Both Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. w

Gandhi's goal for India was swaraj, a self-rule based on complete independence from Great Britain. Gandhi believed that self-rule was only possible if his country was empowered to overthrow the "fourfold disaster" that centuries of British rule had imposed on the economic, political, cultural, and spiritual life of India (Shirer 30). Gandhi realized that only the most practical of weapons would prevail. For this reason, he chose the Hindu principle of satyagraha, or soul-force, "I know that it is the right of the citizen to withdraw his cooperation from the state when that cooperation means his degradation. It is a tangible form of showing one's displeasure at the acts of one's government" (Clement 62).

The principle of satyagraha is found in the Hindu sacred text, the Bhagavad-Gita, which contains lessons in discipline and selflessness, mercifulness, and freedom from greed or jealousy. Inspired by this text, Gandhi sought truth, rejecting anything hypocritical or false. He cultivated love and tolerance of others and was himself usually loved and deeply respected, even by the people he opp

. . .
nded were simply dragged away by sympathizers and replaced by new columns of protesters who willingly submitted themselves to physical abuse. The police methodically and mechanically beat each succeeding column of Indians. The horror of the confrontation was published in more than a thousand newspapers, which resulted in stirring the conscience of Britain and the world about the atrocities in India. The more unjust and cruel the British were, the more they played into Gandhi's hands. Gandhi realized that, practically speaking, no government could withstand multitudes who nonviolently refused to obey laws and who exhibited no fear of being beaten and arrested. Satyagraha was succeeding. Another component of Gandhi's nonviolent campaign was the preparation of Indians for independence. All his life he taught truthfulness and cleanliness. He taught the Hindus proper pride in their own culture and traditions: "Gandhi devoted his energies to renewing Hinduism from within" (Green 161). He taught self-respect where before, under the yoke of the British empire, there had only been submission. Gandhi realized his status as role model, and taught by the example of his own courage and fearlessness. While Gandhi labored for self-
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Tax Indian, African Americans, King Gandhi's, Congress India's, India Shirer, Gandhi King's, Gandhi King, Bible Christian, Party Gandhi, Jesus Christ, african americans, king jr, martin luther, gandhi believed, luther king, martin luther king, luther king jr, gandhi king, philosophy nonviolence, gandhi realized, civil rights movement, gandhi's nonviolent campaign, goal india, king sought, component gandhi's nonviolent,
Approximate Word count = 2177
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Both Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. w