Homework Help: Social Studies: People: Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) from India is a leadership role model that I admire greatly. He set the precedent for civil disobedience, passive resistance, or non-violent struggle to attain a goal. He used this philosophy throughout his life to protest against the abuse of the Indian people in South Africa and later the injustices committed by the British against his fellow countrymen in his native India. Many others like Martin Luther King have followed this non-violent method.

Among other things, Gandhi was able to fight for his country's independence and gain it using his non-violent techniques. Gandhi was therefore a reformer in terms of the way he approached his goals. My favorite Gandhi quote reads as follows: "A reformer very few times goes with the flow; frequently, he/she goes against the flow even if that places his life in jeopardy." A reformer needs to struggle against the pessimistic mindsets and the resistance to change. Ironically, Gandhi's non-violent ways gained him many enemies. One of them, a religious fanatic, killed him in India in 1948.

Many characteristics or traits distinguish Gandhi as a leader. He was very bold to go against the establishment in terms of philosophy (only violence produces results) and political status (British control is an unchangeable way of life). He was very persistent since he fought for many years for his goals. He was firm and consistent since he did not hesitated in always using his passive resistance techniques. Gandhi felt very proud of his people and meant the best for them. Gandhi was a good listener in order to gather the needs of his people and the arguments of those that affected the lives of his people. He was a good persuader as shown the multiple times he had to reason and negotiate truce among conflicting parties, like the Hindus and the Moslems in India.

As I develop my leadership skills, Gandhi will serve as one of my models. Boldness, persistence, firmness, consistency, pride, fairness, alertness in listening, and persuasion are traits worth adopting from Gandhi. These characteristics and the nonŽviolent philosophy make a winning combination for a leader that wants to stand out in today's political and social affairs. I want to be that kind of leader in everything I do and eventually a world leader using that style.

Homework Help: Social Studies: People

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