MOHANDRAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI

Note on Hinduism: Many beliefs, but caste system which orders your position in the social order. Some people (priests) are pure, some are polluted.
Gandhi: born 1869, unsettled education, went to London to study law, called to the Bar in 1891, two years in India and then to South Africa where he formed most of his views. Returned to India in 1915.

He believed in:

In South Africa he set up a community in a farm and developed his ideas of virtue in manual labour and opposition to large scale industry.
His beliefs were influenced by the Bhagavad Gita (Hindu scriptures), the Sermon on the Mount (in the Christian New Testament), nature writings of nineteenth century (called Transcendentalism) and British social reform.
In India he wished to improve the place of untouchables, fasting until temples were opened to them for the first time ever.

Key words:

He believed that India had to be liberated from its bad behaviour before the British who occupied the country could leave. However, when the British left a bloodbath followed. Also the caste system has continued.

 

Adrian Worsfold

Pluralist - Liberal and Thoughtful