Mahatma Gandhi
Born: October 2, 1869, Porbandar, Kathiawar Agency- (now Gujarat)
Died: 30 January 1948, Delhi
Work/Achievements: Played the most important role in the freedom movement
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was a prominent political leader of the Indian independence movement. By following the principles of Satyagraha and non-violence, he played an important role in getting India's independence. These principles of his inspired people all over the world for civil rights and freedom movement. He is also called the Father of the Nation of India. In 1944, Subhash Chandra Bose addressed him as 'Father of the Nation' in the broadcast in the name of Gandhiji from Rangoon Radio.
Mahatma Gandhi is an example for the entire human race. He followed non-violence and truth in every situation and asked people to follow them also. He lived his life in virtue. He always used to wear traditional Indian dress dhoti and shawl made of cotton. This great man, who always eats vegetarian food, also kept long fasts for self-purification many times.
Before coming back to India in 1915, Gandhi fought for the civil rights of the Indian community in South Africa as an expatriate lawyer. Coming to India, he toured the whole country and united the farmers, laborers and workers to fight against heavy land tax and discrimination. In 1921, he took over the reins of the Indian National Congress and influenced the political, social and economic scenario of the country through his actions. He gained a lot of fame with the Salt Satyagraha in 1930 and then the 'Quit India' movement in 1942. Gandhiji also imprisoned him for many years on several occasions during India's freedom struggle.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, a coastal city in Gujarat, India. His father Karamchand Gandhi was the Diwan of a small princely state (Porbandar) of Kathiawar during the British Raj. Mohandas's mother Putlibai Paranami belonged to the Vaish community and was highly religious, which influenced young Mohandas and these values later played an important role in his life. She used to observe fast regularly and when someone in the family fell ill, she used to do service day and night in Susrusha. Thus Mohandas naturally embraced non-violence, vegetarianism, a vow for self-purification and mutual tolerance among those professing different religions and sects.
In 1883, at the age of 13 and a half, he was married to 14-year-old Kasturba. When Mohandas was 15 years old, his first child was born but he lived only a few days. His father Karamchand Gandhi also passed away in the same year (1885). Later, Mohandas and Kasturba had four children – Harilal Gandhi (1888), Manilal Gandhi (1892), Ramdas Gandhi (1897) and Devdas Gandhi (1900).
He had his middle school education in Porbandar and high school in Rajkot. Mohandas remained an average student at the academic level. In 1887, he passed the matriculation examination from Ahmedabad. After this, Mohandas joined Shamaldas College in Bhavnagar, but due to ill health and home disconnection, he remained unhappy and left the college and went back to Porbandar.
Mohandas was the most educated in his family, so his family members believed that he could become the successor (diwan) of his father and uncle. Mavji Dave, a family friend of his, gave such advice that once Mohandas became a barrister from London, he could easily get the title of Diwan. His mother Putlibai and other family members opposed his idea of going abroad but agreed to Mohandas's assurance. In the year 1888, Mohandas went to England to study law at University College London and became a barrister.
Died: 30 January 1948, Delhi
Work/Achievements: Played the most important role in the freedom movement
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was a prominent political leader of the Indian independence movement. By following the principles of Satyagraha and non-violence, he played an important role in getting India's independence. These principles of his inspired people all over the world for civil rights and freedom movement. He is also called the Father of the Nation of India. In 1944, Subhash Chandra Bose addressed him as 'Father of the Nation' in the broadcast in the name of Gandhiji from Rangoon Radio.
Mahatma Gandhi is an example for the entire human race. He followed non-violence and truth in every situation and asked people to follow them also. He lived his life in virtue. He always used to wear traditional Indian dress dhoti and shawl made of cotton. This great man, who always eats vegetarian food, also kept long fasts for self-purification many times.
Before coming back to India in 1915, Gandhi fought for the civil rights of the Indian community in South Africa as an expatriate lawyer. Coming to India, he toured the whole country and united the farmers, laborers and workers to fight against heavy land tax and discrimination. In 1921, he took over the reins of the Indian National Congress and influenced the political, social and economic scenario of the country through his actions. He gained a lot of fame with the Salt Satyagraha in 1930 and then the 'Quit India' movement in 1942. Gandhiji also imprisoned him for many years on several occasions during India's freedom struggle.
early life
In 1883, at the age of 13 and a half, he was married to 14-year-old Kasturba. When Mohandas was 15 years old, his first child was born but he lived only a few days. His father Karamchand Gandhi also passed away in the same year (1885). Later, Mohandas and Kasturba had four children – Harilal Gandhi (1888), Manilal Gandhi (1892), Ramdas Gandhi (1897) and Devdas Gandhi (1900).
