Gandhis Role in the Material Culture of India - Case Study Example

Gandhi’s Role in the Material Culture of India al Affiliation: Gandhi’s Role in the Material Culture of India The British Raj (1858-1947) in India was characterized by divide and rule. The British ruled using the Indian civil servants. This is because the few numbers of colonialists could not rule 300-350 million Indians without the support of some collaborators. Therefore, the British government lured some of the powerful people in the Indian society and gave them power to rule over their own people. However, the British plan to partition further the previous British-ruled India did not auger well with Gandhi. This is because the British wanted to divide the Indian people along the religious boundaries, i.e. Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India. Gandhi foresaw some problems with this policy as it could weaken the Indian people and dampen their quest for independence. Therefore, in order to oppose this move, Gandhi came up with the cotton cloth as a means of identity to all Indians irrespective of their religious affiliations. In addition, he instilled a materialistic culture on the local population in order to minimize their dependence on the colonialists. This enabled the Indians to unite together towards a common objective of non-complianceError: Reference source not found. Cultural diversity can easily be defined as the capacity of maintaining the ability to change in each person. In the face of globalization, cultures are not the same and every effort is being made to safeguard different cultural values majority of which are struggling to survive. Currently, the major challenge facing the education in this century is on how to learn different tactics of surviving in a diverse society. Therefore, different topics related to cultural changes have become more common in the modern society. However, the overall ambition of education for all is mainly synonymous with lifelong learning for all. Furthermore, it should incorporate diversity of culturally inclusive environments which exists across the world. Gandhi emphasized the need not be isolated through the failure to uphold other cultures, an aspect that narrows people’s minds “I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any. I refuse to live in other people’s houses as an interloper, a beggar or a slave”1. This dimension of thinking had a major impact on the current cultures found in the Indian society. In order to have an in-depth understanding of the Indian’s material culture, this paper will discuss how Gandhi held the culture and influenced the rest of the population to follow the same direction. Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869 at Porbandar, which is a coastal town in Kathiawad.. He belonged to Modh Bania community. He attended his primary school at Porbandar. At the age of seven, his family moved to Rajkot. Even at this tender age, he was described as truthful, honest, and sensitive to issues that were affecting his countrymen. He got married at the age of thirteen for economic and convenience reasonsError: Reference source not found. In Indian standards, his family was well up because his father was a Dewan of Pobandar State. He later served in Rajkot and Vankaner States. During that time, India was under British rule. However, due to the status of his family in the society, Gandhi was able to get access to education. For instance, he joined High School at Rajkot and later he attended the college at Bhavnagar. However, he left after just attending his first term. It is at this time that the idea of moving to England rang in his mind and in 1888, he left Bombay for London leaving behind his wife and son. After reaching England at the end of September 1888, he found everything strange to him. The local culture and language made it hard for him to adapt. However, he maintained his promise of not abandoning his culture and behaviors2. It is this aspect that opened his thinking of changing the culture of Indians through encouraging them to be open minded when it comes to absorption of other cultures. The three years he spent in India was of great turmoil to him. Initially, he knew very little about the world. However, the time he spent in the new land exposed him to socialism, anarchism, and Atheism. He later went back to Inia as a barrister. However, he had no knowledge concerning the Indian law. Many of the lawyers in India used to pay commissions to get cases. However, Gandhi opposed this behavior vehemently. It is at that time that a South African based firm Dada Abdulla and Co. requested for his help concerning a specific case. Gandhi accepted and moved to South Africa in 1893. However, Indians were facing various challenges as they could not be given citizenship as Europeans did not want competition from them. Gandhi used his position to fight racial segregation and other form of discrimination against Indians and Africans. He later returned to India in 1915 after public demand after his work in South Africa attracted the attention of the Indian people. After one year of touring the country, he started being involved in social and political life in the countryError: Reference source not found. Gandhi’s major mission was to liberate the Indian people from the British rule. However, he anticipated that he will achieve this objective without sacrificing the lives of the local population. However, with the colonizers being militarily strong, this seemed impossible. Therefore, he had to instill new ideologies on people in order to unite them towards a common objective and erase any violent thinking. He started this aspect by strategizing his moves and interacting with the right people in the society. This was through the use of powerful people in the society and convincing them of his ambition for the country and the methods he is planning to use in order to liberate the local population. These strategies augured well with the local leaders and religious leaders who believed in him and gave him the full support. Gandhi declared publicly that he felt unworthy being a fakir. This was very significant as it made Indians to stop holding too much on their culture and in return fail to embrace