Page 1 of 18

DAMODARAM SANJIVAYYA
NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

SABBAVARAM, VISAKHAPATNAM, A.P., INDIA

PROJECT TITLE - GANDHI

SUBJECT - ENGLISH

NAME OF THE FACULTY - DR. NARASINGA RAO BARNIKANA

Name of the Candidate – DEV ARORA

Roll No. – 22LLB026
Semester – 1st
 Page 2 of 18

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I'd want to take this time to thank my English teacher, DR. NARASINGA RAO BARNIKANA,
for providing direction and assistance during the project. I couldn't have finished it without
him. Because he was the main force behind the project, it is difficult to say whether or not it
would have been finished without his leadership and contribution. I would want to offer my
heartfelt appreciation to him for all he has done for me. In addition, I'd want to take this time
to thank my parents, friends, and the youngsters a year or two older than me who inspired me
to take on this challenge. I owe them a big debt of gratitude for directing me in the proper
direction and assisting me with my endeavor.

REGARDS,

DEV ARORA
1st SEMESTER.
 Page 3 of 18

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Acknowledgement …………………….……………………2
2. Abstract………………………………………….……….….4
3. Synopsis………………………………………….………….5
3.1. Objectives of the Study…………………………………5
3.2. Scope of the Study……………………………...………5
3.3. Significance of the Study……………………………….5
4. Survey and Literature Review……………………………….6
5. Plot Summary……………………….…………………….…8
6. Judicial Perspective………………………………………….12
6.1. Champaran Incident…………………….…….…………12
6.2. Chauri-Chaura Incident……………………….…………12
7. Laws included………………………………….……….……14
7.1. Sedition………………………………….………………14
7.2. Bail………………………………………………………14
8. Outcomes of the Project………….………….……………….16
9. Conclusion…………………………….….…………….…….17
 Page 4 of 18

ABSTRACT

Mahatma Gandhi, also known as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer,
politician, social activist, and writer who rose to fame as the leader of the nationalist struggle
in India against British rule. As a result, he became renowned as the father of his country.
Gandhi is well-known around the world for his nonviolent protest (satyagraha) concept for
achieving political and social improvement.

Millions of Indians revered Gandhi as the Mahatma ("Great Soul"). The mindless adoration of
the vast hordes that gathered to see him all along the course of his tours made them a difficult
battle; he couldn't work during the day or sleep at night. "The woes of the Mahatmas are known
only to the Mahatmas," he wrote, and his fame increased throughout his existence and only
grew after his death. Mahatma Gandhi's name is currently one of the most well-known on the
planet.

Mahatma Gandhi's name is currently one of the most well-known on the planet. Richard
Attenborough directs and produces this India-UK co-production based on a scenario written by
John Briley. Ben Kingsley plays the title character. The film follows Gandhi from a watershed
moment in 1893, when he is ejected from a South African train for being in a whites-only cabin,
until his death and funeral in 1948. Although Gandhi was a practising Hindu, his embrace of
other faiths, particularly Christianity and Islam, is also reflected.
 Page 5 of 18

SYNOPSIS

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

• The purpose of this study is to examine how legal English/language was utilised in the
film.
• To evaluate how the film's director and producers see the courts, law enforcement
agencies, and legislative bodies.
• Determine whether, if any, legal principles are applied in the film.
• Additionally, evaluate the film from a legal standpoint.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY:

The study is limited to a synopsis of the film "GANDHI 1982," legal frameworks, and their
application.

SIGNIFICATION OF THE STUDY:

The research will aid us in understanding the past, present, and future of legal viewpoints, as
well as their application in the legal profession.
 Page 6 of 18

SURVEY AND LITERATURE REVIEW

The film received a record eleven nominations at the 55th Academy Awards, winning eight
(more than any other film nominated that year), including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best
Actor (for Kingsley). The film was shown retroactively as the opening film at the Independence
Day Film Festival, co-hosted by the Indian Directorate of Film Festivals and the Ministry of
Defence to mark India's 70th year of independence. The British Film Institute voted Gandhi
the 34th greatest British film of the twentieth century.

When searching for material on Gandhi films on the internet and elsewhere, I came across
several reviews from that era. There is no better work to reference to emphasise the relevance
of the study than what Mar Juergen Meyer (1984) said about Attenborough's Gandhi: Richard
Attenborough's portrayal of Gandhi has become the most widely viewed cinematic depiction
of the Mahatma and one of the most widely seen films in history. He claims that Attenborough's
film portrays Gandhi as a lone moral man triumphing over society's traditional forces of
authority, which explains why Gandhi remains a key source of fascination. Gandhi's moving
image, he claimed, fit well into the mould of a cowboy, a space hero, and all those cinematic
depictions of Jesus and Moses, or Shiva and Krishna, who defied rules for their own goals.

