Mahatma Gandhi

The life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi was well

documented by an Award winning film some years ago.

To better know this humble man whose life touched so many,

do read his autobiography or watch the excellent film, Gandhi.

Gandhi was defined by his purist beliefs.

This peace seeking man who preferred life in a commune

with few worldly goods was elevated to legendary status

when he began wearing a homespun breech cloth.

A single act that helped to inspire a revolution.

The British, who seemed at a loss in controlling either Gandhi

or his followers, misunderstood this complex situation.

Gandhi's simplicity proved to be quite provocative to those who

foolishly believed that he could be silenced if incarcerated.

The sum total of Gandhi's life is impossible to capture in a few words.

He was larger than life, which is paradoxical as he chose

to exist at the lowest level humanly possible.

His steadfast determination to achieve Democracy

through non violent, non co-operative protests

are what made him immortal.

When these measures failed to bring the results that he sought,

he would fast until the violence that he abhorred, stopped.

Gandhi's style of Humanitarian struggle for freedom

would be imitated by many who followed him.

His "nonviolent, non co-operative resistance," would

become the mantra for generations of freedom seekers,

like Martin Luther King, Jr., Ceasar Chavez and Nelson Mandela.

The following is a simple quote, but it nearly completely

encompassed Gandhi's philosophy about removing

the British Empire from both India and South Africa.