Gandhi

 “Live as if your were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” by Gandhi.

This movie reflection is the biography with eventful life of “Gandhi” (1869~1948) was directed by Steven Spielberg in 1982. Gandhi regarded as a saint of the 20^th century. He was a lawyer who became the leader of Indian nationalism and inspirations for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world. He led India’s independence movement against the British rule through his philosophy and belief with non-violent resistance and non-cooperative resistance.

 

On his way to South Africa as a lawyer, he experienced the unreasonable prejudice and discrimination based on skin color. After the incident, he became actively involved in organized opposition to the movement took on momentum, while other Indians quietly accepted discrimination. In Gandhi’s viewpoint, the greatest violence was the western’s industrial civilization with institutionalized for material benefits of continuing to expand the structure of exploitation and oppression without consideration any fundamental human needs of soul.

 

Gandhi was a Hindu, who received the title “Mahatma” means great soul, but he followed the way of life like a Christian. When Gandhi was born in 1869, India was a colony of the British Empire and later he led India’s independence from Britain in 1947. However, his last desire was unable to achieve the unity of Islam and Hinduism then was assassinated in January, 1948. (At that time due to religious conflict, India was divided into two countries - India and Pakistan). It was not Gandhi wanted.

 

To peaceful unity of one India, Gandhi embraced all religions simultaneously without any

prejudice pr violence, such as Hindus, Muslim and Christians. Especially, Gandhi committed

to harmony between Muslims and Hindus and claimed the necessary of the unification of

India.

Gandhi had claimed a belief of disobedience, noncooperation and nonviolent resistance. Non-violent resistant does not mean not to do it under any circumstances, but be taken as non-resistance which should be rather showing an attitude of love to surrender. Gandhi’s nonviolent and nonresistance is the symbol of action and nonverbal persuasion.

In struggling for political and independence and social reform in India, Gandhi devised and implemented numerous forms of wordless persuasion through nonviolence resistance movement. Indian’s independence made to the technique of symbolic action in human’s history. Sometimes, “Action speaks louder than words.” The movement itself of nonviolent resistance made a symbol of action and nonverbal persuasion.

 

Usually, powerful, authority, or expert people who have influence so that they generated

desirable change in the widest range of circumstances. Social influence involves the exercise

of social power by a person or a group to change the attitudes or behavior of others in a

particular direction. Persuasion is the process of consciously attempting to change a person or

a group’s attitudes and behaviors through the transmission of some messages. Persuasion and

social influence are linked together, in such a way that standards and human laws can change

depending on perceived needs and wants.

As a transformational leader, Gandhi had the ability to inspire and motivate followers. He demonstrated genuine concern for people’s needs, feelings and development. Besides, Gandhi hold positive expectation for followers, believed that people follow his demand, especially non-violent resistance. As a result, Gandhi inspired, empowered, and stimulated followers to exceeded high levels of performance, India’s long struggle for freedom.