introduction to civilization (Essay Sample)

Introduction to Civilization Name Institution Course Instructor Due Date How did Mahatma Gandhi’s and Jawaharlal Nehru’s goals for India differ, and what role did each leader’s views play in shaping modern India? Mahatma Gandhi, born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, was an Indian political and spiritual leader of the twentieth Century. Famous for his revolutionary ideologies, Gandhi was a political philosopher who significantly influenced India’s independence from British colonial rule by supporting and organizing irenic, nonviolent civil resistance movements. Most of Gandhi's principles and beliefs were based on pacifism and ethical living, transparency, honesty, and inspiring the masses through uplifting them. These were evident in his values and views, which drew significant influence from his spiritualism. Gandhi's biggest political aspiration for India was political freedom. Most of the society back then lived in direr poverty that resulted from industrialization from the British textile industries. Competition from these foreign industries threatened local produce and the economic power of the people. Gandhi desired economic self-reliance for India. He championed a model aimed to "uplift" and improve the economic welfare of all (Bhardwaj, 2022), not just the majority, and was determined to end poverty and alleviate unemployment in the economy. He advocated for technology and appropriate infrastructure to yield the desired economic growth in India. He strongly opposed the oppression of human beings in the name of industrialization, labor, and employment. He believed that poverty and joblessness in India could be firmly eradicated through agriculture and small-scale local industries. Gandhi upheld the need for harmonious co-existence between the different religious groups, mainly Hindus and Muslims in India’s multicultural society. Gandhi’s idea of religious pluralism in India aimed at instilling a sense of inclusion for all, including the minority groups. In addition, he championed the need to adopt a new education format. He opposed the British learning system, which he believed did not economically or empower the transformation of an individual. Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister India ever had. Like Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru’s involvement in India’s quest for political independence from British rule was remarkable and primarily significant. He, too, envisioned a country free from colonial powers and control of the British. However, whereas Gandhi's perspectives, views, and values were hugely influenced by religion and indigenous cultural perspectives, Nehru was more secularist and modernist (Ajeet, 2016). He championed internationalism and understood international policies and the role of good international relations in facilitating socio-economic development between countries. In addition, Nehru challenged certain cultural aspects of the Indian tradition, which he believed hindered the society from progressing and adapting to modernization (Ajeet, 2015). He believed India would excel as a secular country as some elements of its indigenous traditions kept i...