An Analysis On Mahatma Gandhi Religion Essay

Gandhi ( 1982 ) directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Ben Kingsley in the rubric function, won 9 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography.

The film opens with the blackwash of Gandhi. It depicts the journey of Mahatma Gandhi from sole colored practising advocator in South Africa, who was thrown out of a train at Pietermaritzburg on his refusal to switch to 3rd category manager while keeping a valid first category ticket – to the leader of community who used the rules of non-violent opposition on behalf of Indian immigrants – to his resettlement to his female parent land, India and animating 1000000s of fellow citizens by his magnetic leading accomplishments.

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The film besides portrays his individualism and relationships with his household, close-associates, friends and leaders of Indian Congress Party. Additionally, the rules followed by Gandhi are represented reasonably with right blend of external factors including the British policies, his extended travels, poorness prevalent in rural India and his strong belief to take favoritism issues, which affected his determinations, mentality and schemes adopted together with the edifice of his ‘Ashram ‘ , taking up fasting and standing house on his rules of non-co-operation and non-violence.

The tag line of this film: “ His victory changed the universe forever ” is perfectly true.

WHo was Gandhi

Mr. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, bestowed with the rubric of ‘Mahatma ‘ : Great psyche ( a honorary rubric foremost used by Rabindranath Tagore ) , fondly called ‘Bapu ‘ : male parent, used by his followings, is the ‘Father of state ‘ of India. This look was foremost used for Gandhi by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in his commiseration message on the death of Kasturba Gandhi, married woman of Mahatma Gandhi in the twelvemonth 1944. Gandhinot merely raised his voice for ‘Swaraj ‘ ( place regulation for India ) and taught his countrymen to contend without any weaponries or ammo against the British Empire, but led the universe to believe and still follow his rules of truth and non-violence.

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Gandhi was a qualified Barrister, studied jurisprudence in University College of London, lead a simple life with his married woman, Kasturbai Makhanji and four boies, Harilal, Manilal, Ramdas and Devdas. Though a Hindu by birth, he believed in spiritualty and non rigorous attachment to spiritual beliefs. The duologue from the film ‘Gandhi ‘ clearly reveals the same: “ I am a Muslim and a Hindu and a Christian and a Jew and so are all of you ” .

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It is easier to explicate the asceticism of this great leader by borrowing the commiserations of Edward R. Murrow:

“ ..Mahatma Gandhi was non a commanding officer of great ground forcess nor swayer of huge lands, he could tout no scientific accomplishments, no artistic gift. Yet work forces, authoritiess and very important persons from all over the universe have joined custodies today to pay court to this small brown adult male in the breechcloth who led his state to freedom… ”

( Dialogue from the film Gandhi ( 1982 ) , directed by Richard Attenborough ) A

Steering Principles and followings

Gandhi followed 11 vows throughout his life, which are described in his assorted Hagiographas. These vows are: Ahimsa: non-violence, Satya: truth, Asteya: non-stealing, Brahmacharya: ego subject, Aparigraha: non-possession, Sharirshrama: staff of life labour, Aswada: control of the roof of the mouth, Sarvatra Bhayavarjana: bravery, Sarva Dharma Samantva: equality of all faiths, Swadeshi: usage of merely locally made goods and Sparshbhavna: remotion of untouchability.

( Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.gandhimanibhavan.org/gandhiphilosophy/philosophy_11vows.htm )

The Time Magazine in December, 1999 edition named The 14th Dalai Lama, Lech WaA‚A™sa, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Cesar Chavez, Aung San Suu Kyi, Benigno Aquino, Jr. , Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela as ‘Children of Gandhi ‘ and his ‘spiritual inheritors to non-violence ‘ .

