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It is alarming and also nauseating to see Mr. Gandhi, a seditious middle temple lawyer, now posing as a fakir of a type well known in the east, striding half-naked up the steps of the viceregal palace, while he is still organizing and conducting a defiant campaign of civil disobedience, to parley on equal terms with the representative of the king-emperor.

Mahatma Gandhi#257

PoliticsLeadershipStrategyCriticismAppearanceImage

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker criticizes Gandhi for dressing simply while engaging in politics.
In plain terms
Someone calls out Gandhi for acting like a holy man while leading a rebellion.
What can you take from it?
Critics may view simplicity as a political strategy.

Where it applies

  • political opposition
  • media criticism
  • historical debate

Putting it to work

  • analyze public image
  • critique leaders
  • understand optics

Questions to consider

  • Is appearance part of leadership?
  • Who sets the narrative?

Another view

This quote misattributes the criticism to Gandhi himself rather than an opponent.

More from Mahatma Gandhi

  1. You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.

    Permalink to quote #256
  2. I believe that Gandhi's views were the most enlightened of all the political men of our time. We should strive to do things in his spirit: not to use violence …

    Permalink to quote #258
  3. If you want to give a message again to the West, it must be a message of 'Love', it must be a message of 'Truth'. There must be a conquest [claps], please, ple…

    Permalink to quote #255

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