Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
- Gandhi's life and legacy.
Gandhi's life and impact.
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Family and Education:
History and Movements:
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Facts:
- Gandhi was a prolific writer and journalist, and his collected works run to over 100 volumes.
- He was a staunch advocate of vegetarianism and believed that it was essential for a nonviolent way of life.
- Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times but never won.
- He was deeply influenced by the teachings of Jainism and Buddhism.
- Gandhi is revered in India as the "Father of the Nation." His birthday, October 2, is celebrated as a national holiday in India as Gandhi Jayanti.
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The Champaran Satyagraha was a civil disobedience movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in the Champaran district of Bihar, India in 1917. The movement was aimed at securing the rights of farmers who were being forced to cultivate indigo by the British colonial rulers, even though indigo cultivation was causing severe damage to the soil and affecting the livelihoods of the local farmers.
Gandhi was invited to Champaran by Raj Kumar Shukla, a local farmer who was seeking his help in the matter. Gandhi arrived in Champaran in April 1917 and began his investigation into the indigo cultivation system. He organized meetings with the farmers and collected evidence of their exploitation by the British landlords.
Gandhi encouraged the farmers to refuse to cultivate indigo until their demands were met. This led to clashes between the farmers and the British landlords, and several farmers were arrested. Gandhi himself was also arrested but was released after a few weeks.
The movement gained widespread support, and the British government was forced to set up a commission to investigate the issue. The commission eventually recommended the abolition of the indigo cultivation system, and the farmers were granted some relief from the oppressive practices.
The Champaran Satyagraha was a significant event in India's struggle for independence, and it marked the beginning of Gandhi's use of non-violent civil disobedience as a means of achieving social and political change.
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Gandhi's life and works in brief.
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Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was a prominent leader in India's struggle for independence from British colonial rule. He is known for his nonviolent civil disobedience movements, such as the Salt Satyagraha and Quit India Movement, which inspired similar movements around the world.
Gandhi was born in Porbandar, a coastal town in present-day Gujarat, India. He studied law in London and then moved to South Africa, where he began his activism against racial discrimination and injustice. It was during this time that he developed his philosophy of satyagraha, which means "truth force" or "soul force," as a means of resisting oppression.
Upon his return to India, Gandhi became a leading figure in the Indian National Congress and launched several campaigns against British rule. He believed in the power of nonviolence and civil disobedience to achieve political change and worked to unite Hindus and Muslims in the struggle for independence.
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Some of his major works include:
- Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922)
- Salt Satyagraha (1930)
- Quit India Movement (1942)
- Birth and Parents
Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, a coastal town in present-day Gujarat, India. His parents were Karamchand Gandhi, who was also known as Kaba Gandhi, and Putlibai Gandhi.
Karamchand Gandhi was a political figure in Porbandar and served as the diwan (chief minister) of the town's princely state. He was deeply influenced by Hindu traditions and customs and believed in strict adherence to them. Putlibai Gandhi was a devoutly religious woman who instilled in her children the values of compassion, self-discipline, and devotion to God.
Gandhi's parents had a significant impact on his upbringing and his values. He later wrote that his father taught him to be fearless in the face of adversity and to always stand up for what he believed in. His mother taught him to be compassionate towards all living beings and to always act with integrity.
2. Early Influences Mahatma Gandhi was influenced by several people and events during his early years, which shaped his worldview and values. Here are a few notable influences:
Jainism: Gandhi's family was deeply rooted in the Jain tradition, which influenced his ideas on non-violence, vegetarianism, and the concept of ahimsa (non-harm or non-violence). He was also influenced by the teachings of Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism.
Hinduism: Gandhi was also influenced by the Hindu religion and its scriptures, such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads. He was particularly drawn to the teachings of Lord Krishna in the Gita, which emphasized the importance of duty, selfless service, and detachment.
Leo Tolstoy: Gandhi was deeply influenced by the Russian writer and philosopher, Leo Tolstoy, who advocated for non-violent resistance and simplicity. Gandhi corresponded with Tolstoy and drew inspiration from his works, such as "The Kingdom of God is Within You".
Henry David Thoreau: Gandhi was also influenced by the American writer and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau, who wrote about civil disobedience and the importance of living a simple, self-sufficient life.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale: Gandhi's mentor and political leader, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, also had a profound impact on him. Gokhale was a moderate nationalist who believed in peaceful and constitutional means to achieve India's independence, which Gandhi adopted and followed throughout his life.
3. Schooling
Mahatma Gandhi had an unconventional education, as was common during his time in India. He attended primary school in Rajkot, where his father worked as a diwan (chief minister) for a local ruler.
After completing his primary education, Gandhi was sent to England to study law. He enrolled at University College London in 1888 and completed his degree in 1891.
Gandhi's time in England was formative in shaping his worldview and his ideas about India's place in the world. He was exposed to Western culture and education, and he also became interested in politics and social issues. He read extensively about Indian history and philosophy, as well as Western political thought, such as the works of John Ruskin and Henry David Thoreau.
