Gandhi- a work of historical fiction
Name
Date
Read the questions before you watch the film so that you will know what to look for while you watch. When you make
notes while the film is playing, make sure that your note taking doesn't interfere with carefully watching the film. You
do not need to make any notes on the worksheet but after the film is over you will be required to fully respond to the
questions.
Answers need to be complete and comprehensive, demonstrating that you paid attention to the movie and thought
about what was shown on the screen. You may use more than one paragraph if necessary. Be sure that the topic
sentence of your first paragraph uses key words from the question. All responses should be in complete sentences
using proper spelling, grammar and punctuation. Questions 7 - 10 are assigned as homework, research the historical
event and provide citations to the authorities on which you rely for any facts or conclusions cited in your responses.
_______ What do you know about India? What is the culture like? ______
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Before we begin… Where is India?
Do you know anything about Mohandas Gandhi? Who is he? What did he do?
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South Africa
South Africa is a country on the southern tip of Africa. South Africa is also very ethnically diverse, and there are 11
official languages. There was strong racial separation under Dutch and British colonial rule that required all black and
Indian people to carry passes everywhere they went. The pass laws did not allow them to enter areas where white
people lived, and they needed a signed pass to travel to another district. After the National Party was elected in 1948,
they made a system of legal racial separation called apartheid to enforce the racial segregation that already existed. The
apartheid laws aimed to separate blacks, whites, “colored” (mixed race), Indians and Asians. Areas for white people
were off-limits for other racial groups, mixed marriage was not allowed, and there was discrimination in education and
jobs. Apartheid was in place from 1948 until 1994, even though there was strong opposition both in South Africa and
around the world.
Useful Vocabulary:
apartheid: a system of racial segregation or discrimination in South Africa.
ashram: a place for religious living or creating a special community. Originated in India in the Hindu tradition.
barrister: an attorney; a lawyer
boycott: refusing to buy something as a form of protest. Also, refusing to obey a policy or take part in an event as
a form of protest.
caste system: a system of dividing Indian society into classes of social status that each person inherits from
his/her family.
civil disobedience: refusing to obey certain laws to pay taxes and fines, as a form of peaceful political protest.
civil rights: the rights of citizens to have political and social freedom and equality.
commission: a group of people officially responsible for a certain task.
general strike: a strike of workers in all or most industries.
homespun cloth: cloth that is made on a loom at home.
indigo: a tropical plant used to create a dark blue dye.
miner: a person who works in a mine to find metal and minerals underground.
non-cooperation: refusing to obey a law or policy as a way to protest.
partition: dividing a country into separate parts.
pass laws: laws in South Africa that segregated the population and placed strict limits on the movements of nonwhite people. Non-white people in South Africa were required to carry passbooks that gave them permission to
travel outside their hometowns. These laws were one of the main features of apartheid.
rebate: a partial refund to someone who has paid too much money for tax or rent.
sedition: speech or action that encourages people to rebel against the rulers of a country or place.
segregation: the enforced separation of different racial groups in a country or community.
stereotype: a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
strike: when workers refuse to work, in order to protest against rules made by their employers.
untouchables: people outside the caste system, with very low social status.
viceroy: a ruler in a colony who represents a colonial power.
Day 1- 1. What do you want people to say about you at your funeral?
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Commentators from all over the world are covering the ceremony. Edward R. Murrow, from "CBS" states, “The
object of this massive tribute. Died as he had always lived. A private man without wealth without property,
without official title or office. Mahatma Gandhi was not the commander of armies nor a ruler of vast lands. He
can not boast any scientific achievement or artistic gift. Yet men, governments, dignitaries from all over the world
have joined hands today to pay homage to this little brown man in a loincloth who led his country to freedom. In
the words of General George C Marshall, the American Secretary of state, ‘Mahatma Gandhi has became the
spokesman for the conscience all mankind. He was a man who made humility and simple truth more powerful
than empires’. And Albert Einstein added, ‘Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in
flesh and blood walked upon this earth’.”
2. What could Mohandas Gandhi have done to receive such an outpouring of people at his funeral?
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3. On another sheet of paper, write a newspaper article (who, when, where, what, why) informing Americans of
what happened to Gandhi on the South African train. Include an image (sign, drawing, cartoon, etc...).
4. Think. Pair. Share. “Mr. Gandhi, you look at Mr. Khan and see a successful Muslim trader. The South Africans
see him simply as an Indian. And the vast majority of Indians — mostly Hindu like yourself — were brought here
to work the mines and harvest the crops — and the Europeans don't want them doing anything else.”
