Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Mahatma Ghandi was much more than just a human rights activist. He exemplified true kindness, love, and peace. This article includes the major aspects of his life.

Mahatma Ghandi

Part A:  

QUESTIONS: 

      Why was Gandhi given the name Mahatma?  What did it mean? 

Gandhi’s full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, but he is more commonly known around the world as Mahatma Ghandi. Mahatma was first applied to Ghandi as an honorific from Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali mystic. An honorific is word(s) used to express honor to one perceived as a socially superior. It can be used to refer to a title of honor. Mahatma is a fitting honorific for Ghandi because it means “Great Soul”.  This is why Ghandi was has the name Mahatma, because of his great acts, an honorific was given to him.  

      What techniques did Gandhi employ to protest discrimination in South Africa and in India? 

Ghandi was a firm believer in total non-violence. He was a pioneer for resistance to tyranny through the process of mass civil disobedience. Using marches, letters, articles, community meetings and boycotts, he protested racial discrimination. He held public protests, some which often led to his arrest . His techniques not only helped in South Africa, but also led to the independence of India and inspired civil rights and freedom movements all over the world. More importantly, his techniques inspired non-violence throughout society. In modern times, Ghandi stands as a statute for non-violence due to those techniques he used in protesting discrimination in South Africa.  

PART B~ Quotations

Popular peace quotations translated:  

      The golden rule is to act fearlessly upon what one believes to be right. 

It is a necessity that one acts courageously and unwaveringly in their righteous beliefs.  

      Even as a tree has a single trunk but many branches and leaves, there is one religion -human religion- but any number of faiths. 

Just like the way a tree has only 1 trunk but many branches and leaves, there is just one religion-the human religion- that includes many faiths.  

      Love is the subtlest force in the world. 

Love is the force that is the most difficult to perceive in the world.  

      Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as cooperation with good. 

Not committing acts of wrong and evil is just as important as committing acts of good.  

In other words:  

Committing acts of good is important, but you must refrain from committing acts of evil.  

      We must be the change we wish to see in the world. 

Each individual must lead by example, and act forth the improvements that one seeks.