Mahatma Gandhi
Important People and Celebrities
Reading & Writing
Level C2
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Mahatma Gandhi Outline
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Content
Gandhi led non-violent Independence movements in India. He represented a peaceful
lifestyle and is still regarded as one of the most influential leaders of non-violence in the
world today.
Learning Outcomes
• Learn about the life of Mahatma Gandhi.
• Learn about Gandhi’s beliefs and approach to gaining civil rights.
• Discuss the pros and cons of Gandhi’s non-violent approach, and its influence on the
world.
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Mahatma Gandhi: Pioneer of Pacifism
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 – 30 January
1948) was the preeminent leader of the Indian independence
movement in British-ruled India. Using nonviolent civil
disobedience or pacifism, Gandhi led India to independence
and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the
world. The honorific Mahatma is now used worldwide. He is
also called Bapu (term of endearment for “father" or "papa") in
India.
Gandhi was born and raised in a Hindu merchant caste family
in coastal Gujarat, western India, and trained in law at the
Inner Temple in London. Gandhi first employed nonviolent
civil disobedience as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, in
the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights.
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After his return to India in 1915, he set about organizing
peasants, farmers, and urban laborers to protest against
excessive land-tax and discrimination. Gandhi led
nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, expanding
women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity,
ending untouchability, but above all for achieving Swaraj
or self-rule. He was imprisoned for many years, upon
many occasions, in both South Africa and India.
Gandhi attempted to practice
nonviolence and truth in all situations,
and advocated that others do the same.
He lived modestly in a self-sufficient
residential community and wore the
traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven
with yarn hand spun on a charkha.
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He ate simple vegetarian food, and also undertook long fasts as the
means to both self-purification and social protest.Gandhi's vision of a
free India based on religious pluralism, however, was challenged in the
early 1940s. A new Muslim nationalism which was demanding a
separate Muslim homeland carved out of India.
Eventually, in August 1947, Britain granted independence, but the
British Indian Empire was partitioned into two dominions, a Hindumajority India and Muslim Pakistan. As many displaced Hindus,
Muslims, and Sikhs made their way to their new lands, religious
violence broke out, especially in the Punjab and Bengal regions.
Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist, assassinated Gandhi on
January 30th, 1948 by firing three bullets into his chest at pointblank range.
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Fasting
Gandhi used fasting as a political device, often threatening
suicide unless demands were met. Congress publicized the fasts
as a political action that generated widespread sympathy. The
government stopped the London press from showing
photographs of his emaciated body, because it would elicit
sympathy. However, his final fast in 1948, after India was
independent, was lauded by the British press and this time did
include full-length photos.
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Nonviolence and Pacifism
Pacifism is opposition to war and violence.A related term is ahimsa (to
do no harm), which is a core philosophy in Buddhism, Jainism, and
Hinduism. Pacifism covers a spectrum of views, including the belief that
international disputes can and should be peacefully resolved. It also
calls for the abolition of the institutions of the military and war,
opposition to any organization of society through governmental force
(anarchist or libertarian pacifism), rejection of the use of physical
violence to obtain political, economic or social goals, the obliteration of
force, and opposition to violence under any circumstance, even
defense of self and others. Although Gandhi was not the originator of
the principle of nonviolence, he was the first to apply it in the political
field on a large scale.
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Vocabulary
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
pacifism
civil rights
caste
peasants
poverty
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
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12)
13)
14)
15)
to partition
to assassinate
emaciated
Hinduism
obliteration
untouchable
shawl
vegetarian
to fast
religious pluralism
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Vocabulary
civil rights
pacifist
untouchable
peasant
shawl
dominion
religious
pluralism
poverty
to protest
vegetarian
caste
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to fast
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Open Vocabulary
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Students notes vocabulary they have further questions about
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Exercises
Writing
Write a summary of the major events
that defined the life of Mahatma Gandhi.
Ex. Gandhi was born on October 2nd, 1869
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3
Fact 4
Fact 5
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Fact 6
Fact 7
Fact 8
Fact 9
Fact 10
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Exercises
Speaking
The two major religions in India are Hinduism
and Islam. Discuss what you know about the
characteristics that define each religion.
