Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi

On the Definition of Heroism

    As the famous poet Maya Angelou once said, "I think a hero is any person really intent on making this world a better place for all people" (Angelou). Angelou's quote proves that heroism comes in many different variations, and that the driving force behind it is always the same: an altruistic desire to help others and improve the world as a whole. However, a hero is not just someone who possesses altruism, defined as caring for the well-being of others. In order to be a hero, one's altruistic character must manifest in his or her everyday decisions and actions. One can see examples of ordinary people making altruistic decisions everywhere in society, from volunteers who are serving their community to people choosing to donate money for a good and just cause. Though these examples might seem inconsequential or insignificant, they still represent the best aspects of humanity: the capacity humans have for empathy and the ability to put the needs of others before one's own. Overall, a worthy hero is someone who selflessly and courageously improves the lives of others through his or her altruistic actions, determined to leave the world a better place than when they entered it.

Gandhi was an early proponent of nonviolent protest methods, like fasting and marching. https://notevenpast.org/satyagraha-the-right-to-protest-the-responsibility-to-resist-violence/    A scrawny boy sits in his room, poring over centuries-old religious texts with keen interest. Few could predict that this boy's early encounters with Hinduism would shape him into one of the most famous freedom fighters and advocates for peace in all of human history: Mohandas K. "Mahatma" Gandhi. Born on October 2nd, 1869, Gandhi was raised in the small coastal province of Gujarati, India. From a young age, he was instilled with a sense of a higher purpose, eventually finding his calling in leading the Indian people during a decades-long struggle against the British. Gandhi was a pivotal figure in the independence faction within India, and while he was unsuccessful for most of his life, his nonviolent demonstration strategies and use of "civil disobedience" were extremely effective in rallying the Indian people behind the cause of independence. His most common tactics were prolonged fasts and protest marches, which he would use to bring attention to the systemic issues that existed under colonial rule. Eventually, after years of backbreaking effort, his tireless devotion to the cause of independence paid off, as the British finally left the country in 1947 after nearly one hundred years of colonial rule, though Gandhi never saw his dream of an independent Indian state materialize, as just a few months before the treaty was signed, he was assassinated. All throughout his life, Gandhi never hesitated to put other people's interests before his own, as demonstrated by his bravery in defying government despite potential retaliation and by his struggle for the fair treatment of minority groups.  Although Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi is mostly known for leading the Indian independence movement, his courage when confronting the British authorities and his selfless nature are what truly set him apart as an inspiring hero.

Gandhi picking up salt in defiance of the British governmenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_March    Instead of cowering before their military strength, Gandhi demonstrated the heroic trait of courage while opposing the British, constantly putting himself in mortal danger to benefit the independence movement. As an example, one of Gandhi's most famous acts of defiance against the British government was the Salt March, a nonviolent demonstration during which Gandhi and his followers openly protested an oppressive salt tax: "In 1930 Gandhi began a famous 24-day 'salt march' to the sea. Several thousand marchers walked 241 miles to the coast, where Gandhi picked up a handful of salt in defiance of the government… illegally" (Encyclopaedia of World Biography). This event demonstrates Gandhi's bravery in the face of adversity because he was openly breaking the law through his subversive actions in order to highlight the plight of all Indians living under British rule, despite knowing full well the harsh repercussions that such actions could entail. The fact that he was able to overcome his fear of persecution, imprisonment, and possibly even death for the sole purpose of assisting his countrymen is both noble and courageous. It also shows the true mark of a hero — always standing up for what is right, even when faced with immense opposition.  Furthermore, Gandhi's non-violent creed set him apart from many other famous historical figures as someone who fully embraced the ideas of peace and harmony, even in the face of violence and hatred: "He [Gandhi] never defended himself with physical weapons of any kind, nor did he hate his opponents, teaching his followers to love those who sought to harm or arrest them" (Wolpert). Gandhi's strategy of nonviolence demonstrates immense bravery, because in the event of capture or arrest, Gandhi would not be able to retaliate or strike back against his captors in any way, giving him little recourse in the event that the British would choose to harm him or his followers. Despite these risks, Gandhi never deviated from his ideals of peace, which demonstrates the heroic traits of moral integrity and bravery, as he willingly put his own life in danger to stay true to his values.  In addition to this, Gandhi demonstrated bravery when he sold illegal contraband in the form of seditious books that discussed how to peacefully oppose the British authorities: "On the evening of the 6th an army of volunteers issued forth accordingly with this prohibited literature to sell it among the people. Both Shrimati Sarojini Devi and I went out in cars. All the copies were soon sold out. The proceeds of the sale were to utilized for furthering the civil disobedience campaign" (Gandhi 246). This quote shows bravery because Gandhi is openly attacking the British grip on India by distributing books detailing ways to oppose the British. During this time period, such an action would have been considered treasonous, so Gandhi was risking imprisonment or possibly even death by distributing the banned literature. However, the fact that he chose to sell the books regardless, due to his belief that the British Raj must be challenged, is highly courageous and heroic, as he was willing to put his own safety on the line to eventually improve conditions for all Indians. Clearly, Gandhi's tireless efforts in battling the British government in spite of the danger to his own well-being prove that he is courageous.

