Quick Facts
The Indian independence activist who led the non-violent resistance against British rule through the Indian independence movement.
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Life Journey
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born to Karamchand and Putlibai Gandhi in Porbandar, a coastal town in the Kathiawar Peninsula, then part of the Bombay Presidency, British India.
Gandhi traveled to London, England, to study law at University College London, becoming a barrister. This marked his first exposure to Western culture and the beginning of his journey towards nonviolent resistance.
Gandhi arrived in South Africa to work as a legal representative for Indian traders. His experiences with racial discrimination and injustice there laid the foundation for his philosophy of Satyagraha (truth force).
Gandhi initiated the Satyagraha movement in South Africa, a nonviolent civil disobedience campaign against the discriminatory laws imposed on Indians. This marked the beginning of his lifelong commitment to nonviolence.
Gandhi returned to India and joined the Indian National Congress, quickly becoming a leading figure in the Indian independence movement. He advocated for nonviolent resistance and self-reliance among the Indian people.
Gandhi led the Non-Cooperation Movement in response to the Rowlatt Act, which allowed certain political cases to be tried without juries. He called for nonviolent protests and boycotts of British institutions.
Gandhi led the famous Salt March to Dandi, a 240-mile journey to protest the British salt tax. This act of civil disobedience inspired widespread nonviolent resistance and galvanized the independence movement.
Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement, calling for an immediate end to British rule in India. This was one of the most significant campaigns of the Indian independence movement, demanding immediate British withdrawal.
India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947. Gandhi played a crucial role in the negotiations and was instrumental in securing India's freedom, although he was deeply distressed by the partition of the subcontinent.
Mohandas Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist who opposed Gandhi's efforts to reconcile Hindus and Muslims. His death marked the end of an era and a profound loss to the world.