Mahatma Gandhi—Father of the Indian nation and
the propunder of ahimsa and truth, has been an icon and a great source
of inspiration for people across the world. He played a vital role in
India's struggle for independence from the British colonial role and
has wrote some famous books, like The Story of My Experiments With Truth.
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The Indian people called Gandhiji 'Mahatma',
meaning Great Soul. At the age of 13 Gandhi married Kasturba, a girl the
same age. Their parents arranged the marriage. 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 the British controlled South Africa. 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. |
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He developed a method of action based
upon the principles of 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. |
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Using the principles of Satyagraha he
led 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.
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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 a Hindu fanatic, Nathuram Godse who opposed his
program of tolerance for all creeds and religion assassinated him. |
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