Gandhi's constant fasting for the causes he believed in had a seriously detrimental effect on his bodyhttps://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/gandhi-begins-fast-in-protest-of-caste-separation    Gandhi also championed the concepts of justice, fairness, and equality by assisting marginalized peoples in their struggle for enfranchisement, putting their needs over his own, and by remaining humble and not seeking a political position; both demonstrate his selfless nature. For millennia, India's lowest caste, the dalit or "untouchables", have been surrounded by massive social stigma and have also been systematically discriminated against in many ways, but Gandhi hoped to end this repression: "Another cause Gandhi espoused was improving the status of 'untouchables,' members of the exterior castes. Gandhi called the Harijans, or children of God. On September 20, 1932, Gandhi began a fast to the death for the Harijans, opposing a British plan for a separate electorate for them" (Encyclopaedia of World Biography). Gandhi's stance on untouchables, the lowest caste in the Indian social hierarchy, demonstrates his selflessness and compassion. Specifically, Gandhi chose to fast until death unless they were given more enfranchisement in the Indian electoral process. This shows that he is selfless because he is putting the needs of the least privileged people in all of India before his own. He values the rights of the untouchables over his own life, showing just how committed, heroic, and selfless he is. While he was in South Africa, Gandhi fought for the rights of blacks and Indians, who were both underprivileged groups at the time: "This launched his campaign for improved legal status for Indians in South Africa, who at that time suffered the same discrimination as blacks" (Wolpert). Gandhi's fight for more political rights for Indians and blacks in South Africa provides a good example of his selflessness. Gandhi was very privileged in South Africa, as he was a professional lawyer while most Africans in South Africa were manual laborers, thus Gandhi's fight for their rights shows selflessness because he takes the risk of physical injury or the loss of his job and livelihood in order to help blacks in South Africa, while receiving little to nothing in compensation. This shows he is prioritizing their needs over his own, which is a selfless and heroic thing to do, as heroes do not expect compensation for their actions. In addition, Gandhi never chose to vie for political power despite the immense influence that he had over the Indian people: "Gandhi was never primarily a political leader, sickened by the corruption, falsehood, and jealous in-fighting of politics, turning away from it to his cotton spinning, rural uplift work, and the struggle against "untouchability", which he viewed as the darkest sin of Hinduism, and to his holistic health cures, including Brahmacharya"(Wolpert). While he could have leveraged his influence to land himself a high-paying political position, Gandhi chose not to, thus demonstrating his heroically selfless nature. Instead, he focused his efforts on helping others (and not himself) through the work he did in the fight against "untouchability" and disease. Like any good hero, Gandhi didn't allow folly or ambition to drag him into the depths of avarice and corruption. Ultimately, Gandhi's fight for more political rights and enfranchisement of discriminated-against groups as well as his decision to abstain from national politics both demonstrate great selflessness.

    By demonstrating the heroic qualities of courage and selflessness through his actions, Gandhi proves himself to be a worthy hero. In particular, Gandhi's willingness for self-sacrifice, demonstrated by his constant sparring with the British Government over the issue of sovereignty despite the risk that it posed to his personal well-being, shows heroism. In addition, Gandhi's eternal struggle for true equality and justice prove how he is willing to put the needs of others before his own. For me, the most inspiring thing about Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi is his unwavering commitment to his own morals. Gandhi never sought glory or recognition for his heroic feats, he was simply doing them for the sake of upholding his morals, and it is this integrity and honest intention that truly inspire me.  Gandhi's story teaches us much about human nature and why we must continue to have empathy and compassion. As he put it, "To see the universal and all-pervading Spirit of Truth face to face one must be able to love the meanest of creation as oneself." (Gandhi 268). Gandhi's teachings about the importance of love continue to resonate universally, and though he is long dead, his legacy as a great hero lives on through his simple and elegant message of equality, love, and peace.

Works Cited

Gandhi, Mohandas. An Autobiography or the Story of My Experiment with Truth. Ahmedabad: Navajivan Pub. House, 1976. Print.

"Maya Angelou Quotes" AZQuotes.com. Wind and Fly LTD, 2018. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018. https://www.azquotes.com/quote/809116

"Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi." Encyclopedia of World Biography, Gale, 1998. Biography in Context. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018.

"To Every Englishman in India." Human and Civil Rights: Essential Primary Sources, edited by Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner, et al., Gale, 2006, pp. 387-390. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018.

Wolpert, Stanley. "Mahatma Gandhi." Encyclopedia of India, edited by Stanley Wolpert, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2006. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018.