He first experienced
racism while on a
train. The staff on
the train said that
their were no
coloured lawyers in
South Africa. He was
kicked off the train
He was discriminated against
the whole time he was there.
From this he became
a more intimate
believer in equality.
He moved back to
India in 1915
He wanted to
help the poor and
get India back
from British Rule
Became leader
of the Indian
National
congress in
1920
Promoted Non-violence and
peaceful resistant whilst he
'fought for his cause'
Amritsar
10000 people had
gathered to hear the
teachings of Gandhi
The Garden had one
entrance and 4 smaller
exits
General Dyer (British)
heard about the
gathering
He got an army of
110 men and
blocked the exits
No warning shot
was fired to alert
the people to leave
This is a
breech of the
law
They shot
everyone in the
garden as they
could not leave.
The Salt March
Salt is vital to people who live
in hot climates like India
In certain areas people could
collect salt from the beach for free
The British stopped this and
forced people to buy it at
very high prices from the
refineries
Gandhi lead thousands
of people, by foot, 241
miles to a beach.
After picking up a
handful of salt, he
was arrested.
His followers
continued to a refinery.
The men would line up
to enter the salt refinery
where British soldiers
were already waiting.
When they tried to
get past, soldiers
would brutally injure
them with a stick.
If the Indians were able
to walk they would line
up and continue the
process, otherwise the
women help them.
The Community
Indian people followed
a social system called
Varashrama or 'Caste'
It put people into
four groups (Varnas
- means 'colour')
The first group being;
academics, priest, kings e.c.t.
Once born into
a group, you
could not
change.
A fifth group
developed called
the 'untouchables' -
these people were
highly discriminated
against.
Gandhi wanted to change this: he led protests
and peaceful methods to abolish the system.
In 1950 the system was outlawed.
Beliefs & Methods
Non -violent peaceful
marches and protests to bring
attention to his causes
Went on hunger strikes
Beliefs:
Ahimsa - the hindu
belief that no harm
should come to any
living being
Satya & Satyagraha -
meaning 'truth' and
'firmness in truth'. He
believed that people
should stick to their
religious principles and
apply them every day.
Atman - this
means 'soul', and
Hindus believe
that it is made of
Brahman, the
eternal spirit. THis
links to all beings
and makes
everyone
completely equal.
Quotes
An eye for an eye makes
the whole world blind
Hate the sin, love
the sinner
I hate violence, because even when it
appears to do good, the good is only
temporary, the evil is permanent
You must be the change you
want to see in the world