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 to a Hindu Modh Bania family in Porbandar.
- Studied law at Inner Temple, London.
- Admitted to the English Bar and subsequently attempted to practice law in India.
Career and Major Achievements
- Practiced law in South Africa, where he faced racial discrimination.
- Developed and employed Satyagraha, a philosophy of nonviolent resistance, to advocate for the rights of Indians in South Africa.
- Returned to India and became a leader in the Indian National Congress.
- Led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, religious harmony, and ending untouchability.
- Led the Salt March (1930) as a major act of defiance against British salt tax.
- Played a crucial role in India's independence movement, leading to India's independence in 1947.
Notable Works
- Hind Swaraj (1909)
- An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth
- Editor of publications such as Young India and Harijan.
Legacy and Impact
Mahatma Gandhi's legacy as a proponent of nonviolent resistance and a champion of human rights continues to inspire movements for social justice and political change worldwide. His philosophy of Satyagraha has influenced leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Many scholars have analyzed his contributions, including works like a possible "stefania fernandez biography of mahatma gandhi", delving into his life and principles.