mahatma gandhi rhetorical analysis essay

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Here is my Rhetorical Anaysis paper on Gandhi's speech "Quit India"  (Include link).

Also paste the text from the Google Doc.

Prof. MaryAnn Duffy

20 February 2014

A Non-Violent Resolution

    On August 8, 1942 Mahatma Gandhi, the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India, delivered a fascinating speech called “Quit India.” During this period, poverty was a stark reality in India. People slowly began to realize that their poverty was not generated by them, but by the British Empire. At that time, the British Empire had colonized India, causing multiple problems, such as: a lack of education, and a loss of national identity. Thus, out of desperation, the people of India started independence movements, including both violent and non-violent movements, to free themselves from British rule. Gandhi tried to persuade people to participate in non-violent independence movements by delivering a speech in Bombay in front of 60,000 people. Gandhi’s speech was carefully thought up using persuasive methods known as rhetoric. Gandhi became an influential and persuasive leader in driving non-violent independence movements and peace through the use of Aristotle’s rhetoric devices, including: ethos, pathos, logos, and figurative language.

    Gandhi emphasizes the importance of logic and reasoning through a rhetorical device, logos, by contrasting the “British people” and “imperialism”. He tried to detach the word “imperialism” from the British people to abolish the perception that British people were responsible for causing poverty; and he began promoting the concept of peace. He states, “…Our quarrel is not with the British people, we fight their imperialism…” (Gandhi 54). Gandhi strenuously reasoned that the object of disapproval was not the British people, but the expansion of imperialism as the policy pits nation against nation in a competition to be the “superior race”. By planting logic into the minds of his audience, he tried to eliminate his people’s negative stereotype towards the British people. Gandhi discouraged anger and therefore, sought to persuade the people of India to stop blaming the British for pursuing the desire to rule. He explains, “…The people make no distinction between British imperialism and the British people. To them [the people of India], the two are one…” (Gandhi 51). Gandhi reveals that by holding the two entities as one, more problems may arise. He mentions that the irrational hatred can open a path for the Japanese to enter India on the pretext that the Japanese will drive out the British. However, Gandhi reminds his people that they are forgetting the ambitions of the Japanese to become an imperial power and the possibility that they may turn against India. He rationalizes, “…It means that they will exchange one slavery for another…” (Gandhi 53). By allowing the Japanese to have an opportunity to overthrow the British, problems will still remain for the people of India, as they would not be able to defend themselves in either of the situations. He uses the cause and effect method of logos to warn his audience that a violent independence movement would not give them freedom, but instead, may change India’s colonizer from the British Empire to Japan. Gandhi, through logos, was helping his people visualize the negative consequences of pushing forward with the violence.

    To further enhance his efforts towards achieving non-violent independence movements and peace, Gandhi uses ethos, which pertains to establishing one’s character. Gandhi is known as the “Father of the Nation” in India. He was a man with great desires to achieve independence without the use of violence. Gandhi was a very peaceful man and his nonviolent attitude was reflected in his speeches, which he spoke in a calm and friendly manner. The audience could observe and hold credible that Gandhi was a nonaggressive man and that he holds onto his words and morals. In the first portion of his speech, he employs the use of ethos. He states, “…I ask you to consider it from my point of view, because if you approve of it, you will be enjoined to carry out all I say…” (Gandhi 3). In asking for his audience’s considerations instead of forcing his views, Gandhi created an approachable and respectful atmosphere for his speech. His style of speech and the words he chooses to use represent the core principles and personality he preaches and lives by: peacefully, non-violently, and forgiving. The three main points he tries to communicate repeatedly appear in his speeches. Gandhi kept his speech simple and calm in order to appeal to an eclectic group of India’s population, coming from every class and background. In order to persuade Indians of varying social classes to join his non-violent movement, he purposely avoided using speech types that would attract and/or repel people from different backgrounds, as he wanted to respect the opinions of others while spreading his ideas. For instance, Gandhi states, “…If, therefore, there is any among you who has lost faith in Ahimsa or is wearied of it, let him not vote for this resolution…” (Gandhi 14). Gandhi never tries to force people to follow him and his quest for Ahimsa, or non-violence. He purely aims to spread his concept of peace whether people accept or reject it.

