CNN, Celebrate the Century

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1 GANDHI Gandhi (CNN documentary series, extract 1) At the dawn 1 of the XX th Century, most of the world is controlled by a few major powers. Democracy is almost non-existent. Only a handful of countries are truly ruled 2 by the people. In South Africa, in the final year of the XIX th Century, a young Indian lawyer comes face to face with the arrogant power of Western colonialism. He is traveling in a first class cabin and refuses to give up his seat to a white passenger. He is beaten and thrown off the train. The reaction of this young lawyer, Mohandas Gandhi, will resonate throughout the century. He says there is no greater loss to a man than his self-respect. His reaction ignites a spark 3 that will lead to the downfall of the world s most powerful empire. Returning to India, Gandhi fights back with simple truths and passive resistance. Divesting himself of Western garb 4, he leads his people in a revolution of civil disobedience against British rule. 1. What happens to the young lawyer Gandhi in South Africa? 2. What is his reaction? 3. Do you know what will happen next? Gandhi (CNN documentary series, extract 2) In 1930, Mahatma 5 Gandhi, who had returned to India to challenge British rule, makes a major decision. He decides to march to the sea to protest the British claim of ownership 6 of the salt, harvest 7 of theirs. Hundreds of thousands join him in a 24 day, 2,040 mile march. Gandhi s non-violent efforts to symbolically harvest the salt provoke the British. They arrest 60,000 Indians, including Gandhi. Gandhi is in prison for 8 months, but nothing the British do can counter the Indian leader s philosophy of passive resistance. His followers meet violence with only courage and patience. Gandhi s long, dangerous fasts 8 gain the world s notice, further embarrassing the British. 4. What does Gandhi decide to do in 1930? 5. What is the reaction of the British? 6. Do you know what will happen next? Gandhi (CNN documentary series, extract 3) In 1944, Mohandas Gandhi is released from prison to negotiate India s independence. He meets with the British and with the Muslim leader Ali Jinnah. What Gandhi fears happens. India is divided into two states. Riots 9 spread across the country as Hindus fight Muslims. A million die. Ten million others flee 10, Hindus going South, Muslims North to Pakistan. It is the largest migration in history. When the British leave India in 1947, Gandhi does not attend the Independence Day celebrations. The split 11 with Pakistan grieves 12 him too much. There is still suffering, he says, our job is not yet over. Gandhi s humility and simple truths, which are strong enough to challenge an empire, are not enough to heal 13 his broken country. Then on January 30 th on his way to daily prayers in his New-Delhi garden, he is assassinated. He is killed because of his work to promote peace between Hindus and Muslims. The Father of our Nation is no more, says Prime Minister Nehru, to whom it falls to lead the new country, there is darkness everywhere. 1 dawn: sunrise; (here) beginning 2 to rule: to govern 3 to ignite a spark: allumer une éteincelle 4 garb: clothes 5 Mahatma: honorable title for a Buddhist leader 6 ownership: legal right of possession 7 harvest: moisson, récolte 8 fast: (here) act of abstaining from food 9 riot: violent or wild wdisorder 10 flee: run away 11 split: division 12 to grieve: to cause sorrow / sadness 13 to heal: to cure

2 7. What does Gandhi do in 1944? 8. What happens to India then? 9. What happens to Gandhi in 1947? Linking Connect the following short sentences as you wish using appropriate linking devices, as in the examples. Use the sentences you construct and the facts from the CNN documentary series you just watched to write a coherent paragraph about Gandhi. Examples: Gandhi led a simple life. Gandhi had many followers. They were encouraged to have few material possessions. Gandhi, who led a simple life, encouraged his many followers to have few material possessions. or Gandhi, whose many followers were encouraged to have few material possessions, led a simple life. Gandhi encouraged Indians to boycott imported British cotton. Gandhi made his own clothes. Gandhi wore a simple homespun 14 loincloth 15 even in the rain. Gandhi launched campaigns of civil disobedience. The British often used violence against the Indians. Gandhi urged 16 his followers to offer no resistance. India became independent in August Muslims and Hindus fought each other after independence. Gandhi fasted until the protagonists stopped their violence. Gandhi was a simple man without riches or a powerful army. Gandhi managed to bring down an enormous empire. Gandhi was shot by a Hindu fanatic in January Words This is an extract from the radio commentary at Gandhi's funeral in Complete, using suitable words from the list below. any, as, become, believe, blood, died, joined, led, mankind, nor, powerful, wealth. The object of this massive tribute... (1) as he had always lived - a private man without... (2), without property, without official title or office. Mahatma Gandhi was not the commander of armies... (3) a ruler of vast lands. He could not boast... (4) scientific achievement or artistic gift. Yet men, governments, dignitaries from all over the world have... (5) hands today to pay homage to this little brown man in a loincloth who... (6) his country to freedom. In the words of General George C. Marshall, the American Secretary of State: Mahatma Gandhi has... (7) the spokesman for the conscience of all... (8). He was a man who made humility and simple truth more... (9) than empires. And Albert Einstein added, Generations to come will scarce... (10) that such a one... (11) this ever in flesh and... (12) walked upon this earth. Questions How would you ask questions about these aspects of Gandhi s life? dates of birth and death, education, career, aims, beliefs, accomplishments, personality, methods, reason for fame, type of death, reason for death. 14 homespun: homemade 15 loincloth: pagne 16 urged: strongly encouraged - 2 -

