Read the following excerpt. It is adapted from a 1942 speech by Mahatma Gandhi, delivered to the Indian National Congress as the country tried to free itself from British rule.

Question

Ours is not a drive for power, but purely a nonviolent fight for India's independence. The power, when it comes, will belong to the people of India, and it will be for them to decide in whom to place their trust.
I believe that in the history of the world, there has not been a more genuinely democratic struggle for freedom than ours. In the democracy which I have envisioned, a democracy established by nonviolence, there will be equal freedom for all. Everybody will be his own master. It is to join a struggle for such democracy that I invite you today. . . .
Our quarrel is not with the British people, we fight their imperialism. The proposal for the withdrawal of British power did not come out of anger. We cannot evoke the true spirit of sacrifice and valour, so long as we are not free. I know the British Government will not be able to withhold freedom from us, when we have made enough self-sacrifice. We must, therefore, purge ourselves of hatred. Speaking for myself, I can say that I have never felt any hatred. As a matter of fact, I feel myself to be a greater friend of the British now than ever before. One reason is that they are today in distress. My very friendship, therefore, demands that I should try to save them from their mistakes.
Adapted from Mahatma Gandhi, "Quit India"
Based on the excerpt, what is the purpose of Mahatma Gandhi's speech?

Answer 1

The purpose of Mahatma Gandhi's speech is to advocate for India's independence from British rule through nonviolent means. He emphasizes that the struggle for freedom is not a quest for power but a democratic movement aimed at establishing a society where all individuals have equal freedom and can govern themselves. Gandhi seeks to inspire unity among the people of India by highlighting the importance of self-sacrifice, the rejection of hatred, and the need for a humane approach to the British, viewing them not as enemies but as individuals who need to be helped to recognize their mistakes. His call is for a collective effort towards achieving true democracy based on nonviolence.