to convert people’s thoughts and mind by showing in a way where violent actions don’t have to exist. Eventually, he became the greatest political/religious leader in India. He was even called as the father of India. People began to follow Gandhi’s idea and influenced a lot of people. The Indians for example, didn’t use any violence against the British and a journalist got inspired by that idea. So, nations around the world knew that the actions British took were unacceptable along with violence. As a result, India became independent through Gandhi’s idea of nonviolence. Gandhi’s thoughts and ideas later on gave a significant impact for the Indians and which the result became the way Gandhi expected to be.