Two individuals that have impacted society today are Mohandas Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Their choice of civil disobedience will always be a great part of history. These great leaders showed us that there is more ways to fight than using violence. You can fight using your voice and standing up for what you believe in.
To start things off we'll talk about Gandhi. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born October 2, 1869 in Porbandar. Gandhi's religion was very interesting. His father was Hindu and his mother was from a Pranami Vaishnava family. On January 21st, 1879 he entered the local school that wasn't too far from his house. Believe it or not Gandhi wasn't the valedictorian or a school person at all. During his high school career Mohandas studied the English language, arithmetic, Gujarati, history, and geography. It's beautiful seeing how back then they called Gandhi average and he influenced the world forever, respectfully at that. Since he was different Gandhi's friends peer pressured him into doing things like eating meat and sleeping with prostitutes but it didn't make him like them. It only brought him mental anguish. In 1883 he was arranged to marry. Two years later the couple conceived their first child but it died several days later. This haunted him throughout the res of his life because he felt like it was his fault. Eventually they had four more children. Averaging 40% Gandhi enrolled Samaldas College and a degree-granting institution for higher education in the region. He arrived in South Africa when he was 24. He spent 21 years in South Africa there developing his political views and leadership skills. In South Africa he faced discrimination more than often. Gandhi went throw being thrown off trains, barred from hotels, and being told to remove his Turban at the magistrate of a Durban court. Being accustomed to all of the racial conflict made Gandhi question his position in society with the British empire. At that time Indians didn't have the right to vote, so Gandhi being the person he was fought the bill that denied them not to vote. Although there wasn't a end to the bill, his campaign was very successful. This was the beginning of Gandhi and his supporters of the Indian race. For years Mohandas fought for his India's independence. The government tried everything in their power to stop him but they couldn't. His followers was strong but he was stronger. In 1897 Gandhi was attacked by white settlers and refused to press charges on any member of the attackers. People may not understand it but Gandhi fought back without actually using his hands. His peaceful protesting influenced millions worldwide and still is a huge part of history now. He taught this nation one of the most valuable lessons on this earth. Another great leader, Martin Luther King Jr. took Gandhi's role of civil disobedience and also fought for equality. Like I said, he was little but Gandhi was a very strong man. Since the British weren't agreeing to a compromise Gandhi influenced his people to stop using all resources made from the British. He made sure other countries wouldn't trade with Britain, Indian people began to make their own clothes, and more. The biggest thing Gandhi is known for beside peaceful protesting was the Salt March. On January 26, 1930, India's Independence just about every Indian followed Gandhi's 241 mile march from Ahmedabad to Dandi. They went to gather salt from the sea to prove to the British that they don't need them or their resources. The Salt March was one of the most successful at upsetting British hold on India. Britain reacted by imprisoning over 60,000 people. Over several years he was active as a woman's activist, fighting for independence,
WW2 representative, and any form of politics. On January 30, 1948 Gandhi was on his was to address a prayer meeting when Nathuram Godse shot Mohandas three times. His death was mourned worldwide but his legacy will linger forever. A quote that meant a lot to people was when he said "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." This quote really speaks to me because I have a hard time with forgiving people and I hold grudges but this quote makes me realize it isn't worth it and I should be the bigger person.
Another activist that took a great tool of history was Nelson Mandela. Nelson Rohlihlala Mandela was born July 18th 1918. He was an South African politician, anti-apartheid revolutionary, and the first black president of South Africa. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid. Apartheid was a system that segregated the Africans from the white people. As an African nationalist and a democratic socialist, Nelson served as president of the African National Congress from 1991 to 1997. Mandela attended Fort Hare University and the University of Witwatersand and studied law. he became involved in anti-colonial politics. Working as a lawyer, Mandela continually was arrested for seditious acts with the ANC leadership, he was unsuccessfully prosecuted in the Treason Trial from 1951 to 1961. Influenced by Marxism, he secretly joined the South African Communist Party. Although he was initially committed to peaceful protesting, in 1962 he was arrested for conspiracy to overthrow the state for leading a sabotage campaign. Nelson Mandela was sentenced life in prison. He served 27 years in prison, initially on Robben Island and some at Pollsmoor Prision and Victor Verster Prision. An international campaign protested for his release, which was granted in 1990. Mandela joined negotiations with President Klerk to abolish apartheid and establish multiracial elections in 1944, which he led the ANC to victory and became South Africa's first black president. Mandela was a controversial figure for much of his life. Mandela was a controversial figure for much of his life. He received over 250 honors, including the 1993 Nobel Piece Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom , and the Soviet Lenin Peace Prize. He is held in deep respect within South Africa, where he is often referred to as the "Father of the Nation". A great quote Nelson Mandela is known for is "It always seems impossible until it's done".
These two man faced great obstacles trying to make the world as great as it is today. I can't even imagine how the world would be without their influence.
No comments:
Post a Comment