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His journey was from a ‘briefless barrister ‘ ( a term used to roast him by his fellow legal practicians, as expressed by Eknath Easwaram ) in Bombay to the ‘half bare Indian fakeer ‘ ( as referred by Winston Churchill in his address in 1930 ) to the ‘champion of the cause of non-violence and equality ‘ . This transition was full of irritants in the signifier of miscellaneous jobs faced by him every bit good every bit roses as the legion followings. Countless authors and leaders world-over have expressed diverse sentiment about the greatest religious and political leader of India. Whether people follow the rules of Gandhi or they loathe him, his huge work can non be ignored. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr. in the twelvemonth 1955: “ Jesus gave us the ends and Mahatma Gandhi the tactics. ”

( Beginning: Life Magazine: Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. 40 Years Subsequently, 2008 )

Leadership Qualities and manners

A leader is ‘a individual who influences a group of people towards the accomplishment of a end ‘ . A leader is an person who foremost performs and so, leads his followings by illustration, so that they are motivated to follow him. He must hold an unconditioned committedness to a end and strive to accomplish it even if others do non follow him. As defined by Eric Hoffer, “ the leader has to be practical and realist, yet he must speak the linguistic communication of airy and idealist ” .

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The dictionary significance of the term ‘leadership ‘ is the capacity to take others ; an act or case of steering. Leadership is a ‘process of societal influence in which one individual can enlist the assistance and support of others in the achievement of a common undertaking ‘ as defined by Chemers. There are diverse sentiments and theories sing definitions and categorizations of leading manners. Nevertheless, in the words of Vance Packard – “ Leadership appears to be the art of acquiring others to desire to make something you are convinced should be done ” .

( Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadstl.html )

Viscount Slim listed the traits of leading as ‘courage, will power, judgement, flexibleness, cognition and unity ‘ . In the words of Hill, features of leader include ‘self-confidence, morale qualities, selflessness, paternalism, decision, self-respect, tolerance, enthusiasm, cognition of adult male ‘ .

In the visible radiation of these looks, Gandhi was a true leader, who planned and performed the undertakings, led by illustration, had strong strong belief to accomplish the end and motivated his followings. The strength and character of Mahatma Gandhi is clear in his ain words as: “ You can concatenation me, you can torment me, you can even destruct this organic structure but you will ne’er incarcerate my head. ”

Kenneth Benne and Paul Sheats ( 1948 ) defined 26 different group roles that can be played by one or more individuals within a group, which were categorised as: undertaking functions, personal or societal functions and dysfunctional or individualistic functions. Harmonizing to these functions, in the group undertaking functions, an person may be instigator, coordinator, judge, critic, orienter or recording equipment.

( Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMM_85.htm )

Kurt Lewin led a group of research workers to place different manners of leading and established three major manners of leading as: autocratic or bossy ; participative or democratic and delegative or laissez-faire.

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Participative leader:

Gandhi decidedly was a participative or democratic leader, who involved the whole squad in planning and end scene, job resolution and emphasised squad edifice ; on the other manus, he retained his determination doing authorization that could non be challenged. Rather than make up one’s minding in an bossy mode, he involved other people in the procedure, including his subsidiaries, equals, higher-ups and other stakeholders.

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Since the political state of affairs so, was dynamic and altering often, the needed democratic leading flowed from Gandhi. He brought out the best of experience and accomplishment from the fellow Congress leaders, seniors and followings. He had a strong strong belief with right blend of flexibleness and take appropriate attack to be followed. The communicating channels used were unfastened and transparent ; and in instance of any alterations, the scheme was explained unequivocally.

Theories of leading

Assorted theories have been propounded on the construct of leading based on varied properties of a leader including traits, situational interactions, map, behaviour, power, vision, values, personal appeal, moralss and intelligence among others.

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The undermentioned theories are relevant in depicting leading features of Gandhi as explored in the film:

Charismatic leading

Transformational leading

Servant leading

Authentic and Ethical leading

Ideal leading

Follower-centric leading

Charismatic Leader:

Harmonizing to the trait attack, the leading manner is affected and influenced by the single features and traits of leader. German sociologist, Max Weber distinguished three ideal types of legitimate political leading, domination and authorization: magnetic ( familial and spiritual ) , feudal or traditional ( patriarchs or patrimonalism ) and legal ( modern jurisprudence and province ) .

