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 leaders of non-violence in the world today. Learning Outcomes Learn about the life of Mahatma Gandhi. Learn about Gandhi s beliefs and approach to gaining civil rights. Discuss the pros and cons of Gandhi s non-violent approach, and its influence on the world. www.english-maestro.mn www.lingoda.com 1 2
Mahatma Gandhi: Pioneer of Pacifism Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 30 January 1948) was the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India. Using nonviolent civil disobedience or pacifism, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The honorific Mahatma is now used worldwide. He is also called Bapu (term of endearment for father" or "papa") in India. Gandhi was born and raised in a Hindu merchant caste family in coastal Gujarat, western India, and trained in law at the Inner Temple in London. Gandhi first employed nonviolent civil disobedience as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, in the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights. www.english-maestro.mn 2
After his return to India in 1915, he set about organizing peasants, farmers, and urban laborers to protest against excessive land-tax and discrimination. Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity, ending untouchability, but above all for achieving Swaraj or self-rule. He was imprisoned for many years, upon many occasions, in both South Africa and India. Gandhi attempted to practice nonviolence and truth in all situations, and advocated that others do the same. He lived modestly in a self-sufficient residential community and wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven www.english-maestro.mn 3 with yarn hand spun on a charkha.
He ate simple vegetarian food, and also undertook long fasts as the means to both self-purification and social protest.gandhi's vision of a free India based on religious pluralism, however, was challenged in the early 1940s. A new Muslim nationalism which was demanding a separate Muslim homeland carved out of India. Eventually, in August 1947, Britain granted independence, but the British Indian Empire was partitioned into two dominions, a Hindumajority India and Muslim Pakistan. As many displaced Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs made their way to their new lands, religious violence broke out, especially in the Punjab and Bengal regions. Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist, assassinated Gandhi on January 30th, 1948 by firing three bullets into his chest at pointblank range. www.english-maestro.mn 4
Fasting Gandhi used fasting as a political device, often threatening suicide unless demands were met. Congress publicized the fasts as a political action that generated widespread sympathy. The government stopped the London press from showing photographs of his emaciated body, because it would elicit sympathy. However, his final fast in 1948, after India was independent, was lauded by the British press and this time did include full-length photos. www.english-maestro.mn 5
Nonviolence and Pacifism Pacifism is opposition to war and violence.a related term is ahimsa (to do no harm), which is a core philosophy in Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. Pacifism covers a spectrum of views, including the belief that international disputes can and should be peacefully resolved. It also calls for the abolition of the institutions of the military and war, opposition to any organization of society through governmental force (anarchist or libertarian pacifism), rejection of the use of physical violence to obtain political, economic or social goals, the obliteration of force, and opposition to violence under any circumstance, even defense of self and others. Although Gandhi was not the originator of the principle of nonviolence, he was the first to apply it in the political field on a large scale. www.english-maestro.mn 6
1) pacifism 2) civil rights 3) caste 4) peasants 5) poverty 11) to partition 12) to assassinate 13) emaciated 14) Hinduism 15) obliteration 6) untouchable 7) shawl 8) vegetarian 9) to fast 10) religious pluralism www.english-maestro.mn 7
pacifist civil rights untouchable peasant shawl poverty to protest caste to fast vegetarian dominion religious pluralism www.english-maestro.mn 8
Students notes vocabulary they have further questions about www.english-maestro.mn 9
Writing Write a summary of the major events that defined the life of Mahatma Gandhi. Ex. Gandhi was born on October 2nd, 1869 Fact 1 Fact 2 Fact 3 Fact 4 Fact 5 Fact 6 Fact 7 Fact 8 Fact 9 Fact 10 www.english-maestro.mn 10
Speaking The two major religions in India are Hinduism and Islam. Discuss what you know about the characteristics that define each religion. Fact 1 Fact 2 Fact 3 Fact 4 Fact 5 Fact 6 Fact 7 Fact 8 Fact 9 Fact 10 www.english-maestro.mn 11
Writing Are you a vegetarian? Do you know anyone who s a vegetarian? Write about whether or not it is difficult or easy to be a vegetarian in your country. Ex. It is easy to be a vegetarian in my country, because it is very popular. www.english-maestro.mn 12
Writing Have you ever been to or seen a protest? What were people protesting? Write about something that you feel passionately about. Include examples of how you would protest. Would pacifism be an effective way to achieve your goals? www.english-maestro.mn 13
1. Gandhi law, India, pacifist, civil rights leader 2. Pacifism nonviolence, to fast, to protest 3. Lifestyle vegetarian, dhoti, shawl 4. Religion Hinduism (Hindu), Islam (Muslim), religious pluralism Mahatma Gandhi was one of the most famous civil rights leaders in history. His legacy of peace and nonviolence still connect with many people to this day. www.english-maestro.mn 14
Writing Create a list of characteristics that define pacifism. Fact 1 Fact 2 Fact 3 Fact 4 Fact 5 Fact 6 Fact 7 Fact 8 Fact 9 Fact 10 www.english-maestro.mn 15
Writing Answer the questions. Mahatma Gandhi used as a form of protest. a) violence b) fasting c) the army What are the two major religions in India? a) Hinduism and Islam b) Christianity and Hinduism c) Islam and Buddhism Pacifism calls for the abolition of what? a) Religious pluralism b) Money www.english-maestro.mn 16 c) violence and war
Writing Decide whether these statements are true or false. Correct the statements that are false. The nickname people use in India to refer to Mahatma Gandhi is Divine Leader. a) True b) False Mahatma Gandhi always wore jeans and a T-shirt. a) True b) False Mahatma Gandhi ate meat at every meal. a) True b) False www.english-maestro.mn 17
Writing Complete the sentences Mahatma Gandhi is from? a) India b) London c) South Africa Mahatma Gandhi attended school for? a) religion b) political science c) law Gandhi wore simple clothes, including a dhoti and a? a) turban b) shawl c) pair of leather shoes. www.english-maestro.mn 18
Speaking Answer these questions with your personal opinion. 1) Do you believe that religious pluralism is something that can be achieved? Why or why not? 2) Do you think that your religious or political beliefs have a direct relation to your diet and appearance? 3) What do you think is the greatest challenge for pacifism to be effective? 4) Do you think that fasting is an effective form of protest? Would you www.english-maestro.mn 19 consider fasting for something you believe in?
Speaking Decide if these statements are true or false. Correct the false statements. 1. Christianity is the largest religion in India. 2. Gandhi fought for the civil rights of peasants. 3. The British partitioned their territory into India and Pakistan. 4. Hindus and Muslims have always gotten along. 5. Fasting is the act of not eating. 6. Gandhi died from natural causes. 7. A pacifist is someone who lives near the Pacific Ocean. 8. According to the ideals of pacifism, violence is unacceptable unless you are defending yourself. True False www.english-maestro.mn 20
Speaking Match the words that mean the same thing. pacifism fast vegetarian assassinate caste protest civil rights social class murder freedoms challenge nonviolence don t eat meat don t eat www.english-maestro.mn 21
Speaking Throughout history, many great leaders have been assassinated. Think of other leaders who have been assassinated and discuss reasons why someone might want to assassinate them. www.english-maestro.mn 22
Writing Decide whether or not you think pacifism is effective. Write a paragraph explaining your opinion. Give examples. www.english-maestro.mn 23