Gandhi at his Wheel

The picture I have selected is "Gandhi at his Spinning Wheel" taken by Margaret Bourke-White in 1946. The photo was an emblem of the Indian independence movement against Britain. This picture served, and continues to serve, as encompassing the being, essence and character of Gandhi. This picture greatly impacted society at the time because it served as a picture of the independence movement, giving an iconic image of the great man who was the leader of this retaliation against the British, the man who gave his life for the cause. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi dies a mere two years after this picture was taken, possibly the last portrait of him alive. This image, although it does not directly impact me, relates to the struggles my ancestors faced under British rule. Although I was not born nor raised in India, my parents and their parents were. My heritage and culture impact my daily life, and this involves the freedom that India gained because of the great Mahatma Gandhi. And every year, the day that India gained independence is celebrated, and this day came about, in large part, because of Mahatma Gandhi. The sight of this simple man forgoing materialistic pleasure and weaving his own cloth, a man, who on the day the picture was taken, had sworn a vow of silence, a man who gave so much for the country of this country, this is a man I respect. And this iconic image captures all of those occurrences and more.