LNWk5-1_GandhiLec3Powerpoint_S09

8/2/2019 LNWk5-1_GandhiLec3Powerpoint_S09

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/lnwk5-1gandhilec3powerpoints09 1/27

Bobby Friction

www.bobbyfriction.com



M.K. Gandhi & Hind Swaraj Week 5, Lecture 1



Today, we will discuss…

• More on Civilization

• Gandhi on Writing

• The Mother and the Prostitute

• Masculinity

• Hindu and Muslim Relations in India

• Brute Force vs. Passive Resistance



Civilization

• Gandhi calls modern civilization barbaric

• Modern civilization associated directly with theindustrial revolution

• Modern civilization associated with disease, slavery,immorality,

• “We are turning away from God.” (TRUTH)

• “Railways, lawyers and doctors have impoverished

the country” • “India is being ground down not under the English

heel but under that of modern civilization.” (42)



What is Gandhi’s

interpretation of writing?“Their writings hypnotise us. And so…we are

drawn into the vortex.” (35)

Genres discussed in HS:

1. Dialogues*

2. Petitions (84-85)*3. Newspapers (32-33)

4. Histories (56, 89)



Newspapers

• “Newspapers are often dishonest”(32)

• “Their newspaper is their Bible” (32)

• What happens to the English peoplewho read newspapers? (33)

(Please remember, Gandhi is the editor of anewspaper called the Indian Opinion )



History

• “[The English] have a habit of writinghistory…and hypnotise us into believingthem.” (56)

• “History is a record of wars…” (89)

• “ A nation that has no history (records of wars) is a happy nation…”(89)



Gandhi’s Resolution?

• Take note of peace and soul-force inHistory (89-90)

• “…as so many writers have shown, [India]has nothing to learn from anyone else…”

(67)

• Indian Civilization=True Civilization (67)*



The Mother and the Prostitute• “The Mother of Parliaments is like a sterile

woman and a prostitute.” (30, 32)

Sterile: Not producing or incapable of producingoffspring

• Paid for services

• Have no single Master• No steady movement (No commitment)

• No Honesty

• No Living Conscience



Continued… • “Women, who should be the queens of

households, wander in the streets, orthey slave in factories.” (37)

• “If pleaders were to abandon their

profession and consider it just asdegrading as prostitution, English rule

would break up in a day.” (61)

[Remember, for Gandhi, these are consequences of

modern civilization]



“A lady spinning Swadeshi yarn”



“…it behoves every lover of India to cling to the old

Indian civilization even as a child clings to its mother’s

breast.” (71)



“Mahatma Gandhi in Mother

India’s Lap” (Maha=Great + Atma=Soul)



“A message of love” (1930)



Advertisement (1940s)



“Grief of Mother India”



“Mother India”



“Mother India”



Masculinity• “They lack real physical strength or courage.”

(37)

• “We have become emasculated andcowardly.” (44)

• “…render us effeminate…” (44)

• “I should prefer to be killed by the arrow of aBhil than to seek unmanly protection.”

• “Believe me that a man devoid of courageand manhood can never be a passiveresister.” (93)



Hindus and Muslims:

How can India be one nation?

• “India cannot cease to be one nation

because people belonging to differentreligions live in it.” (52)

• “In no part of the world are one nationalityand one religion synonymous.” (53)



More on Hindus & Muslims

• “The fact is that we have becomeenslaved…” (54)

• “These thoughts are put into our mindsby selfish and false religious teachers.”(56)

• “We Hindus and Muslims would have toblame our folly rather than theEnglish…(56)



Brute Force• Resistance by arms, violence

• “…the force of love and pity is greater than

the force of arms.” (84) [case of the thief]

• “Extremists are considered to be advocates of brute force.” (93)

• One of the aims of non-violence is the moralregeneration of the pertpetrator/oppressor



Passive Resistance

(Satyagraha)• Passive Resistance is soul-force (93)

• (Sat=Truth/God/Soul)+ (agraha=force)

• Opposite of “resistance by arms” (90)



More Passive Resistance

• Sacrifice of self (90) [self-improvement]

• Brute Force: sacrifice of others

• “Real home rule is possible only where

passive resistance is the guiding force of thepeople. Any other rule is foreign rule.” (96)



Passive Resistance,

continued… • “Those who want to become passive

resisters for the service of the country

have to observe… (96) 1. Perfect chastity (Celebacy)

2. Adopt poverty (Simplicity)

3. Follow truth (God)

4. Cultivate fearlessness



Conclusion

Reader: This is a large order. When will all carryit out? (118)

Editor: You make a mistake. You and I havenothing to do with the others. Let each do hisduty. If I do my duty, that is, serve myself, Ishall be able to serve others.

Editor: I bear no enmity towards the English, butI do towards their civilization.



Passive Resistance

Satyagraha

1. Political Participation

2. Resistance3. Public Expression

4. Ethical Interactions

Documents

LNWk5-1_GandhiLec3Powerpoint_S09