He had his middle school education in Porbandar and high school in Rajkot. Mohandas remained an average student at the academic level. In 1887, he passed the matriculation examination from Ahmedabad. After this, Mohandas joined Shamaldas College in Bhavnagar, but due to ill health and home disconnection, he remained unhappy and left the college and went back to Porbandar.
Abroad education and advocacy
He spent his time in London according to the promise given to his mother. There he had a lot of difficulty related to eating vegetarian and had to go hungry many times in the initial days. Gradually he found out about restaurants with vegetarian food. After this he also took membership of 'Vegetarian Society'. Some members of this society were also members of Theosophical Society and they suggested Mohandas to read the Gita.
Gandhi returned to India in June 1891 and came to know about his mother's death there. He started advocacy in Bombay but did not get much success. After this he went to Rajkot where he started writing cases for the needy, but after some time he had to leave this work too.
Finally, in 1893, he accepted the work of advocacy from an Indian firm in Natal (South Africa) on a one-year contract.
Gandhi in South Africa (1893–1914)
Gandhi reached South Africa at the age of 24. He had gone there as a judicial advisor to some Indian businessmen based in Pretoria. He spent 21 years of his life in South Africa where his political thought and leadership skills developed. He faced severe racial discrimination in South Africa. Once he was thrown out of the train for refusing to go into the third class compartment once the train had a valid ticket for the first class coach. All these events became a turning point in his life and became a cause of awareness about the prevailing social and political injustice. In view of the injustice being done to Indians in South Africa, questions related to the respect of Indians under the British Empire and their own identity began to arise in their mind.
In South Africa, Gandhiji inspired Indians to fight for their political and social rights. He also raised the issue of citizenship of Indians with the South African government and actively motivated the British authorities to recruit Indians in the Zulu War of 1906. According to Gandhi, Indians should cooperate in the British war effort in order to legalize their citizenship claims.
Struggle of Indian Freedom Struggle (1916–1945)
Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in the year 1914. By this time, Gandhi had become a nationalist leader and organizer. He came to India at the behest of liberal Congress leader Gopal Krishna Gokhale and in the early stages Gandhi's ideas were largely influenced by Gokhale's ideas. Initially Gandhi visited different parts of the country and tried to understand political, economic and social issues.
Champaran and Kheda Satyagraha
Gandhi returned to India in June 1891 and came to know about his mother's death there. He started advocacy in Bombay but did not get much success. After this he went to Rajkot where he started writing cases for the needy, but after some time he had to leave this work too.
Finally, in 1893, he accepted the work of advocacy from an Indian firm in Natal (South Africa) on a one-year contract.
Gandhi in South Africa (1893–1914)
Gandhi reached South Africa at the age of 24. He had gone there as a judicial advisor to some Indian businessmen based in Pretoria. He spent 21 years of his life in South Africa where his political thought and leadership skills developed. He faced severe racial discrimination in South Africa. Once he was thrown out of the train for refusing to go into the third class compartment once the train had a valid ticket for the first class coach. All these events became a turning point in his life and became a cause of awareness about the prevailing social and political injustice. In view of the injustice being done to Indians in South Africa, questions related to the respect of Indians under the British Empire and their own identity began to arise in their mind.
In South Africa, Gandhiji inspired Indians to fight for their political and social rights. He also raised the issue of citizenship of Indians with the South African government and actively motivated the British authorities to recruit Indians in the Zulu War of 1906. According to Gandhi, Indians should cooperate in the British war effort in order to legalize their citizenship claims.
Struggle of Indian Freedom Struggle (1916–1945)
Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in the year 1914. By this time, Gandhi had become a nationalist leader and organizer. He came to India at the behest of liberal Congress leader Gopal Krishna Gokhale and in the early stages Gandhi's ideas were largely influenced by Gokhale's ideas. Initially Gandhi visited different parts of the country and tried to understand political, economic and social issues.
Champaran and Kheda Satyagraha
The movements in Champaran in Bihar and Kheda in Gujarat brought Gandhi the first political success in India. British zamindars in Champaran used to force farmers to cultivate indigo instead of food crops and used to buy crops at cheap prices, which worsened the condition of the farmers. Due to this they were surrounded by extreme poverty. After a devastating famine, the British government imposed repressive taxes, the burden of which increased day by day. Overall the situation was very disappointing. Gandhiji led protests and strikes against the landlords, after which the demands of the poor and farmers were accepted.
In the year 1918, Kheda in Gujarat was hit by floods and drought, due to which the condition of farmers and poor became worse and people started demanding tax waiver. In Kheda, under the guidance of Gandhiji, Sardar Patel led the farmers to discuss this problem with the British. After this, the British released all the prisoners by giving them freedom from revenue collection. Thus after Champaran and Kheda, Gandhi's fame spread across the country and he emerged as an important leader of the freedom movement.
