Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi 
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Dummipedia, the simplified free online encyclopedia
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| Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi | |
| Born | October 2, 1869 Porbandar, Kathiawar Agency, British India |
| Died | January 30, 1948 (aged 78) New Delhi, Union of India Assassination |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Mahatma Gandhi |
| Education | University College London |
| Known for | Indian Independence Movement |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Spouse | Kasturba Gandhi |
| Children | Harilal Manilal Ramdas Devdas |
| Parents | Karamchand Gandhi and Putlibai |
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Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869 – 1948), commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement. He was the pioneer of Satyagraha — resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience, firmly founded upon ahimsa or total non-violence — which led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhi is officially honoured in India as the Father of the Nation and his birthday on October 2 is commemorated as a national holiday in India, and world-wide as the International Day of Non-Violence.
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2. Born in Porbander in present-day Gujarat, West India, Gandhi [1] traveled to London, England in 1888 to study law at University College London. After being called to the Bar by Inner Temple, he returned to India but had limited success establishing a law practice. It was in this climate that in 1893, he accepted a year-long contract from an Indian firm to a post in Natal, South Africa, then part of the British Empire.
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3. In South Africa, Gandhi faced discrimination and it was through witnessing firsthand the racism, prejudice, and injustice directed at the Indians that he started to question his people's status within the British Empire, and his own place in society. Gandhi first employed non-violent civil disobedience as an expatriate lawyer in the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights in South Africa. After his return to India in 1915, he spoke at the conventions of the Indian National Congress, but was primarily introduced to Indian issues and politics by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a respected leader of the Congress Party at the time. Gandhi set about organising peasants, farmers, and urban labourers in protesting against excessive land tax and discrimination.
| Mahatma Gandhi's historic Dandi march (Video credit: anoopkn) |
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4. Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, for expanding women's rights, for building religious and ethnic amity, for ending untouchability, for increasing economic self-reliance, but above all for achieving Swaraj — the independence of India from foreign domination. He famously led Indians in protesting the British-imposed salt tax with the 400 km (249 mi) Dandi Salt March in 1930, and later in calling for the British to Quit India in 1942. Gandhi was imprisoned on numerous occasions for many years, both in South Africa and India.
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5. In 1945, the Labour Party came to power in Britain, and Clement Attlee who became the Prime Minister promised an early realization of self-government in India. India subsequently attained independence in 1947, but Muhammad Ali Jinnah's intransigence resulted in the partition of the country.[1] Communal riots between Hindus and Muslims broke out in the country in the aftermath of the partition and in January 1948, Gandhi was shot dead by Nathuram Godse, while going for his evening prayers. Godse was a Hindu radical with links to the extremist Hindu Mahasabha who held Gandhi responsible for weakening India by insisting on honouring the payment of Rs. 55 crores to Pakistan, made by the Partition Council. more... at Wikipedia
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