Gandhi Movie Notes
The end at the beginning:
Southern Africa – 1893
Mid 1890’s – Early 1900’s
A Reverend from India
A NY Times Reporter
An unhappy wife
January 30, 1948…in the garden of a luxurious home, Mr. Gandhi holds an early morning prayer meeting. India is independent, but not all are happy with the outcome…a Hindu extremist approaches Bapu with a brass bowl, he pulls a gun and fires 3 shots killing Mr. Gandhi. The State funeral is massive…the world mourns his loss.
Gandhi is young, taking his first assignment as a corporate attorney for an Indian Firm in South Africa. Riding the train, his presence in 1 st class is objected to and when he argues his right to be there, he is thrown from the train onto the platform at the next station…miles from where he was to be.
Talking with friends and associates at dinner, Gandhi asks why they tolerate Aparthied/Segregation. He is stunned that despite being part of the British Empire (until 1910), the rights of Indian people are severely limited. He vows to fight it by writing the Press and working in the Court.
Gandhi joins Mr. Kahn and others in the INC (Indian National Congress).
They hold a peaceful demonstration – burning the Passbooks they are forced to carry. Police interrupt, arrest Mr. Kahn and beat Mr. Gandhi in front of witnesses. His wife is not supportive…when Gandhi reads about himself and sees the support of the Press, he says “I told you about the
Law…” and she replies “ and I told you about British Policemen…” referring to the beating he received.
Gandhi meets Rev. Charlie Andrews, visiting from India. They talk about
Christian values – Love thy Neighbor, Turn the other cheek; and Mr.
Gandhi discusses how they may have to accept the “punishment” until the British feel the “pain” of the wrong they are doing to India. They are informed of a further Passbook Law change – more lost rights.
Gandhi meets Mr. Walker and talks with him about the Ashram (village) that he is building. Mr. Walker asks about Gandhi’s response to Gen.
Smutts Passbook Law. He replies that “there are unjust laws as there are unjust men…” When Mr. Walker comments that Gandhi is a small minority to take on the British; Gandhi replies, “A Minority of One – The
Truth is still the truth. In other words – Gandhi may be the focus but the
British will still have to listen.
Gandhi is interrupted talking with Mr. Walker when he sees his wife’s response to a request to set another place at the table. He talks to her and finds she wants nothing to do with the chores at the Ashram that

Indian National Congress
Miners March
Bombay, India 1915
End Day 1 includes cleaning the toilets. She considers it beneath her caste (social status). When she gets vocal, Gandhi talks, reasons, then threatens her with casting her out (violence surfaces from stress). He stops, sits and apologizes. She talks softly, saying he is only human and agrres to do her share of the work without complaint.
Gandhi has gained a leadership position among the Indian community that includes Hindus, Muslims, Sihks. He presents the true meaning of the revised Passbook law. Indian men and women are to fingerprinted.
Only Christian marriages are legal, and there is no right to be secure in their dwelling – police may enter, search and seize at will. The crowd is furious. Some men even stating they will risk hanging if the police do this. Calls for violence against British authorities are made. Gandhi thanks them for their courage, but reminds them that he is prepared to die for the cause, but “there is no cause for which I am prepared to kill…” He urges them to “fight against their anger, by not provoking it…”
He makes them understand what they will have to deal with and how the crowd will be harmed, but tells them if he is killed, “they will have my dead body, not my obedience.”
Pre- Salt – Gandhi stages a walkout at the South African gold mines after many Indians were unjustly jailed. The mine owner threatens with troops on horseback with bamboo poles. The Indian marchers lay down and the horses will not approach them. Gandhi is put in Prison. Rev.
Andrews speaks out for tolerance.
Prison is poor food, ragged clothes, little medical treatment.
Gandhi is brought to General Smutts and told the law will be repealed back its older version, but Indian immigration may be shut down.
Gandhi agrees to the repeal and asks General Smutts for Shilling to get a taxi ride home in his prison garb. When the general has no money, he asks his assistant and asks how far Gandhi is going. Gandhi mentions going home to India, but “the Shilling will do just fine for now.”