3 The Ashram During the years he spent in South Africa as a young lawyer, Gandhi set up a new type of community with his wife Kasturbai and other followers. Vince Walker, a reporter from the New York Times came to interview him about his experiment Gandhi (introducing a worker to Mr. Walker): Ah! Herman Kalimber! He s a chief carpenter - also our chief benefactor! Walker: Vince Walker, New York Times. Kalimber: Hello! Mr. Walker looks around with admiration. Walker: Well, this is quite a place you've got here. And you call it an ashram? Gandhi: That's right. The word only means community, but it could stand for village or the world! Walker: You're an ambitious man, Mr. Gandhi. Gandhi: I hope not. Walker: I hear that you also participate in preparing the meals and cleaning the toilets. Is that part of the experiment? Gandhi suddenly notices the black taxi driver who drove Mr. Walker to the ashram and addresses his wife. Gandhi: Kasturbai, we will need another place set for Mr. Walker s driver. Kasturbai: I will tell Tara. Gandhi (now answering Mr. Walker s question): Yes. It's one way to learn that each man's labor is as important as another's. In fact, while you're doing it, cleaning the toilets seems far more important than the law! Gandhi now addresses Mr. Walker s driver Gandhi: Please, come and join us! You ll need something before your journey back. Gandhi seems disturbed. Gandhi (back to Mr. Walker): Err, would you excuse me, please? Walker: Yeah, sure. Gandhi goes across to see his wife who seems to be worried about something. Gandhi: What is it? Kasturbai: Sora was sent to tell me I must rake and cover the latrine. Gandhi: That's right. Everyone takes their turn. Kasturbai: It is the work of Untouchables! Gandhi: In this place there are no Untouchables, and no work is beneath any of us. Kasturbai: I'm your wife! Gandhi: All the more reason. Kasturbai: As you command... the others may follow you. But you forget - I knew you when you were a boy! Gandhi: It's not me. It's the principle. And you will do it with joy... or not do it at all. Kasturbai: Not at all then! Gandhi (getting angry): All right then, go! You don't belong here! Go and leave the ashram! Get out altogether! We don't want you! Kasturbai: Have you no shame? I'm your wife! Where do you expect me to go? Gandhi (calming down): What's the matter with me? Kasturbai: You are human, only human. And it's even harder for those of us who don't even want to be as good as you do. Gandhi: I apologize. I must get back to that reporter. Kasturbai: And I must... rake and cover the latrine. From the film Gandhi by Richard Attenborough (Columbia Tristar) - 3 -

4 Words Match the word from the text with its equivalent: the law rake latrine beneath shame apologize be sorry legal studies make level remorse toilet under Right or Wrong? Say whether the following sentences are right or wrong. Justify by quoting the text: 1. Vince Walker is impressed by Gandhi's experiment. 2. Walker thinks Gandhi's objectives are easy to achieve. 3. An ashram is based on a strict hierarchy. 4. Gandhi wants to show that cooks and cleaners are more useful than lawyers. 5. Kasturbai thinks she should be entitled to refuse dirty jobs. 6. Nobody has the right to refuse such tasks, even Gandhi's wife. 7. Kasturbai wants her husband to leave. 8. Gandhi wishes he hadn't got angry. 9. Kasturbai understands how difficult it is for Gandhi. 10. She is glad to be allowed not to clean the toilets. React Walker: You're an ambitious man, Mr. Gandhi. Gandhi: I hope not. 1. LLV1 Polynésie Juin 2000 (250 words): What is your idea of success? 2. ES LV1 Asie Juin 2000 (300 words): Would you consider ambition as a quality? 3. ES LV1 National Septembre 1999 (250 words): Are you ambitious and do you think that ambition is necessary to succeed in life? Guidelines Introduction: Calling someone an ambitious person is seldom a compliment. We have all met people who would not hesitate to cheat or lie or even betray their friends to fulfil their ambitions. (+ annonce du plan) 1. Ambition cannot be a quality when it is jockeying for a position it is the vain pursuit of fortune and glory Ex.: Macbeth (Shakespeare) 2. Ambition is more a virtue than a fault when it comes to surpassing oneself achieving great things Ex.: Gandhi Conclusion: Ambition is a virtue as long as it hurts no one but makes yourself and others happy. The main issue is our goals in life. A virtuous goal makes ambition look much better. Indeed it calls for it! - 4 -