    The third and final mode of persuasion that Gandhi made use of to communicate his ideas of non-violence is pathos. Pathos refers to appealing to emotion. His statement, “…A non-violent soldier of freedom will covet nothing for himself, he fights only for the freedom of his country…” (Gandhi 25) evokes emotion in the reader by glorifying the state of being a non-violent soldier. Gandhi’s audience can infer that a “violent soldier” does not fight for the freedom of his country, but fights for himself. Prior to the statement, Gandhi said that violent soldiers have been “…often known to effect a military coup and to set off a dictatorship…” (Gandhi 23). The assumption concerning violent soldiers brings up a negative image to the people of India because of the disapproval they already have for the British and their strong dictatorship over the country. Gandhi indirectly compares the violent soldiers to the dictating British. From the comparison, the audience can infer that being a violent soldier would be no different from being one of the currently despised British whom are imperializing their country. Further motivating his fellow people of India, Gandhi mentions that the proposal to withdraw from British power was presented because of the idea that “…it is not a happy position for a big country like India to merely helping with money and material obtained willy-nilly from her while the United Nations are conducting the war...” (Gandhi 56). His declaration aroused the emotions of current helplessness and possible hope. He expected the people of India to be motivated by his statement because India is such an enormous country. Being more than ten times the size of the British mainland, India should at least be able to gain freedom equal to that of the British Empire. “…I know the British Government will not be able to withhold freedom from us…” (Gandhi 59). Pathos is the most popular rhetorical device that Gandhi employs in his speeches to the audience. Through using pathos to arouse the audience’s emotions, he made the audience suppress their anger toward British people and gave them a reason to fight for India’s independence non-violently.

    In addition to using Aristotle’s modes of persuasion, Gandhi utilized literary devices, such as metaphors, to further support his points. Gandhi uses multiple figures of speech in one line of his speech: “… earth is being scorched by the flames of Himsa and crying for deliverance...” (Gandhi 18). His statement consists of both a metaphor and personification to enhance the emotions that the audience associates with the meaning of the message. The metaphor, “…earth is being scorched by the flames of Himsa…” (Gandhi 18), symbolizes the widespread use of violence that was dominating the country and not resolving any problems. Gandhi insists that the use of violence will lead to the demise of India, as more problems will arise and engulf the country in chaos. The other half of his statement, “earth is… crying for deliverance”, is an example of personification that represents Gandhi’s message of India’s current state of constant violence and the country’s cries for freedom or liberation from the anger and sorrow. Once again, Gandhi associates violence with downfall and grief. He wrote with literary devices of metaphors and personification with a sense of desperation to spark emotions of pity and sympathy in the audience, which he hopes will evolve into motivation to fight for independence through peaceful means. He uses another literary device at the end of his speech to enhance his message. Gandhi exclaims that the British are “…on the brink of an abyss…” (Gandhi 65) as he talks about his foreshadowing of the British entering danger for Britain’s colonization era will soon dwindle down when smaller nations rise up to fight for freedom or to become the next imperial power. The metaphor signifies that the British will soon experience difficulties (possibly a reference to World War II because of other countries’ desires to expand their territories). Therefore, there is no need to act violently as violence causes chaos and the British people have other worries to deal with.

    Gandhi uses Aristotle’s rhetorical devices of logos, ethos, and pathos as well as literary devices (metaphors and personification) to smoothly and effectively convey his ideas of peace and anti-violence to people of India and around the world. His persuasive speech was very successful as Gandhi was able to motivate his people to launch the non-violent “Quit India Movement”. Whether or not the movement was successful in gaining independence is not important. What is important is that Gandhi was able to convince the Indian population, using his influential speech, to peacefully rebel against the British Empire.  

Works Cited

Gandhi, Mahatma. "The 'Quit India' Speeches." Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya. Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. < http://www.gandhi-manibhavan.org/gandhicomesalive/speech6.htm> .

RCL E. WING

Just another weblog.

