Our inspiration, the man called Mahatma

 

Revered the world over for his nonviolent philosophy of passive resistance, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was known to his many followers as Mahatma Gandhi or “the great-souled one, is regarded as the Father of the republic of India. Mahatma Gandhi began his activism as an Indian immigrant in South Africa in the early 1900s, and in the years following World War-I became the leading figure in India’s struggle to gain independence from Great Britain. Gandhi was a social reformist and leader of Indian Independence Movement who introduced the idea of non-violent resistance called Satyagrah. Gandhi was born in Gujarat and studied law at the Inner Temple, London. After organising a civil disobedience movement for Indians living in South Africa, he returned to India in 1915. In India, he set out on a train journey to different parts of the country trying to understand problems of farmers, peasants and urban labourers and organising protests for them.

 

Known for his ascetic lifestyle–he often dressed only in a loincloth and shawl–and devout Hindu faith, Gandhi was imprisoned several times during his pursuit of non-cooperation, and undertook a number of hunger strikes to protest the oppression of India’s poorest classes, among other injustices. He assumbed the leadership of Indian National Congress in 1921 and rose to become its most prominent leader and an iconic figure in Indian politics. He organised the Dandi Salt March in 1930 and Quit India Movement in 1942.

 

He also worked for the upliftment of untouchables and have them a new name 'Harijan' meaning the children of God. Gandhi also wrote extensively for various newspapers and his symbol of self-reliance - the spinning wheel - became a popular symbol of Indian Independence Movement. Gandhi played a key role in pacifying people and averting the Hindu-Muslim riots as tensions rose before and during the partition of the country. After Partition in 1947, he continued to work toward peace between Hindus and Muslims. He was shot to death in Delhi in January 31, 1948 by a Hindu fundamentalist.