Circumstances
Both texts were created by Mahatma Gandhi when India used to be a British colony and Gandhi was leading his country’s march towards independence from colonial rule. Since, India was a British colony; the British Empire ravaged local business and forced them to sell on British made goods. The Dandi March was an effort by Gandhi and fellow Satyagrahis to produce Indian salt as a means to to break the British hegemony over Indian public and Indian industry. The first speech came before the Dandi March in 1930 when Gandhi wanted to make sure that his intentions of breaking the salt law would not lead to violence from his followers. Since, Gandhi was a supporter of non-violence; he wanted to ensure that his supporters take the path of non-violence, even though they faced incarceration from the British Empire for breaking the salt law.
The circumstances surrounding the second speech were based on the horrors Indian public had faced under the rule of the British Empire, which led to mistrust and the non-cooperation movement. After the First World War ended, several Indians who had fought for the British expected that they would get independence in return. But, the hold of the British Empire increased and their actions led to the weakening of the economic condition of India. The second speech was uttered in a courtroom in 1922, when Mahatma Gandhi pled guilty to the charges of sedition. Gandhi pled guilty, because he believed that his actions had led to violence throughout India. Since, Gandhi strongly opposed violence; he wanted to accept charges that came with it. But, Gandhi also made it clear that his actions and those of his followers were the cause of unethical British actions in the Punjab region and the oppression of Indian Muslims.
Explanation of Methods
In both speeches, Gandhi explains his methods to the audience through rhetoric. The speechmaking allows Gandhi to explain his audience the cause of his choices and actions he made. Gandhi also explains to his audience that he is a supporter of non-violence and he expects that his followers also support his cause but through non-violence. In the first speech, Gandhi explains his methods by making his audience understand the way they should oppose the British Rule, but he adds to the narrative that everyone joining the march has to support non-violence. Gandhi asks his audience to join the march to make salt, and informs about other means that can be used to violate the laws.
In the second speech, Gandhi again uses the power of his narrative and summarizes the circumstances that led to his actions. Gandhi adds that he opposes the consequences of his civil disobedience movement. Gandhi explains the choice of his methods to appealing to the logical appeal of the audience in the courtroom and the judge. Gandhi pleads guilty to the actions of his followers, but adds to the narrative that the actions were the direct cause of the actions of the British Empire and the oppression and humiliation suffered by Indians under their rule.
Cultural and Religious Sources
Mahatma Gandhi from his speeches clarified that he fully supported non-violence as part of his campaign. He drew inspiration from his Hindi religion and his Indian culture, which vehemently support non-violence. Gandhi called non-violence, Hindu faith’s first article and his creed’s last article. In such a way he drew inspiration from his cultural and religious values and supported the end cause of the campaign, but only when the aim of independence was achieved through the means of non-violence. Through his speeches, Gandhi claims that his actions are in support of the god’s intentions as he wishes to follow the path of non-violence and truth. In short, Gandhi and his fellow Satyagrahis are on the path of righteousness as their intentions of freeing India from the British Empire is to be achieved through means of non-violence.
Defense of Sources
Gandhi defends his religious and cultural sources by claiming that his cause has the combination of righteousness, purity of weapons and god’s will. Gandhi calls his sources and his cause as an unbeatable combination, which can only lead him and his followers to victory. Gandhi’s strong faith in his righteous cause; drives him and his followers towards achieving their goal of independence from the British Empire. Such of defense of sources and identifying his means as clean in the eyes of god are some of the most appealing measures implemented by Gandhi to motivate his supporters and rid of any guilt of their non-violent actions.
Gandhi also supports his cause by calling his followers as Satyagrahis, who even if get incarcerated would remain victorious in their cause. Gandhi appeals to the emotional reasoning (Pathos) and asks his supporters to follow the path of righteousness while aiming to achieve the goal of independence. Gandhi also reminds his followers that the only way their actions would be considered as sinful, when they fall astray from the path of non-violence and forsake the truth. Gandhi calls the struggle of independence as their moral right and calls his supporters to remain loyal to the cause by choosing ethical means.
Gandhi calls the path of non-violence as the best possible means to achieve the goals as he considers it as the only path that would rid his followers of sin. Gandhi calls the present situation as unbearable for the Indians as they are emasculated and oppressed under the regime and need to fight for freedom. Gandhi reminds his followers of their cultural heritage and religious values by using the means of peaceful boycott and uncompromising non-cooperation. Overall, Gandhi gives his supporters the cause to fight for their independence, but preaches non-violence as a path for their Satyagrah.
Use of Language
Gandhi uses different languages in both speeches and the cause of choosing vivid or inclusive language is due to the difference in his audience. In the courtroom, Gandhi is considered as a criminal whose sedition led to violence in several parts of the country; therefore, he uses vivid language to help the courtroom understand the cause of his actions. While, in the Dandi March speech he uses words that are inclusive and helps in creating commotion among the masses to follow their leader and take a path towards freedom of their country. The two speeches were spoken to different type of audiences, as the first speech on the eve of Dandi March is an appeal to his followers to join the Satyagrah. While, the second speech is spoken in a courtroom to a Judge and it is a statement of a guilty subject of the British Empire. The Dandi March speech is an appeal to the Indian public to Boycott British goods and joins the movement to free India from the shackles of the British colonial rule. The Dandi March speech is a call of a leader who wants his followers to join him and help free India from the oppression. The use of inclusive language and Gandhi’s choice of words brings his followers together. In the second speech, Gandhi uses vivid language that helps the Judge understand Gandhi’s perspective and cause of his actions. The vivid language helps the audience to develop mental images of the scenario and the imagery develops, creates an understanding of the level of humiliation suffered by Indians under the colonial rule.