Khilafat Movement
Gandhiji got an opportunity to increase his popularity within the Congress and among the Muslims through the Khilafat movement. The Khilafat was a worldwide movement by which Muslims from all over the world were protesting the falling dominance of the Caliphate. The Ottoman Empire was fragmented after its defeat in World War I, due to which Muslims were concerned about the security of their religion and religious places. The Khilafat in India was being led by the 'All India Muslim Conference'. Gradually Gandhi became its chief spokesperson. He returned the honors and medals given by the British to express solidarity with the Indian Muslims. After this Gandhi became the only leader of not only the Congress but the country whose influence was on the people of different communities.
non cooperation movement
Gandhiji believed that the British rule in India was possible only with the cooperation of the Indians and if we all together non-cooperation against the British on everything, then freedom is possible. Gandhi's growing popularity had made him the biggest leader of the Congress and now he was in a position to use weapons like non-cooperation, non-violence and peaceful retaliation against the British. Meanwhile, the Jallianwala massacre inflicted a huge blow on the country, which ignited the flames of anger and violence among the people.
Gandhiji called for the Swadeshi policy in which foreign goods, especially English goods, were to be boycotted. He said that all Indians should wear Khadi made by our own people instead of clothes made by the British. He asked men and women to spin yarn daily. Apart from this, Mahatma Gandhi also requested the boycott of British educational institutions and courts, quitting government jobs and returning the honor and honor received from the British government.
The non-cooperation movement was getting immense success, which increased enthusiasm and participation in all sections of the society, but in February 1922, it ended with the Chauri-Chaura incident. After this violent incident, Gandhiji withdrew the non-cooperation movement. He was arrested and tried for sedition in which he was sentenced to six years imprisonment. He was released by the government in February 1924 due to ill health.
Swaraj and Salt Satyagraha
After his arrest during the non-cooperation movement, Gandhi was released in February 1924 and remained away from active politics till 1928. During this time he was engaged in reducing the estrangement between the Swaraj Party and the Congress, besides fighting against untouchability, alcoholism, ignorance and poverty.
At the same time, the British government formed a new constitutional reform commission for India under the leadership of Sir John Simon, but none of its members were Indian, due to which Indian political parties boycotted it. After this, in the Calcutta session of December 1928, Gandhiji asked the British government to provide power to the Indian Empire and if not, be prepared to face the non-cooperation movement for the independence of the country. On December 31, 1929, the flag of India was unfurled in Lahore after the British did not respond and the Congress celebrated 26 January 1930 as Indian Independence Day.
After this Gandhiji launched Salt Satyagraha in protest against the imposition of tax on salt by the government, under which he traveled from Ahmedabad to Dandi, Gujarat, about 388 kilometers from 12 March to 6 April. The purpose of this journey was to produce salt itself. Thousands of Indians participated in this yatra and were successful in distracting the British government. During this, the government arrested more than 60 thousand people and sent them to jail.
After this, the government represented by Lord Irwin decided to hold discussions with Gandhi, which resulted in the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in March 1931. Under the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, the British government agreed to release all political prisoners. As a result of this agreement, Gandhi participated in the Round Table Conference held in London as the sole representative of the Congress, but this conference was very disappointing for the Congress and other nationalists. After this Gandhi was again arrested and the government tried to crush the nationalist movement.
In 1934, Gandhi resigned from the membership of the Congress. Instead of political activities, he focused on building the nation 'from the lowest level' through 'constructive programmes'. He started the work of educating rural India, continuing the movement against untouchability, promoting spinning, weaving and other cottage industries, and creating an education system suited to the needs of the people.
Harijan Movement
As a result of the efforts of Dalit leader BR Ambedkar, the British government allowed separate electorates for the untouchables under a new constitution. Gandhiji, who was lodged in Yerwada Jail, observed a six-day fast in September 1932 in protest against this and forced the government to adopt a similar system (Poona Pact). This was the beginning of the campaign launched by Gandhiji to improve the lives of the untouchables. On 8 May 1933, Gandhi observed a 21-day fast for self-purification and began a one-year campaign to further the Harijan movement. Dalit leaders like Ambedkar were not pleased with this movement and condemned Gandhi's use of the word Harijan for Dalits.
World War II and 'Quit India Movement'
At the beginning of the Second World War, Gandhi was in favor of giving 'non-violent moral support' to the British, but many Congress leaders were unhappy that the government had thrown the country into war without consulting the representatives of the people. Gandhi declared that on the one hand India was being denied independence and on the other hand India was being drawn into the war for the victory of democratic forces. As the war progressed, Gandhiji and the Congress intensified the demand for 'Quit India' movement.
