←back to thread

Gandhi's Letter to Hitler (1940)

(www.mkgandhi.org)
116 points wslh | 1 comments | 17 Nov 24 04:55 UTC | HN request time: 0.201s | source
Show context
amatecha ◴[17 Nov 24 06:17 UTC] No.42162344[source]▶
The degree of wisdom and truly "evolved" thinking demonstrated in this letter is deeply inspiring. Simultaneously, it conversely seems to support the idea that you can't really reason with fascists because their hunger for power (and destruction) is essentially insatiable and they won't stop because someone spoke some convincing words.
replies(3): >>42162476 #>>42162658 #>>42166055 #
throwaway10oct ◴[17 Nov 24 07:06 UTC] No.42162476[source]▶
I respectfully disagree because Gandhi's approach may seem idealistic, but in reality, nature functions on the basis of survival of the fittest.

Nonviolent methods often require the possibility of violence as a backdrop to be effective. Otherwise, they might not yield the desired results.

While Gandhi's philosophy sounds nice in theory, it may not always be the most practical in real-world scenarios.

replies(7): >>42162504 #>>42162558 #>>42162601 #>>42165691 #>>42166509 #>>42167007 #>>42167760 #
iwantgandhi ◴[17 Nov 24 07:38 UTC] No.42162601[source]▶
"While Gandhi's philosophy sounds nice in theory, it may not always be the most practical in real-world scenarios."

You do know his philosophy worked, right?

replies(6): >>42162633 #>>42162660 #>>42162682 #>>42163163 #>>42163166 #>>42164288 #
ConfiYeti ◴[17 Nov 24 14:17 UTC] No.42164288[source]▶
We gained independence when it was inconvenient for the British to continue their rule over India. While his work can not be understated, you also can't deny that it took a very long time. During that long period: Indians fought under British banners and died, and Indians were systematically starved to feed frontlines of war we had nothing to do with.

Just imagine getting independence 5 years earlier by nationwide violent uprisings and non-cooperation moment together. Britain was already fighting on multiple fronts during WW2, it was a plausible path to early independence.

Sure we saved some lives that would've been lost in violent uprisings, but we lost just as many if not more from inaction.

replies(3): >>42164513 #>>42165581 #>>42171278 #
1. whatshisface ◴[17 Nov 24 15:01 UTC] No.42164513[source]▶
The kind of organization that operates like the ANC (violent cells oriented around loyalty and survival) governs like the ANC (networks of cronies that are loyal to the country but in every other way ransack it). I think India is a lot better off for having gone into the hands of someone like Nehru, which would not have been possible if the first person to hold the reigns of power had also been the head of a nationalist terrorist organization.