MAHATMA GANDHI BIOGRAPHY

Mahatma Gandhi Biography

Mahatma Gandhi was a prominent
Indian political leader who
campaigned for Indian
independence. He employed non-
violent principles and peaceful
disobedience. He was assassinated in 1948, shortly after achieving his life goal of Indian independence.

In India, he is known as ‘Father of the
Nation’. “When I despair, I remember
that all through history the
ways of truth and love have
always won. There have been
tyrants, and murderers, and
for a time they can seem
invincible, but in the end they
always fall. Think of it–always.”
– Gandhi

Short Bio Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Gandhi was born, 1869, in
Porbandar, India. Mohandas was
from the social cast of tradesmen. His mother was illiterate, but her
common sense and religious devotion had a lasting impact on Gandhi’s character.

As a youngster, Mohandas was a good student, but the shy young boy displayed no signs of leadership. On the death of his father, Mohandas travelled to England to gain a degree in law. He became involved with the Vegetarian society and was once asked to translate the Hindu Bhagavad Gita.

This epic of Hindu literature awakened in Gandhi a sense of pride in the Indian scriptures, of which the Gita was the pearl. Around this time, he also studied the Bible and was struck by the teaching of Jesus Christ – especially the emphasis on humility and forgiveness. He remained committed to the Bible and Bhagavad Gita throughout his life, though he was critical of aspects of both religions.

Gandhi in South Africa

On completing his degree in Law,
Gandhi returned to India, where he
was soon sent to South Africa to
practise law. In South Africa, Gandhi
was struck by the level of racial
discrimination and injustice often
experienced by Indians. It was in
South Africa that Gandhi first
experimented with campaigns of civil
disobedience and protest; he called
his non violent protests –satyagraha.

Despite being imprisoned for short
periods of time he also supported the British under certain conditions. He was decorated by the British for his efforts during the Boer war and Zulu rebellion.

Gandhi and Indian Independence

After 21 years in South Africa,
Gandhi returned to India in 1915. He
became the leader of the Indian
nationalist movement campaigning
for home rule or Swaraj .
Gandhi successfully instigated a
series of non violent protest. This
included national strikes for one or
two days.

The British sought to ban
opposition, but the nature of non-
violent protest and strikes made it
difficult to counter.
Gandhi also encouraged his followers to practise inner discipline to get ready for independence. Gandhi said, the Indians had to prove they were deserving of independence.

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.

Gandhi also clashed with others in
the Indian independence movement
such as Subhas Chandra Bose who
advocated direct action to overthrow
the British.Gandhi frequently called off striand non-violent protest if he heard people were rioting or violence was involved.

In 1930, Gandhi led a famous march
to the sea in protest at the new Salt
Acts. In the sea they made their own
salt – in violation of British
regulations. Many hundreds were
arrested and Indian jails were full of
Indian independence followers.
However, whilst the campaign was at its peak some Indian protesters kill some British civilians, as a result
Gandhi called off the independence
movement saying that India was not
ready.

This broke the heart of many
Indians committed to independence.
It led to radicals like Bhagat Singh
carrying on the campaign for
independence, which was
particularly strong in Bengal.
Gandhi and the Partition of India
After the war, Britain indicated that
they would give India independence.
However, with the support of the
Muslims led by Jinnah, the British
planned to partition India into two –
India and Pakistan.

Ideologically Gandhi was opposed to partition. He worked vigorously hard to show that Muslims and Hindus could live together peacefully. At his prayer meetings, Muslim prayers were read out along side Hindu and Christian prayers. However, Gandhi agreed to the partition and spent the day of Independence in prayer mourning the partition. Even Gandhi’s fasts and appeals were insufficient to prevent the wave of sectarian violence and killing that followed the partition.

Away from the politics of Indian
independence Gandhi was harshly
critical of the Hindu Caste system. In
particular he inveighed against the
‘untouchable’ caste, who were treated abysmally by society. He lunched many campaigns to change the status of the untouchables. Although his campaigns were met with much resistance, they did go along way to changing century old prejudices.

At the age of 78, Gandhi undertook
another fast to try and prevent the
sectarian killing. After 5 days, the
leaders agreed to stop killing. But,
ten days later, Gandhi was shot dead
by a Hindu Brahmin opposed to
Gandhi’s support for Muslims and
the untouchables.

Gandhi and Religion

Gandhi was a seeker of the 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. Our life is a
long and arduous quest after
Truth.”
– Gandhi

Gandhi said his great aim in life was
to have a vision of God. He sought to
worship God and promote religious
understanding. He sought inspiration
from many different religions –
Jainism, Islam, Christianity,
Hinduism, Buddhism and
incorporate them into his own
philosophy.

Source: www.biographyonline.net