Legacy of Nonviolence: The Life and Leadership of Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1888)

In what is now the Indian state of Gujarat, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar. His mother was deeply religious and practiced Vaishnavism, the devotional worship of the Hindu god Vishnu. The austere religion of Jainism is based on the ideas of restraint and nonviolence.

His father was the dewan, or chief minister, of Porbandar. Mohandas left his family at the age of 19 to enroll in the Inner Temple, one of London’s four legal schools. He returned to India in the middle of 1891 and established a mediocre legal practice in Bombay. He immediately agreed to work for an Indian company, relocating to their South African division. Gandhi, his wife Kasturbai, and their kids spent over twenty years living in South Africa.

Gandhi was appalled by the bigotry he encountered as an Indian immigrant in South Africa. When a Durban European magistrate ordered him to remove his turban, he resisted and walked out of court. When he refused to give up his seat on a Pretoria-bound train to a European passenger.

A white stagecoach driver attacked him after throwing him out of a first-class rail car. Gandhi’s life changed dramatically after his train incident. He rapidly began developing and advocating the notion of satyagraha, which means “truth and firmness” and refers to the practice of refusing to cooperate with the government through passive opposition.

Mahatma Gandhi Education:

Mahatma Gandhi became one of the most admirable individuals in history in large part because of his education. Although he received honors and scholarships while attending a primary school there, his method of learning was conventional. After completing his matriculation studies at the University of Bombay, Gandhi enrolled in Samaldas College in Bhavnagar in 1887.

Gandhiji wanted to be a doctor even though his father encouraged him to become a lawyer. Since England being the hub of knowledge at the time. He had to leave Smaladas College in order to carry out his father’s dream. Despite his mother’s disapproval and his meager financial means, he was adamant about seeing England.

In September 1888, he finally made his way to England, where he enrolled in Inner Temple, one of the four London Law Schools. He also took the University of London’s matriculation exam in 1890.

When he was in London, he joined a club that practised public speaking and took his studies seriously. This helped him get over his nervousness and start practicing law. Gandhi had a lifelong dedication to serving the downtrodden and impoverished.

Mahatma Gandhi Political Career:

Regarding Mahatma Gandhi’s governmental career, in July 1894, at the age of barely 25, he suddenly developed into a skilled fighter. He wrote several petitions and mailed them to the British government and the Natal Legislature, with the signatures of hundreds of his fellow countrymen.  He was unsuccessful in stopping the bill’s passing. But he was effective in drawing attention to the problems Natal Indians were suffering from the public and media in Natal, India, and England.

Nonetheless, he was persuaded to open a law firm in Durban, where he organized the Indian community. In 1894, he was appointed as the Natal Indian Congress’s first secretary. He built a sense of community in the heterogeneous Indian populace through this traditional political organization. He talked widely to the administration, legislature, and media about Indian problems.

Lastly, he faced the widespread racism and discrimination against him based on race that affected Queen Victoria’s Indian people in South Africa, one of her domains.

Mahatma Gandhi South Africa (1893-1914) 21 years:

But at the time, there was a lot of hatred against people based on their skin tone. Not even on the train, he could not seat among white Europeans. He was given a beating and forced to sit on the ground when he refused to cooperate. He then decided to battle against these injustices, and in the end, he was successful after a lot of effort.

His editorial commentary on the issues of the Natal Indians in prestigious journals like The Statesman. Englishman of Calcutta (now Kolkata), and The Times of London displayed his abilities as a publicist.

In order to support Indians residing outside and to reconcile with his wife Kasturba (or Kasturbai) and their two eldest children, Gandhi returned to India in 1896. He met with the powerful leaders in the middle of the country’s largest cities, encouraging them to give speeches at public events.

Regretfully, he offended some of the European Natal inhabitants with his conduct. Despite Joseph Chamberlain, the colonial secretary in the British Cabinet. Pleaded with the Natal administration to bring the guilty men before the proper authorities. Gandhi declined to press charges against his attackers. He declared that he didn’t believe a court case would resolve someone’s grudge.

