Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - November/December 2012 - (Page 12)

Making History hen I was in eighth grade, part of my school’s curriculum included creating a project for National History Day. The theme that year was Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History. I wanted my project both to feature an event that impacted world history and to connect to me in some way. Because my parents and grandparents are from India, I considered topics related to that country. I chose my topic, “Mahatma Gandhi’s Nonviolent Civil Resistance: The ‘Battle of Right Against Might’” because the movement was instrumental in India’s gaining independence from Britain. I also chose it because, as a teenager in the 1940s, my grandpa actually participated in India’s freedom movement and even saw and heard Mahatma Gandhi himself. I decided to make a documentary because I enjoy working with technology and because I thought it would be an effective way to tell such a big story in a small amount of time. After choosing the topic and format of my project, I began to research my topic in earnest. Personal In the National History Day Contest, middle and high school students research a historical topic related to an annual theme and create a project—a documentary, exhibit, performance, website, or paper—on their topic. Students who win at the local level advance to the state, and then national competition. by Ashwin Krishna W on gandhi and grandpa Reading about the history of India, I was shocked to think that a country with such a rich history had once been a colony controlled by another country. To understand Gandhi’s philosophy, I read some of his speeches, including his famous Quit India speech, in which he called for determined, passive resistance to British rule. I also read some of his quotes and writings from the book The Words of Gandhi, which illustrated his views on daily life, cooperation, nonviolence, faith, and peace. In addition, I watched the movie Gandhi. In my research, I learned that Gandhi first used nonviolent resistance to gain equal rights for Indians in South Africa, and after succeeding, applied similar methods in India. Using boycotts, fasts, marches, and other such protests, he led millions in a revolution that brought India independence and reform, including improvement in living conditions, education, the economy, and equal rights for millions. The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., was deeply influenced by Gandhian philosophy, which served as a guiding force in his fight for civil rights. Gandhi’s example continues to inspire reform movements across the world today, including Occupy Wall Street and the Arab Spring. My research also included interviewing my grandpa about his experiences during India’s freedom movement. He recalled buying cloth made in India as part of the effort to boycott British goods, and explained how, after Gandhi called on Indian lawyers to boycott the court system, his father had resigned as a government advocate, or lawyer. I worked on my project at school and at home, gathering images and original video clips, selecting important events, 12 imagine nov/dec 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - November/December 2012

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - November/december 2012
Contents
Big Picture
In My Own Words
Well of Dreams
Making History Personal
A World Full of Stories
The Month of Writing Dangerously
Japan Adventures
Storytelling 2.0
On the Frontline of Digital Journalism
Once Upon a Summer
Awakening the Storyteller
Selected Opportunities & Resources
On the Doorstep of Discovery
When You’re Ready to Do Research
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - November/December 2012

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