According to Anand Patwardhan (1983), an Indian analyst and historian, the film did not
provide anything new in terms of what one familiar with Gandhi's history since boyhood would
have expected to witness in such a beautifully produced one. He said that Attenborough omitted
the most pivotal episodes in Gandhi's life because they would be divisive and undermine the
film's commercial chances. He gives a few instances:

i. Gandhi and Ambedkar disagreed on the removal of injustice in Indian society

between untouchables and other caste groups.

ii. Gandhi's visit to the prison where Bhagat Singh was imprisoned for undergoing death
sentence, where he discovered Bhagat Singh to be as sincere and dedicated as himself,

iii. The deletion of Subash Chandra Bose's request to Gandhi not to provide British help
during WWII, and

iv. The absence of the involvement of socialist leaders in the 1942 Quit India
movement.
 Page 7 of 18

Patwardhan also points out that, notwithstanding Gandhi's physical attack on Kasturba in South
Africa, and his later regret for his conduct, there was no place in modern India for an ideal
debate on Gandhi's patriarchal approach to addressing women's concerns. Similarly, Anand
Patwardhan (1983) made a feeble attempt to provide an insight into Gandhi's film by feebly
attempting to compare it with another Oscar winner from the same year, 'Missing' (1982),
where the author's emphasis is on the director's deeper treatment of the issues involved in Chile
political battles versus Attenborough's avoidance of most important issues involving critical
Gandhi precepts on them.
 Page 8 of 18

PLOT SUMMARY

1893-1914. Mohandas K. Gandhi (Ben Kingsley), a British-trained Indian attorney, is barred

from travelling first-class on a train in South Africa. On the platform, he sleeps. Later, he learns
that Indians in South Africa are often humiliated. "We are God's children and Empire
members," Gandhi declares.

The young lawyer contributes to the formation of the Indian Congress Party of South Africa
and organises a demonstration against the registration pass legislation. Police beat him hard as
he burns the passes, but he doesn't fight back.

Gandhi's Satyagraha philosophy takes form via experience. He establishes the Phoenix Farm
ashram and advocates equality with his wife Kasturbai (Rohini Hattangady). He expresses his
thoughts to Charlie Andrews (Ian Charleson) and Walker (Martin Sheen). "I would give my
life to a cause, but I am not willing to murder," he adds.

Gandhi encourages Indians to participate in huge Satyagraha rallies, including strikes, during
a town hall gathering. When mounted police pursue striking miners, Indians kneel down to
avoid being crushed. Arrests of workers and leaders After seeing Gandhi in prison, General
Christiaan Smuts (Athol Fugard) promises to change the laws.

1915-1918. Gandhi is greeted as a hero by the National Congress Party. A nationalist leader,
Gopal Krishna Gokhale (Shreeram Lagoo), encourages Gandhi to learn about the real India in
order to realise "what has to be expressed and heard." He takes the train together with
Kasturbai, Charlie, and others.

Mohammed Ali Jinnah (Aleque Padamee) wants India's independence at a National Congress
Party meeting. Gandhi exhorts the startled and awestruck audience to sympathise with the
people in a land where "politics is bread and salt."

Gandhi lives quietly at his ashram near Ahmedabad. He goes to see the indigo producers in
Champaran after hearing about their suffering. British authorities arrest him because of his
popularity. Gandhi commits to fight for poor rights while imprisoned. "I have to believe that
everything we do here can be accomplished only by Indians," he says Charlie.

1919-1929. The Rowlatt Bills allow for the imprisonment of Indians accused of sedition
without a trial. Gandhi meets with Sardar Patel (Saeed Jaffrey) and Nehru at Jinnah's residence
 Page 9 of 18

to discuss their rights. He proposes a Satyagraha movement that begins with a National Day of
Prayer and Fasting, followed by a nationwide strike.

Gandhi is arrested by Viceroy John Mills. In India, his arrest sparks rioting. General Reginald
Dyer (Edward Fox) directs his men to open fire on a protest in Amritsar. In 15 minutes, 1,650
bullets murder 1,516 people.

Following the Amritsar massacre, Gandhi warns the British that they are invading someone
else's home. He intends to hold peaceful demonstrations.

At a rally, he exhorts the people to prove their worthiness for independence by removing the
stigma of untouchability, seeking Hindu-Muslim harmony, and rejecting European methods,
thus returning to their national history, which is symbolised by the wearing of homespun fabric
and a renewed emphasis on village crafts. Gandhi is spinning.

Mahatma's ideas receive worldwide traction. Mirabehn is the name given to Madeline Slade,
the daughter of an English admiral.