5 Pacifism Larry KING 17 : Violence and the reaction of violence to it. I guess you support aggressive retaliation 18 but it also has been shown historically that some of the great men of the 20 th century, Gandhi and King let s say, both favored pacifism to stand up and not swing brings you great results. Both seem to prove it. Make a point? Dr. James DOBSON 19 : Well, in some cases. But I might remind you that Neville Chamberlain tried that in World War II. He tried appeasement 20 of Hitler, he tried not to Larry KING: Appeasement isn t pacifism! Dr. James DOBSON: No, but he tried not to irritate him, he gave in when there was conflict and Hitler Larry KING: But King didn t give in! He fought, but he fought without striking anyone. Dr. James DOBSON: Do you think that Hitler could ve been defeated by that approach? Larry KING: I don t know, but I m asking you the question! Dr. James DOBSON: OK, let me give you Larry KING: Do you ever give a little weight to pacifism? Do you think God sort of loves the pacifist? Dr. James DOBSON: Let me tell you what I think. My view of that came from Dr. Francis Shafer, who was a philosopher he s gone on to heaven now, in 1984 he died. In 1983, I heard him speak in Washington DC and he addressed this very issue. He said: Suppose you were walking down one side of the street. You re a man; you re a big, healthy man. Coming down the other side of the street is a little girl, who is six years old, and she s just skipping along. And a molester jumps out, and grabs her, and begins attacking her, and raping 21 her. What, as a Christian, is your obligation in that moment? It is to cross that street, and put your life at risk if you have to, to take care of her. And he said, going back to World War II, he said, you know, Hitler was killing the Jews, the Gypsies, the homosexuals, the Poles Larry KING: You re saying in some cases it works, as it did with King and Gandhi Gandhi overturned the whole nation without lifting a finger! Dr. James DOBSON: Yeah, and he was dealing with democracies in both those cases, he was not dealing with a dictatorship! Larry KING: Gandhi was dealing with a democracy in India? Dr. James DOBSON: Well, certainly Larry KING: Little Rock 22 was a democracy? Dr. James DOBSON: Well, certainly more than a totalitarian regime like Adolph Hitler or Stalin! My goodness! Stalin killed more people than Hitler did! Some people say 35 million people! Larry KING: No, I was just brining up the point because Dr. James DOBSON: I just can t see anybody sitting down, like Gandhi did, in the street, trying to influence Joseph Stalin! Larry KING: But religious leaders have accomplished things. I mean, Gandhi was a great you d agree was a great figure? Dr. James DOBSON: Well, he certainly accomplished a lot! There ain t any question about that! Larry KING: And King didn t do bad either? Dr. James DOBSON: And I m a fan of his! CNN, Larry King Live, 2001 Analyze 1. Who are the three people Larry King and Dr. Dobson refer to at the beginning of the interview? 2. What kind of examples does Dr. Dobson give to support his view? 3. In what cases does pacifism or non-violence not work, according to Dr. Dobson? 4. What does Dr. Dobson think of Gandhi and Martin Luther King? React Do you think that Hitler could have been defeated by [pacifism]? Can the use of violence ever be justified? (200 words) 17 Larry King is a famous American talk show host. 18 retaliation: représailles. 19 Dr. James Dobson is a well-kown Protestant doctor, President of Focus on the Family, a Conservative American radio program. 20 appeasement: conciliation. Politique étrangère du Premier Ministre britannique N. Chamberlain consacrée par les accords de Munich en septembre to rape: violer. 22 Little Rock: capital city of the state of Arkansas, USA, a highly segregated state in the sixties

Mahatma Gandhi WRITING

Mahatma Gandhi WRITING Mahatma Gandhi Outline ENG_C2.0902R Content Gandhi led non-violent Independence movements in India. He represented a peaceful lifestyle and is still regarded as one of the most influential