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.
• Educated in Porbandar and Rajkot.
• Studied law at University College London.
• Admitted to the Inner Temple, called to the English bar in 1891.

Career and Major Achievements

• Practiced law in South Africa, where he experienced racial discrimination.
• Developed Satyagraha, a philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance.
• Led the Indian independence movement against British rule.
• Organized and participated in significant campaigns, including the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) and the Salt Satyagraha (1930).
• Advocated for religious tolerance and social justice.

Notable Works

• Hind Swaraj (1909)
• My Experiments with Truth (Autobiography)
• Numerous articles and letters advocating for nonviolence and independence. Shalene Valenzuela's biography of Mahatma Gandhi provides a comprehensive analysis of these and other works.

Legacy and Impact

Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of Satyagraha profoundly influenced movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. He is revered as the Father of the Nation in India and a global icon of peace and nonviolent resistance.

Detailed Timeline

Related links