Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #3- Gandhi: Hindu and Activist

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #3- Gandhi: Hindu and Activist

Gandhi was a political leader, a spiritual leader, and a major influence on moral and ethical values, and even to the future leaders of the world. Mainly, Gandhi was a Hindu believer. But, what did Hinduism really mean to Gandhi? Was it solely just believing in the Hindu gods, practicing the caste system, and other things unique only to Hinduism? No. To Gandhi, Hinduism meant everything. He was a Jew, a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and all religions. Because he was everything, he had to accept everything. He accepted the British despite their harsh control in India, even stating that when the British leave, they and the Indians must remain friends. On top of being accepting of other religions, Gandhi believed that humbleness was key. Although born in the highest caste, the Brahmans, he dressed and lived like the lower castes. He refused to wear the fine clothing of the Western people and wore home-made cloths (linen) to cover his bare skin.

There is a common saying that goes, “An eye for an eye”, meaning equal treatment and judgement, even if it means revenge. However, Gandhi took this phrase further. “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” Gandhi stuck to this saying without having any intentions of abandoning it. A general, prime example in the movie is when the Hindus are defending themselves, or practically the whole movie. Whenever the Hindus would get beaten, they wouldn’t stand up and rebel and take an eye for their eye. They took the beating and enforced Gandhi’s ideas of non-violence. Examples include when the Hindus were trying to take over the salt mine and lined up in front of the guards. Few by few, the Hindus walked up towards the gate, only to be struck down. However, instead of getting back up to strike, they went to the sides to get treated for. In the end, the Hindus got what they wanted (or mostly). Who knows if the policy of “an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind” would have actually worked? What we know now is that not taking on revenge ended up well with no violence from the Hindus, keeping their morals and ethics proper.