other people’s cultures because of viewing them as an interference to what they hold dear in their hearts. In addition, these words encouraged Indians to explore external cultures and learn the positive elements that can improve them as persons and help them do away with insignificant elements that were of no use to them3. British in India opposed any tool that could unite the Indians. With the Indian people wearing different garments based on their religious beliefs, the introduction of common clothing was a uniting factor. Cotton was a common fabric that was used in England to make clothes. Therefore, the use of the material to make his cloths was an indication that he had adopted some elements of the English culture. However, he later insisted that his major interest was to ensure that the material used to make the common clothing was readily available for al Indians irrespective of their social position in the Indian society. Furthermore, he advocated for handspun homemade cotton (khadi) as a national fabric and mode of dress because it was not expensive therefore, readily available to all Indians. The use of Khadi does not only reflect his views on Indian’s need for self-rule but also his belief of equality. This is because the cloth could be worn by all people irrespective of their social classes. In addition, the fabric used was readily available for all people. Therefore, no one could lack the cloth because of lack of money. This cloth reflected his views that people should uphold modernity but they are supposed to continue with their long-held views and cultural aspects of doing this. Gandhi dressing was a show of sartorial integrity. This is the ability to maintain personal morals and wellbeing without being affected by people around you. Despite having travelled to different countries across the world, he maintained his dressing code because he felt that it was the right attire for himself and the Indian people should embrace it as their own. Through this form of symbolism, he was able to convince Indians to remain loyal to their culture despite being thousands of miles away from their land4. This explains the reason why Indians are very loyal to their culture despite being surrounded by foreign culture while residing abroad. Unlike other communities, Indians are not quick to accept changes especially if they will not add value to their own culture and the way of thinking. However, Gandhi wanted to see a continuity of the age old tradition and culture in the country. Gandhi attire signified the love for his country and people. When addressing people or even when attending to personal issues, he always used similar clothes with the same design. This was to familiarize the people with what he wanted them to take as their own. Therefore, many people adopted the attire because they believed in the agendas of Gandhi and they were willing to use any possible means to appease him. Dressing code is a product of a culture and the context. People follow the status quo or the current trends in fashion. These are mainly promoted by our peers or associates. Gandhi started experimenting his dressing behavior in similar circumstances. Gradually, he evolved as a result of habitual soul searching. This was a way of soul searching. However, in the long run, it sank in the minds of the Indians who started using the dressing code as a way of expressing their Indian identity. Furthermore, Gandhi interpreted his personal ad social meanings of his identity through his attire. In the modern India, people use the attire as a way of expressing their social status. Different garments in the Indian market symbolize different feelings, status, and express some hidden agenda. This is unlike the western culture which is focused more on what is trending in the market and the prices of the products. This has made it hard for the people from the west to have a common identity5. Therefore, through his attire, Gandhi changed the initial dressing code which had no meaning to the local people. This is through creating a common way of dressing which unites the local population even when living abroad. Gandhi is portrayed as a person who transformed the Indian culture by producing a blend of all cultures which some think that they are in a clash with each others. However, despite the increasing levels of globalization which has led to the integration of people and their cultural practices, Indian culture continues to remain intact. This is despite the pressure resulting from liberalization of markets which has seen the entry of foreign films and media channels in the country. Although the young generation is trying to oppose the initial culture, their parents have been instrumental in ensuring that they remain true to their culture and its practices. According to Gandhi, there is nothing like Aryan culture which was in existence as many believed. Instead, he argued that even the ancestors blended with other cultures and ensured that they retain the important cultural aspects but absorb various elements from other peopleError: Reference source not found. Therefore, he changed the previous mentality by the locals that the culture was static and nothing can be added or deducted from it. As a result, Gandhi opened up Indian culture to modernity. He enabled Indians to interact with the rest of the world. As a result, Indians were able to settle in different parts of the world such as Asia, Europe, and Africa. However, they have been able to integrate with other cultures as a result of being open-minded. This achievement came about as a result of constant warning by Gandhi that the local people are becoming a burden to their country of birth, an aspect that will affect the future generations. Gandhi civil disobedience movement was successful because of the cultural unity of the Indian people. Beside the cultural elements that were well known to the people, Gandhi introduced new acts that signified unity. For instance, during the anniversary of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Gandhi bent down and scooped a handful of mud at a local beach and stated that he will similarly shake the foundations of the British Empire in the country. People took this act and incorporated this