Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi (born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India) was a lawyer turned revolutionary leader whose unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance reshaped the course of India’s struggle for independence and inspired global movements for civil rights. After studying law in London, he practiced in South Africa, where he first organized Indian communities against discriminatory laws through satyagraha (truth-force). Returning to India in 1915, he became a central figure in the Indian National Congress, leading landmark campaigns such as the Noncooperation Movement (1920–22), the Salt March (1930), and the Quit India Movement (1942), all grounded in civil disobedience and mass nonviolence. His principled stance against British colonial rule, emphasis on self-reliance (khadi spinning), and efforts toward Hindu–Muslim unity earned him the honorific “Mahatma” (great soul). After India achieved independence in 1947, he worked tirelessly to heal the wounds of partition and promote social reforms. On January 30, 1948, he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse—widely regarded as the first terrorist of independent India—ending a life dedicated to peaceful resistance and inclusivity.
