MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI:

LAWYER TO CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, LEAVING A

LEGACY OF NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE

Josh Krause
Junior Division
Individual Website

As I contemplated topics for National History Day, I decided to research Mohandas

Gandhi because of his passion for nonviolent resistance and equality for all people. I was so
fascinated that an individual leader could liberate both India and South Africa through peaceful
measures that I decided to make him my topic for this year's NHD theme Leadership and
Legacy. While researching, I came upon photos of him marching towards the Arabian Sea in
protest of the Salt Acts. Thousands of inspired followers trailed behind in support of not only an
independent country, but by gaining it in ways that would not cause harm to others. Being more
than astonished, I could not help to think about what the world would be like if all people
followed the ideas and philosophies of Mohandas Gandhi.
To begin my research, I started by reading online encyclopedias in order to get a general
outlook on Gandhis life. Next, I made use of the Winding River Library System to uncover
primary sources such as newspaper clipping and photographs to see what perspective others
outside of India and South Africa had on him. While visiting the La Crosse Public Library, I came
upon numerous books and documentaries that furthered my knowledge and provided me with
ideas on what to incorporate into my website. While browsing for detailed resources on his
legacy, I came upon one of the most prominent and beneficial books that I have ever read. It
was Gandhis autobiography that included quotes, ideas, and recollections from his viewpoint
that helped me appreciate why he desired independence for his people without the use of
violence.
Choosing the website format was a relatively easy decision since it allowed me to
express my creativity through all multimedia. Referring to the information I collected while
researching Gandhi helped me imagine how each page of the website should be laid out. I
related the black and white color scheme to the how the technology was not advanced enough
to take color pictures and the seriousness of the time. Then, I started by creating and revising
my text that related to the thesis. Upon completion, I then added primary sources such as
pictures, video clips, and quotes to make the website interactive and appealing.

Mohandas Gandhi relates to this year's theme of Leadership and Legacy because of
his undevoted desire for peace among all, resulting in independence for both South Africa and
India. Using protest tactics, such as boycotts and peaceful demonstrations, he was left with the
legacy of nonviolent resistance and applied it to attain political and social development. As
Gandhi himself once stated, You may never know what results come of your actions, but if you
do nothing, there will be no results. Even after his death, Gandhis philosophy has been an
inspiration of hope for demoralized people throughout the world.

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