My rhetorical analysis essay will be analyzing Gandhi

Thesis: Mahatma Gandhi’s acclaimed “Quit India” speech is an admirable example of rhetoric through its application of directly addressing the reader as an equal individual, establishing distinguished authority, and by including specific examples of how India’s independence will be reached.

Addressing the reader as an equal individual: PATHOS

• “I ask you to consider it from my point of view” directly asking for empathy
• makes message more personal, as though Gandhi is speaking directly to reader
• using “we” to include himself as one of the masses; makes his audience feel more emotionally connected to him
• “Everybody will be his own master” – appeals to desire for self governance; makes each listener emotionally involved w/ somewhat abstract statement (isn’t necessarily the case in democracies)

Establishing distinguished authority: ETHOS

• “ God has vouchsafed to me a priceless gift in the weapon of Ahimsa”
• divine right – ancient monarch
• appeals to Indian people because it is related to Hindu religion; deeply rooted in emotion
• Ahimsa = compassion; reasserts that all his statements are from a place of compassion
• “I have not changed in any fundamental respect. I attach the same importance to nonviolence that I did then.” – makes himself seem reasonable; not rash or trigger happy

Including specific examples: LOGOS

• by mentioning the Indian Parliament and its specific goals for the future, Gandhi appeals to people’s logic – clearly explaining HOW the freedom will be accomplished and what that specifically will mean for the future of each Indian

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Advances in Language and Literary Studies ISSN: 2203-4714 www.alls.aiac.org.au

Rhetorical Analysis on Expectations and Functions in Jawaharlal Nehru ’s Eulogy for Mahatma Gandhi

Kangsheng Lai* Pingxiang University, China Corresponding Author: Kangsheng Lai, E-mail: [email protected]

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article history The paper introduces the life story of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru and then analyzes Received: October 04, 2018 the relationship between the two great people in India . After Gandhi’s death, Jawaharlal Nehru Accepted: December 12, 2018 delivered the eulogy for commemorating his intimate comrade and respectful mentor Mahatma Published: February 28, 2019 Gandhi, the Father of India. Under generic constraints based on audience’s expectation and need, Volume: 10 Issue: 1 the eulogy is analyzed from the perspectives of two major expectations and five basic functions. Advance access: January 2019 Through the rhetorical analysis of Jawaharlal Nehru’s eulogy, it can be concluded that a good eulogy should meet audiences’ two major expectations and five basic functions.

Conflicts of interest: None Funding: None

Key words: Eulogy, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Expectation, Function

INTRODUCTION Muslim-majority Pakistan . Religious violence took place in the Punjab and Bengal because of the substitution of Hindus , Life Story of Mahatma Gandhi Muslims, and Sikhs decided on setting up their own land. Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2 , 1869. He was Gandhi paid a visit to the places where religious violence an activist in India who struggled for the independence from broke out, intending to give the affected people solacement the British rule all his life. Movements for civil rights and while he had planned to present the official celebration of freedom all over the world were inspired by his advoca- independence in Delhi . He went on a hunger strike to pre- tion of nonviolent civil disobedience . Indian people would vent the possibly proceeding religious violence. He put pres- like to call him the Father of the Nation . sure on Indian government to provide financial support for Born in a Hindu merchant family, Gandhi spent his child- Pakistan when he was 78, on January 12, 1948. Nathuram hood in coastal Gujarat , India, and learned law in London in Godse, a millitant and Hindu extremist who thought Gand- his youth. As an expatriate lawyer in South Africa , he firstly hi was too accommodating, assassinated him on January advocated nonviolent civil disobedience to struggle for civil 30, 1948. In the purpose of commemorating their beloved rights in the resident Indian community. In 1915 when he leader, they granted his birthday, October 2, as the Inter- returned to his motherland, he launched movements against national Day of Nonviolence celebrated all over the world excessive land-tax and discrimination. In 1921, he was elect- (Richard Deats, 2005). ed as the leader of the Indian National Congress and orga- Indians can take great pride in the fact that many well-known nized people to struggle for independent rule. personalities cite Mahatma Gandhi as their role model and A new Muslim nationalism , endeavoring to establish a give an extremely high appraisal to him. Nelson Mandela is Muslim separated from India, posed a great challenge to the “Gandhi” of South Africa and he regarded Gandhi as his Gandhi’s idea of an independent multi-religious country in great mentor: “Gandhi made a great contribution to South the early 1940s . In August 1947 , India was independent from Africa’s transformation and without Gandhi’s preaching, we Britain finally. However, the country had been separated into could have not abolished apartheid .” “Christ gave us the goals two parts. One was a Hindu-majority India and the other was and Mahatma Gandhi the tactics,” said Martin Luther King Jr.,

