Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi, also known as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, is widely regarded as the father of the Indian independence movement. He was a political and spiritual leader who used nonviolent civil disobedience to lead India to independence from British rule. Let us take a look at his early life, education, professional life, and achievements.
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Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi, also known as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, is widely regarded as the father of the Indian independence movement. He was a political and spiritual leader who used nonviolent civil disobedience to lead India to independence from British rule. Let us take a look at his early life, education, professional life, and achievements.
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Early Life
Born as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on the 2nd of October, 1869, this iconic figure heralded from the coastal town of Porbandar, situated on the Kathiawar Peninsula in the British Raj. He was born into a Gujarati Hindu Modh Bania family with a strong political background, with his father, Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi, serving as the chief minister of Porbandar state. Even as a child, Gandhi displayed an unquenchable curiosity, endlessly roaming and playing, much like “restless mercury.” His early life was greatly influenced by Indian classics, leaving a permanent imprint on his mind, steering him towards values of truth and love.
Personal Life
Gandhi’s personal life was deeply intertwined with his spiritual and ethical beliefs. His mother, Putlibai, played a pivotal role in shaping his values. She was an extremely pious woman, whose commitment to her daily prayers and fasting deeply impacted Gandhi. From her, he imbibed the practice of introspection and fasting as a form of spiritual discipline. His personal life was also marked by simplicity, as he adopted a simple lifestyle, living in a self-sufficient community, and adopting the traditional dhoti as his attire to identify with India’s rural poor.
Professional Life
Gandhi’s professional journey began with his training in law at the Inner Temple, London. However, his real calling was ignited during his 21-year sojourn in South Africa, where he first employed nonviolent resistance as a weapon for civil rights. Upon his return to India in 1915, he used this potent tool to organize peasants, farmers, and urban laborers to protest against land-tax and discrimination. His greatest achievement was leading the Indian National Congress towards the successful campaign for India’s independence from British rule using nonviolent resistance.
Awards and Recognitions
Gandhi was bestowed with the honorific title “Mahātmā,” meaning “great-souled” or “venerable,” in 1914. While he never received any formal awards in his lifetime, his life and teachings have been globally recognized and celebrated. His birthday is commemorated worldwide as the International Day of Nonviolence. He is revered as the “Father of the Nation” in India and lovingly called “Bapu,” signifying father or papa in Gujarati.
Age
Gandhi was born in 1869 and passed away on 30 January 1948. He dedicated his life to the cause of India’s freedom and the upliftment of its people until his assassination at the age of 78.
Parents’ Name and Family
Gandhi was the son of Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi and Putlibai. His father was an important political figure who served as the dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar state, and his mother was a deeply religious woman from a Pranami Vaishnava Hindu family. Gandhi was the youngest of the four children in the family.
Net Worth
As a man who championed simple living and high thinking, Gandhi did not accumulate personal wealth. He did not leave behind a net worth, and his legacy lies not in material possessions but in his teachings and the indelible mark he left on the world with his principles of truth, nonviolence, and love.
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