Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (ISO: Mōhanadāsa Karamacaṁda Gāṁdhī;[pron 1] 2
October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial

nationalist and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the
successful campaign for India's independence from British rule. He inspired
movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The
honorific Mahātmā (from Sanskrit 'great-souled, venerable'), first applied to him
in South Africa in 1914, is now used throughout the world.[2]
Born and raised in a Hindu family in coastal Gujarat, Gandhi trained in the law at
the Inner Temple in London and was called to the bar in June 1891, at the age of 22.
After two uncertain years in India, where he was unable to start a successful law
practice, Gandhi moved to South Africa in 1893 to represent an Indian merchant in a
lawsuit. He went on to live in South Africa for 21 years. There, Gandhi raised a family
and first employed nonviolent resistance in a campaign for civil rights. In 1915, aged
45, he returned to India and soon set about organising peasants, farmers, and urban
labourers to protest against discrimination and excessive land-tax.
Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide
campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, building religious and
ethnic amity, ending untouchability, and, above all, achieving swaraj or self-rule.
Gandhi adopted the short dhoti woven with hand-spun yarn as a mark of
identification with India's rural poor. He began to live in a self-sufficient residential
community, to eat simple food, and undertake long fasts as a means of both
introspection and political protest. Bringing anti-colonial nationalism to the common
Indians, Gandhi led them in challenging the British-imposed salt tax with the 400 km
(250 mi) Dandi Salt March in 1930 and in calling for the British to quit India in 1942.
He was imprisoned many times and for many years in both South Africa and India.
Gandhi's vision of an independent India based on religious pluralism was challenged

in the early 1940s by a Muslim nationalism which demanded a separate homeland
for Muslims within British India. In August 1947, Britain granted independence, but
the British Indian Empire was partitioned into two dominions, a Hindu-
majority India and a Muslim-majority Pakistan. As many displaced Hindus, Muslims,
and Sikhs made their way to their new lands, religious violence broke out, especially
in the Punjab and Bengal. Abstaining from the official celebration of independence,
Gandhi visited the affected areas, attempting to alleviate distress. In the months
following, he undertook several hunger strikes to stop the religious violence. The last
of these was begun in Delhi on 12 January 1948, when Gandhi was 78. The belief
that Gandhi had been too resolute in his defence of both Pakistan and Indian
Muslims spread among some Hindus in India. Among these was Nathuram Godse, a
militant Hindu nationalist from Pune, western India, who assassinated Gandhi by
firing three bullets into his chest at an interfaith prayer meeting in Delhi on 30
January 1948.
Gandhi's birthday, 2 October, is commemorated in India as Gandhi Jayanti,

