preview

Mahatma Gandhi : The Hero Of The Indian Independence Struggle

Better Essays

Mahatma Gandhi, the hero of the Indian Independence struggle, was the architect of a form of non-violent civil disobedience that would influence the world. Mahatma Gandhi studied both law and religion and advocated for the civil rights of Indians, both at home under British rule and in South Africa. Gandhi became a leader of India’s independence movement, organizing boycotts against British institutions in peaceful forms of civil disobedience Born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India, Gandhi grew up worshiping the Hindu god Vishnu and following Jainism - a morally rigorous ancient Indian religion that supported non-violence, fasting, meditation and vegetarianism. In 1888 Gandhi sailed for London, England to study law. While in London he struggled with the transition to Western culture, and he started to read a variety of sacred texts to learn more about world religions. He returned to India in 1891 and practiced as a lawyer. In 1893, he sailed to Durban, South Africa to practice law. When Gandhi arrived in South Africa, he was quickly taken aback by the discrimination and racial segregation Indian immigrants had to face at the hands of white British and Boer authorities. This unjust treatment that the colored people received caused him to become determined to devoting himself to fighting the “deep disease of color prejudice.” From that time onwards, Gandhi would grow into a giant force for civil rights. Gandhi continued to study world religions during his years in South

Get Access