Biography
Name: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
Birth: Born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat, India.
Title: Revered as "Mahatma" (meaning "Great Soul").
Philosophy: Promoted Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (truth-force) as methods of peaceful resistance.
Education: Studied law in London and became a barrister in 1891.
South Africa: Fought against racial discrimination while in South Africa from 1893 to 1915.
Role in Indian Independence: Leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule, advocating nonviolent civil disobedience.
Major Movements
- Satyagraha (1917): First major success in India's independence movement.
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920): Boycott of British goods and institutions.
- Salt March (1930): Protested British salt tax with a 240-mile march.
- Quit India Movement (1942): Demanded an end to British rule.
- Imprisonments: Imprisoned several times by the British government for his activism.
Beliefs and Legacy
Belief in Simple Living: Advocated for self-reliance, handmade goods, and rural development.
Attire: Adopted the traditional Indian dhoti made of khadi, symbolizing simplicity and rejection of British goods.
Religious Pluralism: Believed in equality for all religions, working towards Hindu-Muslim unity.
Influence on Global Leaders: Inspired civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.
Assassination: Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse.
Legacy: Regarded as the "Father of the Nation" in India, remembered for his contributions to nonviolent resistance and social reform.