The Quit India Movement (1942) offered the unwavering resolve of “Do or Die,” demanding immediate British withdrawal.

Gandhi united the whole of rural and urban India, peasants, and elites, converting freedom into a common national aspiration.

His role shaped the moral and political foundation of India’s independence movement.

Read our detailed article on Rise of Gandhi.

Core Gandhian Ideologies

Truth (Satya) and Non-Violence (Ahimsa)

• For Gandhi, truth was the ultimate reality, and non-violence was the practical expression of this.

  He also led Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, Swaraj, and Quit-India movement against the British government.

  Gandhi-Irwin Pact

  Mahatma Gandhi: Satyagraha

  Gandhi identified his overall method of non-violent action as Satyagraha. He has influenced figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Aung San Suu Kyi in their own struggles for justice and equality.

  His philosophy of satyagraha, dignity of labor, and social justice continue inspiring the entire world. Godse was a Hindu nationalist and a member of the Hindu Mahasabha. During its final phase in 1913, hundreds of Indians living in South Africa, including women, went to jail, and thousands of striking Indian miners were imprisoned, flogged and even shot.

  

  Even after India gained independence in 1947, Gandhi continued to play a significant role in shaping the country's political landscape. Born on October 2nd, 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat, Gandhi was raised in a devout Hindu family and received a traditional education. We must continue to learn from his example and strive towards a world where peace, justice, and equality are at the forefront.
  

  In conclusion,

  Mahatma Gandhi's life serves as a reminder that one person can make a difference and that change can be achieved through peaceful means.

  We will also take a closer look at his beliefs and principles, which continue to hold relevance in today's society. This principle ensured that economics would sew together with the dignity of labor and self-reliance of the nation.

Read our detailed article on Gandhian Nationalism and Ideologies.

Contemporary Relevance of Gandhi

• All in all, the relevancy of Mahatma Gandhi today is attributed to his timeless principles that continue to instruct peaceful existence, social justice, and an environment that sustains life.
• The doctrine of non-violence (Ahimsa) is a powerful method to resolve conflicts, uphold human rights, and encourage diplomacy in a turbulent world.
• The Gandhian concepts of truth and moral bravery demand transparency and principled governance.
• With an environmental crisis on its way, Gandhi’s principles about simple living, self-reliance, and less consumption could well serve the purpose of sustainable development.
• Trusteeship, in turn, resonates with calls for CSR, wherein the corporation uses its wealth and resources for the greater good.
• Also, Gandhi’s concept of Sarvodaya understands inclusive growth, social equity, and the upliftment of socially marginalized communities as urgently necessary in today’s context as the pursuit of justice and harmony.
• On Gandhi Jayanti, a reflection on these will compel both individuals and nations to embrace non-violence, ethical leadership, and social responsibility as keys to a peaceful and just society.

Initiatives on Mahatma Gandhi By India and World

Government of India Initiatives

• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS): It is a social-security scheme to provide 100 days of wage employment to ensure economic justice for rural households through the framework linking it to Gandhian trusteeship.
• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Initiated in 2014, this nationwide cleanliness campaign stands for Gandhi’s vision of sanitation and hygiene as pillars of nation-building.
• Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS): Running cultural programs, exhibitions, and awareness campaigns to propagate Gandhian ideals.

  At the age of 19, Gandhi left for London to study law. Nelson Mandela, the leader of South Africa's struggle against apartheid was a recipient of the award.

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi: Film

Ben Kingsley portrayed Mahatma Gandhi in the 1982 film Gandhi, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Therefore, Mahatma Gandhi will be remembered forever as he spread the message of non-violence, truth, and faith in God, and also he fought for India's Independence.

He spoke out against racism and supported various movements, including the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.

Gandhi saw nonviolent resistance as a way to resist oppression without resorting to violence, and believed that it could ultimately lead to the transformation of both the oppressor and the oppressed.

Putting nonviolent resistance into practice:

Gandhi famously used nonviolent resistance during India's independence movement against British colonial rule.

He believed that true change could only be achieved through peaceful means and that violence only perpetuated more violence. Gandhi's efforts were not limited to India alone. Returning to India in 1891, Gandhi began practicing law but soon faced discrimination due to his ethnicity. Some of his literary works are as follows:

• Hind Swaraj, published in Gujarati in 1909. 
• He edited several newspapers which included Harijan in Gujarati, in Hindi and the English language; Indian Opinion, Young India, in English, and Navajivan, a Gujarati monthly. 
• Gandhi also wrote his autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth.
• His other autobiographies included: Satyagraha in South Africa, Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule.

Gandhi Jayanti Quiz: GK Questions and Answers About Mahatma Gandhi