Mahatma Gandhi
"When I despair, I remember that all throughout history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it. Always." - Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869. He was born in the British Indian Empire to a Hindu family. He became a lawyer and traveled to South Africa. While there, he was thrown off a train and soon discovered that Indians were not being treated fairly. He decided to take a stand, and spoke in front of a crowd stating the injustices the government was forcing upon them. He proceeded to burn the crowds' papers, which were government property. Police attempted to stop him, and beat him terribly. However, he continued to burn the papers and didn't give up. He united the Indians of South Africa and preached the idea that all were equal, even the untouchables within Indian society, and that violence was not needed.. He believed in peaceful protests. Through his work of peace, he was able to negotiate with the South African government to increase the rights of Indian laborers.
After his success in South Africa, he moved back to India, where he was greeted with cheers and celebrated as a hero. However, in the slums of India, there were no cheers and he only saw pain and suffering. He joined the Congress of India, then decided to travel across the country to see the true people of India, not just the rich. He finds that the Indians are not only persecuted and killed by the British, but Indians are persecuting the people of lower classes like the untouchables. He decides to start living the life of a poor man and begins to advocate peaceful resistance against the British government, stating that no matter what the British did to destroy their bodies, they would never give their obedience. The government reacts by arresting, beating, and killing Indians and arresting Gandhi. However, the Indians continue their protests and do not give up, despite the brutality inflicted upon them. The British eventually let Gandhi, and all the others, go, and allow India its freedom.
Despite India's independence, there are still many problems. As well as the unfairness of the caste system, there was a bigger issue. When the British left, the country of Pakistan was also created and the Muslims and Hindus of India were split. The Hindus didn't like the Muslims and told them to go to Pakistan, but the Muslims had been in India for hundreds of years and didn't want to be forced out. This caused anger between the two peoples, and eventually broke out into great violence throughout the country. The whole of India was brought into turmoil and hundreds were killed. Gandhi saw this and continued to preach nonviolence. He began to protest by fasting and refused to eat until there is peace and would always be peace. He did not care if the people momentarily paused their fighting; he wanted them to never fight again. The Muslims and Hindus finally ceased their violence so that Gandhi would not die. Once the conflict ended and Gandhi recovered, he decided to go to the border of Pakistan. Before he could make it there, though, he was assassinated. All throughout his life, Gandhi lived by his quote above. With his peaceful resistance in South Africa, his nonviolent actions against the "tyrant" British, and his fast to stop the Hindu and Muslim murders, he had lived by truth and love his whole life and had always won. Even in death, he was remembered as the man who brought the tyrants and murderers down, not through violence, but with peace.
Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869. He was born in the British Indian Empire to a Hindu family. He became a lawyer and traveled to South Africa. While there, he was thrown off a train and soon discovered that Indians were not being treated fairly. He decided to take a stand, and spoke in front of a crowd stating the injustices the government was forcing upon them. He proceeded to burn the crowds' papers, which were government property. Police attempted to stop him, and beat him terribly. However, he continued to burn the papers and didn't give up. He united the Indians of South Africa and preached the idea that all were equal, even the untouchables within Indian society, and that violence was not needed.. He believed in peaceful protests. Through his work of peace, he was able to negotiate with the South African government to increase the rights of Indian laborers.
After his success in South Africa, he moved back to India, where he was greeted with cheers and celebrated as a hero. However, in the slums of India, there were no cheers and he only saw pain and suffering. He joined the Congress of India, then decided to travel across the country to see the true people of India, not just the rich. He finds that the Indians are not only persecuted and killed by the British, but Indians are persecuting the people of lower classes like the untouchables. He decides to start living the life of a poor man and begins to advocate peaceful resistance against the British government, stating that no matter what the British did to destroy their bodies, they would never give their obedience. The government reacts by arresting, beating, and killing Indians and arresting Gandhi. However, the Indians continue their protests and do not give up, despite the brutality inflicted upon them. The British eventually let Gandhi, and all the others, go, and allow India its freedom.