The violence has resumed. A peaceful Home Rule march in Chauri Chauru, Bengal, devolves
into violence. Gandhi fasts until people realise that "an eye for an eye blinds the globe." He
fasts till Nehru declares the Home Rule movement is over.

Gandhi is arrested for treason. After imprisoning the Mahatma, Judge Broomfield (Trevor
Howard) attempts to minimise his sentence. Gandhi tells the court that he must teach the
importance of not cooperating with a wicked dictatorship.

Gandhi lands in Porbandar following his release in 1926. Kasturbai and Walker recreate their
wedding ceremony for Walker. Walker is later promised a story by Gandhi.

1930-1931. Gandhi leads a 200-mile march against the British. He will create salt as a symbolic
gesture, challenging the British monopoly on this vital resource and demonstrating "We are in
charge." Members of the Congress Party will shortly distribute salt. Despite his reincarceration,
Gandhi's battle continues.

Dharsana Salt Works is putting the peaceful movement to the test. Gandhians are pummelling
by police as they march six abreast to the gate. There is no retaliation. Each group of bleeding
males is carried and treated by women. Walker phones the press after seeing this heinous scene:
 Page 10 of 18

"The moral superiority of the West is passed. India is free; she has stood up to steel and brutality
without flinching or retreating."

Viceroy Lord Irwin (John Gielgud) summons Gandhi to the All-Government Conference on
India's Independence in London in 1931. Hindus, Muslims, and princely kingdoms are all
important to the British. Gandhi, who was well-received in England, even by textile workers
who had been harmed by the Indian boycott, returns home empty-handed.

1942-1946. Gandhi arrives in Bombay for a speech and is arrested at the railway station.
Kasturbai is also imprisoned when she declares she would speak in his place.

During WWII, Margaret Bourke-White pays a visit to Gandhi at the Aga Khan Palace in Pune
(Candice Bergen). He teaches her the value of simplicity and spinning. According to Kasturbai
and Mirabehn, Gandhi considered women and untouchables to be slaves. Kasturbai dies after
a heart attack in jail.

1947-1948. Lord Louis Mountbatten (Peter Harlowe) comes in India to supervise the peaceful
transfer of sovereignty. Indians are split on the issue of independence. Jinnah believes that the
nation should be divided into Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan. To satisfy
Jinnah, Gandhi gives him the position of India's first prime minister. Nehru and other leaders
declare that the people would not accept partition, and Jinnah threatens civil war.

On August 15, 1947, when New Delhi and Karachi raise their flags, Mahatma Gandhi spins at
his ashram.

Hindus are going to India, while Muslims are flocking to Pakistan. Riots occur after years of
severe community hatred. Gandhi makes a peace appeal in Calcutta, Bengal. "I can't stand by
and watch my life be ruined," he adds. Gandhi breaks his fast after Nehru, Bengal's Muslim
leader, and street Hindus inform him that the violence has decreased.

On January 30, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi welcomes Margaret Bourke-White in New Delhi and
then performs evening prayers. Crowds have gathered. A guy bows before firing three times.
Gandhi dies instantly.

The next day, a massive funeral procession in New Delhi honours the Great Soul who believed:
"Truth and love would always win. Tyrants inevitably, always fall."
 Page 11 of 18

Gandhi is a mind-expanding, conscience-expanding, mind-stretching film about a courageous

ethical giant and visionary. The film depicts Gandhi's tenacity and drive in uniting India around
a banner of moral idealism, leaving an unforgettable mark on his country and the globe.
 Page 12 of 18

JUDICIAL PERSPECTIVE

The character of Gandhi appeared in court twice throughout the course of the film:

1. Following the incident in Champaran

2. Following the Chauri-Chaura Incident

CHAMPARAN INCIDENT

Following the Chauri-Chaura Incident However, after listening to the plight of the indigo
farmers in Champaran, he travelled to that location. Since Gandhi was so well-known, a sizable
crowd gathered at the train station to greet him when he arrived there. After learning about the
mob, British officials made the decision to arrest Gandhi because they believed he posed a
threat. And lodged a charge of sedition against him.

In addition, a large number of people showed up to the courthouse to observe Gandhi during
the first hearing of the trial. The judge ordered Gandhi to leave Bihar, and Gandhi inquired
what he had done wrong. The judge granted Gandhi bail on the condition that he pay 100
rupees, but Gandhi refused to pay 100 rupees. The bail is released without any kind of payment
being required by the judge.

