Gandhi Movie Questions

1. The film begins with a vision of the future in 1948. What does this scene show?
 Gandhi’s assassination

2. What does Gandhi do with the South African passes? What happens to him as a result of
his actions?
 They burn the passes
 Gandhi is arrested

3. Who is Charlie Andrews? What is his occupation?

 He is an Englishman who wants to work with Gandhi for Indian independence
 He is a priest

4. Gandhi’s act of refusing to obey General Smut’s fingerprinting law is an example of…
 Civil Disobedience

5. Give two examples of discrimination that people of color faced in South Africa during
Apartheid.
 They must carry a passbook
 They cannot ride in first class on a train

6. In what year does Gandhi arrive back in India?

 1915

7. By what means of transportation does Gandhi set out to see “the real India”? What does
he see on his journey?
 Train
 He sees poverty
 Indians fail by using violence against the British

8. What is the problem in the old man’s village?

 They cannot sell their crops
 They have no money but the landlords still demand rent
9. Why does Gandhi tell Charlie that he must leave India?
 Independence has to be won by Indians alone and Charlie is English

10. What type of protest does Gandhi call for on April 6th?
 A day of prayer and fasting
 The country would come to a halt

11. Why do the British decide not to arrest Gandhi?

 They did not want to make a martyr of him
 They do not want to draw attention to Gandhi

12. Why do the Indians burn their clothes?

 Their clothes are mad from British materials

13. Gandhi’s famous quote states, “An eye for an eye only…”
 “An eye for an eye only makes the whole world go blind”
 It was Gandhi’s justification for nonviolent methods

14. Why does Gandhi decide to fast?

 He will fast until the violence stops
 He is fasting for his penance for arousing emotions that led to the rioting

15. Who comes to see Gandhi in Porbandar, India?

 Vince Walker
 NY Times reporter who covered Gandhi in South Africa

16. Describe the scene at the Dharasana Salt Works?

 The Indian protesters do not fight back even though they are beaten by the
soldiers
17. Why did Gandhi travel to England?
 Attend an all government conference to discuss the independence of India
18. Why does Jinnah suggest the creation of Pakistan?
 Muslims want to be their own country
 They do not want to be ruled by the Hindu majority

19. Describe the scene at the Indian/Pakistan border in 1947

 Riots break out between Hindus and Muslims

20. After Gandhi is assassinated, into which river were his ashes spread and why?
 Ganges River
 It is the holy river in the Hindu religion