Gandhi (1982)

           ‘Gandhi’ is a 1982 biographical film portraying the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the leader who is worldwide known for his non-violent, non-cooperative independence movement in India against British Rule in India during the 20^th century. The film is directed by late Richard Attenborough and stared by Sir Ben Kingsley as Mahatma Gandhi. The film had won eight Oscars in 55th Academy Awards in 1983.

            In the film, talking about ‘Social Influence theory’, the concepts of ‘compliance’ and ‘obedience’ can be seen depicted by Gandhi’s associates and British policemen respectively. We can notice Gandhi’s associates being compliance by always agreeing and accepting on any of Gandhi’s request and decisions without arguing out of the respect their have towards him. For example in scene, in order to avoid separating Pakistan from India, Gandhi took quick decision to appoint Muhammad Ali Jinnah as the first Prime Minister of India and none of his associates oppose his decision. And in another scene, when Gandhi states that he want to fast until all the riots among the Hindus and Muslims stopped, his associates just compliance to his request. And talking about obedience, the British policemen demonstrate this social influence after getting instruction from higher officer to shoot the innocent poor Indians (even though some of the policemen were being Indians themselves were followed the order by shooting the people of their own race).

About the leadership style portrayed in the film, Mahatma Gandhi adopts democratic leadership style by sharing the decision-making opportunities with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and also with his associates by practicing social equality in India as well as in South Africa at the beginning of the film. Mahatma Gandhi displays sincerity, integrity, and candor in all his actions and never ever misused his leadership authority in his life. We can notice the evidence of his leadership style from the way he employing all the non-violent civil disobedience movements to free India from British Ruler and achieve independence. Even though he was arrested, sent to prison, mistreated and discriminated few times during his movements, but he was never set for revenge for the humiliations he receives from British. Gandhi does not only guild his people but also lives among them and feel their pain as well as discriminated against caste system of India (even though he is an educated lawyer and being a higher class ‘Brahmins’ in caste system). He is willing to sacrifice for his people, and that’s the reason for people from all over India come and fight alongside with him. He never forced anyone to follow his protests against the British rule.

Using ‘Expectancy Theory of Motivation’ to explain Gandhi’s behavior, he is very motivated in using non-violent resistance as the best way to free India from British. Even though it was a risk taking this kind of movements as British might not took serious consideration of his actions such as burning foreign cloths and salt marching. But his non-violent non-cooperative methods did work even after Gandhi go through so much suffer and pain. In the end, India managed to get its independence from British Empire on 15 August 1947.

After watching the movie, one thing that hurts me a lot was the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. It was understood that after India separates from Pakistan prior to the Independence, there were riot among Hindus and Muslim. It was not Gandhi’s personal choice to split the country but he was threatened by Muhammad Ali Jinnah to undergo civil war if he doesn’t agree for the separation. Even during the riot among Hindus and Muslims, he was fasting for the sake of peace of the country and stops the riot. After all the riots stopped and he was just broke his fasting and on the way to his prayer, Nathuram Godse shoot him three times in the chest to dead. It was very hard to imagine and understand how a person can have the desire and willing to kill a great soul who cared so much about the people and freed the country from British tortures in centuries. Does his personal revenge valued more than country’s celebration for the freedom? Typical Psychopaths! May Gandhi’s soul Rest in Peace!