Critical Thinking Reflection - Essay Example

Critical Thinking Reflection When one goes back in the history of mankind, it is most usual to find that individuals or a group of individuals pick up arms and guns to fight back against an atrocious ruler or kingdom with an objective to gain justice and honor. Often, it is strongly believed that justice is gained only through fight – winning the opponent by sheer force. In this process, bloodletting is considered inevitable. However, M. K. Gandhi proved this notion entirely wrong and faulty.

He employed totally nonviolent ways of protest and ousted a mightiest rule from India by sticking to the principle of ahimsa (nonviolence) and satyagrah (disobedience). Gandhi discovered his nonviolent means not in India but in South Africa when he was travelling in a first class compartment. Due to apartheid policies prevailing then, he was thrown out from the first class compartment as only Whites were allowed to travel in the first class compartment. This inhuman incident gave birth to a new movement where no arms, or guns were used to gain justice, and freedom.

While it would seem impractical in those days, he made great efforts in organizing the Indian community against socioeconomic repression and racial discrimination through nonviolent means. His movement though began in South Africa, he returned to India with a novel ways and means to make his country independent – free from the british rulers. In fact, India had already made one attempt using arms and guns in 1857 to liberalize the nation; however, it was failed miserably. Many other violent attempts were also made by numerous revolutionaries then, but none of them had any success.

When British rulers enforced the Rowlett Act in India, he protested against this brutal act and resorted to upavas (fasting) and Satyagraha (enforcement of truth). The rulers were not at all acquainted with this new way of fighting where protesters were not using any kind of arms – not even a small stick for self-defense. The establishment was so much surprised that they were unable to decide what to do with him. The followers of Gandhi would take all kinds of beating but woule not attack on police.

They put Gandhi in prison but Gandhi would not eat any thing to protest against their brutal behaviour. At last, due to people’s pressure, the government was compelled to free him from the custody. To make his protest more effective, Gandhi began civil disobedience movement. When the British government made the Salt Law that prevented common people to produce edible salt, he strongly protested against the law. He took supporters in his stride and walked more than 200 miles for the seashore town ‘Dandi’ in Gujarat to produce salt and break the Salt Law made by the british establishment.

The movement had a very strong impact across all parts of the country people from all parts of the country began following him staunchly. In the history, the ‘Dandi March’ is known as the largest civil disobedience movement that shook the very basic foundation of British rule in India. Gandhi not only continued with his nonviolent and civil disobedient ways, but also made it mandatory for all his followers to tread on the given path without any exception. At last, in 1947, British rulers left India for good.

Gandhi’s experiments with truth and nonviolence are not only unique but highly relevant in today’s times. World is currently passing through a turbulent times where gun trotting has become an order of the day. Gandhi’s ways and means may appear difficult and arduous for those who always believe in only violent solutions, but still the fact remains that his philosophy has inspired many other leaders across the different parts of the world such as Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela. If this world has to become safe and secure then it is required that Gandhian philosophy be made popular and students are asked to study his teachings during school learning.

ReferenceNanda, B. R (2005). Gandhi and Non-Violence Doctrines of Ahimsa and Satyagraha. Retrieved February 18, 2015 from http://www.infinityfoundation.com/mandala/s_es/s_es_nanda_ghandi_frameset.htm