Published by Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD. Copyright (c) the author(s). This is an open access article under CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.10n.1p.69 70 ALLS 10(1):69-72 who appealled African Americans to struggle for their rights He was willing to follow the Great Mahatma, even when by using non-violence as the weapon. Albert Einstein enjoyed he failed to understand his logic, because Pt. Nehru knew a deep friendship with Gandhi. They admired each other and that Gandhi knew the secret and could wield the mysterious often communicated by writing letters. In Einstein’s letter to power (Suraj Kapoor, 1994). His loyalty to Gandhi was true Gandhi, he thought Gandhi as “a role model for the genera- and tested, and Gandhi’s love for him was deep and abiding. tions to come”. Former US Vice-President and environmental- Neither Nehru nor Gandhi would have made such a great ist Al Gore had been profoundly influenced by Gandhi in his contribution to Indian independence without each other. The solving green house effect. He thought that Mahatma Gand- two understood each other. This understanding was a mea- hi’s non-violence gave him the power of truth to encourage sure of Gandhi’s greatness and of Nehru’s wisdom. Nehru him to fight for the global warming persistently. Rabindranath was Gandhi’s ears and eyes and acknowledged as Gandhi’s Tagore, sharply different from the philosophy of Gandhi, is successor in 1941. Gandhi selected Nehru as his political heir the first one who called Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi as because he hoped when he was dead, Nehru would speak the Mahatma Gandhi (Nishi Malhotra, 2015). language of Gandhi. After Gandhi was dead, his best friend and comrade, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote a eulogy and broadcast it on the ra- Life Story of Jawaharlal Nehru dio in public to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi. In the eulo- Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was born on November 14 , 1889. He gy, Nehru thought highly of Gandhi and expressed sincerely fighted for freedom for a lifelong time. No matter before his appreciation and admiration as to Gandhi’s great contri- or after independence, he was the most important person bution to the freedom and independence of India. The eulo- in Indian politics and he was the first Prime Minister after gy is a classic works with various rhetorical devices used in independence. Led by Mahatma Gandhi, he fighted for in- it. Audiences’ expectation from the eulogy and the eulogy’s dependence from British control along with his mentor. He five basic functions will be analyzed in the following parts. was elected as the first Prime Minister in 1947 when India was independent. He was entitled as the forefather of mod- ern India by people all over the world. Owing to his rooted RHETORICAL ANALYSIS ON JAWAHARLAL relationship with the Kashmiri Pandit community, He was NEHRU’S EULOGY FOR MAHATMA GANDHI also considered as Pandit Nehru while he was called Chacha Analysis on Kategoria in the Eulogy Nehru by Indian children (Gopal Sarvepalli, 1984). Motilal Nehru was the father of Nehru and his father was A eulogy is presented on one’s funeral service to praise his an outstanding lawyer and nationalist statesman. After grad- or her contribution that he or she made before he or she was uation from Trinity College, Cambridge, he was trained to dead. Except expressing eulogy orator ’s appreciation and re- be a barrister . When he went back to India, he worked at spect for the decreased, eulogy can also be functioned as a the Allahabad High Court but eventually he gave up his legal tool to console his or her followers and make a defense for practice due to his interest in national politics. Since he was the ill-treatment from his or her opponents. a teenage, he was a committed nationalist and played a vital Eulogy is regarded as an important part of funeral ser- role in the upheavals of the 1910s. With the tacit approval of vices. However, to maintain respect for traditions, Eulogies his mentor, Gandhi during the 1920s, the Indian Congress are either discouraged or not allowed at the funeral service elected him as the president of the left-wing factions. of some religious factions. On the funeral service, the ora- As India moved towards independence, Nehru was tor usually delivered the eulogy to express his or her respect the central figure in Indian politics during the 1930s . The or appreciation of the deceased. Apart from eulogies for the Congress chose him as the independent India’s first Prime dead, they are also presented on special occasions like birth- Minister. As a matter of fact, he was acknowledged