In 1947, India became independent after much violence because of political and social turmoil. A significant leader of the Indian Independence movement was Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi, which means "Great Soul." The basis of Gandhi's campaign for Indian independence was a strong insistence upon nonviolence, because of Gandhi's lifestyle of Satyagraha. Satyagraha is a method of last resort to seek progress and institute change solely through nonviolent means. This nonviolent moral led Gandhi to organize peaceful mass movements to express unhappiness and to encourage chance, such as civil disobedience and hartals (24 hour day of mourning in which all activity is suspended). For example, in 1930, to protest Britain's tax on salt, Gandhi and some of his followers illegally collected salt on the beach to prove that this natural resource should be free and available to everyone. This was called the Salt March of 1930. Even though Gandhi did not achieve his goal of a united and Independent India before he was assassinated, his legacy of unconditional peace still reigns today.
Gandhi's mass movement proved to make a great impression, considering he was just one individual in the time of massive upheaval and confusion. However, the question I'm asking you to consider is, would Gandhi's strategies withstand the test of time to be successful in today's world? Unconditional peace is an unconventional method to make a statement. However, in this current world society, violence is overused and sometimes even acceptable. The group with the most influence is usually the one with the biggest weapons and army. Gandhi and his tactics, if used in a modern day revolution, might have no chance. However, because of his intelligence, his bravery, and his values, we remember and study about Gandhi today to learn about him as a pioneering figure in a turning point in world history.
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