Symposium and Edited Volume: 150 Years of Gandhi: Impacts and Appraisals
Mohandas K. “Mahatma” Gandhi (1869-1948) is an international figure best known for leading resistance to the British Empire in India, achieving the independence of India through his method of Satyagraha, or nonviolent resistance. Born in Gujarat in western India, educated in law in London, developing his signature technique of nonviolent resistance in South Africa, and returning to India to lead the Indian independence movement for three decades, Gandhi has been a pivotal figure in world history. His leadership in the Non-Cooperation Movement following the First World War, the Salt March of 1930, and attempting to stifle the violence of partition have all been part of his legacy. As a politician, he faced many critics, and indeed was assassinated by one of them. He weathered slings and arrows through the many personal transformations of his life, and his legacy continues to inspire, provoke, and challenge.
While there are a flood of important biographies of Gandhi and studies of his role in South Asian history, many questions remain about his life and legacy. This scholarly volume is intended to examine Gandhi a century and a half after he appeared on this earth and explore lingering issues of his life, providing a scholarly framework for further exploration of a world leader, who though he never won the Nobel Peace Prize, has inspired many who did, and also sought to make a better world.
Some possible topics include, but are not limited to:
- Gandhi’s role in the application of Satyagraha and techniques of nonviolent resistance in South Asia, South Africa, and elsewhere
- Gandhi’s leadership in the environment, sustainability, and economic and social justice
- Gandhi’s interests and transformations throughout his life
- Gandhi’s interaction with Dalits and views of caste
- Gandhi’s views and actions on family, women, gender, and sexuality
- Critiques of Gandhi and his interactions with independence fighters advocating violence
- Influences upon Gandhian thought and his influence on others
- Gandhi’s impact on the growth of human rights and pacifism
- Gandhian communities and international connections
- Gandhi’s religious views and their interaction with communalism (the mixing of religion and politics)
- Gandhi’s legacy in South Asia and abroad
- Gandhi’s idea of democracy and Nationalism
- Analysis of Gandhi’s skill of writing using simple language
- Gandhi as a Lawyer and reflection on his South African Experiences