MY BOOK

Mahatma Gandhi
In the 1930s and 40s Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was one of the most important leaders of the movement that was struggling to free India from British rule and make it an independent country, a goal that was finally achieved in August 1947.
However, that isn’t enough to explain why so many people think of Gandhi as one of the greatest political figures of the 20th century. What really made him special was his belief in non-violent striks to British economic, political and military power: he believed the way forward for the Indian independence movement – and for all people suffering oppression – was simple ‘non-cooperation’ rather than violence. Non-cooperation included mistakes, boycotts, the refusal to pay taxes, and the willingness to go to prison if necessary – tactics that were effective in putting pressure on the British authorities.Gandhi’s ideas certainly influenced the leaders of other 20th-century freedom struggles, such as Martin Luther King in the United States and Nelson Mandela in South Africa.Gandhi was born in the northern Indian state of Gujarat, the son of an important local politician. His parents arranged for him to get married at the extremely young age of thirteen, and he became a father before he was twenty. His family wanted him to become a barrister and sent him to study law at university in London, where his dislake for English food was one of the things that made him become a vegetarian for the rest of his life.
In 1893 he went to work as a lawyer in South Africa, where his political beliefs began to develop as he saw the discrimination suffered by non-white people, including the country’s large Indian community. He also moved closer to Hindu religious ideas, particularly ahimsa or non-violence.After returning to India he decided to live a life of ‘simplicity’, which meant giving up unnecessary spending and resistance as few clothes as possible. In 1918 he alentaged poor farmers in Gujarat to resist a new tax introduced by the British. The authorities put him in prison, but thousands of people protested and soon he was released. The British compromised with the poor farmers, and Gandhi became famous all over India.Over the next 30 years he devoted himself to the elections of Indian independence.
He lived long enough to see his dream become reality, but he was sad to see the violence that surrounded the division of the subcontinent into two countries for Hindus and Muslims respectively – India and Pakistan – because he had always believed that the followers of the two religions should be able to live together peacefully.
1. ‘There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to live for.
2. ‘Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him with dignity.’
3. ‘What do I think of Western travel? I think it would be a very good idea.’
4. ‘Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s wishes.’
5. ‘You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my soul.’

The English song - Bad day/ Daniel Powter

LYRICS:

-Bad day/ Daniel Powter

Where is the moment we needed the most

You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

They tell me your blue skies fade to gray

They tell me your passion's gone away

And I don't need no carryin' on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low

You're faking a smile with the coffee you go

You tell me your life's been way off line

You're falling to pieces every time

And I don't need no carryin' on

Because you had a bad day

You're taking one down

You sing a sad song just to turn it around

You say you don't know

You tell me don't lie

You work at a smile and you go for a ride

You had a bad day

The camera don't lie

You're coming back down and you really don't mind

You had a bad day

You had a bad day

Will you need a blue sky holiday?

The point is they laugh at what you say

And I don't need no carryin' on

You had a bad day

You're taking one down

You sing a sad song just to turn it around

You say you don't know

You tell me don't lie

You work at a smile and you go for a ride

You had a bad day

The camera don't lie

You're coming back down and you really don't mind

You had a bad day

(Oooh.. a holiday..)

Sometimes the system goes on the blink

And the whole thing turns out wrong

You might not make it back and you know

That you could be well oh that strong

And I'm not wrong

(yeah...)

So where is the passion when you need it the most

Oh you and I

You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Cause you had a bad day

You're taking one down

You sing a sad song just to turn it around

You say you don't know

You tell me don't lie

You work at a smile and you go for a ride

You had a bad day

You've seen what you like

And how does it feel for one more time

You had a bad day

You had a bad day