Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Gandhi famously led Indians in challenging the British-imposed salt tax with
the 400 km (250 mi) Dandi Salt March in 1930, and later in calling for the
British to Quit India in 1942. He was imprisoned for many years, upon
many occasions, in both South Africa and India. Gandhi attempted
to practise nonviolence and truth in all situations, and advocated that others
do the same. He lived modestly in a self-sufficient residential
community and wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with
yarn hand spun on a charkha. He ate simple vegetarian food, and
also undertook long fasts as the means to both self-purification
and social protest.
Indians widely describe Gandhi as the father of the nation.[11][12] His birthday,
2 October, is commemorated as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday, and
world-wide as the International Day of Nonviolence. He was the mentor
of Indira Gandhi.
Gandhijis life, ideas and work are of crucial importance to all those who want a better life for
humankind. The political map of the world has changed dramatically since his time, the economic
scenario has witnessed unleashing of some disturbing forces, and the social set-up has undergone a
tremendous change. The importance of moral and ethical issues raised by him, however, remain
central to the future of individuals and nations. We can still derive inspiration from the teachings of
Mahatma Gandhi who wanted us to remember the age old saying, In spite of death, life persists, and
in spite of hatred, love persists. Rabindranath Tagore addressed him as Mahatma and the latter
called the poet Gurudev. Subhash Chandra Bose had called him Father of the Nation in his
message on Hind Azad Radio.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, a small town in Gujarat,
on the sea coast of Western India. He was born in the distinguished family of administrators. His
grandfather had risen to be the Dewan or Prime Minister of Porbandar and was succeeded by his
father Karamchand Gandhiji .His mother Putlibai, a religious person, had a major contribution in
moulding the character of young Mohan.
He studied initially at an elementary school in Porbandar and then at primary and high schools in
Rajkot, one of the important cities of Gujarat. Though he called himself a mediocre student, he gave
evidence of his reasoning, intelligence, deep faith in the principles of truth and discipline at very young
age. He was married, at the age of thirteen, when still in high school, to Kasturbai who was of the
same age, and had four sons named Harilal, Ramdas, Manilal and Devdas. His father died in 1885. At
that time Gandhiji was studying at Samaldas College in Bhavnagar. It was hoped that his
(Mohandass) going to England and qualifying as a barrister would help his family to lead more
comfortable life.
He sailed to England on September 4, 1888 at the age of 18, and was enrolled in The Inner Temple. It
was a new world for young Mohan and offered immense opportunities to explore new ideas and to
reflect on the philosophy and religion of his own country. He got deeply interested in vegetarianism
and study of different religions. His stay in England provided opportunities for widening horizons and
better understanding of religions and cultures. He passed his examinations and was called to Bar on
June 10, 1891. After two days he sailed for India.
He made unsuccessful attempts to establish his legal practice at Rajkot and Bombay. An offer from
Dada Abdulla & Company to go to South Africa to instruct their consul in a law suit opened up a new
chapter in his life. In South Africa, Mohandas tasted bitter experience of racial discrimination during
his journey from Durban to Pretoria, where his presence was required in connection with a lawsuit. At
Maritzburg station he was pushed out from first class compartment of the train because he was
coloured Shivering in cold and sitting in the waiting room of Maritzburg station, he decided that it was
cowardice to run away instead he would fight for his rights. With this incident evolved the concept of
Satyagraha. He united the Indians settled in South Africa of different communities, languages and
religions, and founded Natal Indian Congress in 1893. He founded Indian Opinion, his first journal, in
1904 to promote the interests of Indians in South Africa. Influenced by John Ruskins Unto This Last,
he set up Phoenix Ashram near Durban, where inmates did manual labour and lived a community
living.