Critical Thinking Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critical Thinking Reflection - Essay Example Gandhi discovered his nonviolent means not in India but in South Africa when he was travelling in a first class compartment. Due to apartheid policies prevailing then, he was thrown out from the first class compartment as only Whites were allowed to travel in the first class compartment. This inhuman incident gave birth to a new movement where no arms, or guns were used to gain justice, and freedom. While it would seem impractical in those days, he made great efforts in organizing the Indian community against socioeconomic repression and racial discrimination through nonviolent means. His movement though began in South Africa, he returned to India with a novel ways and means to make his country independent – free from the british rulers. In fact, India had already made one attempt using arms and guns in 1857 to liberalize the nation; however, it was failed miserably. Many other violent attempts were also made by numerous revolutionaries then, but none of them had any success. When British rulers enforced the Rowlett Act in India, he protested against this brutal act and resorted to upavas (fasting) and Satyagraha (enforcement of truth). The rulers were not at all acquainted with this new way of fighting where protesters were not using any kind of arms – not even a small stick for self-defense. The establishment was so much surprised that they were unable to decide what to do with him. The followers of Gandhi would take all kinds of beating but woule not attack on police. They put Gandhi in prison but Gandhi would not eat any thing to protest against their brutal behaviour. At last, due to people’s pressure, the government was compelled to free him from the custody. To make his protest more effective, Gandhi began civil disobedience movement. When the British government made the Salt Law that prevented common people to produce edible salt, he strongly protested against the