Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an Indian independence activist who is widely considered to be the father of his country. Born in Porbandar, India on October 2, 1869, Gandhi was the son of Karamchand Gandhi, the dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar, and Putlibai, Karamchand's fourth wife.
Gandhi received his early education at home, where he learned the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. He also learned about the Hindu scriptures and the importance of non-violence, which would later become one of the central tenets of his philosophy. In 1887, Gandhi traveled to London to study law, and he was called to the bar in 1891.
After completing his education, Gandhi returned to India and began practicing law in Bombay (now Mumbai). However, he was not particularly successful as a lawyer and eventually decided to move to South Africa to work for an Indian firm. It was in South Africa that Gandhi first became involved in politics, as he fought for the rights of Indian immigrants who were being mistreated by the government and white settlers.
Gandhi developed his philosophy of non-violent resistance, or satyagraha, during his time in South Africa. He believed that it was possible to achieve political and social change through non-violent means, and he used this philosophy to great effect in his campaigns for Indian independence.
In 1914, Gandhi returned to India and began working for independence from British rule. He quickly became a leader of the Indian National Congress, the main political party fighting for independence, and he used non-violent resistance to protest British policies. Gandhi's campaigns and boycotts of British goods helped to bring about significant change, and in 1947, India finally gained its independence.
Gandhi's impact on India and the world cannot be overstated. His philosophy of non-violent resistance inspired civil rights and freedom movements around the world, and he is remembered as one of the greatest leaders in history. Gandhi was assassinated in 1948, but his legacy lives on to this day as a symbol of peace and justice.