Political teachings and philosophy include:

Nonviolent Resistance: Gandhi was a strong proponent of using nonviolence to bring about social and political transformation. He thought that people and communities may oppose repressive authorities and injustice by engaging in peaceful protest and civil disobedience.

Satyagraha: Satyagraha, a term coined by Gandhi, means “truth force” or “soul force.” It emphasizes the importance of seeking and upholding truth while using nonviolent means to achieve one’s goals. The basis of his political and social activities was this idea.

Self-reliance and Self-sufficiency: Gandhi promoted economic independence and self-sufficiency as a way to end British economic hegemony. In an effort to empower India’s rural populace, he championed the notion of locally made items and the revival of cottage businesses.

Swaraj (Self-Governance): Swaraj, as envisioned by Gandhi, was more than just political independence. He underlined the necessity of national, local, and individual self-governance. He held that moral and ethical self-discipline was necessary for real freedom.

Cohesion and Diversity: Gandhi strove to bring together in the independence movement individuals from many social, religious, and economic backgrounds. He stressed the need of cooperating despite differences and supported religious tolerance.

Fighting for Rights and Going back to India:

One of the most well-known figures in India’s fight for freedom from British control was Mahatma Gandhi. He was a fervent supporter of many rights and ideals, such as:

Civil Rights: Gandhi was a staunch advocate for civil rights and believed in nonviolent civil disobedience as a means to achieve social and political change. He used methods like nonviolent protests, strikes, and boycotts to fight against oppressive laws and policies.

Political Rights: Gandhi played a crucial role in advocating for political rights in India. He was instrumental in the demand for self-governance and independence from British colonial rule. He championed the idea of “Swaraj” or self-rule, encouraging Indians to take control of their own destiny.

Economic Rights: Gandhi was also an advocate for economic self-sufficiency. He believed in the importance of economic independence and self-reliance as a means to empower the people, particularly in rural areas. He promoted the idea of “Sarvodaya” or the welfare of all, emphasizing the equitable distribution of resources.

Religious Rights: Gandhi was a strong proponent of religious tolerance and harmony. He believed in the coexistence of various religious communities and worked to bridge religious divides. He championed the notion that all faiths should be respected and that they contain essential truths.

Rights of the Poor and Marginalized: Gandhi was deeply concerned about the plight of the poor and marginalized communities in India. He actively worked towards their upliftment, fighting for their rights and economic betterment.

Mahatma Gandhi (1920–1922):

Mahatma Gandhi played an important part in India’s fight for independence from British control between 1920 and 1922. Here are some salient features of this time frame:

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922): In 1920, Gandhi started the Non-Cooperation Movement with the goal of opposing British institutions, products, and rules. Indians were urged by this movement to reject British control in their country. It had broad support across the nation and signaled an important increase of the independence movement.

Boycott of British Goods: The movement encouraged Indians to boycott British-made goods, especially textiles. The goal of this was to harm the British Empire’s financial ties to India.

Surrender of Titles and Honors: Mahatma Gandhi encouraged Indians to surrender their titles and honors given by the British government. This symbolic act showed a refusal to accept British authority.

Hartal (Strikes): There were strikes and hartals (work stoppages) in various parts of the country, leading to disruptions in the functioning of the government.

Chauri Chaura Incident: The movement took a violent turn in Chauri Chaura in Uttar Pradesh in 1922 when a group of protestors clashed with the police. Gandhi, shocked by the violence, called off the Non-Cooperation Movement, as he believed it had lost its non-violent character.

Youth:

Gandhi was the youngest of the children born to his father’s four wives. During British control, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi served as the dewan Chief Minister of Porbandar, the de facto capital of a small municipality in western India (now Gujarat state).

