Write the summary of the essay entitled "Reflections on Gandhi".

Write the summary of the essay entitled “Reflections on Gandhi”.

Ans.

Introduction

After reading this essay ‘Reflections on Gandhi’ by George Orwell we note Gandhi as a saint cum politician. It is said about all saints that they should be charged guilty until they are proved innocent. This rule does not apply on common masses because they are regarded as an odd mixture of good and bad. Most of the saints aim at perfection but their innocence must be proved. If we wish to prove the greatness and innocence of Gandhi, we must study his autobiography which had been written in a true and honest manner.

The writer wishes to test the greatness and innocence by two tests how much he was moved by vanity. Secondly how much he compromised with his principles. After reading his autobiography we conclude that if he had been different from the saint-politician, he would have become a successful lawyer, a good administrator, or a successful businessman. On the other hand, he had chosen the path of a saint to make use of it in politics. His such thinking shows his quality of determination as well as his strong will-power.

Gandhi could not make an impression on George Orwell

After reading this essay Reflections on Gandhi’ by George Orwell we note that he could not make a good impression on the writer. The writer did not feel impressed by Gandhi at his first sight. He was not impressed by his home spun khadi (cloth), the power of a soul, and his idea to be a perfect vegetarian-all these three things were closely related to Gandhi. It was much later when George Orwell realized the importance of these three things when he had noted the working and living of Gandhi very closely. Gandhi was liked but he was not admired in the beginning by the writer as well as by other Britishers both in India and England. The Indian rich persons did not like his philosophy of non-violence. The British Government did not show any interest in his policy of non-violence. They thought that his followers wanted to snatch their wealth. The businessman also realized that they were deceived by the Britishers. They began thinking of taking a lesson from Gandhi’s virtues of service and sacrifice for the welfare of the common masses of India.

Gandhi was admired even by the British officers

The British officers used to admire Gandhi because they always found him honest and sincere. Nobody called him corrupt or ambitious. He had no trait of fear or malice in any way. He had great moral courage in spite of lean and thin body. For example, he was much patient when he was shot dead because he had never demanded security for himself without any suspicion on anybody. Though he belonged to a middle class family, yet he had no envy against anybody. He had never a feeling of inferiority. When he was in South Africa he fought against colour feeling which was common there. He also took an active part in the colour war without any hatred for anybody. He regarded all human beings in an equal manner without any ill-will even for his opponents, so he had many European friends there also.

Some human weaknesses

It is necessary to mention here that Gandhi also had some human weaknesses. When he was in Europe, he put hat on his head, took dancing lessons, studied French and Latin and he also visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris. He also tried to learn how to play on violin. In this way he tried to adjust with the European culture. It was in his middle-thirties when he took an oath for Brahmacharya which included elimination of sexual desire. He also took part in the national movement for freedom in India.

Gandhi’s ethical attitude

After reading this essay on Gandhi we note that his attitude was ethical not religious. He was against the use of violence. He had firm faith in God and the virtue of truth and he regarded material things as an illusion. He also had self-imposed discipline along with his fondness as a vegetarian as well as celibacy. He did not like to have close friendship with anyone to get any favour from anyone. He did not force his ideas on others.

Gandhi did not claim as a saint

The close study of this essay, “Gandhi’ shows that he did not claim to be a saint but the people had started calling him as a saint because of his great virtues of truth, non-violence and fearlessness. It is true that as a saint he had given up alcohol, meat and sex. He tried to live as a saint along with his attachment with the Freedom Movement.

His motive for pacifism or peace

The main motive of Gandhi was his love for pacifism or peace. Only with this reason he had started non violent movement against the British Government in India. He had already tried this weapon in South Africa and with success. He also tried the weapon of Satyagrah or passive resistance firmly with the help of the common masses of India. He had wonderful courage. In answering a question he replied that the German Jews should start their war of Satyagraha against their enemy like Hitler and they should commit suicide to show to the world even at the cost of many million deaths.

His weapon of Satyagrah

It was asked from Gandhi how far his weapon of Satyagrah would prove successful in India. He had achieved the freedom of India but he had failed to bring Hindu-Muslim unity and for that he was shot dead. He had achieved freedom of India under the Labour government. The conservative government headed by Churchill would have acted against it. The writer admired Gandhi’s freedom fight and we should respect him and follow him.