Gandhi arrives by ship (3 rd class) and is greeted by a large crowd. He has adopted simpler Indian dress rather than his lawyer suits. He speaks a few words and goes to the home of a benefactor to stay. He discovers that Rev. Andrews was sent to South Africa by the benefactor to help him. The Doctor says that he wants Gandhi to “heal India…” and encourages him to travel the country, see the conditions, “you will see what needs to be said.”
Begin Day 2

Gandhi’s Train Pilgrimage
INC readies for Post WWI
Philosophy under a tree
Grass-Roots Poverty
Gandhi Arrested by locals
1916-17… Gandhi sees the vast countryside that he has been away from almost 20 years. Things seen thru the eyes of a merchant caste lawyer look worse than before. Poverty, primitive living conditions, injustice, and a subsistence farming existence for a large number of his countrymen makes Gandhi even firmer in his resolve to gain independence.
Nehru, Jinnah, and Patel discuss the need for a fresh meeting and a unified call from Hindus, Muslims, and Sihks for Self-Rule. Patel insists they invite Gandhi to speak… Jinnah dismisses Gandhi’s impact, it’s almost as if he knows that Gandhi will take his leadership role away.
Muslims were the “secondary” religion.
Gandhi speaks after Jinnah and Patel – he states that the “people of
India are untouched…” by the INC. 700,000 villages… The people are
“Illiterate, but not blind…” until the party connects with all the people, they will not be able to get independence.
Nehru brings a group of reporters to the Ashram to talk with Gandhi and he is under a tree with peelings to feed the goats. Gandhi reflects that India is losing its’ young people to western ideals and life in
Europe. When someone questions the need to fight, Gandhi asks, “Do you fight to change things or to punish?” Like Buddha in ancient India,
Gandhi sees things clearest when sitting still in a peaceful setting.
“He is Coming…” Gandhi arrives in the provinces after being begged to do so by the leader of a village. He is greeted by a huge crowd and two army officers. The young officer demands Gandhi get back on the train, saying “we don’t want you here…” Gandhi responds referencing the crowd, “they seem to want me…” The Officer threatens to arrest
Gandhi and Gandhi boldly replies “on what charge?”…The Officer has none. Gandhi simply adds “I am an Indian traveling in my own country and I’m not looking for trouble…” The Officer and his sergeant leave.
After listening to elderly Indians that are losing their property to British
Landowners and their underhanded practices, he tours the area with the Press. He learns that Indian cotton cloth is not valued and the lack of market is hurting the people. He is embarrassing the local authority.
Gandhi is held, but not charged. Rev. Charlie Andrews visits and asks why Gandhi is only wearing a loincloth. Gandhi says “ If I want to be one with them, I have to live like them…” Charlie tells him that the people are calling him “Bapu – Father.” Gandhi asks Charlie to take the post he has been offered in FiJi – he tells Charlie that “Indians need to know they can do this” – Civil Disobedience. Charlie needs to be out of reach

British Lt. Governor’s House of British retribution after he sends messages – even to the Viceroy demanding self-rule. In a Court arraignment, Gandhi refuses to leave the province. The Judge threatens jail, Gandhi doesn’t care. The Judge offers to release Gandhi after he pays a fine…Gandhi says he will not pay it. The Judge releases Gandhi without the fine, because of the pressure of the crowd. Gandhi’s fame grows. He asks 3 Cambridge students to document all that is going on. Gandhi adds “there will be some risks…”
Lt. Governor is berated by a British official from Parliament for his levying taxes for a “hunting trip”, Jailing, Torturing, even denying water to Indian People. He is ordered to return Rent money, ease restrictions.
But they also talk about how to restrict Gandhi.
New Legislation – Less freedoms Patel, Jinnah, and Nehru are joined by Gandhi and 2 others to discuss strategy to fight it. Jinnah calls for “Direct Action”, Nehru counsels against insurgency, but Gandhi agrees with Jinnah that they should not be “passive.” Gandhi tells them, “I want to Change their minds, not kill them for weaknesses we all possess…” Instead, Gandhi proposes a national day of “Prayer and Fasting…” Jinnah says “a work stoppage” and Gandhi says “No, a day of Prayer and Fasting” – no busses run, no business open, even servants stay home. (it accomplishes the same thing without the protest). Jinnah withdraws into his chair- unconvinced. The British are shocked, even frightened that all their “help” stays away.
