The Indian Revolution was a big deal for everyone around the world. It lasted from about 1857-1947 when the British forced the Indians to undergo multiple injustices, such as poverty and not being able to make their own salt or cloth. They had all their rights taken away like being able to vote and have certain kinds of marriages. They’re famines were so frequent in India that not only did they cause millions of deaths, but also impacted the long term population growth. To fight against the British, the Indians were lead by Gandhi to achieve the final goal of freedom. Gandhi’s teaching in non-violence lead to protests like the salt march and negotiations between the British. In the end, the British decided to give up India and instead use the soldiers and money to aid them in the war. The revolution left many effects and impacts on people from all places and even on people from different time periods. Some of the most important effects were on the Indians who lived there, the lessons that can be learned from Gandhi, and the people who have been inspired. The effect of the Indian revolution on the Indians themselves was incredibly important. In the article “India freedom struggle - strategies, events, and effects,” the low class Indians known as the Untouchables are described. They were not allowed to do many of the things others were. For example, they were not allowed to use items that upper-class Indians used and they were not allowed to walk on the same roads. They couldn’t get real jobs or even get married, all because of their low class on the caste system. Before the revolution, the Untouchables had an even more difficult way of living than the other Indians, and there was very little they could do. After the revolution they were given more freedom. It became illegal to discriminate on them, although it still happens in some parts of India. Now they can walk on any streets they like, get married, and even make a decent amount of money on the jobs they work. The Untouchables continue to fight for their rights but are very grateful for the help the revolution has given them in making their lives better. Some people argue that only positive things happened to people living in India after the end of British rule, but we also see things such as the division of India that happened shortly after. Muslims and Hindus did not believe in the same things, and this lead to multiple wars and deaths. Strong beliefs of nationalism were developed and they were not able to live together sharing different beliefs. The Muslims also believed the Hindus got along too well with the British. Other beliefs they didn’t agree on include whether or not to ban eating cows, if they should change the national language, and what they should teach children at schools. This shows how people in power were also impacted. Even once India was divided in half, it still continued to divide into smaller and smaller states like Bengal. Some say the violence that happened between the two countries because of these things were still to blame on the British. All of this goes to show the Indians were majorly impacted by their revolution. People all over the world have been taught by Gandhi’s lessons in which strategies to use. Some say Gandhi’s methods could only be used in the scenario he was in, but people like Martin Luther King prove his non-violence strategies can be learned and used by anyone. In the speech, “My pilgrimage to Nonviolence” by Martin Luther King jr, he talks about how he started believing in Gandhi’s beliefs. He learned about Gandhi through school and found his studies interesting. Originally he thought discrimination of the races was going to need “a more realistic approach” but he changed his mind after learning about Gandhi. What he means is that he thought the only way to battle injustice was through violence, or at least some of the people not getting what they want. Then he learned fighting injustice didn’t mean people had to fight or go to war, which he liked because that meant nobody would face any pain. So he used protests and speeches like Gandhi taught to fight for his beliefs and gathered many allies who he worked together with. In the end, he was successful and the United States received more black rights. This shows how Gandhi’s lessons in negotiation and and non-violence were very convincing, and effected a lot of people. With all the wise lessons to be learned from the revolution, it’s not hard to believe people like Suu Khi have been inspired. This is a very important effect of the revolution. In the article “Suu Kyi: Following Gandhi and not giving in to fear” it describes her story. She was born in 1945 and became a Burmese opposition politician who wanted to fight for her rights through protests and rallies. She has a strong belief of democracy, but her beliefs have lead her to years in jail. In the section titled “On the path to non-violence,” it says “Suu Khi is a true Gandhian, an epitome of nonviolence.” Not only did she study Gandhi’s strategies, but she learned about his philosophies. She learned and thought a lot about fear, and how it always leads to corruption. She believes that to have power you must first not have any fear or apathy. Gandhi lead her to go this deep into philosophies on injustices, and greatly influenced her. This shows how people like Suu Khi were able to be inspired by the Indian Revolution. All of this goes to show the Indian Revolution left many huge effects by impacting the lives of Indians living there, teaching people the strategies of Gandhi, and inspiring people from all around the world. This is important because the Indians got what they wanted, other people got to have their own revolutions because of it, and inspired people have gotten to help and impacted many others. We can even see directly how many less deaths over all have happened in the world because of the teaching about non-violence. If the Indian revolution and the events affected by it had never occurred, it is possible that people like you and me could have never been born. |
This is a map of where India was divided after the Revolution.
A picture of Martin Luther King Jr. He was inspired greatly by Gandhi.
A picture of Suu Kyi. She studied Gandhi's strategies and philosophies.
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