Mahatma Ghandi

Mahatma Ghandi was born October 2, 1869 and died January 30, 1948. He was the ideological and political leader of India during their independence movement. His was a philosophy of total nonviolence that led to not only independence for India, but it inspired worldwide civil rights movements.

Background

While in South Africa practicing law, Gandhi first employed civil disobedience during the resident Indian community’s efforts for civil rights. In 1915 he returned to India and organized protests against excessive land taxes. In 1921 he led nationwide campaigns to expand civil rights, end religious and ethnic bigotry, increase economic welfare, and end the caste system. He wanted India to be free of foreign domination.

Because of his beliefs and dedication, he spent some time in jail in India and South Africa. He was committed to speaking the truth, lived modestly, ate simple vegetarian food, and undertook long fasts for social protest and self purification. He identified with truth and love as supreme values.

Because of his arrest in India, large crowds protested, and as a result his fame spread throughout the nation, and he was called “Father of the Nation”. He accomplished much through peaceful resistance, nonviolence, and non-cooperation. During this time, he criticized both the British for their massacre of citizens, and the Indians for their retaliatory actions.

In 1921, Gandhi was granted executive authority of the Indian National Congress. He reorganized the Congress with a new constitution, and it was no longer an elite organization, but one with mass national appeal. He proceeded to expand his nonviolence platform. He urged the people to forsake all British titles and honors, resign from government jobs, and boycott British courts and educational institutions.

January 26, 1930 was celebrated as India’s Independence Day. The government negotiated with Ghandi and the Ghandi-Irwin Pact was signed in March 1931. The British government, in order to end the civil disobedience, agreed to free all political prisoners. But the struggle for independence continued. During World War II, Ghandi intensified his demand for independence by drafting a “Quit India” memorandum aimed at securing a British removal from India.

Over the years Mahatma Ghandi was criticized by both pro and anti-British groups. Ghandi and his supporters made it perfectly clear that they would not support the war effort without complete independence for India. The “Quit India” movement did have moderate success, but it was not until the end of the war that the British indicated that power would be transferred to Indian representatives, and 100,000 political prisoners were released.

Mahatma Ghandi dedicated his life to this cause, and suffered much hardship, including the realization that many of his supporters were more interested in power than principle. He is most definitely a positive role model for raising kids.

If it was not for his teachings and positive presence, more bloodshed would have occurred. Albert Einstein exchanged written letters with Gandhi, and called him "a role model for the generations to come". On January 30, 1948 Ghandi was shot at a prayer meeting on his way to the platform. He will forever be known for nonviolence and leading a simple life.