Saturday, April 23, 2011

Hwang Yoo Jung, a five-paragraph cause and effect essay

 Gandhi, Mahatma in the world beyond India

 

Hwang Yoo Jung  200904349

Intermediate English Writing I (Tue 78)

April 23, 2011

 

Have you ever seen the paper money of India? It is Gandhi that the person you can see on all paper money in India. Although Gandhi was killed over 70 years ago, his people still lives with him seeing his portrait. Furthermore, the countless number of people around the world has commemorated his contributions. What makes Gandhi one of leaders in the world beyond India? Now to know it better, let's have a closer look at what is the key point of his ideas; how he practiced his ideas in reality; what effects his life has had on his country and the world.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian Independence Movement. So to speak, Gandhi has had spiritually deep influences on almost all areas in India. That is why, first of all, we should understand his ideas and principles rightly to know his life well. Gandhi pioneered "satyagraha"; the pivotal and defining element of Gandhi's ideas is the very "satya", which means "truth" in English. Gandhi seems to have believed that truth must permeate all aspects including politics, ego, society and convention. Furthermore, he spread the concept "ahimsa" meaning nonviolence in English. He thought that we could get rid of anger, obsession and destructive impulses through absolute non-violence. His vegetarianism was also closely related to ahimsa prohibiting killing.

It was natural that his ideas were reflected in the ways he leaded independence movement. Most of all, Gandhi put forth the concept of nonviolent resistance first in the history of independence movement across the world; whereas, until then, independence movements had turned to violence. Gandhi, while an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, witnessed that many Indians were racially discriminated. He struggled for civil rights of his people and first employed civil disobedience, which is also called nonviolent resistance. After returning to India, Gandhi tried to support disadvantaged groups like the poor, women or Untouchables, and establish the harmonious relationship among different religious and ethnic groups. Besides, he led the Non-cooperation movement which is intended to prevent British from occupying India through nonviolent means.

Furthermore, Gandhi's philosophy and leadership have inspired the movements for human rights around the world beyond India. Especially, "nonviolence resistance" has strongly influenced many important leaders like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela or Aung San Suu Kyi. "Christ gave us the goals and Mahatma Gandhi the tactics."; these words from Nelson Mandela show well how deeply his philosophy is imprinted on their mind. It is not just politicians. Gandhi's life and teachings have also inspired many who specifically referred to Gandhi as their mentor or who dedicated their lives to spreading Gandhi's ideas. Meanwhile, the International Day of Non-Violence has been commemorated on 2 October, his birthday since 2007. Really it is not too much to say that he still lives in the hearts of people all around the world.

In short, Gandhi advocated especially truth and nonviolence; practiced them for all his life; and his life and philosophy have influenced many different people around the world. Thus, Tagore, a writer of great literature in India, presented poem to Gandhi while calling him "Mahatma", meaning great soul. From then on, Mahatma has been generally used as the title of Gandhi. How does just Tagore want to ladle out praise? Looking back his contributions to realize peace of human beings, who can deny his greatness?

2 comments:

  1. 1. I suprised by the huge amount of information.
    It tells you prepare a lot for this essay

    2. This essay is about Gandhi

    3.I think last part of the essay is very powerful. Those interrogative sentences emphasize your intention very well

    4."Besides, he led the Non-cooperation movement which is intended to prevent British from occupying India through nonviolent means"

    In this sentence, I think the word 'is' must be changed to 'was'

    5. The topic of essay seems unclear. Topic in the book is that effects of important people in the world but your essay seems like biography.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gandhi, Mahatma in the world beyond India

    Hwang Yoo Jung 200904349
    Intermediate English Writing I (Tue 78)
    Final draft – a five-paragraph cause and effect essay

    Have you ever seen the paper money of India? It is Gandhi who is painted on all paper money in India. Although Gandhi was killed over 70 years ago, his people still lives with him seeing his portrait. Furthermore, the countless number of people around the world has commemorated his contributions. What makes Gandhi one of prominent leaders in the world beyond India? Now to know it better, let’s have a closer look at what is the key point of his ideas; how he practiced his ideas in reality; what effects his life has had on his country and the world.

    Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian Independence Movement. So to speak, Gandhi has had spiritually deep influences on almost all areas in India. That is why, first of all, we should understand his ideas and principles rightly to know his life well. Gandhi pioneered “satyagraha”; the pivotal and defining element of Gandhi’s ideas is the very “satya”, which means “truth” in English. Gandhi seems to have believed that truth must permeate all aspects including politics, ego, society and convention. Furthermore, he spread the concept “ahimsa” meaning nonviolence in English. He thought that we could get rid of anger, obsession and destructive impulses through absolute non-violence. His vegetarianism was also closely related to ahimsa prohibiting the taking of life.

    It was natural that his ideas were reflected in the ways he leaded independence movement. Most of all, Gandhi put forth the concept of nonviolent resistance first in the history of independence movement across the world; whereas, until then, independence movements had turned to violence. Gandhi, while an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, witnessed that many Indians were racially discriminated. He struggled for civil rights of his people and first employed civil disobedience, which is also called nonviolent resistance. After returning to India, Gandhi tried to support the neglected social groups like the poor, women or Untouchables, and establish the harmonious relationship among different religious and ethnic groups. Besides, he led the Non-cooperation movement which was intended to prevent British from occupying India through nonviolent means.

    Furthermore, Gandhi’s philosophy and leadership have inspired the movements for human rights around the world beyond India. Especially, “nonviolence resistance” has strongly influenced many important leaders like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela or Aung San Suu Kyi. "Christ gave us the goals and Mahatma Gandhi the tactics."; these words from Nelson Mandela show well how deeply his philosophy is imprinted on their mind. Gandhi is not influential only on the politicians. His life and teachings have also inspired many who specifically referred to Gandhi as their mentor or who dedicated their lives to spreading Gandhi's ideas. Meanwhile, the International Day of Non-Violence has been commemorated on 2 October, his birthday since 2007. Really it is not too much to say that he still lives in the hearts of people all around the world.

    In short, Gandhi advocated especially truth and nonviolence; practiced them for all his life; his life and philosophy have influenced many different people around the world. Thus, Tagore, a writer of great literature in India, presented poem to Gandhi while calling him “Mahatma”, meaning great soul. From then on, Mahatma has been generally used as the title of Gandhi. How does just Tagore want to ladle out praise? Looking back his contributions to realize peace of human beings, who can deny his greatness?

    ReplyDelete