Massacre at Armistar 1919 Some riots do break out as many are still not convinced that nonviolence is the “way”. The British respond with brutality. Gandhi sends a message from Jail that people must not be violent for any reason. The
British have enacted Marshall Law – and a crowd defies it to meet in an old palace courtyard. A British General shows up with troops…the speaker tells the crowd, “ we must have the courage to take their anger…” The crowd of men, women, and children are fired upon and massacred. A court of inquiry speaks to the General, who tells them coldly “My intention was to inflict a lesson that wouldn’t be forgotten”
He is asked about 1,516 casualties / 1,550 bullets. He coldly answers that he is aware. He is asked about women and children and he coldly agrees he knew. He is asked about helping the wounded, and replies that he would help all “that applied”. The Judges say “How can a child shot by an Enfield rifle apply for help?” His well-intentioned act to end the “Indian Problem” has ignited even a bigger commitment to
Disciplined Civil Disobedience.
Intermission End Day 2

Meeting w/ The Viceroy
BA (Gandhi’s wife) Speaks
Gandhi Speaks
1920’s – The Ashram
1922 The Sedition Trial
1930 The Salt March
1919, Gandhi and the INC meets with the Montague Commission at the
Viceroy’s palace. After an explanation and limited apology…Gandhi tells the Viceroy that “things have gone past the point of legislation…that they are Masters in someone else’s house and it is time to leave. “ That
Non-cooperation will continue because “100,000 Englishmen cannot control 350 million Indians who will not cooperate.”
Cloth as a political issue. Britain does not buy Indian cotton. But sells clothes to Indians. Indians are in poverty. Ba speaks, “There is no beauty in the finest cloth when it makes unhappiness.”
“To Gain Independence we must be worthy of it,” He makes three demands of the Indian people…”There must be Muslim and Hindu
Unity, always! Untouchability must end! (no more caste below caste).
We must defy the British! By boycotting British products…they burn their British-made clothing and wear homespun.
The INC discusses Hindu/Muslim conflict that has lead to Marshall Law in the provinces. INC supporters march by Torchlight. A stray marcher is ruffled by Indian policemen then released. He goes back and they beat him – his calls for help rile the crowd who then turns on the police killing them. The bad news is in world newspapers –“India’s Non-
Violence?” Gandhi is embarrassed/grief stricken for those killed. Jinnah tries to justify the act by saying…”it was only and eye for an eye…” and
Gandhi replies, “an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” When he is told that the people are on the move – that they won’t stop. Gandhi says “I will ask (for them to stop), I will fast as a penance (for his role in the movement). Gandhi fasts to the point of weakness and illness. The rioting and demonstrations stop. Gandhi works to recover his strength and is charged by the British with Sedition
(treason, threatening to overthrow the government) and jailed.
Gandhi is brought before the Court where they use his words against him. He pleads guilty. He is given 6 years in prison. His sentence is reduced to 2. He exits prison in 1924.
Gandhi reconnects with Mr. Walker, the NY Times reporter ( a shadow of the real writer _Webb Miller_ for the events to come. They talk by the sea and Gandhi realizes his next focus…Salt and the British monopoly on it in India. He has written Lord Irwin and the British wonder whether to stop him. They decide to ignore his march to the sea. 240 miles with newsreel cameras and newspaper reporters following everything, Gandhi & The INC go to the Indian Ocean and make salt – desalinating water until the crystals remain. They give it

Summer 1930
End – Day Three_____
Gandhi in London
Returning to India
Gandhi under House Arrest away until the news embarrasses the British enough that they decide to clear the beach and arrest INC officers/helpers. When Gandhi informs them he will march on the salt mine, the Viceroy has him thrown in jail.
The March takes place anyway – we read the article on this with the
DBQ… over 250 men are beaten (one killed) and the British are the villians. The world pressures Britain to give India independence.
Gandhi is called to the Viceroy’s office and told he has been invited to attend a meeting in England to “discuss” Indian Independence.
