Christian Pridgen Lynn Raymond English 1102 04 April 2013 Inspirational/ Influential Person: Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Gandhi

was a very influential, inspirational person who is commonly associated with attributing to the ideas and methods of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Aside from aiding other great leaders Gandhi was a great leader himself. Inspiration is commonly referred to as an action or influence that directly affects ones mind and soul. Inspiration may come through words, action, or situations. These words, actions, or situations greatly affect a person, mostly in a positive manner. What are the makings of an influential person? Is it their personality, the way the conduct their selves, their attitude, or their accomplishments? Mohandas Gandhi is one of the most recognized inspirational and influential leaders. He is respected worldwide, this respect originated with his personal passions and ambitions to stand for what he believed in. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, India, present day Gujarat ("Mahatma Gandhi"). Gandhi would later be nicknamed by his followers. His followers began to call him Mahatma, which means the great souled one ("Mahatma Gandhi"). During his youth,
Gandhi as a child ("Mohandas Gandi: 1869-1948")

Mohandas Gandhi was shy, soft-spoken, and only a

Pridgen 2 mediocre student at school (Rosenberg). These three characteristics of Gandhis personality would later be alliterated through his appearance and presence. At age 18 he went off to school. In 1888 Gandhi attended London, England to study law (Rosenberg). Gandhi soon realized that the high class English and French lifestyles did not fit his personality and were not what he wanted. It was during this time that Gandhi began to come in tune with the simple life style that he would live for the rest of his life. He began to network though organizations that interested him. Gandhi joined the London Vegetarian Society, where he would read Bhagavad-Gita and other passages that would serve as foundation for the beliefs he would later develop. On June 10, 1891 Gandhi passed the bar, he soon after he returned home to visit his family and the continued on to South Africa (Rosenberg). Gandhi headed to Africa in hopes of gaining some more money so that he would be able to further his education in the field of law. He spent nearly twenty years in South Africa; during this time he would face a lot of discrimination ("Mahatma Gandhi"). His time spent in South Africa was the turning point of his life, Gandhi transformed from a quiet, shy young man into a powerful
Middle age, Law school Gandhi ("Mohandas Gandi: 1869-1948")

leader against discrimination. It was during this time that he developed and began teaching the concept of satyagrah ,"truth and firmness", passive resistance, as a means of non-cooperation with authorities, non-violent

Pridgen 3 ("Mahatma Gandhi"). Satyagraha remains one of the most potent philosophies in freedom struggles throughout the world today ("Mahatma Gandhi").

Gandhi continued to fight against discrimination and the British rule for the rest of his life. Gandhi was very influential in his homeland. In 1914 he returned home once more and supported the Home Rule movement there ("Mahatma Gandhi"). This movement

Older Gandhi ("Mohandas Gandi: 1869-1948")

was very similar to the civil rights movement in America. He also returned home and became the leader of the Indian

Nation Congress (Vora). Being involved with the Indian Nation Congress served as a platform for worldwide respect. After World War I, he began advocating passive resistance against Britain as a means to achieve home rule. He became the international symbol of a free India (Vora).

Mahatma Gandhi was killed on January 30, 1948. He

Older Gandhi ("Mohandas Gandi: 1869-1948")

was Shot by Nathuram Godse who was enraged about efforts of negotiation with Muslims ("Mahatma Gandhi"). Over the

course of his life he was able to accomplish many things. His accomplishments would later go on to motivate others such as the great African American, Civil Rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.

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Works Cited
"Mahatma Gandhi". 2013. Web. 28 March 2013. "Mohandas Gandi: 1869-1948". Photography. Web.3 April 2013. Rosenberg, Jennifer. Gandhi - Bibgraphy of Mahatma Gandhi. Web. 30 March 2013. Vora, Shivani. Mohandas K. Gandhi News. 5 March 2009. Web. 28 March 2013.