Weber ( 1947 ) defined magnetic leading as “ resting on devotedness to the exceeding holiness, gallantry or model character of an single individual, and of the normative forms or order revealed or ordained by him ” . He defined the term ‘charisma ‘ as “ a certain quality of an single personality, by virtuousness of which he is set apart from ordinary work forces and treated as endowed with supernatural or exceeding powers or qualities, which are non accessible to an ordinary individual, but of godly beginning or model ” . He farther added that a magnetic leader has singular ability to purify complex thoughts into simple messages and communicates by utilizing symbols, analogies, metaphors and narratives. Such a leader relishes hazard and is an optimist, who rebels conventions.

Robert House ( 1977 ) used four phrases to specify magnetic leading: “ dominant, strong desire to act upon others, self-assured and strong sense of one ‘s ain moral values ” .

( Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.12manage.com/methods_weber_charismatic_leadership.html )

Gandhi is the best illustration of a magnetic leader. It was merely his Godhead personal appeal that helped him contend on behalf of the Indian community in South Africa using his rule of non-violence and pay a war against the British Empire for Indian independency.

( Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.12manage.com/methods_weber_charismatic_leadership.html )

Transformational Leadership:

Bass ( 1985 ) extended the theory of magnetic leading to the theory of transformational leading, where a leader is able to animate and trip subsidiaries to ‘perform beyond outlooks ‘ and to accomplish ends beyond those usually set. Transformational leading as defined by Burns ( 1978 ) , is “ the procedure of actuating the squad by leader to be effectual and efficient and prosecuting their committednesss in the context of the shared values and shared vision ” . It involves relationship of common trust between the leaders and the followings.

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Gandhi beyond uncertainty was a transformational leader. He utilised his communicating accomplishments for facilitating and concentrating his equals and followings on the concluding coveted result or end attainment. In consonant rhyme with Burns ‘ analysis, Gandhi was extremely seeable and used concatenation of bid. He focused on the ideal vision of Swaraj and was surrounded by legion other leaders who were responsible and accountable for interim mileposts taking to achieving the mark.

A All the four elements of a transformational leader were apparent in Gandhi ‘s leading: individualised consideration, rational stimulation, inspirational motive and idealised influence. He attempted to go to to his follower ‘s single demands, moving as their wise man and turn toing their concerns. He unconditionally supported his followings and respected their single parts. The followings besides had aspirations for ego development and were motivated towards carry throughing their duties. He was ne’er averse to taking hazards and was unfastened to fostering associates and followings. He articulated a common vision which inspired his followings, equals and other modern-day leaders. His inspirational motive and high criterions challenged his followings. Besides, followings had a strong sense of intent and responded positively moving towards the attainment of end. The airy mentality of Gandhi was supported by his communicating accomplishments and strong belief, which resulted in doing it precise and powerful.A He instilled pride in his followings deriving their regard and trust enabling him to obtain their extra attempts.

Servant leading:

Robert Greenleaf ( 1977 ) described that “ a servant-leader is a servant first ” . He elucidates that the servant-leadership Begins with a natural feeling that leader as an single wants to function, which is followed by a witting pick to draw a bead on to take.

Gandhi, the quintessential servant-leader describes his ain motive to function as: “ service to the hapless has been my bosom ‘s desire and it has ever thrown me amongst the hapless and enabled me to place myself with them. ”

( Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.lifepositive.com/Mind/Ethics/Servant_Leadership_stooping_to_conquer22004.asp )

Spears ( 2002 ) lists qualities of servant-leader as: hearing, empathy, healing, consciousness, persuasion, conceptualisation, foresight, stewardship, committedness to growing of people and edifice community.

( Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/styles/servant_leadership.htm )

Gandhi ‘s desire to function a cause and adhere to his rules was apparent in South Africa. His mission to function humanity began with his concern for the equal intervention of Indians, followed by raising his voice against the Bill, which was sought to strip Indians of their freedom.

“ First they ignore you, so they laugh at you, so they fight you, so you win. “ : These words of Gandhi repeat his strength and preciseness.

Authentic and Ethical Leadership:

In aftermath of fiscal, ethical and social crises, people have begun blare for reliable leading. It is defined by Walumbwa as “ a form of leader behavior that draws upon and promotes both positive psychological capacities and a positive ethical clime furthering positive self-development ” . The traits of reliable leading embraces self-awareness of a leader, relational transparence, balanced processing of information and internalized moral position.

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Luthans and Avolio define reliable leading as “ a procedure that draws from both positive psychological capablenesss and a extremely developed organisational context, which consequences in both greater self-awareness and self-regulated positive behaviours on the portion of both leaders and associates, furthering positive ego development. ” Authentic leaders inspire others by patterning positive organisational provinces of assurance, hope, optimism, and resilience. By reacting transparently to moral quandary, reliable leaders become ethical function theoretical accounts. Therefore, reliable leading is an umbrella that comprises of ethical leading as good.

( Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //leadershipskills.org.au/interpersonal-leadership/authentic-leadership-explained/ )

In the words of Gandhi: “ Everyone who wills can hear the interior voice. It is within everyone ” . He demonstrated features of an reliable leader by being committed to truth. He knew himself good and was perfectly clear about his ideals and values. He illustrated self-denial. Even in the film, the duologues between Ba, Mirabehn and Margaret Bourke-White, grounds that he purely professed celibacy.

Gandhi was highly compassionate and echt. Even during one of his train journeys, he releases his caput fabric to a hapless adult female, across the river, who seemingly was non have oning any proper vesture. Bing an reliable leader of class, emanates from his rich experience and committedness towards functioning humanity.

Good leading refers non merely to the competency of leader to take his followings to execute a undertaking, but his duty for guaranting criterions of moral and ethical behavior and in transforming people. Ethical leading combines ethical decision-making and ethical behaviour. Key duty of a leader is to do ethical determinations and act in ethical ways and to guarantee that his followings understand and pattern the ethical codification.

( Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //studentorgs.unomaha.edu/documents/EthicalLeadership.pdf )

An ethical leader must emphasis and reiterates the statements about importance of moralss. He must circulate ethical guidelines to his followings. Gandhi, so is considered one of the most ethical leaders. He modeled his ethical behaviour and put a seeable illustration for others to follow. He set regulations for himself and besides, his followings as respects the bash ‘s and dont ‘s of moral behaviour. This codification was followed sacredly by him. He criticised all unethical behaviour and in instance of any such unethical act by his followings, he went on to fasting as a repentance.

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Gandhi considered that “ Always purpose at complete harmoniousness of idea and word and title. ”

Ideal leading:

Ideal leading or Inter-Disciplinary leading is a scientific leading theory propounded by Larry Stout ( 2001 ) , which identifies six critical capablenesss that are grouped under leading capital and four capacities under leading conditions. The six critical leading capital capacities are vision, values, wisdom, bravery, trust and voice to influence followings. The four critical leading conditions vital for these capacities are topographic point where the leader can keep sway, period that calls for his or her leading, place that conveys leading authorization, and people who are ready for leading.

( Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.az-encyclopedia.info/i/1329282_Ideal_leadership/ )

This theory states that leader is one who leads his organisation frontward in a positive way. The conditions determine who gets to be a leader in the first topographic point – a individual must be in the right topographic point, at the right clip, making the right things, with the right people in order to hold an chance to take.

( Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.idealleadership.com/talking_about_leadership )

His positive ideas are richly clear from Gandhi ‘s words: “ An oculus for an oculus makes the whole universe blind. ”

Follower-centric leading:

Gandhi ‘s relation with his followings can be classified into the attack of being follower-centric.

