Mahatma Gandhi
Oct 02, 2024: Gandhi Jayanti is a national holiday celebrated in India to mark the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
Mahatma Gandhi, born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India, was a pivotal leader in India's struggle for independence from British rule. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern history due to his philosophy of nonviolent resistance (Satyagraha) and civil disobedience.
Early Life and Education: Gandhi was born into a middle-class Hindu family. His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was a chief minister in Porbandar, and his mother, Putlibai, was deeply religious. In 1883, Mahatma Gandhi married Kasturba. In 1888, at the age of 18, Gandhi traveled to London to study law at University College London. After completing his education, he returned to India briefly but struggled to establish himself as a lawyer. This led him to accept a position in South Africa in 1893.
Time in South Africa: While in South Africa, Gandhi faced racial discrimination firsthand. One notable incident occurred when he was thrown off a train for refusing to leave a first-class compartment, despite holding a valid ticket. These experiences spurred him to fight against injustice. In South Africa, Gandhi developed the concept of Satyagraha (the force of truth or soul force), advocating for civil rights through nonviolent resistance.
Return to India and Leadership in the Independence Movement: Gandhi returned to India in 1915, where he soon became involved in the country's fight for independence. Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore shared a mutual respect and friendship, with Tagore giving Gandhi the title "Mahatma". Gandhi led the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917, where he fought for the rights of indigo farmers in Champaran, Bihar, who were forced by British landlords to grow indigo under oppressive conditions; this was Gandhi's first major nonviolent campaign in India. He joined the Indian National Congress and became its leader in 1921. Gandhi's nonviolent tactics included boycotts of British goods, mass protests, and civil disobedience movements, such as the Salt March of 1930. The Salt March was a 240-mile march to the Arabian Sea to protest the British salt tax. Gandhi’s leadership helped unite India across religious, ethnic, and caste lines. He emphasized self-reliance and the use of traditional Indian industries, like the spinning of khadi (hand-woven cloth), as symbols of national pride and resistance.
Philosophy and Legacy: Gandhi’s philosophy was grounded in Ahimsa (nonviolence) and Swaraj (self-rule). He believed that nonviolent resistance was the most powerful weapon for oppressed people and that true freedom involved not just political independence but also the moral and spiritual upliftment of individuals and communities. His work in India influenced civil rights movements around the world, inspiring leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Einstein was deeply inspired by Gandhi's teachings and so much so that he called him the most enlightened of all the politicians of his time.
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse, a political extremist who opposed Gandhi's views on partition and his approach toward inter-community harmony. To show respect for Mahatma Gandhi, the United Nations lowered its flag to half-mast.
Mahatma Gandhi remains a symbol of peace and nonviolence.
Mahatma Gandhi remains a symbol of peace, nonviolence, and the enduring struggle for justice and equality. His teachings continue to inspire movements for civil rights and social change around the world.
Watch the movie on Gandhi. Release date: 30 November 1982 (India). Director: Richard Attenborough. Starring: Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, Martin Sheen; Music by: Ravi Shankar, George Fenton.
My stamp collection includes a stamp depicting Mahatma Gandhi.
