Review of Gandhi (1982) by Spirit L — 11 Sep 2008

Bartola L. Lisbon Living Religion OL-3 September 12, 2008.

Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi was a small brown Hindu Indian man who ruled the nation through non-violence and kindness. I do believe on the caste level, Gandhi would be considered a Vaishyas, an economic specialists (though on p. 99 in Living Religions it states Vaishyas are farmers and merchants.).

Gandhi began his adult life as a lawyer. On his way to South Africa he was thrown of f the train due to his color. Though Gandhi showed his status to be a lawyer, though of color, it made no matter to the train conductor. Upon Gandhi?s arrival to his destination in Africa did he begin to realize that Indian?s were not allowed the same privileges as White Westerner?s. Here Gandhi?s non-violent march began.

The struggle Gandhi fought was only a fair one, equal rights for all men of all religions within the Indian culture. Indians were made to carry passport papers and were made to be finger-printed to show their identity within India.

As Gandhi?s eyes began to open he realized that he had not known ?his? mother land India at all. Everywhere he went he began to see injustice on all proportions within India. The Western world had turned India into a melting pot of itself. No Indian was able to study or relate to his or her own religion in public and Indians were not allowed to congregate of have meetings. Western Police were allowed to disrespect Indian homes and were allowed to take Indian women as they so pleased.

Once Gandhi spoke at the forum he began to give home to all Indians that would listen. It took only a little coercing to begin the movement for change, because the people were ready. They only needed a leader and Gandhi was that leader.

Every task Gandhi took on he became that task, on every level. In one seen Gandhi gave up his life as an attorney in London and moved to India. He was building homes to live in. Everyone in the village had to take turns cleaning the bathrooms. Word was sent to Gandhi?s wife that she would have to clean bathrooms. She was totally upset. Conversing with her, she felt and stated that cleaning bathrooms were for the ?untouchables?, the lower class. Gandhi lost his temper at this point and told his wife to leave. Of course he apologized and asked her forgiveness, and as a wife is to do, she happily took her turn. His wife realized that Gandhi was not like most men and that she too had things to learn.

Over time, Gandhi was able to win the war against injustice for his people, without violence. When violence broke out, he fasted for the violence to stop. He was so important to his entire nation that all violence amongst his people ended.

Gandhi won the hearts and the respect of dignitaries and reporters alike. Everyone respected him and wrote about him in kindness and in truth. Gandhi changed the face of the Indian nation by allowing Indians to be able to walk together and pray in separate or together. Living conditions were made better in many areas and food was given to the poor. Respect is what Gandhi was striving for and with his life his product was transformed.

However, as we all know there has to be a villain within this happy crusade and on January 30, 1948 in New Delhi India, Mahatma Gandhi was shot and killed. There was a mass parade in his honor and the entire world it seemed was there to mourn his death. Dignitaries from all nations the rich, poor and those in between came together to honor the man who changed the face of their Mother India, that ?little brown man? as one of the commentators called him, was Gandhi.

This movie relates to World Religion in as much as world religion trying to dominate a country that will not be dominated. World religion, what is it, except another word for conform. Conform to what. To what the western world feels is right. Again I ask, what is right. What I see is that whatever white religion does not understand they try to conform to something that they can understand, which is not all together just.