Mohandas ‘Mahatma’ Gandhi was a highly influential leader who played an extremely key role in the movement for independence in India. He grew up and lived his life as a Hindu, but promoted harmony between people of all faiths. In the movie, when Gandhi leaves his ashram to meet with Mr. Jinnah, men are standing outside shouting at him not to go. In frustration he proclaims “I am a Muslim, and a Hindu, and a Christian, and a Jew, and so are all of you.” His determination to keep peace between the Indians is apparent in this scene. Gandhi was so intent on maintaining the unification of India that he was even willing to turn it over to Muslim control. He asked Jinnah to become the first Prime Minister in order to prevent the creation of a separate Muslim country, Pakistan. However, it was evident to everyone that this option would only lead to civil war and that the division of India was inevitable.
Gandhi stated that “action expresses priorities”, and this is exactly how he lived his life. Gandhi truly practiced what he preached by always staying true to the beliefs to which he had pledged his life. Upon his return to India he decided that in order to understand his country he must travel throughout India and live a peasant life, despite being born as a Brahman, the highest level in the caste system. He then made drastic changes to his life - everything from making his own clothes to taking a vow of chastity. These actions took a toll on his relationships in his family, which clearly showed where his priorities lay. He was willing to sacrifice his bond between his wife and son in order to stay true to his beliefs.
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