GANDHIHIS LIFE AND LEGACY

YOUTH AND EDUCATION

�Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was

born in Porbandar, on October 2, 1869

to Karamchand Gandhi, the diwan

(Prime Minister) of Porbandar, and

Putlibai, Karamchand's fourth wife.

�He was born into the Vaishya caste.

�At the age of 13, he was married

through his parents'

arrangements to Kasturba Makhanji.

�They had five children, the first died in

infancy.

EDUCATED AS A BARRISTER (LAWYER)

�Gandhi’s family always wished for him to be a

barrister. At 18, on 4 September 1888, Gandhi went

to University College London to study law and train as

a barrister.

�He embraced the tenant of Vegetarianism from

Hinduism both intellectually and spiritually while

studying in London.

�Passed the Bar and began a couple of failed

businesses in India, then took a year long contract

in Natal, South Africa.

EXPERIENCES WITH RACISM

� In January 1897, when Gandhi landed in Durban, a mob of

white settlers attacked him and he escaped only through the

efforts of the wife of the police superintendent. However, he

refused to press charges against any member of the mob,

stating it was one of his principles not to seek redress for a

personal wrong in a court of law.

� Indian’s suffered extensive discrimination in South Africa under

the British.

�He spent 21 years in South Africa, where he developed his

political views, ethics and political leadership skills. His

philosophy of Non-Violence was formed and solidified during

this time.

�During the Boer war Gandhi volunteered in 1900 to form a

group of ambulance drivers. He wanted to disprove the British

idea that Hindus were not fit for "manly" activities involving

danger and exertion.

RETURNS TO INDIA

�Upon his return to India in 1918, he got

involved in the unfair taxation of farmers in

Champaran. They were being forced to grow

cash crops and pay high taxes and so didn’t

have the means to survive. Through nonviolent

resistance, he helped get reforms passed and

schools, hospitals, and basic services built. This

is the first time when Indians began to call him

Bapu (Father) and Mahatma (Great Soul).

FIGHT FOR STATEHOOD FOR INDIA

�Gandhi advocated for

non-violent résistance

through making their

own cloth and clothes.

�He also asked Indians

who worked for the

British Raj to quit their

jobs making it hard for

the British to administer

India.

�The British tried to give limited government but India

wanted Freedom, which they gained in 1947 through

the “Quit India” movement.

�They took a short break to help the British defeat the

Nazi’s during WW2.

A NATION MOURNS!Gandhi was assassinated by Hindu extremist on

January 30th, 1948 while taking his customary nightly

walk.

Prime Minister Nehru-

“Friends and comrades, the light has gone out of our

lives, and there is darkness everywhere, and I do not

quite know what to tell you or how to say it. Our

beloved leader, Bapu as we called him, the father of

the nation, is no more. Perhaps I am wrong to say

that; nevertheless, we will not see him again, as we

have seen him for these many years, we will not run to

him for advice or seek solace from him, and that is a

terrible blow, not only for me, but for millions and

millions in this country.”