To every Briton by M.K Gandhi - summary and Question answers

 

Mahathma Gandhi asks every Briton, wherever they are — to choose non-violence instead of war to settle international disputes. Although the war is presented as being fought for democracy, he warns that the methods being used will destroy genuine democracy itself.

War has become a curse that brutalises humanity and erases the distinction between soldiers and civilians. It also serves as a warning: if people ignore this lesson, human conduct will sink below dignity and resemble brutal and inhuman behaviour.

He calls for stopping hostilities not because Britain or India is weak, but because war is morally wrong. Trying to destroy Nazism by copying its methods will only spread the same inhumanity.

He does not want Britain defeated, nor does he want a victory based on sheer destructive power. Instead he proposes a nobler alternative: fight Nazism without arms — through non-violent resistance and refusal to obey or collaborate, even if it means suffering or death, but never surrendering one’s soul or mind.

For over fifty years he has practised non-violence consistently in many fields, and he believes it to be effective; where it seemed to fail he attributes that to his own faults, not to the method.

He asserts his sincere friendship for the British and explains that, though he once supported the British Empire, he now opposes imperialism by non-violent means. His appeal springs from universal love, of which the British are an important part.

He ends with a prayer that his words be strengthened and urges Britain’s leaders to respond with wisdom and courage. He also offers his services to the Government if they consider them useful for promoting his plea for non-violence.

I. Answer the following in two or three sentences

1. According to Gandhi, what will be the condition of democracy after war?

Gandhi believed that after the war, democracy would lose its true meaning. He warned that whichever side wins, the violence and hatred used in war would destroy the values and spirit that democracy stands for.

2. Discuss the reason why Gandhi called for an end to hostilities.

Gandhi urged for the termination of war not because Britain was weak, but because he considered war itself evil in nature. He felt that killing and destruction could never bring peace or justice.

3. List the major powers who were in opposition to the British during the Second World War.

The main powers opposing Britain during the Second World War were Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, and Italy, led by Benito Mussolini.

4. "You will give all these but neither your souls, nor your minds". Elaborate.

Gandhi meant that even if the British were forced to give up their land, homes, and possessions to their enemies, they should never surrender their conscience, faith, or moral principles. He urged them to preserve their inner freedom and dignity through non-violence.

5. How did Gandhi express his continued affection for the British people despite his opposition to imperialism?

Gandhi stated that he had always been a sincere friend of the British people. Though he opposed the British Empire’s rule over India, his method of resistance was non-violent, and his appeal for peace came from universal love, which included the British as well.

II. Answer the following in a paragraph

1. Evaluate how Gandhi viewed the war as a curse to humanity.

Gandhi considered war as a terrible curse that degraded human values and destroyed compassion. He observed that the war erased the line between soldiers and civilians, turning the whole of humanity into victims of violence. He condemned the cruelty and lies spread in the name of patriotism and democracy. According to Gandhi, war brutalized mankind and threatened to reduce human beings to the level of beasts. Therefore, he regarded war not only as a curse but also as a warning to humanity to change its ways.

2. The war cannot effectively combat Nazism through similar methods of destruction. Discuss.

Gandhi argued that it was impossible to destroy Nazism by adopting the same violent and ruthless methods used by the Nazis. He believed that if Britain fought with equal cruelty, it would only become like its enemy. True victory, according to Gandhi, should come from moral strength, not from physical destruction. He emphasized that a just cause cannot justify inhuman acts, and that peace can only be achieved through non-violence and moral courage.

3. Comment on Gandhi's experience of non-violence in life.

Gandhi had practised non-violence with great dedication for over fifty years in various spheres of life—social, political, and personal. He treated it as a scientific method for solving conflicts and believed that it had never failed when followed sincerely. Even when non-violence seemed unsuccessful, he attributed the failure to human weakness, not to the principle itself. For Gandhi, non-violence was both his way of life and his mission to discover and live by Truth, which he equated with God.

III. Essay Questions

1. Gandhi urges the Britons to adopt non-violence instead of war. What are the suggestions given by him to the Britons?

In his appeal To Every Briton, Gandhi urged the people of Britain to renounce war and embrace the path of non-violence. He advised them to stop hostilities not because they were tired or weak, but because war was wrong in its very essence. Gandhi asked them to resist Nazism without arms, through the moral power of non-violent resistance. He suggested that if Hitler or Mussolini took over their lands, the British should surrender their possessions but never their conscience or freedom of thought. He encouraged them to show courage by facing oppression peacefully, even at the cost of their lives. Gandhi believed that such noble suffering would awaken humanity’s conscience and bring true victory, which no weapon could achieve. His proposal was not born of ignorance but of deep experience—he had successfully used non-violence as a moral weapon throughout his life. Ultimately, Gandhi’s appeal was not only political but also spiritual: he urged the British to prove that moral strength was greater than physical force.

2. The philosophy of non-violence influenced many great thinkers in the twentieth century. Discuss the impact of the adoption of non-violence globally.

Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence became one of the most powerful moral forces of the twentieth century. It inspired movements for civil rights, peace, and social justice across the world. In the United States, Martin Luther King Jr. adopted Gandhi’s principles in his struggle against racial discrimination, leading to major civil rights reforms. In South Africa, Nelson Mandela drew inspiration from Gandhi’s methods to fight apartheid with a spirit of reconciliation. Leaders like César Chávez in America and Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar also followed similar ideals in their peaceful struggles. Beyond politics, Gandhi’s message influenced global peace movements and inspired people to resolve conflicts through dialogue and compassion. His vision of truth and non-violence continues to remind humanity that lasting peace cannot be built on hatred or destruction, but only on love, justice, and respect for human dignity.