#004 Gandhi (1982)

       "Gandhi" 1982 is a biographical film about a well-known leader from India, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Not only his contributions to India's independence, Gandhi stood firmly on non-violence approach to fight for Indian's rights and independence of the nation. When he was turned down after voiced out his rights to sit in the first class in the train at South Africa, the incident raised his awareness to gain rights equality from British government towards Indians in South Africa. 

       Gandhi was not born to be a charismatic leader, as he could not even attract people's attention when he gave his first speech to raise awareness for the people to fight for their rights. Although he faced failures, such as in early life, he got beaten and put into jail by the British police after he gathered the Indians and burned the passes to ask for equality, refusal of admitting the court sentences thus got lockup, he still took the risk to strive for Indian community's rights equality. Gandhi also lived the life of Indian to put on homespun, at the same time asked the people to support the homespun in order to repel and boycott clothes from British factories, he worked with the "untouchable" community to eliminate social class differences between the people, and fasted to raise peoples' awareness to stop the fighting and riots in India and Pakistan. Every move he made were not being supported by the people all the time, he might faced oppositions toward his decision, yet Gandhi still never give up to fight for his country and peoples.

       Self-efficacy theory explained one's ability and persistent to complete tasks and achieve goals (Bandura, 1997). Gandhi showed high level of self-efficacy as a leader to overcome social pressure, government power and obstacles in his journey fighting for rights equality and nation's independence. One with high self-efficacy actively take up the responsibility and make effort to complete a task, also persist longer to achieve the goal. With his own experiences as a human treated unequally, Gandhi contributed his whole life to strive for his people and country. Although he made himself very clear on his stand for equality, he was never shaken on his non-violence move to raise the awareness and voice out to the government.

       As compared to Gandhi, I would see myself as having low self-efficacy, therefore I prefer external motivation such as getting reward after completing a task. For example, have an ice cream after a hectic day completing assignment, buy a new outfit after a period of workout, or spend quality time with friends and family after revision. I gain social support in order to persist in my tasks and overcome obstacles. Different individuals develop different motivation that keeps them work passionately on their tasks.

Reference

Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York, NY: Freeman.