subject: The Great Man Of India [print this page] Born in October 2, 1869, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is considered as the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during its fight for independence from British monarchial rule.
His main tool in propagating the revolution is through satyagraha or resistance through civil disobedience. This is based on the Indian concept of ahimsa or non-violence. Through his leadership, Gandhi provided the leadership for Indian independence as well as influence many other civil rights and freedom actions throughout the world.
He is referred to as Mahatma or Great Soul. He is also known as Bapu or Father and his life and actions are honored as being the Father of the Nation on his birthdate, a national holiday. Worldwide, October 2 is commemorated as the International Day of Non-Violence.
Gandhi first conducted non-violent civil disobedience action during his days as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa. He was then providing legal services for the Indian community in South Africa in the fight for civil rights. He returned to India in 1915 and set about work organizing farmers, peasants and urban laborers in conducting collective action against land tax impositions and exercised discrimination. He rose to power to lead the Indian National Congress in 1921 and undertook campaigns to ease poverty, expansion of women's rights, creating religious and ethnic peace, ending discriminatory acts such as caste untouchability, preparing for economic self-reliance with the goal of achieving a fully independent and free Republic of India.
One of his most famed actions was leading Indians in the protest of the British imposed salt tax with the Dandi Salt March in 1930, a distance of 400 kilometers. For this and many other anti-British actions, Gandhi was imprisoned in both South Africa and India. Even during the most perilous times, he espoused non-violence and convinced others to practice the same.
He lived in spartan accommodations in a self-sufficient residential community. He chose to wear the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, which is cloth made of yarn hand spun on a traditional charkha. He subsisted on a vegetarian diet occasionally undertaking long fasts as a means of self-purification and social protest.
His non-violent life was brutally ended in January 30, 1948 when Mahatma Gandhi was shot walking to a platform on the way to address a prayer meeting. He was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a Hindi nationalist with links to the extremist group Hindu Mahasabha. The group claimed that Gandhi weakened India with his insistence of payment to Pakistan. He was later convicted with co-conspirator Narayan Apte and both were executed on November 15, 1949.
His life and work still influences Indian politics and life until today. At his death, Jawaharlal Nehru said, "Friends and comrades, the light has gone out of our lives and there is darkness everywhere and I do not quite know what to tell you or how to say it. Our beloved leader, Bapu as we called him, the father of the nation is no more. Perhaps I am wrong to say that, nevertheless, we will not see him again, as we have seen him for these many years, we will not run to him for advice or seek solace from him and that is terrible blow, not only for me, but for millions and millions in this county."