Putlibai, the mother of Gandhi, was a deeply devout woman. Mohandas grew up practicing the Jain faith, which emphasizes nonviolence, and the Vaishnavite religion, which emphasizes worshiping the Hindu god Vishnu. In addition to practicing vegetarianism and fasting for self-purification, he also started practicing ahimsa, or nonviolence towards all living things, and unconditional acceptance of individuals from all walks of life.

He most likely didn’t experience a more tumultuous adolescence than most children in his class and age group. Gandhi was just eighteen when he started reading a newspaper. Neither as a student in England nor as a budding barrister in India had he shown much interest in politics. In truth, he suffered from a terrible case of stage fright every time he had to stand up to read a speech at a social gathering or to represent a client in court.

Gandhiji’s London vegetarianism mission was a noteworthy occasion. He was chosen to serve on the executive committee of the London Vegetarian Society after joining. In addition, he attended several conferences and wrote papers for its journal. Gandhi dined with prominent Theosophists, Fabians, and Socialists such as Annie Besant. Edward Carpenter, and George Bernard Shaw in vegetarian restaurants in England.

(1869-1888):

It looks that there was an error in the years you assigned to Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, and lived until January 30, 1948. He was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule. vGandhi is well-known for his “Satyagraha,” or peaceful resistance, which he used to spearhead a variety of Indian liberation and civil rights movements. His efforts contributed significantly to India’s eventual independence in 1947. Gandhi’s life and teachings continue to affect people around the world.

Quit India Movement (1942):

The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement or Bharat Chodo Andolan, was a significant civil disobedience movement in India led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942. It marked a crucial phase in India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule.

Background: By 1942, the Indian National Congress, under Gandhi’s leadership, had been demanding self-rule for India for several decades. The failure of the Cripps Mission (1942) to offer any significant concessions to India led to widespread frustration and disillusionment among Indians.

Aim: The primary objective of the Quit India Movement was to demand an immediate end to British rule in India. Gandhi famously gave the call of “Do or Die,” urging the Indian people to launch a mass protest.

Suppression: The British authorities responded to the movement with a strong show of force, and leaders were imprisoned. The government imposed strict censorship, disrupted communication, and used force to suppress the protests.

Impact: Although the Quit India Movement did not immediately achieve its goal of ending British rule, it was a significant turning point in the Indian independence struggle. It displayed the determination of the Indian people and increased international pressure on the British to address the issue of Indian independence.

Aftermath: The movement eventually paved the way for negotiations between the British government and Indian leaders. Post-World War II, the labor government in Britain decided to disengage from India, leading to the eventual transfer of power and the partition of India in 1947.

Indian Independence and Partition (1947):

Indian Independence and Partition in 1947, led by figures like Mahatma Gandhi, marked a significant turning point in the history of South Asia. Here’s a brief overview of these events:

British Colonial Rule in India: The British East India Company gradually established control over various regions of the Indian subcontinent during the 18th and 19th centuries. By the mid-19th century, India was directly ruled by the British Crown, and a significant portion of the Indian population lived under British colonial administration.

Struggle for Independence: The Indian independence movement gained momentum in the early 20th century, with leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and others leading the charge. Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violent civil disobedience, or satyagraha, became the cornerstone of the movement.

Quit India Movement: During World War II, the Indian National Congress, under Gandhi’s leadership, launched the Quit India Movement in 1942, demanding an immediate end to British rule. This led to widespread protests, strikes, and civil unrest.

Partition of India: As the British prepared to leave India, the question of partition arose due to religious and political divisions within the country. In 1947, the Indian Independence Act was passed by the British Parliament, leading to the creation of two independent dominions – India and Pakistan.

Role of Mahatma Gandhi: Mahatma Gandhi played a pivotal role in the struggle for independence and the aftermath of partition. His philosophy of non-violence and religious tolerance made him a unifying figure in a deeply divided society. He worked to prevent communal violence during the partition and urged for peace between Hindus and Muslims.

Independence: India and Pakistan became independent on August 15, 1947. India established a democratic government, but Pakistan was initially separated into two parts: West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). These events resulted in large migrations and sectarian violence, particularly in Punjab and Bengal.

