Explanation:] During the British occupation of India, they exerted colonial monopolies and control against
the Indian people. The Indians rebelled against these monopolies, similar to the American revolution
against the British. However, the movement in India was largely driven by nonviolent acts of civil
disobedience, led by Mahatma Gandhi. Throughout his letter, Gandhi applies a conciliatory, yet forceful
tone, he places the blame onto the British, and he continually repeats his plan for the march in order to
convince the British to reverse their policies before he acts.
Throughout his letter, Gandhi is conciliatory and respectful. He writes to the British with the
intent of asking for the reversal of a law, so he knows that he must be polite and courteous. His
demeanor conveys to the British his sense of servitude to the British in lines 16-20. However, he is not
stepping down, but rather standing up to the British respectfully. He states that he “does not seek to
harm your people,” which simultaneously reassures the British of nonviolence but also conveys Gandhi’s
sense of urgency. He is going to act, he is going to do something, and he is informing the British of it.
Gandhi is not submitting; he is asserting himself, but with respect. Through his letter, he uses imperative
verbs, but states them politely so to not convey a violent tone. He says, “I invite you,” which sounds
polite, but indirectly is an order to the British to reverse their ways. He finishes his letter by reminding
the British that he is not threatening them, but merely reminding them that he will act if they do not.
Through the letter, his tone is both respectful to the British but is also clear and forceful in its message.
Gandhi’s rhetorical tactics place the blame onto the British. When he continually reassures
them of his nonviolence, he is demonstrating that the Indians are not going to act violently, thereby
indirectly asking the British if they too will follow the Indians. He uses phrases such as “unless the British
nation…retraces its steps” and “if the British commerce with India is purified of greed.” These
statements are Gandhi’s way of placing responsibility on to the British. They evoke the sense that the
violence and conflict are the British’s fault not the Indians. In this way, Gandhi leaves it to the British to
decide whether they want to stop their actions, thereby evoking a sense of guilt and responsibility in the
British. These methods serve Gandhi’s purpose of asking the British to revise their laws without
outrightly asking. His methods make the British the aggressors and, in this way, makes the British
consider their position more fully.
By repeating his plans to march, Gandhi is showing the British that he will not make any
surprises. He, from the start of the passage, informs the British of his nonviolent plans. By ensuring that
the British know of his plans, he is showing a sense of responsibility and honesty in his actions. This
causes the British to regard him more favorably, because they recognize that his actions and motives are
clear and honest. This will serve to make them more receptive to his demands. Gandhi also describes
the situation in such a way to make the British pity the Indians. He calls the tax the “most iniquitous
from a poor man’s standpoint,” and he wonders how they “have submitted to the cruel monopoly for so
long.” By describing the situation in such terms, he gives reason for the British to pity the Indians, and
again to see the harm they have caused them. These all serve to further Gandhi’s case.
