Film Lesson - "Gandhi"

Gandhi helped India gain independence from British rule by using civil disobedience or as he called it, Satyagraha. This involved resisting British authorities without the use of violence. He encouraged the refusal to buy British made goods and the manufacturing and purchase of Indian goods. One example was that Gandhi wove his own cloth and wore only a loincloth and shawl to oppose the British monopoly on cotton. He also lead a march from Ahmedabad to the Arabian Sea to make salt to oppose British taxes on salt. This resulted in many people getting arrested including Gandhi himself. When the Indian people rioted, Gandhi fasted to protest their violent methods. He also tried to unite the Hindus and Muslims for the sake of independence.

I think India would have gained its independence without Gandhi. It might not have been obtained the same way or had the same results but it would have been obtained nonetheless. It most likely have been more bloody. However, World Wars I and II and the Great Depression have weakened Britian's control over its colonies as it had problems at home to deal with. Eventually, Britain would have given up on retaining control over India. Also some of Britain's enemies might have helped India.