Power to the People: Mahatma Gandhi's Key to ChangeAccording to Indian social activist Mahatma Gandhi, selfless service is the foundation of creating change in the world . “Action is everyone’s duty”, and this is motivated by the “spirit of service” (9) that one must adopt to understand humility and altruism, strengthen oneself and become a defender of ahimsa, non-violence (9). Like so many other social activists, Gandhi had a vision of the future: a vision of peace, independence and equality for all. For Gandhi, non-violence is essential if we are ever to see the change he envisioned for the world. Gandhi fought tirelessly for India's independence from Britain, but he did not fight in the way that many people think of today when they hear the word “fight”. Gandhi fought without fists but with courage, heart, empathy and, above all, with love – love of self, love of others and love of his country. Gandhi confirms that he who loves himself, others and his country enough to sacrifice himself and devote himself to ahimsa, has the power to change the world. If an individual wants to make a difference, he must follow the way Mahatma Gandhi lived his life; Gandhi led a life of non-violence in his daily life, in the form of civil disobedience and as the foundation of his independence. As Gandhi did, when one comes to a complete understanding of nonviolence and acts accordingly, only he can make a difference. Gandhi advocated non-violence as a way of life because it forms the basis for promoting ahimsa on a larger scale. The individual is the gateway to universal reform and once he recognizes and understands altruistic action, he too can become an advocate of ahimsa by practicing his...... middle of paper. ..... dependence and the chaos that results from it. violence leads. By seeing these ideals, even if they are never achieved, we are doing something beneficial. Having the ideal or ultimate goal in mind is what really matters to Gandhi. Fully aware that not everyone will ever be able to fully dedicate themselves to ahimsa, Gandhi confirms that it is okay to never achieve these goals, provided you strive for them and make a positive difference in the process. Gandhi himself was not the ideal individual he portrayed people to strive to be, but he was real and he too strived, just as others should. He single-handedly changed so much for so many people and is the perfect example of his own philosophy that it only takes one person to change the world. With his strong and unwavering commitment to making a difference, he empowered people around the world and his influence continues today..