___________________________Begin Day Four_____________
1931 , Gandhi travels to London for a Conference on India’s independence. He is a curiosity, followed by Newsreel cameras, and adored by the public. He visits a garment factory to win grassroots support. However, PM MacDonald does little to resolve the question.
WW 2 is immediately ahead as Hitler expands his influence.
Gandhi has to deal with Jinnah and Nehru’s disappointment. Gandhi tries to show his reasoning…”they are preparing for war…” and he adds he wants a peaceful transition and wants to “see them off as friends” when the British leave. Gandhi feels strongly anti-war…many countries wanted to avoid involvement – America included. He begins to speak out, but the British stop him and his wife (as she would speak in his place). This was a time when India may have to defend herself from
Asian (Japanese) invasion when British troops withdraw to Europe. The
British could not leave India with a weakened defense – they needed
Indians to join up.
1942 to 1944, Gandhi , his wife, and other INC officers are held in the
Aga Khan Palace, a large private home to keep them from publicly speaking out against the war. Margaret Bourke-White, a LIFE magazine photojournalist come to interview him and take pictures. “Prison is rather agreeable to me…” Several writings came out of this time including: Be the change you wish to see…” Gandhi claimed it gave him time to think and write. He expresses hope for the future – “After the war, independence will come…my only worry is the shape it will take…”
Gandhi tells her that Jinnah has “cooperated with the British” and that it has given Jinnah “power.” He has publicly spread anti-Hindu sentiment, filling the Muslims with fear they will be a dominated minority. Gandhi expresses his belief in hard work and pride as a way to move forward (like Mandela), not dominance. When Ms. Bourke-White asks him how he would deal with Hitler, Gandhi replies “You cannot accept injustice from anyone…you must make the injustice visible…” in

The Last Viceroy – 1947
Gandhi Fasts Again
Postscipt other words, expose the bully for who he is. Ms. Bourke-White also speaks with Ba (Mrs. Gandhi) and enjoys finding out about Indian married life. How Gandhi has “failed” overcoming his need for intimacy and she smiles. She relates how there are two types of slaves in India – women and the Untouchables…meaning that these groups have no rights (the need for change). Mrs. Gandhi has a massive heart attack and dies while imprisoned with Gandhi as he watches over her in
February, 1944.
Lord Mountbatten (uncle to Prince Phillip, cousin of Elizabeth II) arrives to lead the transition from Britain to Indian control. Jinnah wants a separate muslim country, but the majority of the muslim population live in the west and east of India. Gandhi is torn – “I am a muslem, a hindu, a jew, a Christian…all of you! When wave those flags and shout
(Death to Jinnah!), you send fear into the hearts of your brothers…stop it!” As a compromise, Gandhi offers Jinnah the Prime Minister position if he will stop the separation. Nehru and the rest tell him it is too late, that not separating will cause civil war. Civil war starts at the borders as
Hindu’s and Muslims give up their homes and lands to migrate to the new countries. So, 3 countries were born (W. Pakistan – modern
Pakistan, India, and East Pakistan – present day Bangladesh). New flags are flown everywhere but at the Ashram.
Gandhi is pained as the country he wanted to create with non-violence is torn by Hindu vs. Muslim violence. He deplete’s himself September
1947…almost to death. When a Hindu man who has killed comes to him, he tells Gandhi that he is going to hell…Gandhi says he knows a way out. “Find a child whose parents have been killed and raise him as your own son, but raise him as a muslim…” Erase a bad dead by doing a bigger good one.
All India stops fighting, they honor Gandhi and promise to resolve things non-violently. But Gandhi’s time is over…Nehru is first PM of
India. Gandhi plans to go to Pakistan (West?) as a good will gesture. He is stopped by an assassins’ bullets on January 30 th , 1948 . A lavish state funeral follows with incineration and his ashes put in the Ganges river.
Gandhi ashes were in-fact put an in urn and interred at Aga Kahn Palace next to his wife and his faithful secretary who also died there in 1942.
The movie takes some liberties with the story that Mr. Gandhi recorded but has been embellished (added to) by others for their screenplay.