aspect as one of cultural way of showing dissatisfaction and unity towards a common problem. The sign of unity was followed by mass demonstration which led to widespread disobedience6. His approach towards fighting for independence fused the relationship between Hindus and Muslims communities. Although some people have criticized this strategy by stating that it lost its focus, the peace and tranquility being experienced today results from the cultural unity that was spearheaded by Gandhi. Gandhi decision to take voluntary poverty and lead a simple life motivated the local population to do away with caste system which grouped people according to their wealth. On the contrary, he agitated for the spirit of sharing and living together like a brothers and sisters. Furthermore, he portrayed the spirit of selfless and servant hood which he wanted other people to emulate and integrate in the local cultureError: Reference source not found. Inclusiveness is a salient characteristic of the Indian culture which distinguishes it from other cultures across the world. Although the local cultures, linguistic and religious cultures in India can trace its history from the alien cultures, Gandhi added more value to these cultures. This is by unifying all of them to become a common Indian culture. In addition, he encouraged Indians to embrace diversity and use the differences as strength to deal with varying challenges that might affect the whole population. Furthermore, in the film, Gandhi is seen trying to encourage people to embrace uniqueness and forget their differences and forge ahead as a unified culture. Regionalism of a tropical subcontinent is another unique characteristic that defines the Indian culture. From geographical perspective, India is an isolated island that projects into the Indian Ocean. This isolation which is coupled with the scorching weather is some of the external factors that have contributed immensely into regionalism of Indian culture. However, Gandhi identified this unique aspect and used it to rally people together towards a common objective of maintaining their social unity for the common good of all people. For decades, the residents of India felt powerless in the face of nature. Error: Reference source not found As a result, they remained reverence. However, Gandhi came to remind the people of the importance of using their cultural practices to maintain their identity despite living in a natural environment that bears little or no history. Gandhi movements emphasized non-violence thinking in Indian cultural values. While driving the movements, he emphasized that everything that in this world should be friendly. In addition, he stated that everything’s true nature can only be described as true, divine, and morally right. Therefore, people should be driven by the spirit of friendliness and love. This explains the reason many Indians who hold the local culture dear to their hearts are reserved, an aspect that has enabled them to interact with people emanating from different cultural backgrounds. Mahatma Gandhi also believed that the ultimate reality was the basis of the cosmos. Therefore, everything in the whole world was being driven by nothing else but its external manifestation. This blended very well with the Indian cultural values which believe that all people are identical with each other. Beside the cultural aspect, India is a very religious country which is driven by values that have been set up by the religions7. However, Gandhi succeeded in integrating a new ideology which collected major values from the Indian culture. This is through combining truth and non-violence thinking. Consequently, he was able to mobilize the local population to understand his personal thinking through self-devotion. This enabled him to win people’s perseverance especially during the movements which used the ideology of non-violence and non-cooperation. Gandhi rejection of the Western idea that reforms was the only barrier to the revolution made a remarkable change on people’s minds. His major concern of truth and personal integrity worked very well with the local people. These are some of the values that were learnt in Harischandra and Rama. His diligence and positive attitudes towards a peaceful change incorporated a culture of peace among the Indian people. Furthermore, his ability to integrate all people irrespective of their religious background strengthened the Indian people, an aspect that made them to live in harmony up-to-date. He appealed to all religions and supported personal religious believes. This played a significant role in enabling the Indian people not to judge their counterparts based on religion but what they stand for in the society. Gandhi long journey of walking on dusty paths of different villages carrying a message of freedom and peace is well depicted in the field. Besides building a strong culture, his struggle for independence inspired a new crop of leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Madera. These are world icons that were able to deliver their people from intense oppression and despair in the hands of the colonialist. This is through creating a single culture which was based on unity. Therefore, the roots of the Indian culture were planted in other countries which were going similar predicaments in the hands of the colonialists. Gandhi refusal to eat until the violence stopped was a clear indication of his stand against the use of violence in order to gain independence. He portrayed that he was willing to go to any extent in order to preserve what he stood for. This attracted the attention of his followers who did not want to displease him after his sacrifice for the society and the country at large. This act also symbolized humility and diligence. This aspect was copied by the rest of the people who incorporated the values in their cultures. These values have been passed from one generation to the other. Gandhi movement was successful. Five decades since his death, Indian culture still remains strong despite intense pressure emanating from social media and the internet. Currently, people in India remains united despite the infiltration of different religions which have separated other parts of the world. People