Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, better known as Mahatma Gandhi, was the leader of India’s non-violent independence movement against British rule.
Gandhi is often referred to as Mahatma, which is a Sanskrit term meaning “Great Soul.” The title was bestowed upon him for his unwavering commitment to non-violent resistance, civil rights, and social justice.
Gandhi’s early life
Mahatma Gandhi was born in 1869 in Porbandar, India. He was the son of Karamchand Gandhi, the dewan of Porbandar. He was raised in a traditional Hindu family. As a child, Gandhi was a curious and cautious individual, interested in understanding the world and its wonders. He contemplated the religious traditions and practices passed down to him from his family.
Gandhi’s childhood was marked by several significant experiences that shaped his worldview and approach to life. Growing up in a close-knit community, he developed a deep reverence for compassion, truthfulness, and non-violence. This was further strengthened by his exposure to the works of Jainism and the Bhagavad Gita, which instilled in him the notion of the power of the soul and the importance of inner striving. As a result, Gandhi cultivated a deep sense of empathy and compassion towards others, which became the hallmark of his life’s work.
Gandhi studied law in London
As Gandhi grew older, he moved to London to study law. This period marked a turning point in his life, as he began to embrace modernity while grappling with the contradictions of colonialism. Gandhi was introduced to the principle of non-violent resistance while studying in London, with the works of Henry David Thoreau and Leo Tolstoy.
He completed his studies and returned to India in 1915, where he practised law for several years. However, he soon became disillusioned with the legal profession and felt compelled to work for the greater good.
Gandhi’s activism
Gandhi began his activism against colonial rule in 1919, organising satyagraha, or non-violent resistance, against the Rowlatt Act, which allowed British authorities to imprison Indians without trial, a move that was widely considered to be repressive and unjust. The peaceful protest was met with violence from British forces, leading to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which Gandhi would later describe as one of the most heartbreaking events of his life.
This sparked a wave of protests across India and marked the beginning of Gandhi’s role as a leader in the fight for Indian independence. Despite facing imprisonment and persecution, Gandhi continued to fight for non-violent resistance and civil rights until India finally gained independence in 1947.
Apart from Gandhi, many other Indian leaders played instrumental roles in India’s struggle for independence. One such leader was Jawaharlal Nehru, who served as India’s first prime minister and played a pivotal role in shaping India’s political landscape. Another important figure was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who played a key role in uniting India’s many diverse states into a single, cohesive nation. Other notable leaders included Subhas Chandra Bose, who pursued a more militant approach to Indian independence, and B.R. Ambedkar, who fought tirelessly for India’s marginalised communities.
Gandhi’s opposition
Even with Gandhi’s worldwide recognition as a leader and symbol of peace, his ideas faced opposition both from within India and outside of it. Some Indian leaders believed that his non-violent methods were insufficient for achieving independence from British colonial rule. In contrast, some British officials saw his popularity as a threat to their authority.
Although facing this opposition, Gandhi remained dedicated to his principles, believing that non-violence was the only way to achieve true and lasting change.
Gandhi was assassinated
One opponent who disagreed with Gandhi was Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist who greatly opposed Gandhi’s efforts towards achieving unity and religious harmony between Hindus and Muslims.
On January 30, 1948, Godse assassinated Gandhi in New Delhi, sparking shock and mourning across India and the world. The assassination shocked India, highlighting the ongoing tensions between various religious and ideological groups in the country. While Godse’s motives were rooted in his extremist beliefs and opposition to Gandhi’s vision of a united India, Gandhi’s legacy as an advocate for peace and non-violent resistance lives on, inspiring generations to come.
Gandhi’s problematic views
Despite his legacy as a proponent of non-violent resistance and civil rights, Gandhi’s remarks on Africans during his early years working in South Africa have been criticised. In letters and writings, Gandhi made derogatory references to Black South Africans and showed a lack of understanding of their struggles. While some argue that Gandhi’s views changed over time and that his later work was more inclusive, others believe that his attitudes towards non-Hindu and non-Indian communities remained problematic throughout his life.
Acknowledging and engaging with these criticisms nuancedly while recognising Gandhi’s immense, more significant contributions to humanity is important.
His unwavering commitment to non-violent resistance inspired countless individuals and movements around the world, cementing his place as one of the most important figures of the twentieth century.
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