What makes a person great?

This week’s film Gandhi clearly promotes its title character as a great man—but what is it that makes Gandhi unique and worthy of being recognized by multitudes as seen in the film? Well, I think his greatness stems from a few things. First, he is willing to stand up for a cause he believes in. We see this over and over in the movie. In the opening scene, British conductors throw Gandhi off a train in South Africa for insisting that as an Indian man he is also a British citizen with the rights of any other subject of the Crown—this mistreatment launches Gandhi’s peaceful campaign to earn better rights (and ideally, equality) for Indians in South Africa. Although the British respond to his policy of non-violent protest with brutality, Gandhi and his followers stand firm for their cause and are rewarded with increased rights for Indians.

Gandhi and supporters marching for Indian rights in South Africa.

Gandhi returns to his native India as a hero, where he is asked to take up another fight—that of Indian independence from Britain. Again, Gandhi passionately dedicates himself to his cause and believes he is doing what is right. However, as he tells the Indian leaders who ask him for his support, he must discover whom exactly he is working for—in other words, he needs to come to know the people of India, the real people, not just those of the upper echelons. I think the effort Gandhi and his friends and family make to learn about the land and its inhabitants, to truly come to know how the people think and feel and what they want for their country, is another thing that makes Gandhi great. He understands that political power originates with the people and that leading a nation is really all about knowing what the people need. Moreover, Gandhi begins to live as the Indian people do, adopting their dress and learning how to make his own cloth. He truly becomes one of those for whom he is fighting. And, in this fight for Indian independence, Gandhi again emphasizes non-violence and passive action—making speeches and leading demonstrations—even when British tactics involve massacre and further oppression.

Gandhi as a leader in India.

After the British grant India its independence following World War II, Gandhi faces a challenge of another kind. Whereas before he had been attempting to gain rights for his people and then separate them from a foreign power, in his later years he must figure out how to unite a country composed of individuals whose religious convictions vary. Gandhi’s solution to this dilemma is to grant concessions to different groups—oh, and he goes on hunger strikes when violence erupts, believing that the people love and honor him enough that the threat of his death (which would then be blamed on their inability to get along with each other) is enough to quell the uprisings. But while his toleration of other’s belief choices is admirable (even if his self-starvation seems childish and unwise), it also (spoiler alert) leads to his assassination by a young man who is displeased with Gandhi’s policy of peace. At the end of his life, then, Gandhi is both loved and hated, a wise man and a foolish one, an advocate of peace perhaps at war with himself over the unrest in his beloved country.

For Me Then…

It’s easy to make comparisons between Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Both men fought non-violent campaigns for people they loved and causes they believed in; and although their dreams were realized, their work and dedication cost them their lives. But in addition to their moral, social, and political achievements, Gandhi and King are also still remembered and honored today in large part because they advocated policies of love over hatred.

One particular statement about love that Gandhi makes in the film (and said in real life) really resonated with me this week: “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but, in the end, they always fall. Think of it. Always.” Honestly, it’s been a rather rough day for me today, and Gandhi’s statement of confidence and hope that good always wins out in the end reminded me of the greatest Man, One who also spoke words of peace and love: Jesus. And in I Corinthians 13:8, Jesus’ message of love is presented by the Apostle Paul: “Love never fails.” People may fail. They might mistreat us or disappoint us, but violence and retaliation are not the solution. The only real way to solve the world’s problems—as well as our own personal ones—is through unconditional love. I think Gandhi’s message of love is what most made him a great person.

Thank you all for your continued support of FlicksChick.com! I will be taking a bit of a break from the blog to spend time with family (and to hopefully finish this never-ending thesis!). See you in a few weeks!