Mahatma Gandhi's practice of tolerance

By Neha Mehta

Before we start we must ask 2 questions. (1)Tolerance. "What is tolerance?" you might ask. Tolerance is when you can take suffering and withstand undesirable situations. Tolerance is also a key role in and religion. Without tolerance, everyone would blow up everything else. Let's say two people were fighting, instead of making up later on they would try to hurt each other severely. Not a pretty thought. (2)Mohandas(Mahatma) Gandhi. Who is Gandhiji? Gandhiji is a freedom fighter for India. He was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar. His father's name was Karamchand. His mother's name was Putlibai. At the age of l3, Gandhiji married Kasturbai. The marriage was a child marriage, which meant that they were arranged to be married when they were little kids. They had four kids named Harilal, Devdas, Ramdas and Manilal. Gandhiji studied to be a lawyer. He spent his life in India, South Africa and England. Now let's put the main subjects (tolerance and Gandhiji) to create a story (with the help of the book called The Christmas Carol).

Gandhi's Tolerance

It was the day before Indian Independence Day and in Porbandar everyone was helping to get ready for tomorrow. There was going to be a big celebration. You see, the famous Gandhiji was born in Porbandar. So the people decided to honour Gandhiji by having a big celebration and making a golden statue of Gandhiji. Well, everyone except for Dhrisdijilsatag (Dhris) Hajiwatry. Dhris thought that there was no man greater than him and there was no point of honouring Gandhiji. Dhris couldn't stand a bad word about him and took anybody who bothered him straight to court. He had no tolerance whatsoever. It began to become dark so everybody went back home and went to bed. At Dhris's house, Dhris had been asleep long before all the hard working men, women and children came back home. At about 2 o'clock A.M. Dhris woke up when he heard a loud noise. Dhris thought it was one of his servants (who were treated more like slaves) and shouted "stop knocking on the door, you're not going to get paid for 2 months now!". Then an unknown yet familiar voice called saying "Dhris you have much to learn, come with me." Dhris quickly opened his eyes and saw a glimmering shadow, a ghost! "Do not be afraid Dhris. I will not hurt you."here are you taking me? Who are you?" cried a very frightened Dhris. "I am the ghost of Gandhiji's Tolerance. I am taking you back to Gandhiji's time to show some things you have got to learn." Dhris couldn't take this. "Ghost, you'll go to court for this!" Dhris said trying very hard to act bold. As soon as Dhris said this they were off into the air and passing over thousands of tiny cities. The ghost said 'I'll go to court for sure, Gandhiji's court. Gandhiji was a lawyer (or at least he was supposed to be). But before we talk about court we better start out with the basics. What is tolerance? Something you don't have for sure. But tolerance is also key role in religion and life. Gandhiji was a freedom fighter. He helped gain independence from England. Now let's start this journey. India, watch out here we come!' So the ghost and Dhris (who were invisible) went to India. Here they saw Gandhiji boarding a boat to go to England and study to be a lawyer. Soon he reached England. He was getting on the carriage to reach his final destination but the driver said you can't sit in here. Gandhiji said," I am a passenger, I'm suppose to sit in here." The driver told Gandhiji to sit on the outside of the carriage or leave. Gandhiji said nothing and went to sit on the outside of the carriage. "That's not fair", whispered Dhris. Dhris and the ghost had been watching everything that had been going on. The ghost murmured to himself, good Dhris is finally catching on. Anyway Gandhiji was still on the outside of the carriage. Then the driver told Gandhiji to sit on a dirty rag so he could sit on the outside of the carriage and smoke. You can't smoke inside a carriage so the driver warned Gandhiji had to move.

Gandhiji said no! The driver started beating Gandhiji. The crowd around Gandhiji and the driver said to the driver, you're such a coward to beat this man. So the white man stopped beating Gandhiji and went on. Gandhiji didn't sue the man or anything. After going to England, Gandhiji goes back to India and then off to South Africa. In a train in South Africa, Gandhiji is forced to get off the train. There was a white man on the train and he would not sit with a colored man. The white man throws Gandhiji's luggage out and then kicks Gandhiji out and Gandhiji still won't leave. On Gandhiji's next trip to England he is insulted by the Prime Minister of England cause of the way he dresses and his traditions. Gandhiji bears the insult. Back in India, Gandhiji works with the people who clean, take out the toilet etc. These people are called the Untouchables (Harijans). Nobody dared to touch the Untouchables, except Gandhiji. In the Muslim-Hindu Conflict (Muslims and Hindus didn't want to be together) Gandhiji was supporting Hindus and Muslims even though he was Hindu. "Dhris, think of what everybody thought about Gandhiji. He worked with the Harijans and he supported Muslims and Hindus. Not many other people did that." said ghost. "Ghost, I've noticed something. Gandhiji never took any physical action so far. Why not?"

"Dhris, Gandhiji had made a vow not to fight physically. This was called Satyagraha. His followers were all supposed to follow that rule. Now keep on watching." Gandhiji was helping everyone with the salt act (you can't make your own salt). Gandhiji and his followers walked 200 miles to get to the ocean to pick out a handful of salt. The Salt Act was no more. One day when stepping out o a car, Gandhiji was attacked by a mob of whites. Gandhiji didn't try to revenge himself. When a Hindu fanatic shot Gandhiji, Gandhiji didn't say anything bad about his killer when he died. In fact, Gandhiji's last words were "Oh Ram". In a snap, they were back at Dhris's house. "Oh yeah. Last but not least, Gandhiji spent 2,338(about 7 years) in jail." said ghost. "Look ghost, that as great and all but what does this have to do with me?" "Dhris, you are supposed to be our future freedom fighter. Now I must call upon our ghostess. Ghostess of Gandhiji ARISE! .... Hello Dhris, hello ghost" said the ghostess. "Hello" stuttered Dhris and ghost. "No time to explain, follow me" said ghostess. After a bunch of swirling around they came to a place that looked very familiar to Dhris. This is my house! Look it's Independence Day 10 years ago."

Watching carefully, Dhris sees himself firing a teacher and banished him from ever teaching again. Dhris heard a click and they were back to the present. Again Dhris watched carefully as he saw the teacher's family suffer cause they didn't have enough money. Another click and they were in the future. Dhris had died by now. They had burned Dhris and put his ashes and valuables in a big box. A couple days later (in the future that is) 10 men came and were opening ash boxes (where the remaining ashes and valuables were) to get money.They can't do that!" cried Dhris. Ghostess said "Yes, they can! Dhris. They got permission from the Prime Minister. Porbandar needs money." One of the ten men said "Let's open Dhris's ash box, nobody would care. Nobody liked him. Anyway, it's his fault all of this is happening." To the ghost and ghostess's surprise, Dhris took the insult, just like Gandhiji. A click and they were back to Dhris's house (in the present). "I understand my duty now," said Dhris. "Bye then said his ghost friends. From now on Dhris was a kind and nice man. And in the future Dhris saves his country.

The End

And there you have it. Gandhiji saved India just by being tolerant. Dhris. the ghost and the ghostess are made up characters.