Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.”. “In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 into an Gujarati Modh Bania family of the Vaishya varna in Porbandar (also known as Sudamapuri), a coastal town on the Kathiawar Peninsula and then part of the small princely state of Porbandar in the Kathiawar Agency of the Indian Empire. He joined the Indian National Congress and by 1920 established himself as a dominant figure in the Indian political scenario. During the Boer war, he served as a medic and stretcher-bearer. At this point, he was still loyal to the British Empire, but when the British cracked down on Indian civil liberties after World War I, Gandhi began to organize nonviolent protests. He worked vigorously to show that Muslims and Hindus could live together peacefully. Check out this brief chronology of Mahatma Gandhiji's life … His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was a noble and pious man. On several occasions, he used religious practices and fasting as part of his political approach. Thus he left the Samaldas College and sailed to England in August. Gandhi Timeline Information. “With this I’m shaking the foundations of the British Empire.”. As a lawyer he was in high demand and soon he became the unofficial leader for Indians in South Africa. The following essays on topic Mahatma Gandhi, his life, role, importance, struggles, life Principles with detailed explanation, are essential and helpful for students By being “astute enough to seize the opportunity” and not being pushed down/ defeated by an Empire, would you agree this is actually the reason why Gandhi made a good impression as a leader? He is the icon of Indian Freedom. The Nobel Committee publicly declared its regret for the omission decades later. Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace prize five times and the committee regrets not giving him the prize to this day. He continued playing an active role in the independence movement post his release. Best remembered for his employment of nonviolent means of civil disobedience, he led Indians in the Dandi Salt March to protest against the British-imposed salt tax and launched the Quit India Movement, a mass protest demanding "an orderly British withdrawal" from India. Nonviolence is one of Jainism’s main ideas. In the late 1920s the British government appointed a new constitutional reform commission under Sir John Simon but did not include any Indian as its member. In 1931, Gandhi was invited to London to begin talks with the British government on greater self-government for India, but remaining a British colony. He spent over 20 years in the country during which he helped found the Natal Indian Congress which aimed at molding the Indian community of South Africa into a unified political force. gandhi philosophy, gandhis thoughts, gandhi quotes, practicle techniques, speeches, writings The British sought to ban opposition, but the nature of non-violent protest and strikes made it difficult to counter. In his youth he learned the religions of Hinduism and Jainism. Also Known As: Mohandas Karamchand Ganndhi, Born in: Porbandar, Kathiawar Agency, British Indian Empire, Famous as: Leader of Indian Independence Movement, children: Devdas Gandhi, Harilal Gandhi, Manilal Gandhi, Ramdas Gandhi, place of death: New Delhi, Dominion of India, education: University College London, Alfred High School, awards: 1930 - Man of the Year by Time magazine, Quotes By Mahatma Gandhi | Although his campaigns were met with much resistance, they did go a long way to changing century-old prejudices. Gandhi felt that personal example could influence public opinion. However, with the support of the Muslims led by Jinnah, the British planned to partition India into two: India and Pakistan. Within hours of his powerful speech, Gandhi and the entire Congress Working Committee were arrested by the British. Also, despite his mediocre success and influence as you mentioned, would you agree the outcome of his accomplishments are clearly a demonstration he actually was relevant to law, religion and politics? “There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.” – Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi frequently called off strikes and non-violent protest if he heard people were rioting or violence was involved. Profile of Mahatma Gandhi Early Life: Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869, in Porbandar, India. Mohandas K. Gandhi was born in 1869, in Porbandar, India. I am not saying the british empire was a good thing. Although the dominant personality of Indian independence, he could not always speak for the entire nation. In 1893, South Africa had to leave to prosecute Dada Abdula's company. His father, Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi (1822–1885), served as the diwan (chief minister) of Porbandar state. Non violence as he practised it was part of his spiritual learning usedvas a political tool. He employed non-violent principles and peaceful disobedience as a means to achieve his goal. Dear very nice information Gandhi ji always inspired us thanks a lot. The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas, Gandhi: An Autobiography – The Story of My Experiments With Truth, People Who Made a Difference in Health Care, Facts about the extraordinary life of Joan of Arc. While fighting discrimination in South Africa, Gandhi developed satyagraha, a nonviolent way of protesting injustice. An interesting historical anecdote, is that at this battle was also Winston Churchill and Louis Botha (future head of South Africa) He was decorated by the British for his efforts during the Boer War and Zulu rebellion. Gandhi once said he if did not have a sense of humour he would have committed suicide along time ago. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was a Hindu thinker, lawyer, and politician, born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India. Ideologically Gandhi was opposed to partition. People also call him “Bapu” affectionately. At his prayer meetings, Muslim prayers were read out alongside Hindu and Christian prayers. He was a mediocre student in school though he occasionally won prizes and scholarships. He started drinking alcohol and eating meat which were activities strictly prohibited in his traditional Hindu family. The British were unable to control the tidal wave of independence in all the countries they ruled at that time. At the age of … Gandhi’s sex life has been a controversial topic, even during his lifetime. Gandhi suggested that the Congress and Muslim League co-operate and attain independence under a provisional government, and decide about the question of partition later on. He became involved with the vegetarian movement and met members of the Theosophical Society who kindled his interest in religion. He was a strict adherent to the principle of non-violence and believed that non-violent civil disobedience measures were the best means to protest against the British rule. On completing his degree in Law, Gandhi returned to India, where he was soon sent to South Africa to practise law. He employed non-violent principles and peaceful disobedience as a means to achieve his goal. He felt that by doing his patriotic duty it would make the government more amenable to demands for fair treatment. Last updated 1 Feb 2020. In 1888, he received the opportunity to study law at the Inner Temple in London. 40. Tags: short biography of mahatma Gandhi, early life of Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhiji in South Africa, who killed Gandhiji, freedom movements started by Mahatma Gandhi.. Gandhi also encouraged his followers to practise inner discipline to get ready for independence. Gandhi launched the Salt March, a non-violent protest against the British-imposed tax on salt in March 1930. He was assassinated in 1948, shortly after achieving his life goal of Indian independence. Gandhi was deeply troubled by the thought of partition and personally tried his best to unite Indians belonging to different religions and communities. 38. Gandhi's Early Life. During the talks, Gandhi opposed the British suggestions of dividing India along communal lines as he felt this would divide a nation which was ethnically mixed. Paperback $17.42 $ 17. He called for all the Indians to unite as one irrespective of the divisions of religion, caste and creed in the country’s fight for independence. Gandhi was a lawyer who did not make a good impression as a lawyer. They want themselves powerful to compete with the British and for this they think of carnivores.They steal money from home and steal it and eat meat, but lies and shame make them feel … He launched many campaigns to change the status of untouchables. Gandhi said his great aim in life was to have a vision of God. Around this time, he also studied the Bible and was struck by the teachings of Jesus Christ – especially the emphasis on humility and forgiveness. At the age of 13 years, Gandhi’s marriage was held, his bride, Kasturba, being the same age and chosen by his parents. He completed his studies successfully and was called to the bar in June 1891. During one of … The inspiring life of Mahatma Gandhi came to an end on 30th January 1948, when he was shot by a fanatic, Nathuram Godse, at point-blank range. Born into a religious family in British India, he was raised by parents who emphasized on religious tolerance, simplicity and strong moral values. Mr. Karamchand was the chief Dewan of the State of Rajkot. Fasting was a weapon used by Gandhi as part of his philosophy of Ahinsa (non-violence) as well as satyagraha.. Fasts Biography of Mahatma Gandhi : 1869-1948 1. As such, he came to be considered the father of his country. He became involved with the Vegetarian Society and was once asked to translate the Hindu Bhagavad Gita. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/mahatma-gandhi-55.php, Top NBA Players With No Championship Rings, Celebrities Who Look Beautiful Even Without Makeup, The Hottest Male Celebrities With The Best Abs. The good man is the friend of all living things. These incidents angered him and kindled in him the spirit to fight for social justice. Nathuram was a Hindu radical, who held Gandhi responsible for weakening India by ensuring the partition payment to Pakistan. He was 13 years old and Kasturbai was 14 years old at the time of their marriage. Gandhi led India to independence from the British Raj without using violence. He refused both the times. 42. Early life:The birth of Mahatma Gandhi took place on 2nd day of October in 1869 at Porbandar (Gujarat). However, Gandhi agreed to the partition and spent the day of Independence in prayer mourning the partition. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India. He stood out in his time in history. MMAAHHAATTMMAA GGAANNDDHHII 1869-1948 2. When Gandhi was 18 years old, he went to study law in England. Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat, India. There he witnessed rampant acts of racism and discrimination which angered him greatly. At the age of 78, Gandhi undertook another fast to try and prevent the sectarian killing. In India, he is known as ‘Father of the Nation’. He was called against his will by the poet Rabindranath Tagore, “ Mahatma “, which means Great Soul. Early Life Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, in the present-day Indian state of Gujarat. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. After the war, Britain indicated that they would give India independence. mahatma gandhi was a good person but he wasn’t all good because when he freed the indian empire the partition grew between the muslims and they fought .this didn’t happen much when the british empire was in control because muslims and hindus had a common enemy to unite against. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 to a Hindu Modh Baniya family in Porbandar, then part of Kathiawar Agency, in British Indian Empire. I just dipped into this ti find out about the salt march.:). He sought to worship God and promote religious understanding. Mahatma Gandhiji was a true freedom fighter.. We have included 5 Best Parts of Gandhiji's Life. “When every hope is gone, ‘when helpers fail and comforts flee,’ I find that help arrives somehow, from I know not where. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was a Hindu thinker, lawyer, and politician, born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India. – Gandhi – after holding up a cup of salt at the end of the salt march. Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 at the house of Karamchand Gandhi in Porbandar, Gujarat. Gandhi was astute enough to seize the opportunity and used non violence as a tool which had no teeth but caused sufficient concern for the British to negotiate and hand over territories which they had milked dry. The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas at Amazon, Gandhi: An Autobiography – The Story of My Experiments With Truth at Amazon, Interesting and unusual facts about Mahatma Gandhi. On the death of his father, Mohandas travelled to England to gain a degree in law. 4.4 out of 5 stars 524. He was joined by thousands of followers in this symbolic act of defiance against British rule. The marriage produced five children of whom four survived to adulthood. In 1887 … The controversial book Gandhi: Behind the Mask of Divinity, … While the Indian National Congress and Gandhi called for the British to quit India, the Muslim League passed a resolution for them to divide and quit. In particular, he inveighed against the ‘untouchable’ caste, who were treated abysmally by society. His father’s name was Karamchand Gandhi and his mother’s name was Putlibai. Great Britain—the very country he fought against in India’s quest for independence—released a stamp in his honor in 1969. He was called against his will by the poet Rabindranath Tagore, “Mahatma” which means Great Soul. He was assassinated in 1948, shortly after achieving his life goal of Indian independence. Even though the movement received massive support, he also faced criticism from both pro-British and anti-British political groups. Away from the politics of Indian independence, Gandhi was harshly critical of the Hindu Caste system. His civil disobedience movement which inspired thousands across the globe was itself inspired by a Briton, Henry Stephens Salt, who introduced Gandhi to the works of Henry David Thoreau which had a profound impact on his thinking. ‘Time’ magazine named Gandhi the Man of the Year in 1930. Gandhi was appalled by the discrimination he experienced as an Indian immigrant in South Africa. The clothes he wore when he was shot are still preserved in Gandhi Museum, Madurai. Gandhi believed that walking is the best exercise and walked around 18 km every day, for 40 years! Despite the criticism, Mahatma Gandhi remained steadfast in his adherence to the principle of non- violence and called on all Indians to maintain disciple in their struggle for ultimate freedom. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 to a Hindu Modh Baniya family in Porbandar, then part of Kathiawar Agency, in British Indian Empire. Mohandas had two elder half-sisters and three elder siblings. Mahatma Gandhi is a universal leader of peace, love, justice, equality and human freedom. In 1893, he was thrown off a train at the railway station in Pietermaritzburg after a white man complained about Gandhi travelling in first class. He was criticized for his strict refusal to support Britain in World War II, as some felt that it was unethical to not support Britain in its struggle against Nazi Germany. The years spent in South Africa proved to be a profound spiritual and political experience for Gandhi. It was one of the many residences (1917-30) of Mahatma Gandhi, located at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. He was killed on January 30, 1948, known mainly for vindicating and leading India’s independence through non-violent methods. Indian men and women involved in the Independence Movement. How can one say he wasn’t a good