World War II: World War II played a significant role in the eventual British decision to leave India. India’s support during the war led to increased demands for self-determination.

Mountbatten Plan: Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, played a crucial role in facilitating the transition to independence. The Mountbatten Plan proposed the partition of India into two separate nations, India and Pakistan, based on religious lines, with India being predominantly Hindu and Pakistan predominantly Muslim.

Assassination (1948):

Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement, was assassinated on January 30, 1948. He was shot and killed by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist, in New Delhi, India. Gandhi’s assassination was a significant and tragic event in the history of India and the world.

Gandhi was a prominent figure in the nonviolent struggle for India’s independence from British colonial rule. He advocated for civil disobedience, peaceful protests, and nonviolent resistance as a means to achieve social and political change. His philosophy of nonviolence and his commitment to justice and equality had a profound impact on the civil rights and anti-colonial movements worldwide.

Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated Gandhi, was a member of a far-right Hindu nationalist organization. He thought Gandhi was too tolerant of Muslims throughout India’s partition and independence process, and he disagreed with Gandhi’s style of politics. Godse was apprehended right away following the murder, and he was ultimately found guilty after a trial. On November 15, 1949, he was executed after receiving a death sentence.

Legacy:

It is well known that Mahatma Gandhi was a morally pure leader who encouraged nonviolent resistance. His methods and philosophy had an impact on a number of people, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. It also had an impact on international civil rights movements. The principles of truth, nonviolence, and social justice espoused by Gandhi continue to inspire those seeking positive change.

Mahatma Gandhi’s political career and personal life are living testaments to his commitment to social justice, civil disobedience, and nonviolent protest. His legacy will live on in both Indian and world history.

De*th:

He was a slender man wearing spectacles, a toothless grin, and the dhoti, the customary Hindu loincloth. Along with that, he carried a bamboo staff. He carried himself like a simple holy man of Hinduism. All Mohandas Gandhi had against one of the greatest empires in history was tremendous bravery and an unshakeable dedication to peaceful resistance.

Gandhi served as the movement’s leader for nearly 30 years, ultimately pressuring Britain to grant India, its most treasured province, independence in 1947. The Indian subcontinent was divided into the nations of Pakistan and India.

Gandhi, referred to as the “Father of the Nation,” will turn 150 in October, and there will be festivities all over India to mark the occasion. According to the International Monetary Fund, India has the fifth-biggest economy in the world and is currently the world’s largest democracy. However, tensions between the nation’s Muslim minority and Hindu majority, as well as between India and Pakistan, have recently increased. And a lot of analysts think that the area is going away from the principles that Gandhi fought for.

Gandhi is still regarded as a national hero, not just for his role in liberating the Indian subcontinent from British empire, but also for the several civil rights groups he inspired, most notably the American organization led by Martin Luther King Jr. (see “Gandhi & MLK,” below).

Gyan Prakash, a history professor at Princeton University and the author of multiple works on India, claims that Gandhi dreamed of a world “of neighbourliness and openness to strangers.” Gandhi’s message was that politics or public service should be about more than merely obtaining power.

Facts:

Champion of Equality: Gandhi was a fervent supporter of social justice and equality. He campaigned to end the practice of untouchability and opposed the unfair treatment of untouchables (people of lower castes).

Simplicity: Gandhi led a modest and thrifty life. He frequently wore plain white clothing that he spun himself (khadi) as a mark of independence and to encourage the usage of locally produced goods.

Hunger Strikes: Gandhi protested and self-purified through hunger strikes. He thought that fasting could awaken the oppressor’s conscience and draw attention to crucial issues.

Influence on Global Leaders: Gandhi’s nonviolent ideology had a significant influence on a number of civil rights advocates, including Cesar Chavez, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Champaran Satyagraha: Gandhi helped indigo farmers in their fight against the British landlords’ oppressive methods during the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917, which was one of his earliest and most successful campaigns.