Introduction Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who is more popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was born on October 2nd, 1869 and passed away on January 30th, 1948. He was the most popular leader of the Indian nationalist movement during the British-rule that lasted for nearly a century in India. He was the most adamant supporter of the non-violent civil disobedience and was the leader that inspired the move towards independence and civil rights amongst the Indians. Gandhi was born on the coastal regions of Gujarat in a Hindu Bania community in the family of a senior government official Karamchand Gandhi. His mother Putlibai was his father's fourth wife. The first three wives died during child birth. His mother was a Jain and Gandhi was strongly influenced by Jain traditions and customs (Erikson, 1969). He studied law abroad in London. His very first effort towards social change was on return to India in 1915. Prior to his return, he worked in South Africa for the civil rights of the Muslims and Hindus in the region. This was where he first experimented with the new techniques of non-violent efforts towards change. While he was in South Africa, he also dedicated his time towards voicing non-violently against the numerous legislatures that existed against the Indians. These were the techniques he then also applied when returning to India when supporting peasants to fight against the extreme land taxes in the region (Erikson, 1969). He was never a supporter of communalism and
Mahatma Gandhi: Gandhi was born in Porbandar, India in 1869 and died in 1948. He was western educated, specifically trained in England. Although he was a nationalist, he was anti-modern because he was skeptical to industrialism. He believed in the ideal of satyagraha, the non-tolerance of evil, but also the understanding that violence is not the answer to that evil. He also believed in non-violence. He did not cooperate with anything British, specifically trading with the British, British schooling or products, and even paying taxes to the British. He served as a civil rights activist after being thrown off a train when refusing to move from his seat in first class. He became the leading member of Congress Party in the 1930’s and shortly after participated in the March to Sea for salt during the British imposed salt tax. Every single aspect of Gandhi’s life was peaceful, if the people around him decided to disobey and use violence as a means of getting what they wanted, Gandhi would take it upon himself to fast. He was eventually assassinated by a Hindus
That was Gandhi’s turning point in his life. He wanted to earn the same rights as everyone else, he wanted everyone to be equal. He created an independence movement to do this, but violence broke out in the process. For this Gandhi ended his movement. He was sentenced to six years in prison in 1922 but, was then released in 1924 after he underwent an operation for appendicitis.
The use of only non-violent methods in the pursuit of justice is not as simple as it sounds. Gandhi's basic challenge, first of all was to himself, to exercise strong self-discipline. He did it in many ways. He dressed very simply, and shaved his head. He did not attend any concerts or the theatre. Each week for one whole day he would refrain from speaking. He also did physical work a couple of hours every day. His more serious challenges began when he was set to work in South Africa, where he was discriminated against for being an Indian immigrant. For example, Gandhi was on a trip where he was seated in the first-class compartment, as he had purchased a first-class ticket. According to Bisht (2010): A White person who entered the compartment was upset that Gandhi was in first-class and immediately summoned the White railway officials. They ordered Gandhi to remove himself and go to the van compartment, since 'coolies' (a racist term for Indians) and non-whites were not permitted in first-class compartments. Gandhi protested and produced his ticket, but was warned that he would be forcibly removed if he did not make a gracious exit. As Gandhi refused to comply with the order, a White police officer pushed him out of the train, and his luggage was tossed out onto the platform. During his train journey he had to endure beatings and mistreatment from whites for his refusal to comply with their unfair orders (Mahatma Gandhi's Freedom Struggle and the Railways). He overcame racism by not letting it break him or his drive, but more obstacles were to appear in his
Furthermore, Gandhi spent years in London as a student of law, where he further explored vegetarianism and began his “intellectual awakening, his moral maturation and the opening of his mind to spiritual questions” (34) and concerned himself with politics. Gandhi then went on to South Africa from 1893 to 1914 where many Indians were residing. Arnold recounts his various anti-racism strategies, and reveals how Gandhi acquired his title as the mahatma or “great soul”. South Africa is also where he began his non-violent methods of dealing with racial discrimination laws and Hind Swaraj, which is “Indian self rule”, against the British. He fought for the rights of Indians in Africa, especially against General Smuts’ plans “of stopping their immigration to South Africa”(60) using satyagraha, “truth force or struggle for truth”, campaigns. But these campaigns did not work to the full degree, as there was still “anti-Indian prejudice” (60).
