The Twentieth Century has been one of the most significant eras in history. A hundred years defined by the presence of a number of innovative new thinkers, leaders and entrepreneurs. A hundred years recognized by the devastation of two world wars, numerous genocides and the outbreak of totalitarian societies. This century has seen the rise of several world power nations, and the fall of many others. It has seen depraved leaders ascend to power- - and fall at the hands of democracy and righteousness. In essence this century was about constant confrontations between democracy and totalitarianism, and the efforts of a great number of audacious individuals who defied authority in order to rid the world of tyranny and autocracy, and secure the presence of civil rights in their communities, nations, and around the world. While humanity was engaged in conflicts surrounding the continuous struggle for democracy in the world; there was a diminutive, seemingly insignificant man who fought a personal and universal battle against the suppression of civil rights while in the same instant promoting peace and concurrence among all citizens of mankind

In 1913 Gandhi led the first of several resistance marches against established government systems. He had tried to come to compromises with government officials- but the agreements failed, and so Gandhi defied the opposition- and led a small group of his followers over 200 miles from Natal to Transvaal. Along the way the group was joined by thousands of other supporters- and when they reached their destination months later, hungry, and tired, yet full of resolve, they numbered over 500,000. The display was impressive-Gandhi was beginning to gain influence among the suppressed citizens of the world. By 1916 Gandhi was joined wherever he went, on resistance walks, or to assemblies with important government officials, a large following was a constant presence at his heels. Gandhi combined his opposition to wrong with the compassion for the outlaw. He never reacted violently to government retaliations which often claimed the lives of millions of his people, in instances such as this he would remark, “An eye for an eye ends up making the whole world blind.” Instead of initiating violent, bloody strikes against the government, Gandhi would gather his people together and lead them over the landscape, millions following in an emblematic display, and a call for equality that somehow, incredibly gained much more recognition than any form of violence could have achieved.

For a brief period Gandhi was consumed by the civilized society he found himself a part of. He became very insecure in his new environment, and traded his traditional Indian robed garb and few possessions for expensive suits, and other luxuries. Later, he received a letter from his mother at home in India, and was reminded of his promise to live a simplistic life. Reluctantly, he returned to a more fundamental lifestyle, and slowly began to recognize the breach between the two societies which he was now a part of. He had experienced problems form the start finding a job in London, and there seemed to be few opportunities for him in the field of law. Finally he was able to find a job as translator in South Africa. He returned to India to see his family, and then left India again in 1893. He was then introduced to his first taste of social injustice. It happened on a train, on the way to South Africa from India, when Gandhi was tossed from a train cart, for not moving out of a first class seat for which he had purchased a ticket. A white man demanded that Gandhi be removed, and he allowed himself to be thrown from the moving train, rather than comply with injustice. As he stood angry and knee-deep in snow, watching the train pass by, he realized that he could not react in anger, not add fuel to the fire which he felt gathering inside him. He found it difficult to experience such hate, ignorance, and injustice, but he vowed that he would avenge his encounter with peace.

In 1893, Gandhi arrived in South Africa to handle a case. He was once again acquainted with a sate of civil prejudices which he had first begun to recognize in London. South Africa was a completely segregated state, where blacks and Indians were commonly mistreated, jailed and kept separate from the standard society. How was it that the peo

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