Answers to Movie Questions: Gandhi

1. Answers to Movie Questions: Gandhi

2. Introduction: Assassination and Funeral • Where and when does the assassination of Gandhi occur? • New Delhi, India • January 30th, 1948 • Who said about Gandhi that, “Generations to come will scare believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth”? • Albert Einstein

3. Welcome to South Africa • When and where does the movie pick up the story of Gandhi’s biography? • South Africa in 1893 • In what city did Gandhi study law? • London • Why was Gandhi thrown off the train? • No colored people in first class, Apartheid Laws • What Empire is South Africa part of? • British • Are Indians allowed to walk on the sidewalks in South Africa? • No • Why were Hindu Indians brought to South Africa? • Pick the crops from the field and dig in the mines • How did Gandhi say he would fight the pass law? • Civil Disobedience (politely refusing to follow laws that were unjust)

4. First Protest • How many people did Gandhi expect to show up to his first protest meeting and about how many showed up? • 1000s, not many • Why was Gandhi protesting the pass law? • Discrimination against Indians • White British citizens did not need the passes, but brown and black British citizens did • Why was Gandhi beaten by the police at the demonstration? • He refused to stop burning the passes • Why was the media interested in Gandhi’s demonstration? • Classic story of David and Goliath

5. Out of Prison • What were the extent of Gandhi’s injuries from his first beating? • Broken Jaw • Charley Andrews came from India to South Africa for what purpose? • Helping Gandhi fight against the Apartheid Laws • What biblical reasoning did Gandhi give for not moving off of the sidewalk and walking into a confrontation? • Turn the other cheek • Who saved him from being beaten up? • The hooligan’s mother • Were the pass laws changed to become more or less strict? • More Strict • Who is Mr. Walker? • A reporter from the New York Times

6. Ashram • How does Gandhi respond when Mr. Walker asks him if he is going to respect the new pass law? • Gandhi cannot follow an unjust law • What was the purpose of the Ashram? • For everyone to live as equals • What does Gandhi and his wife argue about? • Her having to clean toilets • What aspect of Gandhi’s character is the director trying to show in the scene between Gandhi and his wife? • He is not perfect • He is very focused on his cause

7. The Meeting about the new Pass Law 24. What were some of the characteristics of South Africa’s new Pass Law? • Fingerprints • Police could come into house to check passes • How does Gandhi ask the Indians to fight against the South Africans at the meeting? • Civil Disobedience and no violence • What national anthem did they sing to end the meeting? • British

8. The First Protest • What did Gandhi and the mineworkers do when the police horses charged at them? • They lied down on the road • What did many of Mr. Andrews’s church members do when he praised Gandhi for battling against an unjust law? • They walked out • Who was working in the mines and fields for the white South African owners during the strike that Gandhi organized? • No one • What did the overcrowding in the prison and lack of mine workers force the South African government to do with Gandhi? • Give in to his protests, let the Indians out of prison • What did General Smuts agree to do about the law restricting the freedom of Indians? • Repeal the Law (end it)

9. Re-Discovering India • Why is Gandhi dressed so differently? • To dress like the regular peasant Indians • What does Gandhi say about his support of World War I? • He supports it • Why was Gandhi treated like a hero on his return to India? • He stood up to British discrimination in South Africa • Upon Gandhi’s return to India, what country was governing India? • Britain • While Gandhi was at the gathering of wealthy Indian leaders, did any of them seem to advocate violence in order to gain Indian independence? • Yes • What was the purpose of Gandhi’s train trip across India? • Re-discover his country • What seemed to be the general economic situation of India that Gandhi witnessed on this travels? • Poverty

10. Congress Party Convention • What do the three Indian politicians want to demand at a party convention? • Home Rule • When Gandhi began his speech, not many were paying attention. What did he say that got everyone to quiet down and listen? • Equality, Liberty, Democracy • What was the message of Gandhi’s speech at the party convention? • Non-violent civil disobedience with corrupt British rules

11. Gandhi Goes to the Village Champaran • What did the soldiers tell Gandhi to do immediately after he got off the train? • Threaten arrest him • What were the British landlords refusing to give the villagers until the Indians paid their rent in cash? • Food and water • Why was Gandhi arrested? • Disturbing the Peace • What sport were the British playing? • Cricket

12. Gandhi in Prison • At this point in the movie, how many different times has it been shown that Gandhi is thrown in jail? • Third • Why is Gandhi barely dressed? • To show his solidarity (support) for the peasants • Why does Gandhi ask Charley Andrews to go to Fiji? • The movement for equality has to be handled by Indians

13. Gandhi in Court • On what grounds was Gandhi ordered out of the poor villagers’ province? • Disturbing the peace • Why did the judge have to decide not to send Gandhi to jail or fine him? • He feared a disturbance by the 1000s of supporters of Gandhi • What did the four young rich Indian men (who laughed at Gandhi a few months earlier) wish to do? • Help him with the movement • What did the British Viceroy order the landlords of the village to do? • Pay back rents • Let them grow whatever crops they want • An investigation of living conditions

14. Meeting with “Home Rule” Leaders 53. What were the new British restrictions being placed on India that they were meeting to discuss how to respond to? • Search without a warrant • Arrest any one with papers or books discussing the end of British rule in India 54. What response to the restrictions did Gandhi offer? • A day of prayer and fasting (no eating) • No one works • The British controlled economy of India stops • Were the British leaders concerned about the protest? • Not in the beginning • What was their decision on how to deal with Gandhi and the protest? • When the protests were successful, the government had Gandhi arrested