as days, office parties, retirement celebrations, etc. Eulogy is Gandhi’s political heir and successor dated back to 1941. different from elegy. Eulogy is in the form of speech while Indian people still regarded Nehru as their beloved first elegy is in the form of poem written in tribute to the dead; it leader of independent India although he was involved in the is also different from obituary. Obituary is biography written political troubles in his latter leadership and lost the battle about the life story of the deceased; it is also different from with China in 1962. His birthday, November 14, is celebrated obsequy, which is the ritual held for the deceased. as Children’ Day in India. Oratory does not always consist of single type of rhe- torical genres. It is always combined with different rhetor- ical forms, which is called “rhetorical hybrids.” Rhetorical RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JAWAHARLAL hybrids are defined as combination of the various rhetorical NEHRU AND MAHATMA GANDHI genres. According to Aristotle ’s classification of rhetori- Although Gandhi was different from Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru cal forms based on the persuasive aspect of rhetoric, rhetori- in respect of philoso­phy of life, society and politics and in cal hybrids are the fusions of judicial rhetoric, demonstrative regard to the shape of social economic and political structure rhetoric, and deliberative rhetoric. There are three genres of of Indian polity after Independence, the two leaders lived rhetoric: eulogies, kategoria and apologia. The term “kate- and worked harmoniously during the struggle for freedom goria” was a noun signifying an accusation or charge (David during 1919 – 1947 and Nehru was always the firm follower K. Scott, 1998). Kategoria belongs to judicial rhetoric which of Mahatma Gandhi. was used in the courts to prove or disprove the guilt of the Rhetorical Analysis on Expectations and Functions in Jawaharlal Nehru’s Eulogy for Mahatma Gandhi 71 accused person while funeral eulogy belongs to the demon- speech for people to mourn their beloved Gandhi, the Father strative rhetoric which is used to show the orator’s respect of the Nation. or disrespect for someone on a particular occasion, such as Nehru expressed appropriate personal and audience grief funeral service. Jamieson and Campbell (1982) argue that at the beginning of his eulogy. “A glory has departed and the incorporation of multiple genres can only be “function- the sun that warmed and brightened our lives has set, and al” if they are subordinate to the primary functions and ex- we shiver in the cold and dark.” (Jawaharlal Nehru, 1948) pectations of one genre. As far as a eulogy is concerned, a In this sentence, Nehru compared the death of Gandhi to the “functional hybrid” will take place when it is regarded as a sunset. When sun has set, there is no warm any more and ritual to commemorate the deceased, when it is in accord we are living in the dark. This situation is just like the death with positions advocated by the orator of eulogies, whose of Gandhi. When Gandhi was dead, Indian people felt they motivation should not be selfish, and when the audience or were living in the cold and dark. The brightness and warm- community will not be divided by the eulogists’ affirmation. ness brought by Gandhi had disappeared forever. The meta- The eulogy is made by Jawaharlal Nehru to commem- phor used in the sentence vividly conveys the people’s grief orate the humble life that Mahatma Gandhi lived, honor- when they lost such a respectful leader. ing him one last time. Jawaharlal Nehru made the funeral The Prime Minister generously offered his words of speech when he served as the first Prime Minister of India praise to deepen appreciation and respect for Gandhi. “After after the independence. The eulogy is presented over radio a all, that glory that we saw for all these years, that man with few days after assassination of Gandhi on 30 January 1948 . divine fire, changed us also--and such as we are, we have He was assassinated by Nathuram Vinayak Godse, who was been molded by him during these years.” (Jawaharlal Neh- a member of right-wing faction advocating Hindu national- ru, 1948) As a matter of fact, there are many sentences in ism. He was also a member of the political party the Hindu the eulogy for expressing their appreciation and respect for Mahasabha. The assassination was planned by Godse, for he Gandhi, but the above sentence typically depicted Gandhi’s thought that during the partition of India , Gandhi met the deep and profound influence on his supporters. political demands which were asked by India’s Muslims. In Jawaharlal Nehru spoke the following words