# Mahatma Gandhi

> Indian independence activist (1869–1948)

**Wikidata**: [Q1001](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1001)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mahatma-gandhi

## Summary

Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] and died on January 30, 1948, at Gandhi Smriti from a gunshot wound [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][12][13][14][15][20][16][21][22][23]. He held citizenship in the British Raj, the Dominion of India, and India . His native language was Gujarati , and he practiced Hinduism . He was the son of Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi and Putlibai Karamchand Gandhi [24][24].Gandhi worked as a politician, barrister, political writer, journalist, philosopher, and autobiographer [1][25][14][26]. His education included studies at Samaldas Arts College, University College London, and the Inner Temple, with the Mahatma Gandhi Museum also listed in his educational history . He specialized in the fields of philosophy, jurisprudence, and pacifism  and was a central figure in the nonviolence movement . His notable work is satyagraha .He was married to Kasturba Gandhi from 1883 until her death in 1944 [27]. His siblings included Raliatbehn Gandhi, Muliben Gandhi, Pankunvarben Gandhi, Laxmidas Karamchand Gandhi, and Karsandas Gandhi [24]. His children were Harilal Gandhi, Manilal Gandhi, Manilal gandhi, and Devdas Gandhi [27][28]. He received several awards, including the Time Person of the Year, the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo, the Queen's South Africa Medal, the Natal Native Rebellion Medal, and the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal . He is buried at Raj Ghat and associated memorials .

## Summary
Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) was an Indian independence activist, lawyer, and philosopher who became the preeminent leader of India's struggle against British colonial rule. As the architect of *satyagraha*—a philosophy of nonviolent resistance—he mobilized millions through civil disobedience campaigns like the Salt March (1930) and the Quit India Movement (1942), ultimately securing India's independence in 1947. His advocacy for self-rule (*swaraj*), social reform, and interfaith harmony reshaped global movements for justice, inspiring figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

## Biography
- **Born**: October 2, 1869, Porbandar, Gujarat, India
- **Nationality**: Indian (British India until 1947)
- **Education**:
  - Inner Temple, London (barrister, 1891)
  - University College London (law studies, 1888–1891)
  - Alfred High School, Rajkot
- **Known for**: Leading India’s nonviolent independence movement; pioneering *satyagraha*; advocating for civil rights, religious pluralism, and economic self-sufficiency
- **Employer(s)**:
  - Indian National Congress (1920–1948)
  - Natal Indian Congress (1894–1914, South Africa)
  - *Harijan* (editor, 1933–1948)
  - *Young India* (editor, 1919–1932)
- **Field(s)**: Political activism, philosophy, journalism, law, social reform

## Contributions
### Political Leadership and Movements
- **Satyagraha Philosophy (1906–1948)**: Developed and applied nonviolent resistance as a political tool, first in South Africa (1906–1914) and later in India. Core principles included *ahimsa* (nonviolence), *satyagraha* (truth-force), and civil disobedience.
- **Champaran Satyagraha (1917)**: First major civil resistance in India, protesting oppressive indigo farming conditions in Bihar. Led to the Champaran Agrarian Act (1918), granting rights to farmers.
- **Kheda Satyagraha (1918)**: Organized peasants in Gujarat to withhold taxes during a famine, securing relief from the British government.
- **Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922)**: Mass boycott of British institutions, courts, and goods. Over 30,000 arrests; movement suspended after violence at Chauri Chaura (1922).
- **Salt March (Dandi March, 1930)**: 24-day, 240-mile protest against the British salt monopoly. Catalyzed the Civil Disobedience Movement, with over 60,000 arrests.
- **Quit India Movement (1942)**: Demanded immediate British withdrawal during WWII. Led to mass arrests, including Gandhi and the entire Congress leadership.
- **Negotiations for Independence**: Participated in the Round Table Conferences (1930–1932) and direct talks with Viceroy Lord Mountbatten (1947), culminating in India’s independence on August 15, 1947.

### Institutions and Publications
- **Founded Institutions**:
  - **Tolstoy Farm (1910, South Africa)**: Communal ashram based on Leo Tolstoy’s principles, housing 100+ residents.
  - **Sabarmati Ashram (1917, Ahmedabad)**: Headquarters for independence activities; operated until 1930.
  - **Gujarat Vidyapith (1920)**: University promoting indigenous education and *swaraj* ideals.
  - **Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha (1918)**: Organization to promote Hindi literacy in South India.
- **Edited Journals**:
  - *Young India* (1919–1932): Weekly newspaper advocating *swaraj* and nonviolence.
  - *Harijan* (1933–1948): Focused on untouchability abolition and rural uplift.
  - *Navajivan* (1919–1948): Gujarati publication on self-rule and social reform.