'Quit India' became the most powerful movement in the struggle for independence, which saw widespread violence and arrests. Thousands of freedom fighters were either killed or injured in this struggle and thousands were also arrested. Gandhi had made it clear that he would not support the British war effort until India was given immediate independence. He had also said that this movement would not stop despite personal violence. He believed that the government anarchy prevailing in the country is more dangerous than the real anarchy. Gandhiji asked all Congressmen and Indians to maintain discipline with do or die with non-violence.
After this, the government represented by Lord Irwin decided to hold discussions with Gandhi, which resulted in the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in March 1931. Under the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, the British government agreed to release all political prisoners. As a result of this agreement, Gandhi participated in the Round Table Conference held in London as the sole representative of the Congress, but this conference was very disappointing for the Congress and other nationalists. After this Gandhi was again arrested and the government tried to crush the nationalist movement.
In 1934, Gandhi resigned from the membership of the Congress. Instead of political activities, he focused on building the nation 'from the lowest level' through 'constructive programmes'. He started the work of educating rural India, continuing the movement against untouchability, promoting spinning, weaving and other cottage industries, and creating an education system suited to the needs of the people.
Harijan Movement
As a result of the efforts of Dalit leader BR Ambedkar, the British government allowed separate electorates for the untouchables under a new constitution. Gandhiji, who was lodged in Yerwada Jail, observed a six-day fast in September 1932 in protest against this and forced the government to adopt a similar system (Poona Pact). This was the beginning of the campaign launched by Gandhiji to improve the lives of the untouchables. On 8 May 1933, Gandhi observed a 21-day fast for self-purification and began a one-year campaign to further the Harijan movement. Dalit leaders like Ambedkar were not pleased with this movement and condemned Gandhi's use of the word Harijan for Dalits.
World War II and 'Quit India Movement'
At the beginning of the Second World War, Gandhi was in favor of giving 'non-violent moral support' to the British, but many Congress leaders were unhappy that the government had thrown the country into war without consulting the representatives of the people. Gandhi declared that on the one hand India was being denied independence and on the other hand India was being drawn into the war for the victory of democratic forces. As the war progressed, Gandhiji and the Congress intensified the demand for 'Quit India' movement.
'Quit India' became the most powerful movement in the struggle for independence, which saw widespread violence and arrests. Thousands of freedom fighters were either killed or injured in this struggle and thousands were also arrested. Gandhi had made it clear that he would not support the British war effort until India was given immediate independence. He had also said that this movement would not stop despite personal violence. He believed that the government anarchy prevailing in the country is more dangerous than the real anarchy. Gandhiji asked all Congressmen and Indians to maintain discipline with do or die with non-violence.
Why Republic Day is celebrated in India
As everyone anticipated, the British government arrested Gandhiji and all the members of the Congress Working Committee in Mumbai on 9 August 1942 and Gandhiji was taken to the Aanga Khan Palace in Pune where he was imprisoned for two years. Meanwhile, his wife Kasturba Gandhi died on 22 February 1944 and after some time Gandhiji also suffered from malaria.The British could not leave him in jail in this condition, so he was released on 6 May 1944 for necessary treatment. Despite partial success, the Quit India movement organized India and by the end of World War II, the British government had given a clear indication that power would soon be handed over to the Indians. Gandhiji ended the Quit India Movement and the government released about 1 lakh political prisoners.
Partition and independence of the country
As stated earlier, by the end of the Second World War, the British Government had signaled the independence of the country. Along with the freedom movement of India, the demand for a 'separate Muslim majority country' (Pakistan) under Jinnah's leadership also intensified and in the 40s these forces made the demand for a separate nation 'Pakistan' in reality. had changed. Gandhiji did not want the partition of the country because it was completely different from his principle of religious unity, but this did not happen and the British divided the country into two pieces – India and Pakistan.
Gandhi's assassination
On 30 January 1948, the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated at 5:17 pm at Birla House in Delhi. Gandhiji was on his way to address a prayer meeting when his assassin Nathuram Godse fired three bullets into his chest. It is believed that 'Hey Ram' was the last word that came out of his mouth. Nathuram Godse and his associate were tried and sentenced to death in 1949.
Partition and independence of the country
As stated earlier, by the end of the Second World War, the British Government had signaled the independence of the country. Along with the freedom movement of India, the demand for a 'separate Muslim majority country' (Pakistan) under Jinnah's leadership also intensified and in the 40s these forces made the demand for a separate nation 'Pakistan' in reality. had changed. Gandhiji did not want the partition of the country because it was completely different from his principle of religious unity, but this did not happen and the British divided the country into two pieces – India and Pakistan.
Gandhi's assassination
On 30 January 1948, the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated at 5:17 pm at Birla House in Delhi. Gandhiji was on his way to address a prayer meeting when his assassin Nathuram Godse fired three bullets into his chest. It is believed that 'Hey Ram' was the last word that came out of his mouth. Nathuram Godse and his associate were tried and sentenced to death in 1949.
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