Mahatma gandhi early life
Biography
MAHATMA GANDHI
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, was born on October 2, , in Porbandar, India. He became one of the most respected spiritual and political leaders of the 's.
GandhiJI helped free the Indian people from British rule through non-violent resistance, and is honoured by Indians as the father of the Indian Nation The Indian people called Gandhiji 'Mahatma', meaning Great Soul. At the age of 13 Gandhi married Kasturba, a girl the same age. Their parents arranged the marriage. The Gandhis had four children.
Gandhi studied law in London and returned to India in to practice. In he took on a one-year contract to do legal work in South Africa.
Gandhi short biography for children All Indian-owned establishments in London remained closed in mourning as thousands of people from all faiths and denominations and Indians from all over Britain converged at India House in London. After he returned to India, people flocked to him because he reflected their values. The word Mahatma , while often mistaken for Gandhi's given name in the West, is taken from the Sanskrit words maha meaning Great and atma meaning Soul. Later, Navajivan was also published in Hindi.
At the time the British controlled South Africa. When he attempted to claim his rights as a British subject he was abused, and soon saw that all Indians suffered similar treatment. Gandhi stayed in South Africa for 21 years working to secure rights for Indian people.
He developed a method of action based upon the principles of courage, non-violence and truth called Satyagraha.
He believed that the way people behave is more important than what they achieve. Satyagraha promoted non-violence and civil disobedience as the most appropriate methods for obtaining political and social goals. In Gandhi returned India. Within 15 years he became the leader of the Indian nationalist movement.
Using the principles of Satyagraha he led the campaign for Indian independence from Britain.
Gandhi was arrested many times by the British for his activities in South Africa and India. He believed it was honourable to go to jail for a just cause. Altogether he spent seven years in prison for his political activities.
More than once Gandhi used fasting to impress upon others the need to be non-violent.
India was granted independence in , and partitioned into India and Pakistan. Rioting between Hindus and Muslims followed. Gandhi had been an advocate for a united India where Hindus and Muslims lived together in peace.
On January 13, , at the age of 78, he began a fast with the purpose of stopping the bloodshed.
After 5 days the opposing leaders pledged to stop the fighting and Gandhi broke his fast. Twelve days later a Hindu fanatic, Nathuram Godse who opposed his program of tolerance for all creeds and religion assassinated him.