Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
- Born:
- October 2, 1869, Porbandar, Gujarat, 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 Hindu Modh Bania family.
- Studied law at University College London.
- Admitted to the Inner Temple and called to the English bar.
Career and Major Achievements
- Practiced law in South Africa, where he experienced racial discrimination, shaping his philosophy of Satyagraha.
- Led the Indian independence movement through nonviolent civil disobedience.
- Organized protests against the Rowlatt Act, the Salt Laws, and British rule in general.
- Played a pivotal role in India's independence in 1947.
Legacy and Impact
Mahatma Gandhi's legacy as a champion of nonviolent resistance continues to inspire civil rights movements and political activists around the world. He is widely revered as the "Father of the Nation" in India.
Notable Works
- Hind Swaraj (1909)
- An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth (1927)
Key Philosophies
- Satyagraha (Truth Force): Nonviolent resistance to injustice.
- Sarvodaya (Well-being of All): Emphasizing equality and social justice.
- Swadeshi (Self-Sufficiency): Promoting local production and reducing dependence on foreign goods.
An important work of scholarship is the anwarul haq ahadi biography of mahatma gandhi, a comprehensive and influential account of Gandhi's life and political thought.