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b) Why is Gandhi surprised by the discrimination against Indians? _______________________
a) How do you think Gandhi felt when he heard this?
5. “I rather like the idea of an Indian barrister in South Africa. I'm sure our community could keep you in work
for some time, Mr. Gandhi — even if you caused a good deal of trouble... Especially if you caused a good deal of
trouble” said Mr. Khan.
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b) What kind of “trouble” does he want Gandhi to cause? ____________________________
c) Why? _____________________________________________________
d) Why did Gandhi first become involved in politics in South Africa? _______________________
a) Why are there no Indian barristers in South Africa?
6. (17:18) A man is waiting for Gandhi. What is your first impression of this man?
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b) Where is he from? ______________________________________________
c) Did you stereotype him? ___________________________________________
7. Should Ba, Gandhi’s wife, clean and cover the latrine (toilet) as if she was an “untouchable? _________
Explain your argument._____________________________________________
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8. What method(s) did Gandhi use/evolve to fight prejudice in South Africa? __________________
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a) What do you think based on his race and clothing?
9. How did Gandhi react to the new laws requiring all Indians to be fingerprinted and allowing policeman to enter
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homes at any time?
10. “We will not strike a blow, but we will receive them. Because they may torture my body, may break my
bones, even kill me... They will then have my dead body — not my obedience.”
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b) Why does Gandhi tell them NOT to fight back? _______________________________
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a) Do you think it would be difficult to not fight back if someone was hurting you?
11. If you grew up with a certain tradition, do you think it would be very difficult to change if you realized it was
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an unfair tradition?
12. Why was the British government forced to change laws and policies in South Africa?
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Day 1 end of class- 13. Write a brief summary of the main plot, describing the event or events that are the
focus of the film and stating where and when they take place. (1 paragraph)
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Homework Day 1- 14. Name and describe the protagonist and the antagonist in this story.
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15. What is Gandhi's attitude towards the British was during this period of his life? What is your evidence?
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Gandhi- Day 2
16. Observe the clothing of India’s people. What is the significance of the clothing?
What similarities and differences do you see?
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b) People in the slums ______________________________________________
c) The Indian leaders ______________________________________________
a) Gandhi’s clothing
17. Observe India’s geography. Describe:
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b) Homes of the Indian leaders _________________________________________
c) Homes of the Indian villagers _________________________________________
d) Homes of the British leaders _________________________________________
a) The city
18. How is Gandhi being stereotyped? What is your evidence?
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19. Why is Gandhi a national leader who is being celebrated upon his return to India?
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21. What are the people’s impression of Gandhi? Are they impressed? Why or why not? ____________
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20. What is your impression of the slums?
22. Gandhi is introduced to Mr. Prakash, as a man waiting trial for murder. Prakash says, “…If an Englishman
kills an Indian for disobeying his law then it is an Indians duty to kill an Englishman for enforcing a law in a land
that is not his.” Do you agree?
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23. What seems to be the Indian leaders impression of Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence (ahimsa)?
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24. Charlie Andrews introduced “Mohan” to Professor (philosopher and elder statesman) Gokhale who says,
“We're trying to make a nation, Gandhi and the British keep trying to break us up into religions and principalities
and "provinces." What you were writing in South Africa, that's what we need here.”
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25. What was the benefit for Britain of keeping India broken up?
Gandhi responded, “I have much to learn about India. And I have to begin my practice again, one needs money
to run a journal.” … Gokhale tells him, “Forget your practice. India has many men with too much wealth -- it is
their privilege to nourish the efforts of the few who can raise India from servitude and apathy. I will see to it -you begin your journal.
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26. Why is Gokhale so persistent?
27. Gokhale said, “When I saw you in that tunic I knew… I knew I could die in peace.” Why could he die in
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peace?
28. As Gandhi travels India by train take notes.
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b) Describe culture, the people and their lives and the work you see them doing. ________________
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c) Roles of women and men ___________________________________________
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d) Interesting information of your choice. ____________________________________
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a) Describe the geography (land, climate).
29. Gandhi attends the Indian National Congress meeting. How is this meeting different than American’s congress
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30. What interesting information does Gandhi share? ______________________________
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meetings?
31. Why didn’t some of the other Indian leaders support Gandhi’s philosophy of ahimsa (nonviolence) and civil
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32. Why did the Indian people listen to and follow the teachings of Gandhi? __________________
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Day 2 End of Class- 33. How is British rule over India harming the Indian people? ______________
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disobedience?