### Social and Economic Reforms
- **Abolition of Untouchability**: Launched the *Harijan* movement (1932), campaigning for Dalit rights. Fasted to protest separate electorates for "untouchables" (1932).
- **Khadi and Village Industries**: Promoted hand-spun cloth (*khadi*) to boycott British textiles and revive rural economies. Founded the All India Spinners’ Association (1925).
- **Educational Reform**: Advocated *Nai Talim* (Basic Education), integrating vocational training with academics. Implemented at Gujarat Vidyapith.
- **Women’s Empowerment**: Encouraged women’s participation in protests (e.g., Salt March) and leadership roles in the Congress.

### Writings and Philosophy
- **Key Works**:
  - *Hind Swaraj* (1909): Critique of modern civilization and blueprint for Indian self-rule.
  - *The Story of My Experiments with Truth* (1927–1929): Autobiography detailing his spiritual and political evolution.
  - *Constructive Programme* (1941): Outline for post-independence nation-building.
- **Philosophical Influences**: Synthesized ideas from Henry David Thoreau (*Civil Disobedience*), Leo Tolstoy (*The Kingdom of God Is Within You*), John Ruskin (*Unto This Last*), and the *Bhagavad Gita*.
- **Gandhism**: Body of ideas emphasizing truth, nonviolence, decentralized governance (*gram swaraj*), and trusteeship economics.

### International Influence
- **Inspired Global Leaders**:
  - **Martin Luther King Jr.**: Adopted *satyagraha* in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968).
  - **Nelson Mandela**: Cited Gandhi’s South African activism as foundational to anti-apartheid struggles.
  - **Aung San Suu Kyi**: Applied nonviolent resistance in Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement.
- **Awards and Honors**:
  - **Time Person of the Year (1930)**: Recognized for leading the Salt March.
  - **Nobel Peace Prize Nominations**: Five nominations (1937–1948); never awarded.
  - **Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo (2002, posthumous)**: South Africa’s highest civilian honor.
  - **International Day of Non-Violence (UN, 2007)**: Observed annually on his birthday (October 2).

## FAQs
### What was Gandhi’s role in India’s independence?
Gandhi transformed the Indian National Congress into a mass movement, using nonviolent protests like the Salt March and Quit India Movement to pressure Britain. His negotiations with Viceroy Mountbatten in 1947 led to the partition plan and India’s independence on August 15, 1947.

### How did Gandhi’s time in South Africa shape his activism?
From 1893–1914, Gandhi fought racial discrimination against Indians in South Africa. He founded the Natal Indian Congress (1894), led the 1906–1914 *satyagraha* campaigns, and established Tolstoy Farm. These experiences crystallized his methods of civil disobedience.

### What were Gandhi’s views on caste and untouchability?
Gandhi opposed untouchability but defended the *varna* system as a spiritual framework. He called untouchables *Harijans* ("Children of God") and fasted to protest their segregation, though critics like B.R. Ambedkar argued his approach was insufficient.

### What economic policies did Gandhi advocate?
He promoted *swadeshi* (self-sufficiency), boycotting British goods, and reviving village industries like *khadi* (hand-spun cloth). His "trusteeship" model urged wealthy Indians to hold property in trust for society.

### How did Gandhi’s assassination impact India?
Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist opposing his conciliation toward Muslims. His death triggered mass mourning and solidified his legacy as *Father of the Nation*.

### What is Gandhi’s global legacy today?
Gandhi’s principles underpin modern nonviolent movements, from the U.S. Civil Rights Movement to climate activism. Institutions like the Gandhi Peace Prize (1995) and UNESCO’s Gandhi Medal (1994) honor his ideals.

## Why They Matter
Gandhi redefined resistance by proving nonviolence could dismantle empires. His *satyagraha* model provided a template for 20th-century liberation struggles, from the U.S. to South Africa. Without his leadership, India’s independence might have been delayed or achieved through violent means, altering the country’s trajectory. His emphasis on moral politics and grassroots empowerment challenged colonial and authoritarian power structures worldwide. Gandhi’s critiques of industrialization and consumerism foreshadowed modern sustainability movements, while his interfaith dialogue remains a benchmark for pluralism in diverse societies.

