Do you think Gandhi is responsible for the tragic end of his eldest son, Harilal?

            

             Harilal Gandhi is Mahatma Gandhi’s oldest son who went to South Africa to be a barrister just like his father. He had the opportunity to further his study to England twice but his father chose other people to go there by using personal scholarship as at 36:18 and 39:29. This decision hurt Harilal and worsened the relationship with his father as the conflict first occurred when his father unpleasant with Harilal’s marriage. 

          Mahatma Gandhi is not responsible to the tragic end of Harilal as he sacrificed his family for India freedom. He considered and treated Indian as his own family and gave the personal scholarship to someone who really deserved it because he believed that formal education is not important as hard work, self control, compassion and selfless service as he said at 07:42. He also wanted Harilal to be fired after his son had done a crime by cheating. It showed that he did not use his name and position to give personal benefit to his own family.

              Other than that, this movie showed how caring Mahatma is as a father at 00:34 where he concerned to Harilal’s small injury. He also tried to understand his son feeling and mind at 00:44 even though it is an obvious thing where Harilal did not do the same thing. Harilal rebelled on his father’s decision because of his own benefit without noticing that the sacrifice that had made by his father for his nation. It is a shame on Harilal when a father who tried hardly to free India sought for forgiveness from him for his own fault. The evidence is at 00:48 where Mahatma said that if he ever did wrong to his son, then, he begged to be forgiven.

             Besides, Mahatma Gandhi thought positively and calm with his son’s behaviour in 1:02:29. Mahatma also tried to make his relationship with Harilal better and proud of him no matter what his son had done to him as in 1:22:11.

             As conclusion, Harilal could already live peacefully even without being a barrister. It is because his father always tried to help him but he often refused it because of a disappointment towards his father and one of it is at 1:18:18. It was himself who made his life became worse and he tried to stand on his feet with wrong ways. Mahatma Gandhi had tried his best to take care of his son with his way, however his son did not see the sacrifice that his father made for his own good and India. Harilal own ego that led him to a tragic death.