On Violence

The Use and Abuse of Violence in India

Overview:

Is violence needed to bring about change? Does violence always bring about more violence? In this class we will learn about theories of violence and about the fight against British Imperialism in India in order to evaluate the impact of Gandhi's non-violence movement. However, this ideology of non-violence will prove futile in preventing the violent displacement of 12.5 million and the murder of nearly 1 million people in India after the British exit. Can such violence be controlled? Or do humans have a natural tendency towards violence? This class will offer students an opportunity to write a PBAT level paper for social studies.

Essential Questions: 

Unit 1: British Imperialism in India

1. How did the British come to control India?

2. What did India have to offer Britain? What did Britain assume it was offering India?

3. What was life like for Indians under British rule?

4. What strategies were used to sustain control of the region? Were they violent?

Unit 2: Indian Independence

1. Who was Mohandas K. Gandhi and what was his philosophy of non-violent protest?

2. How did Gandhi implement his ideology of satyagraha to push the British out?

3. Why was the use of non-violence a successful strategy to push out the British Empire from India? 

Unit 3: Partition of India and Pakistan

1. What was the relationship of Hindus and Muslims before Partition?

2. Who was Ali Jinnah and why did he want a separate country for Muslims?

3. How was Partition conducted and who was in charge?

4. Why was the process of the Partition of India and Pakistan so violent? Could the violence have been avoided?