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3
Fact 4
Fact 5
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Fact 6
Fact 7
Fact 8
Fact 9
Fact 10
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Exercises
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Writing
Are you a vegetarian? Do you know anyone
who’s a vegetarian? Write about whether
or not it is difficult or easy to be a
vegetarian in your country.
Ex. It is easy to be a vegetarian in my country, because it is very popular.
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Exercises
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Writing
Have you ever been to or seen a protest?
What were people protesting? Write about
something that you feel passionately about.
Include examples of how you would protest.
Would pacifism be an effective way to
achieve your goals?
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Review
1. Gandhi
law, India, pacifist, civil rights leader
2. Pacifism
nonviolence, to fast, to protest
3. Lifestyle
vegetarian, dhoti, shawl
4. Religion
Hinduism (Hindu), Islam (Muslim), religious pluralism
Mahatma Gandhi was one of the most famous civil
rights leaders in history. His legacy of peace and
nonviolence still connect with many people to this
day.
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Exercises
Writing
Create a list of characteristics that define
pacifism.
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3
Fact 4
Fact 5
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Fact 6
Fact 7
Fact 8
Fact 9
Fact 10
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Exercises
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Writing
Answer the questions.
Mahatma Gandhi used ______ as a form of protest.
a) violence
b) fasting
c) the army
What are the two major religions in India?
a) Hinduism and Islam
b) Christianity and Hinduism
c) Islam and Buddhism
Pacifism calls for the abolition of what?
a) Religious pluralism
b) Money
c) violence and war
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Exercises
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Writing
Decide whether these statements are true or
false. Correct the statements that are false.
The nickname people use in India to refer to Mahatma Gandhi is Divine Leader.
a)
b)
True
False
Mahatma Gandhi always wore jeans and a T-shirt.
a) True
b) False
Mahatma Gandhi ate meat at every meal.
a) True
b) False
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Exercises
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Writing
Complete the sentences
Mahatma Gandhi is from … ?
a) … India
b) … London
c) … South Africa
Mahatma Gandhi attended school for… ?
a) … religion
b) … political science
c) … law
Gandhi wore simple clothes, including a dhoti and a… ?
a) … turban
b) … shawl
c) … pair of leather shoes.
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Personal Opinions
Speaking
Answer these questions with your personal
opinion.
1) Do you believe that religious pluralism is something that can be
achieved? Why or why not?
2) Do you think that your religious or political beliefs have a direct
relation to your diet and appearance?
3) What do you think is the greatest challenge for pacifism to be
effective?
4) Do you think that fasting is an effective form of protest? Would you
consider fasting for something you believe in?
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Exercises
Speaking
Decide if these statements are true or
false. Correct the false statements.
True
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Christianity is the largest religion in India.
Gandhi fought for the civil rights of peasants.
The British partitioned their territory into India and Pakistan.
Hindus and Muslims have always gotten along.
Fasting is the act of not eating.
Gandhi died from natural causes.
A pacifist is someone who lives near the Pacific Ocean.
According to the ideals of pacifism, violence is unacceptable
unless you are defending yourself.
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False
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
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


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Exercises
Speaking
Match the words that mean the same
thing.
pacifism 
fast 
vegetarian 
assassinate 
caste 
protest 
civil rights 
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





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social class
murder
freedoms
challenge
nonviolence
don’t eat meat
don’t eat
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Exercises
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Speaking
Throughout history, many great leaders have
been assassinated. Think of other leaders
who have been assassinated and discuss
reasons why someone might want to
assassinate them.
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Exercises
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Writing
Decide whether or not you think pacifism is
effective. Write a paragraph explaining your
opinion. Give examples.
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Thank you
We would like to thank
the following sources for their content
Text
Mahatma Gandhi, Wikipedia
contributors,
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title
=Mahatma_Gandhi&oldid=644197118,
Retrieved at 23.01.2015, Creative
Commons license
Images
Shutterstock – ID 121711906
Shutterstock – ID 92770369
Pacifism, Wikipedia contributors,
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title
=Pacifism&oldid=643892449, Retrieved at
23.01.2015, Creative Commons license
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Thank you
for choosing to learn
with
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