lawyer or he wasn’t a good leader when he had such a following and he was part of the negotiations thar brought about Indian Independance? Mohandas was from the social cast of tradesmen. He also called for the boycott of British educational institutions and prompted Indians to resign from government employment. Introduction: Gandhiji was one of thegreatest Indian of all time. He spent over two decades in South Africa over the period of which he developed a strong sense of social justice, and led several social campaigns. His … He was assassinated on 30 January 1948 by Nathuram Vinayak Godse, a militant Hindu nationalist activist who shot three bullets into Gandhi’s chest at point-blank range at the Birla House (now Gandhi Smriti) in New Delhi. During his three month stay, he declined the government’s offer of a free hotel room, preferring to stay with the poor in the East End of London. He rose to prominence by chance. As a young man he went to England to study law and later started working in South Africa. In … If you are searching for the best and short biography of Mahatma Gandhi then this blog is for you. Includes Sri Krishna, Arjuna, Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Anandamayi Ma. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. His success and influence was mediocre in law religion and politics. The names of his children were: Harilal, Manilal, Ramdas, and Devdas His wife too became a social activist in her own right later on. He sought inspiration from many different religions: Jainism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and incorporated them into his own philosophy. He organized the " National Indian Congress" in 1894 by mobilizing the Indian people to counteract them. The non co-operation movement gained widespread mass appeal all over India which greatly agitated the British. Mahatma Gandhi Biography. This included national strikes for one or two days. – Mahatma Gandhi. While in England he was once again drawn towards his childhood values which he had renounced as a teenager. Gandhi forged India's independence from British rule in 1947 by staging massive peaceful demonstrations against poverty and the fight for women's rights and religious tolerance. It was in South Africa that Gandhi first experimented with campaigns of civil disobedience and protest; he called his non-violent protests satyagraha. In the mind of Gandhi, there is a worry against the White Rule from childhood. In 1930, in perhaps his most important show of disobedience, he walked 200 miles to the sea to get salt as a symbolic act of rebellion against Great Britain's monopoly on salt. His parents arranged for him to be married at the young age of 13. He remained committed to the Bible and Bhagavad Gita throughout his life, though he was critical of aspects of both religions. The Congress called on to the citizens to pledge themselves to civil disobedience until India attained complete independence. When Gandhi was asked if was sufficiently dressed to meet the king, Gandhi replied, “The king was wearing clothes enough for both of us.”. To which Gandhi replied, Gandhi wore a traditional Indian dress, even whilst visiting the king. Several members of his family worked for the government of the state. Early Life and Education. Gandhi said the Indians had to prove they were deserving of independence. – Mahatma Gandhi. On 31 December 1929, the flag of India was unfurled at the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress and the independence of India was declared. In the last years of the quest for independence, there were significant incidents of riots and violence between the Hindus and Muslims that resulted in many deaths during the partition into India and Pakistan. This led to his arrest and imprisonment along with over 60,000 of his followers. The Chief Minister of Travancore, a princely state of India, described Gandhi as a sex maniac. He was given the title of “Mahatma“, which implies “Great Soul“. Despite being imprisoned for short periods of time, he also supported the British under certain conditions. Place in history. He was born on 2 October, 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat. Introduction Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, a coastal town in present-day Gujarat, India. People who changed the world – Famous people who changed the course of history including Socrates, Newton, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Queen Victoria, Catherine the Great, Einstein and Gandhi. It is no exaggeration to say that they alone are real, all else is unreal.”, – Gandhi Autobiography – The Story of My Experiments with Truth. In India, he is known as ‘Father of the Nation’. Even Gandhi’s fasts and appeals were insufficient to prevent the wave of sectarian violence and killing that followed the partition. Mahatma Gandhi or Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, Gujrat. When Mahatma Gandhi was in South Africa, he also faced injustice and atrocities. Mahatma Gandhi was a prominent Indian political leader who was a leading figure in the campaign for Indian independence. He corresponded with a lot of prominent personalities of his time including Leo Tolstoy, Einstein and Hitler. Many hundreds were arrested and Indian jails were full of Indian independence followers. It’s the quality of your life that matters not the speed with which you live. After 21 years in South Africa, Gandhi returned to India in 1915. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. It led Winston Churchill to make the disparaging remark about the half naked fakir. “Biography of Mahatma Gandhi”, Oxford, UK. Supplication, worship, prayer are no superstition; they are acts more real than the acts of eating, drinking, sitting or walking. He then returned to India. After 5 days, the leaders agreed to stop killing. Better known as Mahatma Gandhi, he not only led India to independence from British rule but also inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world in several other countries. However, at the summit, the British also invited other leaders of India, such as BR Ambedkar and representatives of the Sikhs and Muslims. In spite of his best efforts, the Direct Action Day marked the worst communal riots that British India had seen and set off a series of riots elsewhere in the country. He spoke English with an Irish accent, for one of his first teachers was an Irishman. His original name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mahatma-Gandhi,_studio,_1931.jpg, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gandhi_suit.jpg, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mountbattens_with_Gandhi_(IND_5298).jpg. Mahatma Gandhi was a prominent Indian political leader who was a leading figure in the campaign for Indian independence. Gandhi was responsible for the Civil Rights movement in 12 countries across four continents. But ten days later Gandhi was shot dead by a Hindu Brahmin opposed to Gandhi’s support for Muslims and the untouchables. Gandhi was a prolific writer and penned several books including the autobiographies ‘The Story of My Experiments with Truth’, ‘Satyagraha in South Africa’, and ‘Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule’. This broke the heart of many Indians committed to independence. He was imprisoned for two years and released before the end of the war in May 1944. During this trip, he visited King George in Buckingham Palace, one apocryphal story which illustrates Gandhi’s wit was the question by the king – what do you think of Western civilisation? Except for a tiny minority of Christian missionaries and radical socialists, the British tended to see him at best as a utopian visionary and at worst as a cunning hypocrite whose professions of friendship for the British race were a mask for subversion of the British raj. His mother was an extremely religious lady who had a great influence on the young Mohandas. Mahatma Gandhi Life introduction (Mahatma Gandhi Biography) Birth, place of birth and early life. The most important events in the life of Mahatma Gandhi centered around his fight for India's independence. In the midst of the war, Gandhi launched another civil disobedience campaign, the Quit India Movement, demanding "an orderly British withdrawal" from India. During that time, the British’s Salt Laws which prohibited Indians from collecting and selling salt and forced them to pay for heavily taxed British salt were in place. However as he grew up, he developed a rebellious streak and defied many of his family norms. “Relationships are based on four principles: respect, understanding, acceptance and appreciation.” – Mahatma Gandhi. In the sea, they made their own salt, in violation of British regulations. Returning to his birthplace of India, Gandhi spent his remaining years working to end British rule of his country and to better the lives of India's poorest classes. His mother Putlibai was Karamchand’s fourth wife. This is in contrast to independence leaders such as Aurobindo Ghose, who argued that Indian independence was not about whether India would offer better or worse government, but that it was the right for India to have self-government. When independence was finally achieved on 15 August 1947, it also saw the formation of the two new dominions of India and Pakistan following the Partition of India in which more than half a million lost their lives and 14 million Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims were displaced. Once he was asked to move from the first-class in a train in spite of having a valid ticket solely on the basis of his color, and another time he was asked to remove his turban. When the Muslim League called for the Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946, it led to widespread riot and manslaughter between Hindus and Muslims in the city of Calcutta. www.biographyonline.net 12th Jan 2011. Prior to his assassination, there had been five unsuccessful attempts to kill him. Mahatma Gandhi. There he studied law and jurisprudence with the intention of becoming a barrister. Mohandas Gandhi (October 2, 1869–January 30, 1948) was the father of the Indian independence movement. Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an Indian lawyer who became the primary leader of India's independence movement. Mahatma Gandhi, byname of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, (born October 2, 1869, Porbandar, India—died January 30, 1948, Delhi), Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer who became the leader of the nationalist movement against the British rule of India. The British did not respond and thus the Indian National Congress decided to declare the independence of India—the Purna Swaraj.