in the pur- Nehru’s funeral oration, he accused his assassination, “…Yet pose of establishing the reality of death to a disbelieving au- ultimately things happened which no doubt made him suffer dience. “He has gone, and all over India there is a feeling of tremendously, though his tender face never lost its smile and having been left desolate and forlorn.” (Jawaharlal Nehru, he never spoke a harsh word to anyone… the hand of a child 1948) People in India were shocked at the assassination of of his struck him down.” (Jawaharlal Nehru, 1948). Gandhi. They couldn’t accept the reality that their beloved Jewaharlal Nehru accused the assassination of Nathur- leader was gone in this way. They were soaked in extreme am Vinayak Godse harshly by using these sentences. These sadness and outrage. They felt sad because they lost such a sentences are the example of genre of kategoria which had great leader; they felt outrage because the killer was Gand- been fused into Nehru’s eulogy. Although most part of the hi’s previous follower. When Nehru delivered the eulogy, eulogy was delivered to express Jewaharlal Nehru and Indi- he knew it’s necessary to tell the audience that Gandhi was an people’s grief and respect for Mahatma Gandhi, the orator passed away indeed. had not forgotten to make a strong accusation for the crime The Prime Minister Nehru helped the audience deal with committed to their beloved leader. their own sense of mortality indirectly by using the follow- ing words. “In ages to come, centuries and maybe millennia Analysis on the Expectations and Functions in the after us, people will think of this generation when this man of Eulogy God trod on earth, and will think of us who, however small, Eulogies typically operate under generic constraints based could also follow his path and tread the holy ground where on audience expectation. Brownlow and Davis (1974) iden- his feet had been.” (Jawaharlal Nehru, 1948) In the eulogy, tified audience’s two main expectations: (1) express eulogist Nehru didn’t help the audience accept the reality of mortality and audience’s sadness about the deceased; (2) to show re- directly. In his eulogy, he said: “…and will think of us who, spect and appreciation for the dead. Eulogy is used as a form however small, could also follow his path and tread the holy of rhetoric to confirm the worth of the deceased. Jamieson ground where his feet had been.” among which “follow his (1978) put forward five basic functions of eulogies on the path”, “his feet had been” indicate that nobody is immortal basis of audience need: (1) to make the shocked audience and we are all passers-by in the long history. believe in the reality of death; (2) to reveal the truth that The Prime Minister tried to change the relationship be- nobody is immortal; (3) to alter the relationship between the tween the living and the dead from present to past tense. people alive and the person who is dead by changing the “And if those living flames exist, there will not be darkness present tense to past tense; (4) attempt to console the audi- in this land, and we shall be able, with our effort, remem- ence by arguing that the deceased “live on” in everyone’s bering him and following his path, to illumine this land memory; (5) reiterate a sense of community identity. again, small as we are, but still with the fire that he in- The five-mile long funeral procession from Birla House stilled into us.” (Jawaharlal Nehru, 1948) The relationship to Raj Ghat took the people who joined in the procession between the living and the dead was demonstrated through more than five hours. On the funeral service of Gandhi, the change of tense from present to past. Present tense is Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru made the funeral used in the sentence “small as we are, but still with the 72 ALLS 10(1):69-72 fire” to show that they were ordinary people but Gandhi the eulogy over the national radio on his funeral service. In endowed them with power, which is symbolized by the his eulogy, he expressed his personal grief about losing a “fire”. Past tense is used in the sentence “he instilled into comrade. In the meantime, he also granted Indian people to us” to show that the dead exerted great influence on the mourn their beloved leader. living. Nehru delivered the funeral speech under generic con- Jawaharlal Nehru attempted to console the audience by straints fully based on audience’s expectation and need. He arguing that the deceased “live on” in everyone’s memo- talked about Gandhi’s death to convey their desperate sad- ry. “He lives in the hearts of millions and he will live for ness. The contribution and achievements made by Gandhi immemorial ages.” (Jawaharlal Nehru, 1948) Another