Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
- Born:
- October 2, 1869, Porbandar, Gujarat, 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 in Porbandar.
- Father, Karamchand Gandhi, served as the Diwan (chief minister) of Porbandar State.
- Mother, Putlibai, was deeply religious.
- Studied law at University College London.
- Admitted to the Inner Temple, and called to the English bar in 1891.
Career and Major Achievements
- Practiced law in South Africa (1893-1914), where he experienced racial discrimination.
- Developed Satyagraha, a philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance.
- Led 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).
- Led the Salt Satyagraha (1930), a major act of civil disobedience.
- Negotiated with the British government for Indian independence.
- Played a key role in India achieving independence in 1947.
Notable Works
- Hind Swaraj (1909)
- The Story of My Experiments with Truth (Autobiography)
- Editor of Indian Opinion (South Africa) and Young India and Harijan (India).
- Writings on Satyagraha, nonviolence, and self-rule.
Legacy and Impact
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, revered as Mahatma Gandhi, was a pivotal figure in India's independence movement. His philosophy of Satyagraha influenced civil rights and freedom movements worldwide. Even within the sphere of biographical writing, works like pierrette bloch biography of mahatma seek to understand and contextualize Gandhi's profound influence on the 20th century and beyond. His emphasis on nonviolent resistance continues to inspire activists and leaders striving for social justice and peace.