## Notable For
- **First Global Icon of Nonviolence**: Pioneered *satyagraha*, influencing MLK Jr., Mandela, and global activists.
- **Architect of India’s Independence**: Led the Salt March (1930) and Quit India Movement (1942), forcing British withdrawal.
- **Founder of Key Institutions**: Sabarmati Ashram, Gujarat Vidyapith, and Tolstoy Farm.
- **Prolific Author**: Wrote *Hind Swaraj* (1909) and *The Story of My Experiments with Truth* (1927).
- **Social Reformer**: Campaigned against untouchability, promoted women’s rights, and revived rural economies.
- **Time Person of the Year (1930)**: Recognized for the Salt March’s global impact.
- **UN International Day of Non-Violence**: Established in 2007 on his birthday (October 2).
- **Honorary Titles**: *Mahatma* ("Great Soul"), *Bapu* ("Father"), *Father of the Nation* (India).
- **Influenced by/Influenced**: Bridged Eastern (Buddha, *Bhagavad Gita*) and Western (Thoreau, Tolstoy) thought; shaped MLK Jr., Mandela, and Suu Kyi.
- **Awards**: Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo (2002, posthumous), multiple Nobel Peace Prize nominations.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat, Gandhi grew up in a Hindu *Modh Bania* family. His father, Karamchand Gandhi, served as *diwan* (prime minister) of Porbandar; his mother, Putlibai, instilled Vaishnavite devotion and fasting traditions. At 13, he married Kasturba Kapadia (1869–1944) in an arranged marriage. After high school in Rajkot, he studied law at University College London (1888–1891) and was called to the bar at Inner Temple.

### South Africa: Birth of an Activist (1893–1914)
Gandhi moved to South Africa in 1893 to work for an Indian firm. Confronting racial segregation, he organized the Natal Indian Congress (1894) and led *satyagraha* campaigns:
- **1906**: Protested the Transvaal Asiatic Ordinance requiring Indian registration.
- **1907–1914**: Led passive resistance against discriminatory laws, including jail terms and labor strikes. Established Tolstoy Farm (1910), a communal ashram.
- **1913**: Organized a march of 2,000 Indian miners, leading to the Indian Relief Act (1914).

### Return to India and National Leadership (1915–1947)
Gandhi returned to India in 1915, joining the Indian National Congress. His early campaigns included:
- **Champaran (1917)**: Secured rights for indigo farmers.
- **Kheda (1918)**: Won tax relief for famine-stricken peasants.
- **Rowlatt Act Protests (1919)**: Led nationwide strikes against repressive laws; the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (April 1919) radicalized his nonviolence stance.

**Major Movements**:
- **Non-Cooperation (1920–1922)**: Boycott of British institutions; suspended after Chauri Chaura violence.
- **Salt March (1930)**: 78 volunteers marched 240 miles to Dandi, breaking the salt tax. Sparked mass civil disobedience.
- **Quit India (1942)**: Demanded immediate independence during WWII; Gandhi and Congress leaders were jailed until 1944.

### Partition and Independence (1947)
Gandhi opposed the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan, fasting to stop communal violence. On August 15, 1947, India gained independence, but Gandhi spent Independence Day in Calcutta, working to ease Hindu-Muslim tensions.

### Assassination and Legacy
On January 30, 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist, during an evening prayer in Delhi. His funeral was attended by over 1 million mourners. Memorials include:
- **Raj Ghat (Delhi)**: Cremation site.
- **Gandhi Smriti (Delhi)**: Museum at his assassination site.
- **Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad)**: Preserved as a national monument.

### Philosophy and Methods
- **Satyagraha**: "Truth-force" combining nonviolence (*ahimsa*) with civil disobedience. Required disciplined adherence to nonviolence even under provocation.
- **Swaraj**: Self-rule at personal (self-control) and political (independence) levels.
- **Trusteeship**: Wealthy individuals should act as trustees of society’s resources.
- **Constructive Programme**: 18-point plan for rural development, including *khadi*, education, and untouchability abolition.

