mohandas gandhi
Mohandas Gandhi was the leader of modern Indian nationalism, and he infused the clinical movement with Hindu spirituality. To Gandhi, moral values were always superseded material ones, and the improvement of human souls was a necessary precursor to the improvement of India. Gandhi was a firm believer of non-violence and civil disobedience, revealing that these ideals could finally unite diverse people and ultimately accomplish great progress throughout the nation.
Mohandas Gandhi was born in 1869 at Porbandar, a city in British-ruled India. His mother followed a fulfilled and devout religious life, which Gandhi claimed, was the biggest influence on his life and his future beliefs. He learned as a child to worship the Hindu god and to abide by the Jainist teaching of non-violence and kindness. Gandhi soon became one of the most respected spiritual and political leaders of the 1900’s.
At the age of thirteen years old, Gandhi was forced into an arranged marriage to Kasturba, a girl the same age as him. Together they had a total of four children. With his children in mind, Gandhi’s family wanted him to travel to England to become a barrister, so he attended the University College in London where he began studying Indian law and jurisprudence in order to train as a barrister at the Inner Temple. In 1893, Gandhi took a one-year contract to do legal work in South Africa because the law firm was not in his favor. In South Africa, he initially developed his political views, and furthered his ethic and political leadership skills because of his observations throughout his journeys in South Africa. In South Africa, Gandhi was then discriminated against several times especially directed at colored people. For example, a leader of a Durban court ordered Gandhi to remove his turban, which Ghandi refused to do. These discriminations caused an influential turning point in his life and shaped his new life goal; to help the Indians out of their social injustice. Gandhi had witnessed it all; from racism and prejudice, to injustice and disrespect, Gandhi began to question his place in society and the people surrounding him in the British Empire. Furthermore, Gandhi then joined the Indian National Congress in 1914. Gandhi was also the leader of the Indian Independence movement. He believed that through non-violent actions, India would eventually achieve freedom from the colonial powers. From there he led nationwide campaigns to ease poverty, expand women’s rights, build religious and ethnic amity, and increase independence and self-reliance. He embraced western influence of civil disobedience, nationalism, and democracy. These three important tactics led the Indian nationalists to peacefully protest against Britain. Gandhi would only participate and support passive protests where violence was not the source of the attack. When protests were deadly and dangerous, Ghandi would pray until the violence had initially stopped. He also used fasting to express the importance of non-violence. This led people to see Ghandi as respectful and gained influence with both the general public and even the British. This led to him unifying many diverse elements of the Indian National Congress, and was able to force political concessions from the British. India was granted independence in 1947, and was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Ghandi had always been a supporter for a united India where Hindus and Muslims came together and lived in peace. On January 30th, Nathuram Godse who disliked Ghandi’s program of tolerance for all creeds and religion; assassinated Ghandi. He initially blamed Ghandi for the partition of the country. Although this calamity occurred, many saw Ghandi as a hero. The Indian people called him “Gandhiji Mahatma” meaning “Great Soul.” His complex reasoning and revolutionary actions caused Ghandi to become one of the most influential leaders of the 1900’s.
Citations:
-"Gandhi - Biography of Mahatma Gandhi." About.com 20th Century History. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
-“Mohandas Gandhi.” 2013. The History Channel website. Mar 14 2013, 12:16 http://www.history.com/topics/mahatma-gandhi.
Picture Citation:
"Mahatma Gandhi." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
Mohandas Gandhi was born in 1869 at Porbandar, a city in British-ruled India. His mother followed a fulfilled and devout religious life, which Gandhi claimed, was the biggest influence on his life and his future beliefs. He learned as a child to worship the Hindu god and to abide by the Jainist teaching of non-violence and kindness. Gandhi soon became one of the most respected spiritual and political leaders of the 1900’s.
At the age of thirteen years old, Gandhi was forced into an arranged marriage to Kasturba, a girl the same age as him. Together they had a total of four children. With his children in mind, Gandhi’s family wanted him to travel to England to become a barrister, so he attended the University College in London where he began studying Indian law and jurisprudence in order to train as a barrister at the Inner Temple. In 1893, Gandhi took a one-year contract to do legal work in South Africa because the law firm was not in his favor. In South Africa, he initially developed his political views, and furthered his ethic and political leadership skills because of his observations throughout his journeys in South Africa. In South Africa, Gandhi was then discriminated against several times especially directed at colored people. For example, a leader of a Durban court ordered Gandhi to remove his turban, which Ghandi refused to do. These discriminations caused an influential turning point in his life and shaped his new life goal; to help the Indians out of their social injustice. Gandhi had witnessed it all; from racism and prejudice, to injustice and disrespect, Gandhi began to question his place in society and the people surrounding him in the British Empire. Furthermore, Gandhi then joined the Indian National Congress in 1914. Gandhi was also the leader of the Indian Independence movement. He believed that through non-violent actions, India would eventually achieve freedom from the colonial powers. From there he led nationwide campaigns to ease poverty, expand women’s rights, build religious and ethnic amity, and increase independence and self-reliance. He embraced western influence of civil disobedience, nationalism, and democracy. These three important tactics led the Indian nationalists to peacefully protest against Britain. Gandhi would only participate and support passive protests where violence was not the source of the attack. When protests were deadly and dangerous, Ghandi would pray until the violence had initially stopped. He also used fasting to express the importance of non-violence. This led people to see Ghandi as respectful and gained influence with both the general public and even the British. This led to him unifying many diverse elements of the Indian National Congress, and was able to force political concessions from the British. India was granted independence in 1947, and was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Ghandi had always been a supporter for a united India where Hindus and Muslims came together and lived in peace. On January 30th, Nathuram Godse who disliked Ghandi’s program of tolerance for all creeds and religion; assassinated Ghandi. He initially blamed Ghandi for the partition of the country. Although this calamity occurred, many saw Ghandi as a hero. The Indian people called him “Gandhiji Mahatma” meaning “Great Soul.” His complex reasoning and revolutionary actions caused Ghandi to become one of the most influential leaders of the 1900’s.
Citations:
-"Gandhi - Biography of Mahatma Gandhi." About.com 20th Century History. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
-“Mohandas Gandhi.” 2013. The History Channel website. Mar 14 2013, 12:16 http://www.history.com/topics/mahatma-gandhi.
Picture Citation:
"Mahatma Gandhi." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.