After completing his studies in England, Gandhi returned to India in 1891 and began his law practice in Bombay (now Mumbai). However, he found the legal profession unfulfilling and instead devoted himself to social and political activism, eventually becoming one of the most prominent leaders in India's struggle for independence.
4. The Indian struggleIndia's struggle for independence from British colonial rule was a long and complex process that involved various social, political, and economic factors. Mahatma Gandhi was a key figure in this struggle and played a crucial role in shaping its course.
Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent resistance, or satyagraha, inspired millions of Indians to join the struggle for independence. He believed in the power of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience to bring about social and political change. Some of the major events and movements that characterized the Indian struggle for independence include:
The Quit India Movement (1942): This movement was launched by the Indian National Congress under Gandhi's leadership, calling for the immediate withdrawal of British colonial rule from India. The movement was met with brutal repression by the British authorities, resulting in thousands of deaths and arrests.
Partition and Independence (1947): After years of struggle, India finally gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947, but the country was also partitioned into India and Pakistan. This led to a massive displacement of people and communal violence, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence and his leadership during the Indian struggle for independence have inspired similar movements around the world and continue to be a powerful symbol of resistance and social change.
Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, a coastal town in present-day Gujarat, India. His parents were Karamchand Gandhi, who was also known as Kaba Gandhi, and Putlibai Gandhi.
Karamchand Gandhi was a political figure in Porbandar and served as the diwan (chief minister) of the town's princely state. He was deeply influenced by Hindu traditions and customs and believed in strict adherence to them. Putlibai Gandhi was a devoutly religious woman who instilled in her children the values of compassion, self-discipline, and devotion to God.
Gandhi's parents had a significant impact on his upbringing and his values. He later wrote that his father taught him to be fearless in the face of adversity and to always stand up for what he believed in. His mother taught him to be compassionate towards all living beings and to always act with integrity.
Mahatma Gandhi was influenced by several people and events during his early years, which shaped his worldview and values. Here are a few notable influences:
Jainism: Gandhi's family was deeply rooted in the Jain tradition, which influenced his ideas on non-violence, vegetarianism, and the concept of ahimsa (non-harm or non-violence). He was also influenced by the teachings of Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism.
Hinduism: Gandhi was also influenced by the Hindu religion and its scriptures, such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads. He was particularly drawn to the teachings of Lord Krishna in the Gita, which emphasized the importance of duty, selfless service, and detachment.
Leo Tolstoy: Gandhi was deeply influenced by the Russian writer and philosopher, Leo Tolstoy, who advocated for non-violent resistance and simplicity. Gandhi corresponded with Tolstoy and drew inspiration from his works, such as "The Kingdom of God is Within You".
Henry David Thoreau: Gandhi was also influenced by the American writer and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau, who wrote about civil disobedience and the importance of living a simple, self-sufficient life.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale: Gandhi's mentor and political leader, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, also had a profound impact on him. Gokhale was a moderate nationalist who believed in peaceful and constitutional means to achieve India's independence, which Gandhi adopted and followed throughout his life.
3. Schooling
Mahatma Gandhi had an unconventional education, as was common during his time in India. He attended primary school in Rajkot, where his father worked as a diwan (chief minister) for a local ruler.
After completing his primary education, Gandhi was sent to England to study law. He enrolled at University College London in 1888 and completed his degree in 1891.
Gandhi's time in England was formative in shaping his worldview and his ideas about India's place in the world. He was exposed to Western culture and education, and he also became interested in politics and social issues. He read extensively about Indian history and philosophy, as well as Western political thought, such as the works of John Ruskin and Henry David Thoreau.
After completing his studies in England, Gandhi returned to India in 1891 and began his law practice in Bombay (now Mumbai). However, he found the legal profession unfulfilling and instead devoted himself to social and political activism, eventually becoming one of the most prominent leaders in India's struggle for independence.
India's struggle for independence from British colonial rule was a long and complex process that involved various social, political, and economic factors. Mahatma Gandhi was a key figure in this struggle and played a crucial role in shaping its course.
Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent resistance, or satyagraha, inspired millions of Indians to join the struggle for independence. He believed in the power of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience to bring about social and political change. Some of the major events and movements that characterized the Indian struggle for independence include:
The Quit India Movement (1942): This movement was launched by the Indian National Congress under Gandhi's leadership, calling for the immediate withdrawal of British colonial rule from India. The movement was met with brutal repression by the British authorities, resulting in thousands of deaths and arrests.
Partition and Independence (1947): After years of struggle, India finally gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947, but the country was also partitioned into India and Pakistan. This led to a massive displacement of people and communal violence, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence and his leadership during the Indian struggle for independence have inspired similar movements around the world and continue to be a powerful symbol of resistance and social change.
