Biography of Mahatma Gandhi: The Icon of Non-Violence and India's Struggle for Independence

INDC Network : Biography : Mahatma Gandhi: The Icon of Non-Violence and India's Struggle for Independence

Early Life and Influences (1869-1888)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, a coastal town in the western Indian state of Gujarat. His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was a local politician who served as the Diwan (chief minister) of Porbandar, while his mother, Putlibai, was deeply religious and devout. Raised in a household steeped in religious tradition, Gandhi was influenced by Jainism, Vaishnavism, and Hindu teachings of non-violence and vegetarianism, which played a crucial role in shaping his future philosophy.

Gandhi was an unremarkable student, showing no signs of his future greatness. He was shy, introverted, and often struggled academically. However, the moral values instilled in him by his mother, such as fasting for self-purification and the pursuit of truth, had a lasting impact. At the age of 13, Gandhi was married to Kasturba Kapadia in an arranged marriage, a common practice in India at the time.

In 1888, at the age of 19, Gandhi traveled to London to study law at University College London. His time in London marked the beginning of his transformation. While studying law, Gandhi was exposed to Western ideas and thinkers, including Henry David Thoreau’s writings on civil disobedience, Leo Tolstoy’s Christian anarchism, and John Ruskin’s views on labor. These influences began to shape Gandhi's thoughts on social justice and the relationship between individuals and the state. However, his most significant takeaway was his commitment to live according to the principle of truth (Satya) and non-violence (Ahimsa), which would later become the cornerstone of his philosophy.

The South African Experience (1893-1914)

After returning to India in 1891, Gandhi struggled to establish a successful law practice. In 1893, an opportunity arose for him to work in South Africa as a legal representative for an Indian firm. This marked a turning point in his life. Gandhi spent 21 years in South Africa, where he confronted the harsh realities of racial discrimination and the oppression of the Indian community under British colonial rule.

One of the defining moments in his life occurred in 1893 when he was thrown off a train in Pietermaritzburg for refusing to leave a first-class compartment, despite holding a valid ticket. This incident ignited Gandhi's resolve to fight injustice. He organized the Indian community to resist discriminatory laws, initially through petitions and legal efforts, and later by adopting a more radical approach—non-violent resistance, or Satyagraha (meaning "truth force" or "soul force"). Satyagraha was based on the principles of truth and non-violence, and it emphasized civil disobedience as a means of challenging unjust laws without resorting to violence.

Gandhi's leadership in South Africa culminated in several successful campaigns, including his opposition to the poll tax and his advocacy for Indian rights in the face of discriminatory policies such as the Black Act. During his time in South Africa, Gandhi also began living a life of simplicity, rejecting materialism and embracing celibacy and vegetarianism. He founded the Phoenix Settlement, a community dedicated to self-sufficiency, where he practiced his ideals of simple living and communal harmony.

Return to India and the Struggle for Independence (1915-1947)

Gandhi returned to India in 1915, a hero of the Indian community in South Africa. Upon his return, he quickly became involved in India's growing nationalist movement, led by the Indian National Congress. He was initially unsure of his place in the Indian political landscape, but after traveling across the country and witnessing the dire poverty and exploitation of the Indian masses, Gandhi was convinced that India's liberation from British rule was essential.

Gandhi’s leadership in India’s independence movement began in earnest with the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917, where he led a successful campaign against the exploitation of indigo farmers by British planters. This victory brought him national recognition, and his philosophy of non-violent resistance started to gain momentum across India. His next major campaign was the Kheda Satyagraha in 1918, where he supported farmers in Gujarat who were suffering under oppressive taxation during a famine.

In 1919, following the British government's repressive Rowlatt Act, which allowed the colonial authorities to imprison Indians without trial, Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920. This movement called for Indians to boycott British goods, institutions, and services, encouraging them to adopt swadeshi (self-reliance) by spinning their own clothes and using Indian products. The movement, although successful in mobilizing the masses, ended in violence in 1922 during the Chauri Chaura incident, when protesters set fire to a police station, killing 22 officers. Gandhi, disheartened by the violence, called off the movement and was arrested by the British authorities.

Despite setbacks, Gandhi's influence continued to grow, and he became the unifying figure for India's diverse political and social movements. He was instrumental in shaping India's freedom struggle, leading a series of non-violent campaigns, including the Salt March (Dandi March) in 1930. This protest, part of the Civil Disobedience Movement, was a direct challenge to British-imposed salt taxes, which affected India's poorest citizens. Gandhi led a 240-mile march to the Arabian Sea, where he and thousands of followers illegally made salt. This act of defiance captured global attention and became a turning point in the independence movement.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Gandhi's leadership in India's struggle for freedom continued, but so did his focus on social reform. He tirelessly worked for the abolition of untouchability, a practice that discriminated against the lowest caste of Indian society, the Dalits. Gandhi referred to the Dalits as "Harijans," meaning "children of God," and advocated for their integration into mainstream society. He also promoted women’s rights, rural development, and economic self-reliance through the revival of cottage industries.

The Quit India Movement and Independence (1942-1947)

As World War II raged, the British government sought India’s support for the war effort without promising independence in return. This led to Gandhi’s launch of the Quit India Movement in 1942, calling for an immediate end to British rule in India. The movement was met with brutal repression, and Gandhi, along with many leaders of the Congress Party, was imprisoned.

Despite the crackdown, the Quit India Movement galvanized the Indian people. By the end of the war, the British government was weakened and increasingly unable to hold on to its colonies. Negotiations for India’s independence began in earnest after the war, but the process was fraught with tensions between Hindus and Muslims, leading to the demand for a separate Muslim state.

Gandhi, a staunch believer in Hindu-Muslim unity, was deeply saddened by the partition of India in 1947, which led to the creation of Pakistan. The violence and bloodshed that accompanied the partition left Gandhi heartbroken. He worked tirelessly to quell the communal riots and traveled to areas affected by violence, fasting for peace and reconciliation. His commitment to non-violence during this tumultuous period earned him admiration, but also made him a target of anger among those who favored partition.

Assassination and Legacy (1948)

On January 30, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist who opposed Gandhi's conciliatory approach towards Muslims. Gandhi's death was a tragic end to a life dedicated to truth, non-violence, and justice.

Gandhi’s legacy, however, has endured. His philosophy of non-violence inspired civil rights movements around the world, including the American Civil Rights Movement led by Martin Luther King Jr., the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa led by Nelson Mandela, and countless other movements for justice and equality. Gandhi's vision of an independent India as a pluralistic, secular, and democratic society continues to shape the country today.

Gandhi’s teachings of non-violence, tolerance, and respect for all religions remain as relevant as ever in a world rife with violence and division. His emphasis on self-reliance, simple living, and the importance of rural development continues to influence global conversations on sustainability and social justice.

Conclusion : Mahatma Gandhi’s life and work stand as a testament to the power of non-violence and moral courage in the face of oppression. His relentless pursuit of truth, his commitment to social reform, and his leadership in India’s independence movement have left an indelible mark on world history. As a global symbol of peace, Gandhi’s influence extends far beyond the borders of India, inspiring generations to come.