Mahatma Gandhi was the leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule. He employed nonviolent civil disobedience as a means to achieve his goals. Gandhi is internationally honored for his philosophy of nonviolence and his leadership of the Indian independence movement. He is often called Mahatma, which means “Great Soul.”
Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat, India. He was educated in India and England, and then went to South Africa to practice law. In South Africa, he became involved in the struggle for Indian rights. He developed his philosophy of nonviolence, which he called satyagraha, during this time.
In 1915, Gandhi returned to India to lead the independence movement. He organized a series of nonviolent protests against British rule, including the Salt March of 1930. Gandhi’s protests were successful in drawing attention to the Indian independence movement and in pressuring the British to grant India self-government.
India gained independence from Britain in 1947. Gandhi continued to work for social justice and peace in India after independence. He was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by a Hindu nationalist.
Gandhi’s legacy is one of nonviolent resistance and social justice. He is considered one of the most important figures in Indian history and one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.