Mohandas Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar India to a Hindu father and Jainist mother. His very religious mother was a practitioner of Vaishnavism (worship of the Hindu god Vishnu). Influenced by his mother's beliefs Gandhi was governed by self-discipline and nonviolence. He soon got married and sailed off to study law. When Gandhi returned he was in shock of what had happened to India, in just 1 year. Gandhi's beliefs never changed and he still strongly believed in self-discipline and nonviolence. He wanted to make a change in India’s cultures. And that’s exactly what he did, he made the change he saw in the world. Gandhi used many tactics to get India's independence, such as Civil disobedience, embracing the enemy, and acceptance of jail time.
The South African civil rights movement, was greatly impacted upon by Gandhi. After becoming a legal barrister in England, he accepted a yearlong contract from an Indian firm, to a post in the Colony of Natal, South Africa. Gandhi was horrified by the racism and prejudice he experienced as an Indian immigrant in South Africa. On a train voyage to Pretoria, Gandhi was beaten by a Caucasian stagecoach driver and thrown out of a first-class railway compartment. This was because he refused to give up his seat for a European passenger. That
Indian leader, Mohandas Gandhi died at the age of 78 on January 30, 1948 at 5:12 p.m. Mohandas Gandhi was known throughout the world for his nonviolent protests against both British rule and interreligious fighting.
Gandhi was an Indian nationalist leader who was born in India and was the son of the chief minister in western India.
Mohandas Gandhi, later called Mahatma Gandhi, was born on October 2,1869 in Porbandar, which is the present day state of Gujarat, India (Andrews
Mahatma Gandhi, was born October 2nd, 1869 to a wealthy Indian family in Porbandar, Gujarat India. His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was a well-respected man that held the political position of, Chief Minister of Porbandar. Mahtma’s mother, Putlibai Gandhi, was a kind woman and devote Jainist. Her gentle nature provided Mahatma with a compassionate upbringing that instilled a non-violent, mutual tolerance attitude. She stressed vegetarianism and was also known for fasting for days, almost to the point of starvation. His parents were also very traditional in the sense that they had an arranged marriage for him to Kasturba Makhanji when he was just 13.
Gandhi was a civil rights leader who passively fought for equality in British ruled India. His full name is, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He used non-aggressive tactics to gain rights from the British. Gandhi led India to independence, and inspired people to form civil rights movements across his birth country. His most famous march was the Dandi Salt March, in which Gandhi led Indians 250 miles to challenge the British’s tax on salt, this caused Britain to stop residing and controlling India.
Mahatma Gandhi is one of the world most well know activists for civil rights. Gandhi’s non-violent and boycotting methods contributed a great deal to the civil rights movement in both South Africa and India. Gandhi lived in South Africa for 21 years during this time he experienced a great deal of racism and it is said that during this time he decided to become an advocate for the rights of Indians. Gandhi was arrested seven times throughout his life all for the civil rights movement showing his dedication to the movement pleaded guilty to all charges though imprisoned for years at a time he never gave up on the movement.
“Generations to come, it may be”, Einstein once said about Gandhi, “will scarcely believe that such one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon earth.” Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, more commonly known as “Mahatma” (meaning “Great Soul”) was a spiritual leader of India during the Indian independence movement, who was born on 2 October 1869. He was the pioneer of Satyagraha – resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience, firmly founded upon ahimsa or total nonviolence – which led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhi is known as the Bapu (Father) and also referred as the father of nation in India.
Mahatma Gandhi was a man who fought for India to be free from the British domination and equality for all. Gandhi was a shy lawyer who did not like
Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Gandhi, known as Mahatma Gandhi. Also known as Mahatma the great soul, was the "father of modern India". He originally came from Western India, a city called Porbandar. He was born on 2nd October 1869. Gandhi was on of the youngest of the three sons of Karamchand Gandhi, who was a Prime Minister successively in Porbandar, Rajkot and Vankaner States.