CHAURI-CHAURA INCIDENT

During the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922, a peaceful protest was being held at Chauri-
Chaura in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. However, the protestors suddenly turned violent and
clashed with police, burned the police station, and assaulted the policemen. This occurred
during the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Following the occurrence of this event, Gandhi withdrew his support for the Non-Cooperation
Movement. Gandhi was taken into custody once more on charges of inciting a riot and sedition
against the government.
 Page 13 of 18

Gandhi was asked by the Judge Broomfield, in a respectful manner about his offence; however,
Gandhi did not offer any defence and instead pled himself guilty of the accusation of sedition.
According to the law, Judge Broomfield handed down a sentence of six years in prison to him.
He is also anticipating a reduction in the amount of time.
 Page 14 of 18

LAWS INCLUDED

SEDITION

Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution guarantees every citizen free speech. Article 19
imposes appropriate restrictions on free speech and expression (2). When a person's words,
signs, or representations show contempt for the Indian government, the act is punished under
section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Sedition criminalises disloyal or threatening
statements to the state.

Section 124A covers defamation of the government but not good-faith criticism of measures
or administration conduct

The development of sedition law can be summed up in the following ways:

• The Wahabis Movement of the nineteenth century played a role in the development of
India's sedition laws.
• Syed Ahmed Barelvi served as the movement's leader and was an Islamic revivalist.
• The movement had been going on since 1830, but with the 1857 uprising, it became a
violent Jihad against the British.
• Wahabis were considered rebels by the British, who engaged in military actions against
them.

Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 was not present during the British era. But the
IPC (Amendment) Act of 1870 added this Section to the IPC. This clause was later changed by
an amending legislation in 1898, creating Section 124A. Under the previous IPC, "Exciting or
seeking to stir sentiments or disaffection was classed as Sedition," according to British Era
Law.

BAIL

The preservation of life and individual freedom is guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian
Constitution. We have the right to request bail when we are arrested by any law enforcement
agency because it protects our fundamental rights to live in dignity and with our own freedom.
 Page 15 of 18

In 1973, Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which provides for anticipatory bail,
was first introduced (hereinafter referred to as CrPC or Criminal Procedure Code). It is based
on a suggestion made by the Law Commission of India, which in its 41st report suggested
adding a mechanism for anticipatory bail. According to the study, "The need for anticipatory
bail arises mainly because sometimes influential persons try to incriminate their rivals in bogus
cases for the goal of discrediting them or for other purposes by getting them detained in jail.
There doesn't seem to be a reason to require someone who has been charged with a crime to
first submit to custody, spend some time in jail, and then apply for bail, unless there are
demonstrably false circumstances that support the conclusion that they are unlikely to abscond
or otherwise abuse their freedom while out on bail.
 Page 16 of 18

OUTCOME OF THE PROJECT

The movies demonstrate not only the love and regard that people have for Gandhi, but also the
respect that even the judicial officials had for him.

The movies also depict the dominance of the British over India as well as how the Indian
freedom fighters drove the British out of the country.
 Page 17 of 18

CONCLUSION

Attenborough follows Gandhi's career from his origins as a civil rights lawyer in 1890s South
Africa until his assassination in 1948. This is a bad technique, as the title card shows.

No man's life can be told in full. It's impossible to give each year its due and cover every event
and person that shaped a life. Be faithful to the record and seek the man's heart.

The film covers 50 years of arrests, fasts, meetings with Hindu and Muslim Indian leaders,
horrible acts of violence on all sides, inventive methods of civil disobedience, including the
Salt March and the burning of English-made garments, negotiations with British officials, and
Gandhi's gentle, yet cutting and inarguable preaching against British rule and religious
intolerance. India and Pakistan become sovereign nations, and Gandhi becomes a global
treasure. His simple yet powerful message of human dignity, peace, and self-determination
draws adherents from all areas of life.

Gandhi is a poor film—the cycle of violence, arrest, fast, and negotiation is mind-numbing—
but by the end, you know and love Bapu. Kingsley deserves most credit. His father is from the
same Indian state as Gandhi, and he looks and acts like the man who challenged the British
Empire by fasting and manufacturing salt. His eyes and smile are naughty.

This Gandhi is brilliant and assesses people instantly and properly, yet he's never patronising.
He's from the merchant caste and educated in England, yet wearing basic Indian attire to
diplomatic summits in London isn't forced. Gandhi's charisma put people at rest, but Kingsley
and Attenborough understood he was full of conviction and rage. You can feel his emotion
when he tells the viceroy he expects the British to leave India or when he scolds teenage Hindu
nationalists for screaming "Death to Muslims!" outside his ashram. country.
 Page 18 of 18

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• https://youtu.be/9BEU8A_JZPU
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi_(film)
• https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/reviews/view/5012
• https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/media/series/ethics-on-film/ethics-on-film-
discussion-of-gandhi