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Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar,
India. He became one of the most respected spiritual and political leaders of
the 1900's. Gandhi helped free the Indian people from British rule through
nonviolent resistance, and is honored by his people as the father of the Indian
Nation. The Indian people called Gandhi Mahatma, meaning Great Soul.
At age 13 Gandhi married Kasturba, a girl the same age. The marriage was
arranged by their parents. The Gandhis had four children. Gandhi studied law in
London and returned to India in 1891 to practice. In 1893 he took on a one year
contract to do legal work in South Africa. At the time South Africa was
controlled by the British. When he attempted to claim his rights as a British
subject he was abused, and soon saw that all Indians suffered similar treatment.
Gandhi stayed in South Africa for 21 years working to secure rights for Indian
people. He developed a method of direct social action based upon the principles
courage, nonviolence and truth called Satyagraha. He believed that the
way people behave is more important than what they achieve. Satyagraha promoted
nonviolence and civil disobedience as the most appropriate methods for obtaining
political and social goals.
In 1915 Gandhi returned to India. Within 15 years he became the leader of the
Indian nationalist movement. Using the tenets of Satyagraha he lead the campaign
for Indian independence from Britain. Gandhi was arrested many times by the
British for his activities in South Africa and India. He believed it was
honorable to go to jail for a just cause. Altogether he spent seven years in
prison for his political activities. More than once Gandhi used fasting to
impress upon others the need to be nonviolent.
India was granted independence in 1947, and partitioned into India and
Pakistan. Rioting between Hindus and Muslims followed. Gandhi had been an
advocate for a united India where Hindus and Muslims lived together in peace. On
January 13, 1948, at the age of 78, he began a fast with the purpose of stopping
the bloodshed. After 5 days the opposing leaders pledged to stop the fighting
and Gandhi broke his fast. Twelve days later he was assassinated by a Hindu
fanatic who opposed his program of tolerance for all creeds and religion.
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"Generations to
come will scarce believe that such one as this walked the earth in flesh
and blood"
-Albert Einsten
"Gandhi
was inevitable. If humanity is to progress Gandhi
is inescapable. He lived, thought and acted.
Inspired by the vision
of humanity evolving toward a world of peace and harmony we may
ignore Gandhi at our own risk"
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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