"Renunciation, if one is capable of it, creates the inner peace and poise necessary to achieve real lasting rellults, even material results, untainted by ugly means. For the exceptional practitioner of self-denial a special prize is in store. The yogi's highest recompense is to become so firmly united with God after death that he need never again return to the status of migrating mortal man. Several times in his life Gandhi expressed the hope not to be born anew."
-- from: GANDHI -- His Life and Message for the World. by Louis Fischer
Gandhi never gave in to hopelessness, even during the worst of times in his struggles. He raised a non-violent army of Satyagrahas which drove the British out of India. He tried to reconcile hatred between Hindus and Muslims, denounced the caste system, and took a vow to dress like the poorest in India until all could afford better attire! He definitely believed in reincarnation, and saw the Gita not as literal history, but as an allegory wherein man (the disciple Arjuna) struggles to free his soul from past desires and regain his rightful kingdom, the same kingdom of God which Jesus said is "within you".
Today India is a net food exporter, and is economically better off than many latin American countries. It is the world's largest representative democracy.
Can't be true, the Latin American countries are overwhelmingly Christian...