Despite India's independence, there are still many problems. As well as the unfairness of the caste system, there was a bigger issue. When the British left, the country of Pakistan was also created and the Muslims and Hindus of India were split. The Hindus didn't like the Muslims and told them to go to Pakistan, but the Muslims had been in India for hundreds of years and didn't want to be forced out. This caused anger between the two peoples, and eventually broke out into great violence throughout the country. The whole of India was brought into turmoil and hundreds were killed. Gandhi saw this and continued to preach nonviolence. He began to protest by fasting and refused to eat until there is peace and would always be peace. He did not care if the people momentarily paused their fighting; he wanted them to never fight again. The Muslims and Hindus finally ceased their violence so that Gandhi would not die. Once the conflict ended and Gandhi recovered, he decided to go to the border of Pakistan. Before he could make it there, though, he was assassinated. All throughout his life, Gandhi lived by his quote above. With his peaceful resistance in South Africa, his nonviolent actions against the "tyrant" British, and his fast to stop the Hindu and Muslim murders, he had lived by truth and love his whole life and had always won. Even in death, he was remembered as the man who brought the tyrants and murderers down, not through violence, but with peace.
Hindi Cinema vs Hollywood
Hindi cinema, also known as Bollywood, is the largest film producer in India, and is one of the largest centers of film production in the world. It began in 1913 with the silent film Raja Harishchandra. It is based in Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) and is particularly well known for its music and dance. Its American counterpart is Hollywood, which, unlike Hindi cinema, is a physical place. Also, in Hollywood, singing and dancing are common only in musicals, while in Hindi cinema, most movies include at least one musical number. Also, dance in Hindi cinema often comes from ancient Indian dances that have been done for hundreds of years and often have a special meaning, while dance in American musicals does not have deep meaning, but is more meant to look good and convey the mood. However, the two are very similar; both have changed over time and produce many different kinds of movies from action to romance to comedy. Also, like Hollywood, Hindi cinema is not the only film industry in its country, though many inaccurately believe the term "Bollywood" refers to all of Indian film (Bollywood only refers to Hindi cinema). Hindi cinema is becoming more like Hollywood in that American dances have become more common in it, as well as English phrases. However, Hindi cinema is still predominantly made up of Indian actors and actresses, and attempts to make more American-type movies with less dance and more serious scenes have not been very successful.
Uday Foundation
The Uday Foundation is an NGO working in India whose main goal is to "provide support services to the children afflicted with congenital defects, critical disorders, syndromes, and diseases that affect their health condition, education & growth." The whole foundation began with Tulika and Rahul Verma, who had a son, Uday, with multiple congenital defects, which caused him to have to have multiple surgeries and an artificial mechanism just to allow him to go to the bathroom. All of this was very expensive for the family and it made the Vermas realize how little people are aware of these illnesses and how terrible it must be for poorer families who cannot afford treatment. Thus the Vermas got together with other parents and doctors to form the Uday Foundation, named after their son.
Today, the foundation creates awareness to the media, to governments, and to professionals who deal with these diseases and implements various health related projects. There are many ways to contribute to the foundation. The foundation connects to people around the world to raise awareness and ask for help. Volunteers are always welcome in hospitals to help care for and read stories to children. Donations can be sent in via the mail or online, and gifts such as sweets, puzzles, board games, books, and art supplies can be sent as well. The foundation provides support services to families, advocates child rights, travels to various hospitals to read children storybooks, and search for rare blood group donors, among many other great things. The foundation works hard, and has made many families' and children's lives easier and happier.
Today, the foundation creates awareness to the media, to governments, and to professionals who deal with these diseases and implements various health related projects. There are many ways to contribute to the foundation. The foundation connects to people around the world to raise awareness and ask for help. Volunteers are always welcome in hospitals to help care for and read stories to children. Donations can be sent in via the mail or online, and gifts such as sweets, puzzles, board games, books, and art supplies can be sent as well. The foundation provides support services to families, advocates child rights, travels to various hospitals to read children storybooks, and search for rare blood group donors, among many other great things. The foundation works hard, and has made many families' and children's lives easier and happier.