Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869. He was born and raised in a Hindu family in a coastal town in the state of Gujarat. In India he was unable to start a successful law practice so he moved to South Africa in 1893 to represent an Indian merchant in a lawsuit. He went on to live in South Africa for 21 years. It was here that Gandhi first employed nonviolent resistance in a campaign for civil rights. In 1915, aged 45, he returned to India and soon set about organising peasants, farmers, and urban labourers to protest against excessive land-tax and discrimination.

Family and Early life

His father's name was Karamchand Gandhi and he served as the dewan in the Porbandar state of British India. Gandhi's mother's name was Putlibai. He had 3 siblings- Lakshmidas, Raliatbehn and Karsandas. Gandhi was the youngest of them all. The Indian classics, especially the stories of Shravana and king Harishchandra, had a great impact on Gandhi in his childhood. In his autobiography, he admits that they left an indelible impression on his mind. He writes: "It haunted me and I must have acted Harishchandra to myself times without number." Gandhi's early self-identification with truth and love as supreme values is traceable to these epic characters. In May 1883, the 13 year old Mohandas was married to 14 year old Kasturba in an arranged marriage (something that was the custom of that time). The couple had 4 children- Harilal, Manilal, Ramdas and Devdas.

Some of the movements started by Gandhiji

1. Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was the first mass-based movement led by Mahatma Gandhi following his return to India from South Africa to protest against gross injustice and agitative policies imposed on the farmers, particularly indigo cultivators by the landlords under British rule. He did this to get the trust of the peasants and the other poor people which were by then the most in number in India.

2. Khilafat movement (1919)

Khilafat Movement was launched in 1919 under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi against the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire post-World War I and attempts to abolish the Ottoman Caliphate by the British. Demanding the restoration of Caliphate in Turkey, the Central Khilafat Committee organised an all-India Hartal and Gandhiji even gave away his  "Kaiser-i-Hind" title given to him by the britishers. He was supported by Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali and he thought of this as a great chance of developing a sense of Hindu-Muslim unity.

3. Non-Cooperation Movement (1920)

The Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM) was formally launched on August 1, 1920 by Mahatma Gandhi as an opposition to the Rowlatt Act of 1919, and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 13, 1919. Through the 'Non-Cooperation Movement' which was a non-violent struggle, Gandhiji appealed to the people to boycott British-made clothing, goods and other services and promote Khadi. However, the movement was suspended on February 1922 following a violent incident at Chauri Chaura. Gandhiji hated violence and he thus called off the movement, but it was arguably the biggest movement of all in terms of the numbers of participation during the freedom struggle.

4. Civil Disobedience (1930)

The Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), started with the popular Dandi March or Salt Satyagraha that was launched by Mahatma Gandhi after the failure of Simon Commission with the objective of 'Complete Independence' from the British rule and to oppose the unhumane colonial laws imposed on people.

5. Quit India Movement (1942)

The Quit India Movement was also known as the 'August Movement' and was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942 at the Bombay Session of Congress during World War II calling for the liberation of India from British rule. It was here that Gandhiji coined the historic 'Do or Die' call exhorting Indians to participate in the freedom struggle resulting in the imprisonment of the entire Indian National Congress leadership without any trial.

Death and memorials

Gandhiji died on 30 January 1948 after being shot 3 times in the chest by Nathuram Godse. Jawaharlal Nehru said on the All India Radio that- "the light has gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere, and I do not quite know what to tell you or how to say it. Our beloved leader, Bapu as we called him, the father of the nation, is no more."

The Birla House site where Gandhi was assassinated is now a memorial called Gandhi Smriti. The place near Yamuna river where he was cremated is the Raj Ghat memorial in New Delhi.

Though he is dead, he will remain immortal in our hearts. He is the 'Father of the Nation' and the rights we have and the quality of life we live is all due to his hardwork and sacrifice. We should be proud to be born in the country where people of such high character lived. We must always follow his principles of truth and non-violence in our life.