POST #15: Ghandi
Topic: Give a summary of the book: discuss the life of Gandhi and his ethics? Does he have a ethical system he follows and does it remind you of any other philosophers? Does he ever seem to struggle in doing the right thing? What impresses you most about Gandhi’s ethics? Has reading his words had an influence in how you see the world?
Gandhi
Mohandas K. Gandhi was an Indian nationalist and spiritual leader who developed the practice of nonviolent disobedience. Midway through his life, he decided to write an autobiography to share the stories of his experiments with truth and to explain his controversial nonviolent struggles. Gandhi’s autobiography is a precious piece of literature because all the chapters in it are composed of Gandhi’s own writings. This helps people understand his thoughts and his way of life in a more direct way than through the interpretation of other authors.
The book begins by introducing Gandhi’s childhood. Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in a small town northwest of India named Porbandar. Gandhi recalled his father as incorruptible and generous and his mother as strongly religious. Neither parent had education, but they made a wise decision to put Gandhi to school. Gandhi’s parents also made the decision to marry Gandhi and his older brother and cousin at the same time out of convenience and economy. Therefore, Gandhi was married at the age of thirteen and became a jealous husband, as he described himself, to his wife Kasturbai.
Then, Gandhi recalled his meat-eating and gold-stealing experiences in high school. He expressed his regrets on such attempts that he even named the chapter on eating meat “a tragedy”. Gandhi’s father also passed away during Gandhi’s high school years. After his completion of high school, Gandhi passed the matriculation examination and went to England to seek a higher education. Gandhi made a promise with his mother not to eat meat, and he kept the promise truthfully even at his staying in London where the temperature was really cold. The conversion to vegetarianism and the experiments in dietetics have taught Gandhi that the “real seat of taste was not the tongue but the mind” (Gandhi, 50).
Later on, Gandhi was elected to the Executive Committee of the Vegetarian Society; however, Gandhi always felt “tongue-tied” at the meetings because of his shyness. Because Gandhi was too shy to speak, he decided to express his thoughts in writing. However, writing could not replace the power of speech, and Gandhi resigned from the Committee. Gandhi retained his shyness throughout his stay in England. As time goes by, Gandhi was able to turn his shyness from a disadvantage to an advantage. The hesitancy in speech has taught Gandhi “the economy of words” and prevents the escape of thoughtless words.
After completion of his studying and returning home, Gandhi found that his mother had passed away. Gandhi’s elder brothers had high expectations of him and he soon begun his law career. However, Gandhi faced many difficulties career-wise; he found the actual practicing of law to be very different from the studying of law. During his short stay in Bombay, Gandhi lost his first case and decided to move to Rajkot, where his brother gave him the works of drafting applications and memorials. Then, Gandhi made another career switch by moving to South Africa.
Gandhi first arrived in Natal. Some experiences Gandhi shared was his abstinence when offered his Captain friend offered him a woman and his insistence on wearing a turban, which made people view him as an “unwelcome visitor” and gave him unexpected advertisement in South Africa. On the way to Pretoria, Gandhi faced discrimination from railway officials and white passengers; these people tried to force him into giving up his first class seat. Gandhi refused. Various discriminations that Gandhi faced led to the beginning of his nonviolent struggle in seeking political equality.
During his staying in Pretoria, Gandhi studied Christianity. He also sought Indian contacts in his attempt to form an association to make representations to the authorities concerned in respect of the hardships of the Indian settlers. Then Gandhi settled in Natal. There, Gandhi became deeply religious while continued working for the political interest of Indians in England. After three years in South Africa, Gandhi asked permission to go home for six months.
Gandhi finally brought his wife, children, and some relatives back to Africa with him. Since their arrival in the port of Durban, Gandhi faced all kinds of obstacles. First, Gandhi and his family were quarantined because they were considered possible carriers of diseases. As soon as he landed, some youngsters recognized him and men started to gather and attack him by pelting things at him. Gandhi fainted but was saved by the wife of the Police Superintendent, Mrs. Alexander.
Finally, Gandhi settled in Durban, Africa. Here he shares his experiences in educating his children and the simple life style in which he led. Nevertheless, Gandhi continued to face discrimination. During the Boer War, Gandhi gathered 1,100 comrades to enter into service and worked as an ambulance corps. The British Government recognized the efforts of the corps, and this recognition later on helped Gandhi with his fight for equality. After the war, Gandhi moved to India for a while and then moved back to Africa. Despite where he was, Gandhi’s interest in politics and his struggle against racism and violence persisted.
Gandhi has an ethical system that he follows, which is ahimsa, or a life without violence. This reminds me of Singer because Singer also put an emphasis on the issue of taking life, which is the ultimate form of violence. Gandhi seemed to struggle in doing the right thing. The struggles include oppositions from adversaries and mental challenges from within. What I am most impressed about Gandhi’s ethics is that he was an innovator and life scientist who established his ethics through his own experiments with truth. Reading Gandhi words does not have an influence in how I see the world because he is so famous that I was already familiar with his ideals since little. However, Gandhi was still a great leader whose spirit I will always admire.
