This biographical epic of famous pacifist Mahatma Gandhi follows him from his early years as a struggling British-trained lawyer in South Africa to eventually becoming the leader of India and freeing the country from British rule using his patented method of non-violent civil disobedience.
             We meet Gandhi (Ben Kingsley), who recently completed his studies in England, travelling first class on a South African train. It's 1893, and he's not aware of the naked racism and discrimination that dominate that culture. When an indignant conductor discovers him, Gandhi is given a choice of moving back to third class or being ejected from the train. Gandhi protests, but his status as a lawyer is meaningless; he's thrown unceremoniously from his compartment to the platform at the next station. This seminal moment will shape his destiny. Outraged by the intolerable bias, he decides to protest with civil disobedience: to destroy his South African identity papers and those of his fellow protesters. Gandhi determines to fight injustice and unjust laws until the South African system can be reformed. He could not have been aware that this decision would be the genesis of his lifelong social activism. Gandhi hones his public speaking skills as he motivates Indian labourers who had been brought to South Africa to toil for harsh masters. Gandhi encourages non-violent civil disobedience to bring about change. And he cleverly cultivates the attention of the press - like international reporter Vince Walker (Martin Sheen) of the New York Times - to publicize excesses and injustices so that world pressure can be brought to bear.
             After considerable success, he returns to his native India intending to establish a private law practice. His reputation as a civil reformer had preceded him, and he's greeted by an admiring crowd and by Indian political leaders who wish him to join in their struggles against a tyrannical British rule. M
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