15. Massacre of Amritsyn • Gandhi is in prison again. At this point in the movie, how many times has he been jailed? • How many causalities (dead and seriously wounded) were there in the lesson the General intended to have an impact throughout all of India? • 1516 with 1650 bullets fired • Did the General realize he was slaughtering women and children? • Yes • Did the British government support the General’s actions? • No

16. Answers to Gandhi QuestionsPart II (61 to 109)

17. Meeting to discuss the Massacre with British Officials • After the massacre, what does Gandhi tell the British it is time for them to do? • Leave (“Walk out”) • What religious minority in India does the British official claim his government is protecting? • Muslims • What method does Gandhi intend to use in order to force the British out of India? • Civil Disobedience • Non-violent, non-cooperation • When the British officials were meeting in private, what was their general response to Gandhi’s message to them? • To laugh at it • Not taking it seriously

18. Burning the British Clothes • What is “homespun”? • Cloth made in the house (like before the industrial revolution) • What was the purpose of Gandhi asking the people to burn their British clothes and make their own? • Stop giving the British their money • Boycott • Who is Mirabel? • Mirabel - The daughter of a British navy admiral who becomes a follower of Gandhi

19. Hindu v. Muslim Conflict • What religion were the soldiers beating the marchers? • Muslims (Islam) • What religion were the marchers? • Hindus • What does Gandhi say is the result of the kind of justice that takes an eye for an eye? • It makes the whole world blind • Gandhi’s advisor’s tell him he is the father of the nation. In the aftermath of the riot, what is Gandhi’s response to their comments? • Shame • What does Gandhi do in order to stop the rioting and violent marches? • Fasting – Not Eating • Did the people of India heed Gandhi’s call to stop the protests and demonstrations? • Yes

20. The First Long Fast • What did Gandhi say has always happened to tyrants and dictators all through history? • They always fall • Why did Gandhi say that he might have over done it with his long fast? • The protesters were giving the British soldiers flowers • After Gandhi stopped the rioting with his fast, how did the British government reward him? • Arrested him (sent him to jail)

21. In Court Again • What penalty does Gandhi ask the court to give him? • The maximum • For how many years is Gandhi sentenced to prison? • Six • What action does the judge take to demonstrate his sympathy for Gandhi and his methods? • He stood when Gandhi stood

22. Gandhi’s Out of Prison • Who showed up to see Gandhi that knew him from his work many years earlier in South Africa? • The New York Times, Mr. Walker • How old was Gandhi when he married his wife? • 13 • During his childhood, in what religion was Gandhi raised? • Hindu • What is the big protest that Gandhi is planning? • The March to the Sea (to make salt)

23. The March to the Sea • In what way is Gandhi breaking the law by making salt? • The British forbid Indians to make salt • How are the British planning to respond to Gandhi’s March to the Sea? • In the beginning, they planned to ignore it • What anniversary is Gandhi planning on arriving at the sea to make salt? • Amritsar • Who does Gandhi say is in control of the situation in India? • He is in control

24. Results of the Salt Protest • Did the British continue to ignore the salt making protest? • No, they started arresting everyone • During the protest demonstrations was there any violence on the part of the British? • Yes • During the protest demonstrations was there any violence on the part of the Indians? • No • Gandhi planned to block the entrance to a Salt making factory. What did the British do to him? • Arrested • Did the protest continue on without Gandhi? • Yes • According to the report of Mr. Walker, how long did the protesters continue to walk four at a time into the beatings? • All day and night • Who did Mr. Walker declare victory for in the aftermath of the protest, India or the British? • Indians

25. Discussions of the Independence of India • Why did the British finally decide to enter into discussions of Indian independence with Gandhi? • They could not control 350 million Indians any longer • World opinion shifted against the British • What British city did Gandhi go to for the meetings? • London • Gandhi was thinking ahead to when the British would finally leave India. On what terms did he want to part with them? • As friends

26. World War II • At the train station, Gandhi was going to make a speech in which he would voice his opposition to the British involvement in World War II. What was the response of the British to this? • Arrest him • At his point in the movie, how many times has Gandhi been jailed? • South Africa – pass demonstration • South Africa – for not carrying the pass on a second occasion • Indian Village for disturbing the peace • After the fast to stop the violence caused by the massacre of Amritsar (for six years) • For making salt • To stop an anti war speech about WWII • What aspect of India’s coming independence is Gandhi worried about? • Muslim – Hindu violence • What happened to Gandhi’s wife while imprisoned under house arrest? • She died of a heart attack

27. Division of India • When Gandhi stops the car to engage the protestors, what religions does he say he is? • Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Christian, and Jew • What compromise did Gandhi offer to the Muslims to keep India undivided? • The Muslims could control the government • Were his Hindu advisors willing to support Gandhi’s compromise? • No

28. The British Leave • In what year did the British finally leave India? • 1947 • Why were so many people traveling along the newly formed India – Pakistan border? • Hindus were leaving Pakistan • Muslims were leaving India • It was a mass migration to escape religious persecution and ethnic conflict

29. The Last Fast • What action does Gandhi take to try to bring about peace between the Hindus and Muslims? • Fast • What does Gandhi tell the Hindu who murdered a child is his way out of hell? • Raise a Muslim child as a Muslim • Who shoots Gandhi, a Hindu or a Muslim? • Strict Hindus considered Gandhi a traitor to his faith and his people • For this he was assassinated