In conformity with this attack, it is pertinent that the leading is focused on followings, and non on the leader. The leader should give attending to his followings and do them experience proud on being portion of the squad. In the words of Warren Bennis: “ Good leaders make people feel that they are at the very bosom of things, non at the fringe. ” The follower-centric attack to leading emphasises the information processing facet in leading couples.

( Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //learningleaders.blogspot.com/2007/12/being-follower-centric.html )

Meindl propounded this theory on the statement that “ it is the followings instead than the leaders who construct both the phenomenon of leading and the images of specific leaders. ”

Gandhi followed and advocated schemes that were dependent on fortunes and his followings. For case, when he was in South Africa, he launched his protests in a suit and a tie, whereas, when he came back to India, he dressed merely in Indian self-made vesture – Khadi and launched non-violent protests on an huge graduated table.

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Contemporary Leaderships OF GANDHI

There were several leaders of that epoch, who were coevalss of Gandhi, including the members of Indian National Congress, endeavoring for independency. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Maulana Azad, Bhagat Singh, Chander Shekhar, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of Muslim conference, to call a few.

In the film, Muhammad Ali Jinnah is depicted as one of the strong leaders, who even went to the extent of withstanding Gandhi. Jinnah demanded for a new Muslim state named ‘Pakistan ‘ . This was wholly against the rules and doctrines of Gandhi.

Jinnah is officially known as Quaid-i-Azam ( Father of state ) in Pakistan. He advocated two state theory, which was opposed to Mahatma ‘s political orientation of United India.

As depicted in the film, there were several cases where Gandhi interacted with Jinnah. First brush of Gandhi with Jinnah was in Patel ‘s Garden. They later met during a meeting for demanding Home regulation for India, subsequently at Jinnah ‘s abode at Bombay and on assorted other occasions.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah studied jurisprudence, which led him to get down believing about Indian freedom through constitutional methods and Hindu-Muslim Unity. Jinnah was the leader of Muslim community of India.

The leading manner adopted by Jinnah was autocratic and magnetic. His magnetic manner helped him to derive assurance, credence and support from Muslims, accordingly, obeying his orders. His leading manner is really good depicted in the film during his negotiations demanding Home regulation for India and the immediate response and enthusiasm among public. His important manner of leading kept the party together where he held determination doing power and exercised complete control over his follower.

On comparison, leading manners of Jinnah and Gandhi, it is apparent that Gandhi was accepted among different subdivisions of Indian society and across all castes and faiths ( including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and others ) . On the other manus, the

popularity and credence of Jinnah was limited to merely one community. Mahatma Gandhi ‘s moralss, authenticness and ideal leading made him the leader of multitudes.

analysis of followings

Harmonizing to Hill, leading is merchandise of projection and transference procedure of followings. The followings play a important function in building leading. They have cognitive scheme through which they identify and assess their leaders. Once they identify little figure of archetypal leading in a individual so they designate him as a leader.

As depicted in the film, Gandhi has follower driven leading. It is amply clear that Gandhi ‘s follower played important function in the building of leading. Mahatma Gandhi ever worked in the best involvement of his followings.

Decision

“ MY LIFE IS MY Message ”

Gandhi was a great leader and independency combatant whose personality and leading qualities widely influenced his followings. He accomplished his vision of Independent India by following on his rules of non force and non cooperation. Oppositions could ne’er dispute his thoughts and beliefs and subsequently, he became ideal of many great leaders.

Using rules of Satyagraha, he led the run for Indian independency from Britain. Gandhi was arrested many times by British for his activities in South Africa and India. He believed it was honorable to travel to imprison for a merely cause. Altogether he spent seven old ages in prison for his political activities. Gandhi used fasting to affect upon others the demand to be non-violent. India was granted independency in 1947.

In the words of Indian poet, Pradeep: “ You gave us freedom without any blade or shield, you are a miracle. ”