Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
- Born:
- October 2, 1869, Porbandar, 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.
- Studied law at University College London.
- Admitted to the English Bar and attempted to establish a legal practice in India without initial success.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked for an Indian firm in South Africa, experiencing racial discrimination which shaped his political activism.
- Developed and implemented Satyagraha, a philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance.
- Led numerous campaigns for Indian independence from British rule, including the Salt Satyagraha and the Quit India Movement.
- Negotiated with the British government and represented the Indian National Congress in independence talks.
Notable Works
- Hind Swaraj (1909)
- An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth (1927)
- Writings and speeches compiled into the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi.
Legacy and Impact
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent resistance profoundly influenced movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. He is revered in India as the "Father of the Nation" for his pivotal role in achieving independence. An examination of his life and political thought can be found in texts such as edith b gelles biography of mahatma gandhi, and other scholarly analyses.