func- were mentioned in his eulogy to express their appreciation tion of eulogy is to console the audience. Nehru just told his and respect for the deceased. He made the shocked people to audience that nobody is immortal which means the flesh will accept the reality that Gandhi had passed away indeed. He disappear one day but their spirit will live on permanently. sought to persuade audience to believe that everybody would “he will live for immemorial ages” provides the evidence to die one day even the greatest men. The flesh of the greatest prove this point. men will disappear forever one day, but their spirit will live The Prime Minister Nehru reaffirmed a sense of identi- on permanently over the world. Nehru’s eulogy completely ty for the community by saying that Gandhi was “perhaps meets with audience’s expectation and need. It is the typical the greatest symbol of India of the past, and may I say, of example of rhetorical hybrids fused with both the functions the India of the future, that we could have had.” (Jawaharlal of eulogy and kategoria. It is considered to be a classic work Nehru, 1948) Here, Nehru emphasized the importance of among other eulogies for Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi to India again. He fully affirmed Gandhi’s position in the history of India . REFERENCES There are many other examples in Nehru’s eulogy which can be listed here to provide more evidence to approve that Brownlow, P.C. & Davis, B. (1974). “A certainty of honor”: his eulogy successfully met the generic constraints and ex- The eulogies of Adlai Stevenson. Central States Speech pectation. The above examples are so typical that it is unnec- Journal, 25, 217-224. essary to analyze others. Eulogy, as a special type of speech, David K. Scott. (1998). Diana’s Eulogy: Breaking New is operated based on the audience’s two major expectations Ground in Epideictic Rhetoric? Annual Central States and five basic functions. The orator of the funeral speech Communication Association Meeting in Chicago, Illi- should bear these in mind and write his or her eulogy includ- nois, April 2-5. ing the two expectation and five functions. Only in this way, Gopal Sarvepalli. (1984). Jawaharlal Nehru: a biography. can his or her eulogy be considered as a successful speech in Harvard University Press. the funeral service. Jamieson, K.H. & Campbell, K.K. (1982). Rhetorical hy- brids: Fusion of generic elements. In S.K. Foss (Ed.) Rhetorical criticism. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland. CONCLUSION pp. 135-148. Mahatma Gandhi is the leader of nonviolent movement Richard D. (2005). Mahatma Gandhi: Nonviolent Leader. against British rule over India. Since he had made a great NY: New City. contribution to the independence of India, he is universally Suraj, K., Janet, B. (1994). Polarization of Indian Press known as “Mahatma Gandhi” but not his real name “Mohan- During Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty. World Communication. das Karamchand Gandhi”. “Mahatma” means “great soul” Jawaharlal, N. (1948). Eulogy for Mahatma Gandhi. [On- which means Gandhi is an Indian activist with great soul. line]. Available: http://www.kamat.com/mmgandhi/eulo- Jawaharlal Nehru is the first Prime Minister of India after gy.htm (Feb. 2, 1948). independence from Britain. They participated in the struggle Nishi, M. (2015) 20 Greatest World Leaders and Thinkers for independence for the country and Gandhi is believed to Who were Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. [Online]. Avail- be the mentor of Nehru. Although they differed very much able: https://www.thebetterindia.com/35422/20-greatest- in their ideologies and lifestyle, they had a solid relation- world-leaders-and-thinkers-who-were-inspired-by-ma- ship with each other. Upon Gandhi’s death, Nehru delivered hatma-gandhi/(October 2, 2015).

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An Analysis of The Leadership Style of Mahatma Gandhi

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Published: Jan 30, 2024

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Table of contents

Nonviolent resistance, ability to inspire and mobilize masses, emphasis on moral integrity.

• Mahatma Gandhi - Nonviolent Resistance and Civil Disobedience, https://www.history.com/topics/india/mahatma-gandhi
• Gandhi's Leadership Style: A Comparison with Modern Leadership Styles, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330378198_Gandhi's_Leadership_Style_A_Comparison_with_Modern_Leadership_Styles
• Mahatma Gandhi: His Influence & Relevance, https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/02/mahatma-gandhi-his-influence-relevance/

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