Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
- Born:
- October 2, 1869, Porbandar, Kathiawar Agency, British India
- Died:
- January 30, 1948, New Delhi, India
- Nationality:
- Indian
- Profession(s):
- Lawyer, Anti-colonial Nationalist, Political Ethicist
Early Life and Education
- Born into a Gujarati Hindu Modh Bania family.
- Father, Karamchand Gandhi, was a diwan (chief minister) of Porbandar state.
- Mother, Putlibai Gandhi, was deeply religious.
- Studied law at University College London.
- Admitted to the English Bar in 1891.
Career and Major Achievements
- Practiced law in India for a short period before moving to South Africa in 1893.
- Developed and promoted Satyagraha, a philosophy of nonviolent resistance, in South Africa to fight racial discrimination against Indians.
- Returned to India in 1915 and became a leader in the Indian nationalist movement.
- Led the Non-cooperation Movement (1920-1922).
- Led the Salt Satyagraha (1930), a major act of civil disobedience against the British salt monopoly.
- Played a key role in the Indian independence movement, which culminated in India's independence in 1947.
Notable Works
- Hind Swaraj (1909)
- The Story of My Experiments with Truth (Autobiography)
- Numerous articles in Young India and Harijan.
Legacy and Impact
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, revered as Mahatma Gandhi, was a pivotal figure in the Indian independence movement and a global icon of nonviolent resistance. His philosophy of Satyagraha profoundly influenced movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. As explored in works like 'eleonora brunacci biography of mahatma', his life and teachings continue to inspire generations.