short inquiry revised

7/30/2019 Short Inquiry Revised

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Christian Pridgen

Lynn Raymond

English 1102

04 April 2013

Inspirational/ Influential Person: Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Gandhi was a very influential, inspirational person who is

commonly associated with attributing to the ideas and methods of Dr. Martin

Luther King Jr. Aside from aiding other great leaders Gandhi was a great leader

himself. Inspiration is commonly referred to as an action or influence that directly

affects ones mind and soul. Inspiration may come through words, action, or

situations. These words, actions, or situations greatly affect a person, mostly in a

positive manner. What are the makings of an influential person? Is it their

personality, the way the conduct their selves, their attitude, or their

accomplishments? Mohandas Gandhi is one of the most recognized inspirational

and influential leaders. He is respected worldwide, this respect originated with his

personal passions and ambitions to stand for what he believed in.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on

October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, India, present day

Gujarat ("Mahatma Gandhi"). Gandhi would later be

nicknamed by his followers. His followers began to

call him Mahatma, which means the great souled

one ("Mahatma Gandhi").During his youth,

Mohandas Gandhi was shy, soft-spoken, and only aGandhi as a child

("Mohandas Gandi:

1869-1948")


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mediocre student at school (Rosenberg). These three characteristics of

Gandhis personality would later be alliterated through his appearance and

presence. At age 18 he went off to school. In 1888 Gandhi attended London,

England to study law (Rosenberg). Gandhi soon realized that the high class

English and French lifestyles did not fit his personality and were not what he

wanted. It was during this time that Gandhi began to come in tune with the simple

life style that he would live for the rest of his life. He began to network though

organizations that interested him. Gandhi joined the London Vegetarian Society,

where he would read Bhagavad-Gita and other passages that would serve as

foundation for the beliefs he would later develop.

On June 10, 1891 Gandhi passed the bar, he

soon after he returned home to visit his family and the

continued on to South Africa (Rosenberg). Gandhi

headed to Africa in hopes of gaining some more money

so that he would be able to further his education in the

field of law. He spent nearly twenty years in South

Africa; during this time he would face a lot of

discrimination ("Mahatma Gandhi"). His time spent in

South Africa was the turning point of his life, Gandhi

transformed from a quiet, shy young man into a powerful

leader against discrimination. It was during this time that he developed and

began teaching the concept of satyagrah ,"truth and firmness", passive

resistance, as a means of non-cooperation with authorities, non-violent

Middle age, Law school

Gandhi

("Mohandas Gandi:1869-1948")


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("Mahatma Gandhi").Satyagraha remains one of the most potent philosophies

in freedom struggles throughout the world today ("Mahatma Gandhi").

Gandhi continued to fight against discrimination

and the British rule for the rest of his life. Gandhi was

very influential in his homeland. In 1914 he returned

home once more and supported the Home Rule

movement there ("Mahatma Gandhi"). This movement

was very similar to the civil rights movement in America. He

also returned home and became the leader of the Indian

Nation Congress (Vora). Being involved with the Indian Nation Congress served

as a platform for worldwide respect. After World War I, he began advocating

passive resistance against Britain as a means to achieve

home rule. He became the international symbol of a free India

(Vora).

Mahatma Gandhi was killed on January 30, 1948. He

was Shot by Nathuram Godse who was enraged about efforts

of negotiation with Muslims ("Mahatma Gandhi"). Over the

course of his life he was able to accomplish many things. His accomplishments

would later go on to motivate others such as the great African American, Civil

Rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.

Older Gandhi

("Mohandas Gandi:

1869-1948")

Older Gandhi

("Mohandas Gandi:

1869-1948")


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Works Cited

"Mahatma Gandhi". 2013. Web. 28 March 2013.

"Mohandas Gandi: 1869-1948". Photography. Web.3 April 2013.

Rosenberg, Jennifer. Gandhi - Bibgraphy of Mahatma Gandhi. Web. 30 March 2013.

Vora, Shivani. Mohandas K. Gandhi News. 5 March 2009. Web. 28 March 2013.

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