continue to express love and gratitude towards others by treating them with dignity. Indian population across the world have maintained their values and even attracted other non-Indians to it. This is because they have a unique culture which is adorable. The use of non-violent means to pass a message to the oppressors was successful. Unlike other countries that experienced intense bloodshed, India used peaceful means to gain independence. In addition, the culture of perseverance continued even after other leaders took over power8. Therefore, the success can be traced in the political and social arena. Through his works such as the Guide to London, Gandhi has been able to pass the information on the importance of dressing correctly to the young generationError: Reference source not found. It entails intensive details of the English clothing etiquette and how to meticulously observe the dressing code. Therefore, the dressing code of most of the Indians still is guided by the relentless effort of Gandhi to make the Indian culture unique when compared to other cultures across the world. Gadhi played a critical role in cementing the material culture which is held by the Indian people. This is through enlightening people that some of the natural resources cannot support the surging population. As a result, they need to adopt a trading and material culture in order to sustain their long-term needs. Supported by Vasudhaiva Kudumbakam and Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu this spirit has been encouraged by the concept of coexistence with each other irrespective of their geographical and political boundaries (Tagore & Tagore, 2005). Furthermore, Gandhi encouraged people to uphold the culture of vast knowledge, mathematics and measures. This played a significant role in new discoveries and improving the modern science. Initially, living together in harmony in areas that had different resources enabled the Indians to trade with each other, an aspect that sharpened their trading culture. Through the spirit of oneness, Gandhi was able to convince people to uphold a closely connected social system. “Let India get what she is entitled to and what she can really take, but whatever she gets, and whenever she gets it, let the Frontier Province get complete autonomy today”9. Today, Indian people are connected to their grandparents, parents and their children. They believe that they share the same spirit with their common ancestors. As a result, doing something bad to your friends or neighbors might make the ancestors to be angry10. Therefore, unlike in the Western world where Individualism has reduced the level of interactions even among closely related relativesError: Reference source not found. However, Indians regard a family as an institution that brings them together. This spirit continues throughout the lives of the current generation and it is passed to the next generations. Gandhi affected material culture in India by emphasizing the need for the local people to integrate with the rest of the world and not to use cultural limits as an excuse for focusing on India alone. As a result, many Indians took the initiative of spreading their businesses in different parts of the world. They started focusing more on gaining material wealth and increasing the number of assets they own. This explains the reason why Indians are found in different parts of the world doing business as they seek for more wealth. In Gandhi speeches, he criticized narrow minded people who do not think beyond the Indian boundariesError: Reference source not found. On the other hand, he encouraged people to be outgoing and interactive in order to increase their material wealth. However, he emphasized on the need to use ethical means to get resources. In the film Gandhi emphasizes the need to associate with people whose mindset is geared towards material wealth. In conclusion, Gandhi played a significant role in emergence of material culture which is associated with the Indian people. This is through agitating for hard work, togetherness, and peace. However, there are other important cultural values that he added in the Indian culture. For instance, he incorporated the need to persevere and listen to one another. In addition, he taught people on how to live a selfless life which is free from hatred. However, all these values supported the material culture which has enabled Indians to move to different parts of the world in search for opportunities11. Nevertheless, these values enabled them to integrate with people from diverse culture, races, and religious background. Bibliography Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal and Gandhi Research Foundation. "Mind of Mahatma Gandhi : Complete Book Online." Last modified 2015. http://www.mkgandhi.org/momgandhi/chap90.htm. Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal and Gandhi Research Foundation. "Famous Speeches by Mahatma Gandhi." Last modified 2015. http://www.mkgandhi.org/speeches/rtconf.htm. Brown, Rebecca M. Gandhis Spinning Wheel and the Making of India. London: Routledge, 2010. Buchli, Victor. Material Culture: Critical Concepts in the Social Sciences. London: Routledge, 2004. Filkins, Dexter. "50 Years Have Taken Toll on Gandhis Influence in India." Latimes. Last modified 1998. http://articles.latimes.com/1998/jan/30/news/mn-13743. Gonsalves, Peter. "Articles : On and By Gandhi." Last modified 2015. http://www.mkgandhi.org/articles/half-naked-fakir.html. Guha, Ramachandra. Gandhi Before India. Penguin Books Limited, 2013. Hutchins, Francis G. India’s Revolution: Gandhi and the Quit India Movement. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard UP, 1973. Singh, G. B. Gandhi: Behind the Mask of Divinity. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2004. Tagore, Rabindranath, and Surendranath Tagore. The home and the world. London: Penguin Books, 2005. Terchek, Ronald J. Gandhi: Struggling for Autonomy. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 1999. A study with a more expansive conception of Gandhian politics than ordinarily encountered in the literature. Trivedi, Lisa. Clothing Gandhis Nation Homespun and Modern India. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2007. Read More