 can be done by Indians. He draws great crowds when he travels. He is arrested and brought to trial, then released. There is a meeting among English officials where they fret over the inconvenience represented by Gandhi. There is a meeting among Indian leaders, including Gandhi and young Nehru, where issues of terrorism are discussed. Gandhi advocates a day of prayer (general strike). The people are beginning to call him “Mahatma” (Great Soul). The British arrest him. People gather in the streets. The British send a force and there is a massacre with over 1,500 casualties. The general in charge of the force is brought before a hearing to justify his action. He asserts that he wanted to teach the people of India a lesson. In a meeting with the British, Gandhi points out that the English are masters in someone else’s home. “You must humiliate us to control us.” The British suggest that if they leave there will be chaos. Gandhi speaks to the people from a canopied platform. He declares that India must be worthy of its freedom; there must be unity between Hindus and Muslims; and they must defy the British.
In his maturity, Gandhi continues to strategize for non-violent revolution. A group of marchers turn on policemen who have beaten some of their members. One of them kills a policeman. Gandhi goes into crisis. He goes on a fast until the people stop their marching. In the end, all demonstrations of non-cooperation cease, and the people pray for Gandhi-Ji. He ends the fast.
Shockingly, the recovering Gandhi is arrested again. He freely admits his commitment to driving out the “evil” rule of the British. He is sent to prison and released sometime later. The film jumps several years ahead picking up with Martin Sheen who has come to India to find his old friend. Gandhi and his wife are reenacting their wedding at the age of 13. High British officials meet with Lord Irwin (John Gielgud) and explain that Gandhi means to march to the sea and make salt. It is a symbolic gesture of independence from the Empire. Their control of the production of salt is an analog of their control of the country. Gandhi says “they are not in control; we are.” Thousands of people line the way of his walk. He claims the salt of the Indian Ocean for the Indian people. Gielgud sends a force to stop the salt-making. They arrest many but to no avail; then they arrest Gandhi. There is a confrontation at a British saltworks where soldiers beat the non-violent protestors.
Gielgud calls Gandhi from prison to invite him to England for a conference on the possible independence of India. Gandhi is a celebrity in London. He returns to India with no commitment from the British. He says, “They are clinging to old dreams.” World War II has begun and Gandhi is once again arrested and detained in a pleasant mansion. Margaret Bourke-White (Candice Bergen) comes to photograph him. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gandhi articulate their mature philosophies to Bergen. Mrs. Gandhi dies of a heart attack in detention with her husband at her side. The war ends and the British send a Viceroy to begin talks on the practicalities of independence. The Muslim minority fears it will be dominated by the Hindus; they want to partition a Muslim state to be called Pakistan. Gandhi tries to make a bridge but fails. There will be two independent states, and civil war will be averted.
The British flag comes down. Gandhi returns to his spinning wheel. On the India-Pakistan border in 1947, a conflict erupts between displaced Hindus and Muslims. The violent unrest spreads throughout the country. Gandhi is profoundly discouraged. He goes to Calcutta where there is chaos in the streets. There is chanting of “death to Muslims.” The climate of religious hatred worsens. Gandhi begins another fast until the people come to their senses. Prime Minister Nehru comes to tell Gandhi that things are getting better, but more deadly rioting breaks out. Great efforts are made to persuade Gandhi that the hatreds will be resolved. Nehru makes a speech saying “Gandhi-Ji is dying because of our madness.” One day a delegatio