Table of Contents
Abstract
Ghandi was a young man living in South Africa. He was a successful lawyer but is thrown off the first-class train compartment because he was “colored.” This incident made him think that if people are truly equal, why are they treated differently. His growing indignation of this led him to move to India, where he developed a movement of non-violent resistance against occupying British rulers. He gave up everything, his career and every material comfort and lived like the peasants whose cause he championed. He devoted himself to the independence movement and to defending the rights of all, especially the poor and disenfranchised. This paper will explore Gandhi’s leadership style and determine whether or not it is better than the British repression.
Gandhi is recognized as being one of the biggest influential leaders who practiced non-violent civil disobedience. Many remarkable leaders like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. were inspired by Gandhi values and belief of non-violence (Barnabas & Paul). He protested and fought for the independence of India not for his personal self-interest, but for betterment and concern of the people. Gandhi urged his people to not fight back, he taught them that peaceful protest is stronger than violence. He prepared to accept the struggle and punishment to establish unity for Indians and his country. This essay is will take a look at how Gandhi’s servant leadership and value driven leadership with perseverance and a non-violent approach was more successful than the British repression.
Gandhi’s Leadership
Gandhi was the frontrunner of India’s liberation movement. He was a leader who fought for everyone’s rights. His nonviolent words and practice inspired many people. From using fasting as a controlling tool and a political device, to leading the Salt March while walking multiple days, Mahatma Gandhi protested peacefully to get equal rights for Indians. He overcame many obstacles and gained accomplishments from South Africa to India. Gandhi’s rebellion led him and his supporters to be disciplined; to Gandhi it was worth it because it ultimately led to India becoming a free country. Gandhi’s influence on India’s freedom led countless people to be inspired by his brave actions. Gandhi’s life triumphs and successes affected the future of India by demonstrating his values and beliefs of peaceful protest and non-violence.
127 our experts are availableright now
In India, Gandhi is known as the father of the country. He was a strong leader who dictated himself to his people. His leadership had the ability to influence a group toward making achievements and goals. This characteristic is what makes a servant leader (Boone & Makhani, 2012). His fearless and courageous determination to fight the British non-violently played a large part in the independence from India. Gandhi encouraged countless people to take a stance for their rights by using his approach of civil nonviolent rebellion. He performed several different forms of protest and never diverted from his approach; they always had one thing in common, they never involved violence. Even when police, people, or soldiers were angry and began using violence, Gandhi and his followers never retaliated back. Every time a law was passed by the British that was unjust, one-sided, or just unfair to Gandhi, he would find a clever way to protest.
Gandhi knew if he did not respond peacefully, it would make matters worse for him and most importantly for his followers. One example of a clever way Gandhi protested without violence was when he started making his own clothes. Gandhi began to make his own clothes due to the British factories taking over the cotton business and driving Indian companies out. Anyone who tried to make their own clothes would have been imprisoned, but Gandhi refused to comply with these rules. He made his own clothes and refused to part with his spinning. Gandhi frequently invited press to capture his protests, which made the British angry and look like fools.
Even when the British became more violent with acts of massacre and the killing of over one thousand men, women, and children who were at a peaceful protest, Gandhi still didn’t retaliate. He still continued to protest with peace and was able to convince his supporters and followers to withhold from fighting back. Gandhi didn’t go out looking for supporters or followers, they just gathered and volunteered. He taught them the importance of life, of having peaceful non-resistant and non-violent protests, and delivered a powerful message of willpower. Gandhi believed “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind” (Briley & Attenborough, 1982). One of the key factors that made non- violence work was that he openly accepted his punishment. Gandhi accepted his punishment for breaking laws and was sent to jail for 6 years. His logic was “they may torture my body, break my bones, even kill me. Then they will have my dead body, but not my obedience” (Briley & Attenborough, 1982).
Conclusion
Gandhi protests and marches led to boycotts of British goods and services and eventually helped in removing British power from India. Gandhi’s nonviolent protests led India one step closer to becoming an independent and unadulterated nation which was a huge step in India’s history. Looking at what he accomplished and the final outcome of his actions, I would say although it was filled with tragedy and pain, his non-violent approach was more successful than British repression.
References
- Barnabas, A & Clifford, P. (2012). Mahatma Gandhi – An Indian model of servant leadership. International Journal of Leadership Studies, 7(2) pp. 132-146
- Boone, L. W., & Makhani, S. (2012). Five Necessary Attitudes of a Servant Leader. Review of Business, 33(1), 83-96.
- Briley, J. (Producer), & Attenborough, R. (Director). (1982). Gandhi [Motion Picture]. United Kingdom: Columbia Pictures
