Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
- Born:
- October 2, 1869, Porbandar, Kathiawar Agency, British India
- Died:
- January 30, 1948, New Delhi, India
- Nationality:
- Indian
- Profession(s):
- Lawyer, Anti-colonial Nationalist, Political Ethicist
Early Life and Education
- Born into a Hindu Modh Bania family.
- Studied law at University College London.
- Admitted to the bar and attempted to establish a law practice in India, with limited success.
Career and Major Achievements
- Practiced law in South Africa, where he experienced racial discrimination.
- Developed the philosophy of Satyagraha (truth force) as a means of non-violent resistance.
- Led numerous campaigns for Indian rights in South Africa.
- Returned to India in 1915 and became a leader in the Indian National Congress.
- Led the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) and the Salt Satyagraha (1930).
- Played a crucial role in India's independence movement, advocating for peaceful civil disobedience.
- Fasted to promote peace and end communal violence, particularly during the partition of India.
Notable Works
- Hind Swaraj (1909)
- The Story of My Experiments with Truth (Autobiography)
- Writings and speeches published in The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi
Legacy and Impact
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, often referred to as Mahatma Gandhi, was a pivotal figure in India's struggle for independence and a global icon of peace and non-violent resistance. The 'nawlage biography of mahatma' is essential for understanding his enduring influence.
His philosophy of Satyagraha inspired civil rights movements worldwide, including those led by Martin Luther King Jr. He is considered the Father of the Nation in India.