Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

I. Introduction

The present paper is an attempt to elaborate the similarities between the two greatest Personality, Philosopher, and Social Reformer. These two personalities were Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi1 of and Dr. Martin Luther King (Jr)2 of United States of America. The paper is divided into four parts. In first part, it will be dealing with the reason which contributed most to inspire both Gandhiji and Dr. Martin Luther King (Jr) to fight against the social evils, discriminations, inequalities and injustices. In second part, the paper will focus on the

A Tale of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Junior

Dr. Susanta Kumar Mallick

ideological influences on both of the leaders which thrown out from the train in South Africa though will be followed by a discussion on the methods he had a first class ticket of that train. He was and techniques both leaders were using to fight travelling from Durban to Pretoria (7th June against the inequalities and injustices in the third 1893).It was the time of winter season and he part. The fourth part of the present will be a had to spend the whole night with severe cold at discussion on how these two leaders were the station as the black and brown colored people supported by various major organisations were not allowed to travel with the white people followed by short concluding remarks. in first class coaches of the train. Similarly, Dr. Martin Luther King (Jr) was not allowed to sit in II. Discrimination in Public Transports: the front seat of a Bus. He went to participate in Both Gandhiji and Dr. Martin Luther King a debate named as “The Nigros and the (Jr) were faced discrimination and not allowed to Constitution” at the age of 14 where he was so travel in public transports with the white people. much appreciated by the Jury members. When Let’s begin with Gandhiji. Once, Gandhiji was he was coming back to home from Georgia to

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER - 2017 61 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review

Atlanta he had to face discrimination in the bus. ideas of Edward Carpenter and if we will see He was not allowed to sit in the front seat of a Gandhiji’s “Hind Swaraj” we can find lots of things bus though he had a front seat ticket. Dr. Martin’s that have been borrowed by Gandhi from Edward teacher Mr. Badley asked him to leave the front Carpenter’s book. Gandhiji was also influenced seat for white people as it was the law of the by . When Gandhiji was travelling country. from Victoria to Darban his friend gave him Ruskin’s book ‘On to this Last’. He read this III. Inspirations and Influences on Gandhiji book over the night and impressed with the ideas and Dr. King (Jr): of Ruskin. This book was translated in Gujarati The father of nation Mohan Das language by Gandhiji and the book came to be Karamchand Gandhi was influenced mostly by known as ‘Sarvodaya’. From this book Gandhiji four great personalities; they were John Ruskin, learned ‘the notion of dignity of labour’ and kept , Edward Carpenter and the view that ‘the work of lawyer is as much as Leo Tolstoy. Gandhiji was heavily influenced by important as that of barber’. Tolstoy’s book “The Kingdom of God within you” In addition to this Gandhi was also where Tolstoy discusses about Christian ethics, influenced by epics such as Vedas, Upanishadas, truth, love and empathy. This book also talks Ramayana, and Mahabaharata.Once Gandhiji about five principles: don’t hit, don’t lust, don’t was asked how will you define yourself as Hindu, hoard, don’t kill and love your enemy. Gandhiji he said, Firstly, I am not eating beef and secondly, was influenced and practiced these five principles I believes in Upanishadas. Gandhiji was also throughout his life. Similarly, Gandhiji was influenced by the ideas of Indians especially by influenced by Henry David Thoreau’s idea of civil M.N. Roy, , and Dr. B.R. disobedience where Thoreau opposing Ambedkar. The Ideas on Social Justice of Dr. American’s attack on Mexico. Thoreau was the Ambedkar, Constructive Programmes of M.N. first person in the world who opposed the State Roy and the ideas on Humanism and Nationalism through civil disobedience and stopped paying of Tagore contributed immensely to the ideas of taxes by saying “I do not support this kind of state Gandhiji. which is aggressive, which is violent”. Gandhiji borrowed the idea of civil disobedience as a Like Gandhiji Dr. Martin Luther King (Jr) method or technique to protest against the was also influenced by some great personalities. brutality of the State. Edward Carpenter’s book They were Afro-American intellectual. The first “Civilization: its cause and remedies” was also had person who influenced Dr. Martin Luther King an impact on Gandhiji. Carpenter was the man (Jr) most was ‘Web Du Bios’. He was the first who opposed to Industrialization because it African who got his degree from the Harvard destructed human existence. He protested against University. Bios’s two book titled as ‘Souls of industrialization non-violently. He had view that Black Folk (1903)’ and ‘Black Reconstruction competition has to be discarded strongly and (1935)’ had to be important source of learning industrialization has been cause to terrible for Dr. Martin Luther King (Jr). This book argued distortion. Gandhiji was influenced a lot by these that Black contributed the same as that of white

62 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 and the Black people had same contribution to Gandhi talks about God’s existence and the the development of America. Dr. Martin Luther former were talking about the Jesus while the later King (Jr) was also influenced by Christian ethics talked about Ram and Rahim. through his understanding of Bibels as his Father, Grand Father and Uncle were Priest. Due to this V. Support from Various Organisations and he was thinking in terms of love, compassion and Concluding Remarks: care. Dr. Martin Luther King (Jr) admitted that Both Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King he was not influenced by Gandhiji, Tolstoy but (Jr) were supported by strong Organisation. In through the Christian ethics of Bibles and it was case of Gandhi, he was supported by the Indian the Christian ethics that enables him to understand National Congress while Dr. Martin Luther King the power of non-violence. Further he said that (Jr) was supported by Southern Christian though he knew about non-violence it was Gandhi Leadership Conference(SCLC), Congress for from whom I learned non-violence could be a Racial Equality (CORE), March on Washington major weapon to fight against the brutal racial Movement (MOWM), Fellowship of discrimination. Reconciliation (FOR).

IV. Methods, Strategies and Activities to Last but not least both Gandhiji and Dr. pursue their Goal Martin Luther King (Jr) were assassinated in their If we will look into the methods and respective countries. Moreover, while Gandhi was strategies adopted by Gandhi and Dr. Martin fighting for the national freedom and justice, Dr. Luther we will also find many similarities. Gandhi Martin was fighting for the racial discrimination used Satyagraha against Britishers whereas Luther between the black and white colour people in King used Christian Satyagraha against racial USA. From the above discussion it is clear that discrimination. As for as Gandhiji’s view is there was not so much differences between the concerned, he was not against the British citizens both leaders except their age differences and and humans but against the British rule in India. geographical. Similarly, Martin Luther King was of the view that one should attack against the forces of evil and not against the person. Both Gandhi and Luther King believe in winning the heart of the opponent and prefer not to be physically aggressive and the centre of non violence of their struggle was Dr. Susanta Kumar Mallick, Lecturer, Savitri Women’s based on love and care. Both Dr. Martin and Degree College, Bhanjanagar.

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER - 2017 63