Day 2 Homework- 34. Describe a lesson from this film that viewers can apply to their own lives: (1) to help
them decide on a position to support on a public issue or (2) in their relations with family and friends. Detail the
events that relate to this lesson. (1 to 3 paragraphs)
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Gandhi- a work of historical fiction Day 3
35. In what ways do you think Gandhi's later career might have been influenced by his early life? Give an example.
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36. Describe two images or scenes from the film that stand out in your mind. Discuss why those images
impressed you and how they relate to the themes of the movie. (2 paragraphs)
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#1
37. Respond on the back of this paper… In the story told by the film, Gandhi:
a) What is the main conflict?
b) What is the climax?
c) How is the main conflict resolved?
d) Did resolving this conflict cause any other problems?
38. Describe a lesson from this film that viewers can apply to their own lives: (1) to help them decide on a
position to support on a public issue or (2) in their relations with family and friends. Detail the events that relate
to this lesson. (1 to 3 paragraphs)
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39. Given the fact that the audience will take away from this film an impression of the historical events or figures
portrayed in the movie, do you think that, on the whole, this film improves the viewer’s understanding of the
historical events as they actually occurred? Justify your conclusion. (1 to 3 paragraphs)
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India – Background Information.
India is a country in South Asia that shares borders with Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and
Pakistan. India has the second-largest population of all countries in the world (about 1.15 billion people),
and it is the world’s largest democracy. India has a long history of cultural and religious diversity, and it is
the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. The arrival of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity
in the first millennium CE also had a great effect on Indian culture. Today, India’s population is more than
80% Hindu, and about 13% Muslim. India also has many different ethnic and cultural groups, and over 50
languages. India has a caste system, which is a hierarchy that defines people’s rank in society and
sometimes restricts their opportunities and relationships. Although discrimination based on someone’s caste
is now against the law in India, it remains a strong force today, especially in rural areas. The
“untouchables,” or Dalits, are people at the bottom of India’s caste system.
In the 16thcentury, European countries began creating trading posts and colonies in India. The British East
India Company, an English company that was originally set up to trade with India, began to steadily take
control of India beginning in the early 1700s. In1857, the British East India Company controlled most of
India, but some of their actions led to a rebellion (sometimes called the Indian Mutiny or the First War of
Independence). The rebellion was strong, but it failed in the end. To increase British control in the region,
the British government colonized all of India.
The British occupation lasted nearly a century. The major struggle for independence, led by Mohandas
Gandhi, lasted from 1916 until 1947. The movement Gandhi led was characterized by non-violent civil
disobedience, and he campaigned for other goals in addition to independence: women’s rights, reducing
poverty, improving Hindu-Muslim relations, ending the idea of “untouchability,” and increasing economic
self-sufficiency. Gandhi’s first major campaign was the Non-cooperation Movement in 1922. He then led the
Dandi Salt March to protest the British tax on salt in 1930. In 1942, the widespread campaign for England to
“Quit India” began, eventually leading to independence in 1947. Although the British put Gandhi in prison
many times, it only made his movement even more popular with Indians. He became a political and spiritual
leader who is still celebrated worldwide.
India is now a democratic republic with a president and a prime minister. Although India is one of the
world’s fastest-growing economies, poverty is still a major problem. Religious violence, terrorism, and caste
and gender discrimination also remain to this day.
True or false? If false, write a correct sentence.
1. India is a mostly Muslim country.
2. There is no discrimination in India.
3. Gandhi led the independence movement with a philosophy of non-violence.
4. The Indian independence movement failed.
Extra Credit:
1. Albert Einstein said, “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh
and blood walked upon this earth.” Can you think of any other leaders who has done as much for his/her
country and for the world as Mahatma Gandhi? Who, where, when, why, what was their philosophy, what were
their actions, what effect did they have?
2. Write a biographical account of either:
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Mohhamed Ali Jinnah
c) Mohandas Gandhi aka known as Mahatma (Great Soul) Gandhi
3. Write an account of Gandhi's life written from the point of view of his wife Kasturba. You could stress your
fears for his safety, your obedience to his wishes, and your admiration for his deeds.
Citations:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HT4BM7cgJw
http Pick one of the following factors that play an important role in the film. Chose among political, economic,
religious, social, and ideological. How does the film reflect the factor you identified? Be specific. For extra credit,
pick a second factor and describe how the film reflects that factor.
(1 paragraph per factor)
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Notes:
Extra credit factor:
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://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/Gandhi.txt