### Criticisms and Controversies
- **Caste**: Critics like B.R. Ambedkar argued Gandhi’s opposition to separate electorates for Dalits preserved caste hierarchy.
- **Partition**: Blamed by some for not preventing the violent partition of India/Pakistan.
- **Personal Life**: His experiments with *brahmacharya* (celibacy) and relationships with young women (e.g., Manu Gandhi) remain debated.

### Global Influence
- **Civil Rights Movement (USA)**: Martin Luther King Jr. studied Gandhi’s methods during the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott.
- **Anti-Apartheid (South Africa)**: Nelson Mandela cited Gandhi’s South African activism as inspirational.
- **Environmentalism**: Gandhi’s critique of industrialization influenced modern sustainability advocates like Vandana Shiva.
- **UN Recognition**: The International Day of Non-Violence (October 2) was established by the UN in 2007.

### Cultural Depictions
- **Film**: *Gandhi* (1982), directed by Richard Attenborough, won 8 Oscars.
- **Literature**: Biographies by Louis Fischer (*The Life of Mahatma Gandhi*, 1950) and Erik Erikson (*Gandhi’s Truth*, 1969).
- **Monuments**: Statues worldwide, including London’s Parliament Square (2015) and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial (USA).

### Institutions and Awards Named After Gandhi
- **Educational**: Mahatma Gandhi University (Kerala, 1983), Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya (Wardha, 1997).
- **Peace Prizes**: Gandhi Peace Prize (India, 1995), Gandhi Citizenship Education Prize (Portugal, 2019).
- **Infrastructure**: Mahatma Gandhi Setu (Patna bridge, 1982), Mahatma Mandir (Gandhinagar convention center).

### Personal Life
- **Family**: Married Kasturba Gandhi (4 sons: Harilal, Manilal, Ramdas, Devdas). His relationship with Kasturba was both partnership and tension; she joined his protests and was imprisoned.
- **Diet**: Advocated vegetarianism, later adopting fruitarianism and experimental diets.
- **Daily Routine**: Rose at 4 AM, spun *khadi*, prayed, and walked 18 km daily.

### Writings
Gandhi wrote extensively in Gujarati, Hindi, and English. Key works:
- **Books**: *Hind Swaraj* (1909), *An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth* (1927), *Key to Health* (1948).
- **Journals**: Edited *Indian Opinion* (South Africa), *Young India*, *Navajivan*, and *Harijan*.
- **Letters**: Corresponded with Leo Tolstoy, Albert Einstein, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

### Economic and Social Programs
- **Khadi Movement**: Promoted hand-spun cloth to boycott British textiles. By 1930, *khadi* sales reached ₹12 million annually.
- **Village Industries**: Advocated decentralized economies through cottage industries.
- **Basic Education (*Nai Talim*)**: Combined academic learning with vocational training (e.g., spinning, farming).

### Religious Views
Gandhi synthesized Hindu, Jain, Christian, and Islamic teachings. He revered the *Bhagavad Gita* but criticized caste discrimination. His daily prayers included texts from multiple faiths, and he fasted to protest communal violence.

### Final Years and Death
Post-independence, Gandhi focused on Hindu-Muslim unity. His last fast (January 1948) pressured Delhi to pay Pakistan its partition dues. Assassinated on January 30, 1948, his last words were *"Hey Ram"* ("Oh God").

### Posthumous Recognition
- **Awards**: Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo (South Africa, 2002).
- **Commemorations**: Gandhi’s image appears on Indian currency (Mahatma Gandhi Series, 1996; Mahatma Gandhi New Series, 2016).
- **Global Memorials**: Statues in over 50 countries, including the U.S. Capitol (2019) and Geneva’s Ariana Park.

### Critiques and Reevaluations
Modern scholars debate Gandhi’s legacy:
- **Feminist Critiques**: His views on women’s roles were progressive for his time but limited by patriarchal norms.
- **Dalit Critiques**: Ambedkar and others argue Gandhi’s approach to caste was reformist, not revolutionary.
- **Environmental Legacy**: His emphasis on sustainability is increasingly relevant in climate discourse.

### Archival and Digital Presence
- **Sabarmati Ashram Archives**: Houses 34,000+ letters and manuscripts.
- **National Gandhi Museum (Delhi)**: Displays artifacts, including the bullet that killed him.
- **UNESCO Memory of the World**: Gandhi’s writings were inscribed in 2017.

## References

1. [Google Books](https://books.google.com/books?id=FauJL7LKXmkC)
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