Biography on gandhiji

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Gandhiji was married at the age of thirteen to Kasturbai. His father died in 1885. 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. At Dandi Gandhiji picked up handful of salt thus technically ‘producing’ the salt.

His ideology of truth and non-violence influenced many and was also adopted by Martin Luther and Nelson Mandela for their struggle movement.

Top 60 Mahatma Gandhi Quotes for Inspiration and Motivation

Mahatma Gandhi Biography

  • Full Name: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
  • Born: 2 October 1869
  • Place of Birth: Porbandar, (Kathiawar region), in present Gujarat, India
  • Died: 30 January 1948
  • Place of Death: New Delhi, India
  • Cause of Death: Assassination — he was shot by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist.
  • Father: Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi (often referred to simply as Karamchand Gandhi)
  • Mother: Putlibai Gandhi (née Putlibai)
  • Nationality: Indian (under British rule during his lifetime)
  • Spouse: Kasturba Gandhi (Kasturbai)
  • Children: Harilal Gandhi, Manilal Gandhi, Ramdas Gandhi, and Devdas Gandhi
  • Professions / Roles / Activities: Lawyer (trained in law, practiced in South Africa and India) ; Political leader / Statesman (leader of Indian independence movement); Social reformer / Activist (championed nonviolence, civil rights, social justice); Writer / Author (he wrote extensively — including his autobiography The Story of My Experiments with Truth)

In South Africa for about 20 years, Mahatma Gandhi protested against injustices and racial discrimination using the non-violent method of protests.

law in London. Gandhi’s eloquence and embrace of an ascetic lifestyle based on prayer, fasting and meditation earned him the reverence of his followers, who called him Mahatma (Sanskrit for “the great-souled one”). Upon returning to India in mid-1891, he set up a law practice in Bombay, but met with little success.

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

Mahatma Gandhi: Awards

  • In 1930, Gandhi was named the Man of the Year by Time Magazine.
  • In 2011, Time magazine named Gandhi as one of the top 25 political icons of all time.
  • He did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize despite being nominated five times between 1937 and 1948.
  • The Government of India institutionalized the annual Gandhi Peace Prize to distinguished social workers, world leaders, and citizens.

    Gandhiji was arrested on May 4. He decided to set up legal practice in Bombay but couldn't establish himself. Gandhiji was also influenced by this ancient book. He asked the Indians to boycott foreign cloth and promote hand spun khadi thus creating work for the villagers. Gandhi welcomed the idea but his mother was objected to the idea of going abroad.

    He suggested the formation of an association to look after the Indian settlers and offered his free time and services.   During his stay in South Africa, Gandhiji's life underwent a change and he developed most of his political ideas. He went on fast to death in protest and concluded only after the British accepted Poona Pact.

    In 1933, he started weekly publication of Harijan replacing Young India.

    He was born in the distinguished family of administrators. When he refused to do so, a constable pushed him out and his luggage was taken away by the railway authorities. British authorities arrested Gandhi in March 1922 and tried him for sedition; he was sentenced to six years in prison but was released in 1924 after undergoing an operation for appendicitis.

    These were important issues in his agenda of constructive work – essential programmes to go with Satyagraha.

    On March 12 1930, Gandhiji set out with 78 volunteers on historic Salt March from Sabarmati Ashram; Ahmedabad to Dandi, a village on the sea coast .This was an important non violent movement of Indian freedom struggle. A Cabinet Mission arrived from England to discuss with Indian leaders the future shape of a free and united India, but failed to bring the Hindus and Muslims together.

    biography on gandhiji

    He supported the British war effort in World War I but remained critical of colonial authorities for measures he felt were unjust. He spread the message of swaraj and taught Indians how to become independent.

5 Facts About Mahatma Gandhi

  • According to Britannica, "The United Nations declared Gandhi's birthday, October 2nd, as the International Day of Non-violence in 2007."
  • While the world knows him as Mahatma Gandhi, a beacon of nonviolent resistance and Indian independence, his journey began with a more humble name: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.