Kaira akita biography of mahatma gandhi
Home / Celebrity Biographies / Kaira akita biography of mahatma gandhi
At the age of 13, Mahatma Gandhi was married to Kasturba which is an arranged marriage. At that time Gandhiji was studying at Samaldas College in Bhavnagar. 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.
In Indian history, he is considered the most prominent personality and as the simplest person who wears a dhoti. When a European magistrate in Durban asked him to take off his turban, he refused and left the courtroom. He founded Indian Opinion, his first journal, in 1904 to promote the interests of Indians in South Africa.
He is remembered worldwide for his philosophy of satyagraha - non-violent resistance based on truth and moral courage. He further observed that this type of incident was quite common against his fellow Indians who were derogatorily referred to as coolies.
READ| When and Why British first landed on Indian Territory
On 22 May 1894 Gandhi established the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) and worked hard to improve the rights of Indians in South Africa.
Invested with all the authority of the Indian National Congress (INC or Congress Party), Gandhi turned the independence movement into a massive organization, leading boycotts of British manufacturers and institutions representing British influence in India, including legislatures and schools.
After sporadic violence broke out, Gandhi announced the end of the resistance movement, to the dismay of his followers.
He broke the law, which had deprived the poor man of his right to make salt .This simple act was immediately followed by a nation-wide defiance of the law. He also started Swadeshi movement, advocating the use of commodities made in the country. He returned to India in 1915, after spending 21 years of his life in South Africa, and no doubt, there he fought for civil rights and at this time he was transformed into a new person.
Mahatma Gandhi: Role in the Indian Independence Movement
In 1915, Gandhiji returned to India permanently and joined the Indian National Congress with Gopal Krishna Gokhale as his mentor. Gandhi's first major achievement was in 1918 when he led the Champaran and Kheda agitations of Bihar and Gujarat.
Again in 1908, he mobilsed Indian community in South Africa against the discriminatory law requiring Asians to apply for the registration by burning 2000 official certificates of domicile at a public meeting at Johannesburg and courting jail. His father died in 1885. 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.
Gandhiji was also influenced by this ancient book. Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha was based on true principles and non-violence.
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. 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. Despite opposition from his community, he vowed not to touch wine, women, or meat while abroad and sailed to England in September 1888.
His methods inspired various leaders, and youth not only in India but also outside of India. The talks however were unsuccessful. That train journey served as a turning point for Gandhi, and he soon began developing and teaching the concept of satyagraha (“truth and firmness”), or passive resistance, as a way of non-cooperation with authorities.
The Birth of Passive Resistance
In 1906, after the Transvaal government passed an ordinance regarding the registration of its Indian population, Gandhi led a campaign of civil disobedience that would last for the next eight years.