Gandhi
Mohandas K. Gandhi was an Indian nationalist and spiritual leader who developed the practice of nonviolent disobedience. Midway through his life, he decided to write an autobiography to share the stories of his experiments with truth and to explain his controversial nonviolent struggles. Gandhi’s autobiography is a precious piece of literature because all the chapters in it are composed of Gandhi’s own writings. This helps people understand his thoughts and his way of life in a more direct way than through the interpretation of other authors.
The book begins by introducing Gandhi’s childhood. Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in a small town northwest of India named Porbandar. Gandhi recalled his father as incorruptible and generous and his mother as strongly religious. Neither parent had education, but they made a wise decision to put Gandhi to school. Gandhi’s parents also made the decision to marry Gandhi and his older brother and cousin at the same time out of convenience and economy. Therefore, Gandhi was married at the age of thirteen and became a jealous husband, as he described himself, to his wife Kasturbai.
Then, Gandhi recalled his meat-eating and gold-stealing experiences in high school. He expressed his regrets on such attempts that he even named the chapter on eating meat “a tragedy”. Gandhi’s father also passed away during Gandhi’s high school years. After his completion of high school, Gandhi passed the matriculation examination and went to England to seek a higher education. Gandhi made a promise with his mother not to eat meat, and he kept the promise truthfully even at his staying in London where the temperature was really cold. The conversion to vegetarianism and the experiments in dietetics have taught Gandhi that the “real seat of taste was not the tongue but the mind” (Gandhi, 50).
Later on, Gandhi was elected to the Executive Committee of the Vegetarian Society; however, Gandhi always felt “tongue-tied” at the meetings because of his shyness. Because Gandhi was too shy to speak, he decided to express his thoughts in writing. However, writing could not replace the power of speech, and Gandhi resigned from the Committee. Gandhi retained his shyness throughout his stay in England. As time goes by, Gandhi was able to turn his shyness from a disadvantage to an advantage. The hesitancy in speech has taught Gandhi “the economy of words” and prevents the escape of thoughtless words.
After completion of his studying and returning home, Gandhi found that his mother had passed away. Gandhi’s elder brothers had high expectations of him and he soon begun his law career. However, Gandhi faced many difficulties career-wise; he found the actual practicing of law to be very different from the studying of law. During his short stay in Bombay, Gandhi lost his first case and decided to move to Rajkot, where his brother gave him the works of drafting applications and memorials. Then, Gandhi made another career switch by moving to South Africa.
Gandhi first arrived in Natal. Some experiences Gandhi shared was his abstinence when offered his Captain friend offered him a woman and his insistence on wearing a turban, which made people view him as an “unwelcome visitor” and gave him unexpected advertisement in South Africa. On the way to Pretoria, Gandhi faced discrimination from railway officials and white passengers; these people tried to force him into giving up his first class seat. Gandhi refused. Various discriminations that Gandhi faced led to the beginning of his nonviolent struggle in seeking political equality.
During his staying in Pretoria, Gandhi studied Christianity. He also sought Indian contacts in his attempt to form an association to make representations to the authorities concerned in respect of the hardships of the Indian settlers. Then Gandhi settled in Natal. There, Gandhi became deeply religious while continued working for the political interest of Indians in England. After three years in South Africa, Gandhi asked permission to go home for six months.
Gandhi finally brought his wife, children, and some relatives back to Africa with him. Since their arrival in the port of Durban, Gandhi faced all kinds of obstacles. First, Gandhi and his family were quarantined because they were considered possible carriers of diseases. As soon as he landed, some youngsters recognized him and men started to gather and attack him by pelting things at him. Gandhi fainted but was saved by the wife of the Police Superintendent, Mrs. Alexander.
Finally, Gandhi settled in Durban, Africa. Here he shares his experiences in educating his children and the simple life style in which he led. Nevertheless, Gandhi continued to face discrimination. During the Boer War, Gandhi gathered 1,100 comrades to enter into service and worked as an ambulance corps. The British Government recognized the efforts of the corps, and this recognition later on helped Gandhi with his fight for equality. After the war, Gandhi moved to India for a while and then moved back to Africa. Despite where he was, Gandhi’s interest in politics and his struggle against racism and violence persisted.
Gandhi has an ethical system that he follows, which is ahimsa, or a life without violence. This reminds me of Singer because Singer also put an emphasis on the issue of taking life, which is the ultimate form of violence. Gandhi seemed to struggle in doing the right thing. The struggles include oppositions from adversaries and mental challenges from within. What I am most impressed about Gandhi’s ethics is that he was an innovator and life scientist who established his ethics through his own experiments with truth. Reading Gandhi words does not have an influence in how I see the world because he is so famous that I was already familiar with his ideals since little. However, Gandhi was still a great leader whose spirit I will always admire.
posted by Mavis Chao at 6:11 PM
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