Teacher's Guide: Freedom Now  In the 1940s, Gandhi leads India
to freedom, showing the world how the masses could defy their
colonial rulers. Within a few years European empires crumble in
Africa and Asia. As the new nations cope with the challenges of
becoming independent, precolonial ethnic tensions begin to
resurface.  Unit Themes and Topics: economic development ethnic
conflicts human rights independence movements the role of
government  Birenda Kaur (citizen, India)  "When the dawn came
[on the day of India's independence], I cannot describe to you
how heady that feeling was. It was as though everything was new,
the world was new. . . . You felt you could do anything, now
that we were free." photographic portrait of Birenda Kaur
Before Watching  1. Based on Birenda Kaur's quotation and your
knowledge of colonial rule, what kinds of changes do you think
she hoped freedom would bring?  2. As students watch the
program, have them write down how ordinary people's lives
changed after independence and the fa