Talk:Mahatma Gandhi

The Word 'Kaffir'

I deleted the sentence "it is worth nothing the word Kaffir had a different connotation in Gandhi's time than its current day meaning." It did? Says who? I am not saying that the claim is false, I have no idea. But without a source I am not willing to take the claim at its word. The source from the sentence which followed it did not support that statement so I don't what the editor who put that claim in the article is basing the claim on. As far as I know the word kaffir is and has been for a long time (well before Gandhi's time anyway) a derogatory racial epithet for native Africans in South Africa. I have never heard any other connotation. Gandhi did a lot of amazing things but there's no reason to shy away from the man's flaws; I don't support glossy eyed revisionism no matter who it is.Jdlund (talk) 22:43, 19 March 2010 (UTC) ganhi rules —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jdm7997 (talk • contribs) 14:49, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

Perhaps if you wanted to know that, you could try looking up, oh I don't know, Wikipedia? You'll find that kaffir originates from the Muslim term kafir, meaning unbeliever or heretic.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaffir_(racial_term) --90.206.222.147 (talk) 00:58, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

Don't judge a person based on terms taken from a different era. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaffir_(racial_term) "The word was used officially in this way, without derogatory connotations, during the Dutch and British colonial periods until the early twentieth century. It appears in many historical accounts by anthropologists, missionaries and other observers, as well as in academic writings. For example, the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford originally labeled many African artifacts as "Kaffir" in origin. The 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica made frequent use of the term, to the extent of having an article of that title.[7]" --- Balaji Viswanathan —Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.164.181.109 (talk) 13:50, 19 May 2010 (UTC)

Celibate

Under the "Brahmacharya" subheading, it says "The incident had significant influence in Gandhi becoming celibate at the age of 36, while still married." But "celibate" means the state of being unmarried. (See Wikipedia's own entry on the subject). It would be better worded as something like "Gandhi becoming sexually abstinent".

Actually, I see now that this error is continued throu the entire section, using celibate to mean abstinent.

Mikeyramone (talk) 20:17, 3 May 2010 (UTC)Mikey Ramone 5/1/10—Preceding unsigned comment added by Mikeyramone (talk • contribs) 20:13, 3 May 2010 (UTC)

But 'celibate' can also mean sexually abstinent, see http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/celibacy

Cdixon (talk) 17:40, 10 May 2010 (UTC)

Etymological meaning of a certain term is irrelevant. In Indian English, the term is used everywhere to convey the same meaning as sexually abstinent. Furthermore the Princeton University website defines the term simply as abstaining from sexual intercourse. --SanskritGuy (talk) 13:48, 2 July 2010 (UTC)

Edit request from 117.99.64.38, 9 May 2010

a man change in the usa with out start a war nd according to his "leave life nd do study as like u dont die

nd leave every movement in ur life nd thought
that is last day in ur life " he he i am stupid 

bapo shree mahatma gandi we miss u  

117.99.64.38 (talk) 10:09, 9 May 2010 (UTC)

Spelling error

The word "laborers" is spelled incorrectly in the introduction

Gandhi's Principals: Faith (Quotation)

I am adding "Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. " to the end of the "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians," quotation. These words did follow the original quotation, and add further relevance to the quotation regarding Gandhi's perception of religion. Evil666 (talk) 01:31, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

I think Gandhi's opinion on atheism is also relevant to the context. "It amazes me to find an intelligent person who fights against something which he does not at all believe exists." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 123.201.235.169 (talk) 13:56, 12 July 2010 (UTC)

He was known for his quotations. Her is one: What I think of Western civilisation? It must be a good idea.--83.108.30.141 (talk) 00:09, 26 July 2010 (UTC)

Gandhi's opposition to abortion

I don't see any mention of Ganghi's opposition to abortion and contraception. Gandhi, as a follower of the Hindu concepts of Ahimsa and Brahmacharya, vehemently opposed both abortion and contraception. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 219.91.254.51 (talk) 19:47, 10 July 2010 (UTC)

Gandhi just had to make two or three children before he was 20. I would not take advice from him regarding family planning.--83.108.30.141 (talk) 00:04, 26 July 2010 (UTC)

1944-1950

Many things happened in gandhi's life and in india history .After facing many problems and many stricks india got independence . After all problem india got independence on 15 August, commemorating the day it gained its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation in 1947. The Republic of India was actually born on 26 January 1950 - this is when the new constitution came into effect .

1944-1950

Many things happened in gandhi's life and in india history .After facing many problems and many stricks india got independence . After all problem india got independence on 15 August, commemorating the day it gained its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation in 1947. The Republic of India was actually born on 26 January 1950 - this is when the new constitution came into effect . —Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.164.154.45 (talk) 20:19, 25 July 2010 (UTC)

Constitutions do get edited maybe once a decade. Or maybe just shed of altogether, and replaced. With or without a constitution, India came to effect as we know it in 1947.--83.108.30.141 (talk) 00:07, 26 July 2010 (UTC)