a national holiday, and worldwide as the International Day of Nonviolence. Gandhi is
considered to be the Father of the Nation in post-colonial India. During India's
nationalist movement and in several decades immediately after, he was also
commonly called Bapu (Gujarati endearment for "father", roughly "papa",[3] "daddy"[4]).
Early life and background
Parents
Gandhi's father, Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi (1822–1885), served as
the dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar state.[5][6] His family originated from the then
village of Kutiana in what was then Junagadh State.[7] Although Karamchand only
had been a clerk in the state administration and had an elementary education, he
proved a capable chief minister.[8]
During his tenure, Karamchand married four times. His first two wives died young,
after each had given birth to a daughter, and his third marriage was childless. In
1857, Karamchand sought his third wife's permission to remarry; that year, he
married Putlibai (1844–1891), who also came from Junagadh,[8] and was from
a Pranami Vaishnava family.[9] Karamchand and Putlibai had four children: a son,
Laxmidas (c. 1860–1914); a daughter, Raliatbehn (1862–1960); a second son,
Karsandas (c. 1866–1913).[10][11] and a third son, Mohandas Karamchand
Gandhi[12][13] who was born on 2 October 1869[14] in Porbandar (also known
as Sudamapuri), a coastal town on the Kathiawar Peninsula and then part of the
small princely state of Porbandar in the Kathiawar Agency of the British Raj.
In 1874, Gandhi's father, Karamchand, left Porbandar for the smaller state of Rajkot,
where he became a counsellor to its ruler, the Thakur Sahib; though Rajkot was a
less prestigious state than Porbandar, the British regional political agency was
located there, which gave the state's diwan a measure of security.[15] In 1876,
Karamchand became diwan of Rajkot and was succeeded as diwan of Porbandar by
his brother Tulsidas. Karamchand's family then rejoined him in Rajkot. [16]
Childhood
As a child, Gandhi was described by his sister Raliat as "restless as mercury, either
playing or roaming about. One of his favourite pastimes was twisting dogs'
ears."[17] The Indian classics, especially the stories of Shravana and
king Harishchandra, had a great impact on Gandhi in his childhood. In his
autobiography, Gandhi states that they left an indelible impression on his mind.
Gandhi writes: "It haunted me and I must have acted Harishchandra to myself times
without number." Gandhi's early self-identification with truth and love as supreme
values is traceable to these epic characters.[18][19]
The family's religious background was eclectic. Mohandas was born into
a Gujarati Hindu Modh Bania family.[20][21] Gandhi's father, Karamchand, was Hindu
and his mother Putlibai was from a Pranami Vaishnava Hindu family.[22][23] Gandhi's
father was of Modh Baniya caste in the varna of Vaishya.[24] His mother came from
the medieval Krishna bhakti-based Pranami tradition, whose religious texts include
the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavata Purana, and a collection of 14 texts with
teachings that the tradition believes to include the essence of the Vedas,
the Quran and the Bible.[23][25] Gandhi was deeply influenced by his mother, an
extremely pious lady who "would not think of taking her meals without her daily
prayers... she would take the hardest vows and keep them without flinching. To keep
two or three consecutive fasts was nothing to her."[26]
Gandhi (right) with his eldest brother Laxmidas in 1886[27]
At the age of nine, Gandhi entered the local school in Rajkot, near his home. There,
he studied the rudiments of arithmetic, history, the Gujarati language and
geography.[16] At the age of 11, Gandhi joined the High School in Rajkot, Alfred High
School.[28] He was an average student, won some prizes, but was a shy and tongue-
tied student, with no interest in games; Gandhi's only companions were books and
school lessons.[29]
Marriage
In May 1883, the 13-year-old Mohandas Gandhi was married to 14-year-
old Kasturbai Gokuldas Kapadia (her first name was usually shortened to "Kasturba",
and affectionately to "Ba") in an arranged marriage, according to the custom of the
region at that time.[30] In the process, he lost a year at school but was later allowed to
make up by accelerating his studies.[31] Gandhi's wedding was a joint event, where
his brother and cousin were also married. Recalling the day of their marriage,
Gandhi once said, "As we didn't know much about marriage, for us it meant only
wearing new clothes, eating sweets and playing with relatives." As was the prevailing
tradition, the adolescent bride was to spend much time at her parents' house, and
away from her husband.[32]
Writing many years later, Mohandas described with regret the lustful feelings he felt
for his young bride by saying, "Even at school I used to think of her, and the thought
of nightfall and our subsequent meeting was ever haunting me." Gandhi later
recalled feeling jealous and possessive of her, such as when Kasturba would visit a
temple with her girlfriends and being sexually lustful in his feelings for her. [33]
In late 1885, Gandhi's father, Karamchand, died.[34] Later, Gandhi, then 16 years old,
and his wife of age 17, had their first child, who survived only a few days. The two
deaths anguished Gandhi.[34] The Gandhi couple had four more children, all
sons: Harilal, born in 1888; Manilal, born in 1892; Ramdas, born in 1897;
and Devdas, born in 1900.[30]
In November 1887, the 18-year-old Gandhi graduated from high school

in Ahmedabad.[35] In January 1888, he enrolled at Samaldas College in Bhavnagar
State, then the sole degree-granting institution of higher education in the region.
However, Gandhi dropped out, and returned to his family in Porbandar.[36]
Three years in London
Student of law
Commemorative plaque at 20 Baron's Court Road, Barons Court,

London
Gandhi had dropped out of the cheapest college he could afford in Bombay. [37] Mavji
Dave Joshiji, a Brahmin priest and family friend, advised Gandhi and his family that
he should consider law studies in London.[38][39] In July 1888, Gandhi's wife Kasturba
gave birth to their first surviving child, Harilal.[40] Gandhi's mother was not comfortable
about Gandhi leaving his wife and family and going so far from home. Gandhi's uncle
Tulsidas also tried to dissuade his nephew, but Gandhi wanted to go. To persuade
his wife and mother, Gandhi made a vow in front of his mother that he would abstain
from meat, alcohol, and women. Gandhi's brother, Laxmidas, who was already a
lawyer, cheered Gandhi's London studies plan and offered to support him. Putlibai
gave Gandhi her permission and blessing.[36][41]
Gandhi in London as a law student

On 10 August 1888, Gandhi, aged 18, left Porbandar for Mumbai, then known as
Bombay. Upon arrival, he stayed with the local Modh Bania community whose elders
warned Gandhi that England would tempt him to compromise his religion, and eat
and drink in Western ways. Despite Gandhi informing them of his promise to his
mother and her blessings, Gandhi was excommunicated from his caste. Gandhi
ignored this, and on 4 September, he

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Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (ISO: Mōhanadāsa Karamacaṁda Gāṁdhī;[pron 1] 2

October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial

Gandhi's vision of an independent India based on religious pluralism was challenged

Gandhi's birthday, 2 October, is commemorated in India as Gandhi Jayanti,

In November 1887, the 18-year-old Gandhi graduated from high school

Commemorative plaque at 20 Baron's Court Road, Barons Court,

Gandhi in London as a law student

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