Mahatma Gandhi Biography

Summary:

Mahatma Gandhi, born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Kathiawar, began his journey in civil resistance in South Africa against racial discrimination. Returning to India, he became a pivotal figure in the Indian freedom movement, initiating significant campaigns like the Satyagraha in Champaran and the Civil Disobedience Movement. Distressed by the Rowlett Act of 1918 and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, he launched the non-cooperation movement, only to call it off due to increasing violence. Although opposed to the partitioning of India, growing communal tensions compelled him to accept it. India’s independence in 1947 was largely attributed to his tireless efforts. However, post-independence communal tensions tragically culminated in his assassination in 1948 by Nathuram Godse. Albert Einstein notably highlighted Gandhi’s unparalleled legacy. Gandhi’s principles, documented in writings like ‘Hind Swaraj’ and ‘his autobiography’, emphasized non-violence, truth, and the importance of cottage industries. He believed in class cooperation and carefully balanced personal property rights and freedom.

Excerpt:

Mahatma Gandhi Biography

Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in a family with a religious ideology at Porbandar in Kathiawar. The full name of Mahatma Gandhi is – Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Gandhi’s father’s name was Karamchand Gandhi, and his mother’s was Putlibai. Mahatma Gandhi’s wife’s name was Kasturba Gandhi. His father, Karamchand Porbandar, was a Diwan of the kingdom and his virtue and impartiality. His mother was a sage nature and religious woman. She received the rites of Vaishnav Hinduism from her mother. Mohandas was a simple qualification in school but was a very punctual and obedient disciple of teachers. After passing the matriculation examination, in 1888 AD, he was sent to England to read the law.

Gandhiji returned from London in 1891 AD and started practising. After advocating for a few days in Kathiawar and Mumbai, a wealthy Gujarati Muslim went to South Africa to advocate a trial. Seeing the distinction between South Africa’s black blindness and his countrymen’s pathetic condition, he was shocked, and his public life started here. Since 1906, he successfully performed a satyagraha against the ‘Asiatic Registration Act’ of the Government of South Africa.