Mahandas Karamchand Gandhi, widely known as Mahatma Gandhi, was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, a coastal town in present-day Gujarat, India. His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was a dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar, and his mother, Putlibai, was a deeply religious woman who influenced his spiritual and ethical outlook.
Gandhi's early education was unremarkable, but he was an avid reader. He married Kasturba Gandhi at the tender age of 13, a common practice in India at the time. Kasturba played a significant role in his life and activism.
In 1888, Gandhi sailed to London to study law at University College London. He struggled with English culture but eventually adjusted. During this period, he read extensively, including works by Leo Tolstoy, which profoundly influenced his philosophy.
Returning to India in 1891, he found limited success as a lawyer. In 1893, he accepted a year-long contract to work in South Africa. It was here that Gandhi faced blatant racial discrimination, which galvanized his resolve to fight for civil rights. The infamous incident where he was thrown off a train for refusing to move from the first-class compartment became a turning point.
Gandhi spent 21 years in South Africa, where he developed his philosophy of Satyagraha, or nonviolent resistance. He led campaigns for civil rights and founded the Natal Indian Congress in 1894. His efforts culminated in the 1913 campaign against unjust laws, which earned him international recognition.
In 1915, Gandhi returned to India, where he was welcomed as a hero. He joined the Indian National Congress and quickly became its most prominent leader. His first major success was the Champaran agitation in 1917, where he used Satyagraha to secure better conditions for indigo farmers.
Gandhi's most famous campaign was the Salt March of 1930, a 240-mile walk to the Arabian Sea to make salt in defiance of British laws. This act of civil disobedience drew global attention and galvanized the Indian independence movement.
Interestingly, Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times but never won. The Nobel Committee later expressed regret for this oversight.
Gandhi was also a prolific writer. His autobiography, "The Story of My Experiments with Truth," is a fascinating read. He also edited several newspapers, including "Young India" and "Harijan."
Despite his commitment to nonviolence, Gandhi faced numerous assassination attempts. The most notable came from Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist who assassinated him on January 30, 1948. Gandhi's last words were reportedly "Hey Ram," though this has been debated.
Gandhi was a staunch advocate for simple living. He spun his own cloth, known as Khadi, and encouraged others to do the same to promote self-reliance. His diet was primarily vegetarian, and he practiced fasting as a form of political protest.
He was deeply spiritual but not dogmatic. Gandhi was influenced by various religious texts, including the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible, and the writings of Henry David Thoreau and John Ruskin.
Gandhi's impact extended beyond India. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Cesar Chavez drew inspiration from his methods and philosophy.
Despite his achievements, Gandhi was not without controversy. His views on technology, for instance, were seen as regressive by some. He believed in minimal industrialization, which clashed with the vision of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru.
Gandhi also had complex relationships with women. He took vows of celibacy but maintained close relationships with several women, which has been a subject of scrutiny.
His legacy is commemorated worldwide. October 2nd, his birthday, is celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence. Numerous statues and memorials exist, including the Gandhi Memorial in Washington, D.C.
In popular culture, Gandhi's life has been depicted in several films, the most famous being the 1982 movie "Gandhi," directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Ben Kingsley, who won an Oscar for his portrayal.
Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence and civil disobedience continues to influence social and political movements worldwide. His life and teachings remain a testament to the power of peaceful protest and the enduring human spirit.