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Mahatma Gandhi (महात्मा गांधी)

Who is Mahatma Gandhi? 

Mahatma Gandhi: A Brief Summary

Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948), born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, was a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule. Known as the "Father of the Nation" in India, his philosophy of nonviolent resistance, or Satyagraha, inspired movements for civil rights and freedom worldwide.


Early Life
  • Born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat, India.
  • Raised in a Hindu family, deeply influenced by religious tolerance and moral values.
  • Married Kasturba Gandhi at the age of 13 in an arranged marriage.

Education
  • Studied law in London, England, at the Inner Temple.
  • Returned to India in 1891 as a qualified barrister but struggled to establish a law practice.

Time in South Africa
  • Moved to South Africa in 1893 to work for an Indian firm.
  • Witnessed racial discrimination firsthand, such as being thrown off a train for being Indian.
  • Spent 21 years in South Africa, leading campaigns for Indian rights through nonviolent means.
  • Developed the concept of Satyagraha—truth and nonviolent resistance.

Return to India
  • Returned to India in 1915, becoming a key figure in the Indian National Congress.
  • Advocated for self-rule (Swaraj) and economic self-reliance through local industries like spinning khadi.
  • Promoted Hindu-Muslim unity, the abolition of untouchability, and rural development.

Nonviolent Movements
  • Led the Champaran Movement (1917) and Kheda Movement (1918) to address farmers' grievances.
  • Organized the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922) to boycott British goods, institutions, and laws.
  • Led the famous Salt March in 1930, a 240-mile walk to protest the British salt tax.
  • Played a vital role in the Quit India Movement (1942), demanding immediate independence.
Philosophy
  • Advocated nonviolence (Ahimsa), truth (Satya), and simplicity.
  • Believed in self-reliance, spinning his own cloth as a symbol of resistance.
  • Promoted harmony among religions and sought to uplift marginalized communities.


Independence and Partition
  • Instrumental in India gaining independence in 1947.
  • Deeply saddened by the Partition of India, which led to communal violence and the creation of Pakistan.
  • Worked tirelessly to promote peace and communal harmony during the riots.

Assassination
  • Assassinated on January 30, 1948, in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist.
  • His death shocked the world, but his legacy of nonviolence endures.
Global Influence
  • Inspired leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and the Dalai Lama.
  • Recognized internationally as a symbol of peace, tolerance, and resistance against oppression.


Legacy
  • Commemorated through institutions, statues, and the observance of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.
  • His teachings remain relevant in the struggles for justice, equality, and freedom.

Mahatma Gandhi’s life exemplifies the power of truth and nonviolence in achieving justice and human dignity.

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