He conceived and developed the terminology and effectively applied it to many of his resistance's against the tyranny of the British Colonisers. He organised 'Civil Disobedience', 'Non-cooperation Movement' and the 'Quit India Movement'. Apart from this, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns to ease poverty, expand women's rights, build religious and ethnic amity, end untouchability and increase economic self-reliance. His efforts inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world, some of which were - Nelson Mandela's struggle against Apartheid in South Africa and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaigns during the civil rights movement in the United States. It was because of these achievements that he was revered as the 'Father of Nation' world over. In India he was referred to as 'Bapu' or 'Bapuji' - Gujarati Equivalent of the title 'Father of Nation' which was bestowed upon him. Gandhi is also often referred 'Mahatma', which means 'Great Soul', an honorific first applied to him by Rabindranath Tagore. Such was his persona that the United Nations General Assembly declared 2nd of October as the 'International Day of Non-Violence', as 2nd October is Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday Date. The resolution to this effect was announced on 15th June 2007.
History of Gandhi
Gandhi was born on 2nd October, 1869 in Porbandar, a coastal town in Gujarat. His full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi but he was popularly known as Gandhiji 'Father of Nation'. His father's name was Karamchand Gandhi (1822–1885). He belonged to the Hindu Modh community and served as the 'Diwan' (a high official) of Porbander. His mother's name was, Putlibai, she was his father's fourth wife; first three wives died in childbirth. With his parents influence Gandhi developed compassion for living beings, vegetarianism, fasting for self-purification and mutual tolerance among individuals of different creeds. He was greatly inspired by the stories of Shravana and Maharaja Harishchandra. In May 1883, when Gandhi was 13-year old, he was married to 14-year old Kasturbai Makhanji in an arranged child marriage, as per the prevalent custom. They had 4 children, all were boys.
He passed his matriculation exam from Samaldas College at Bhavnagar, Gujarat. He didn't want to become a Barrister, but family pressure took him to foreign shores. On 4th September 1888, Gandhi travelled to study law at University College London, to train as a barrister. Gandhi was called to the bar on 10 June 1891 and left London for India on 12 June 1891. In April 1893, he accepted a year-long contract from Dada Abdulla & Co., an Indian firm, to a post in the Colony of Natal, South Africa, then part of the British Empire. In South Africa, Gandhi faced the discrimination directed at Indians. He was thrown off a train at Pietermaritzburg after refusing to move from the first class to a third-class coach while holding a valid first-class ticket. He faced various other abuses and witnessed the same being applied to his fellow Indians. These and other incidents inspired him to stand against racism, prejudice and injustice against Indians in South Africa. In his due course of action he was joined by other people and he formed Natal Indian Congress in 1894. It was here that his concept of 'Satyagraha' took shape. He employed non-violent protest, for the first time during 1906 on 11th September, when the Transvaal government promulgated a new Act compelling registration of the colony's Indian population. His efforts proved successful in enforcing a negotiation in favour of Indians.
In 1915, Gandhi returned back to India from South Africa. Here it was Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a respected leader of the Congress Party, who primarily introduced him to Indian issues, politics and the Indian people. In 1918, he organised the 'Champaran Agitation' and 'Kheda Satyagraha' against the British Policy of heavy taxes on the poor farmers. Success in these campaigns made him well known in India. Fuelled by Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, Gandhi's focus took a larger shape. His vision now included complete self-government and control of all Indian government institutions, soon maturing into Swaraj or complete individual, spiritual, political independence. To this effect he launched the 'Swadeshi Policy' - boycott of foreign-made goods, especially British goods. Certain incidents and his health kept him away from his exemplary efforts towards nation's freedom.
Then in December 1928, Gandhi passed a resolution calling on the British government to grant India dominion status or face a new campaign of non-cooperation with complete independence for the country as its goal. Non response of British authority made Gandhi launch a new satyagraha against the tax on salt in March 1930. This campaign proved to be one of his most successful attempts at upsetting British hold on India. In August 1942, Gandhi started the 'Quit India Movement' and decided to launch a mass civil disobedience movement 'Do or Die' call to force the British to leave India. The movement resulted in severe cruelties all over India at the hands of the British regime. The movement and the 2nd World War was very much taxing on economic, political and military of the Empire. At the end of the War, the Labour Party under Prime Minister Clement Richard Attlee, came to power in Britain. The Party was largely sympathetic towards Indian people for freedom. Thus, on 12th August, 1946, Lord Mountbatten, the Viceroy of India invited Jawaharlal Nehru to form an interim government. However, the Muslim League refused to participate in the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly and pressed for theEvents and Activitiesz separate state for Pakistan. Lord Mountbatten, the Viceroy of India, presented a plan for the division of India into India and Pakistan, and the Indian leaders had no choice but to accept the division, as the Muslim League was adamant. On the 14th and 15th of August, 1947 the Indian Independence Act was invoked. Though India, achieved independence but was divided in 2 countries. On 30th January, 1948, in New Delhi, Gandhi was assassinated. He was shot three times by Nathuram Godse, a hard-core Hindu nationalist, who, along with his supporters, considered Mahatma Gandhi to be responsible for the weakening of India by insisting for the payment to Pakistan. Though he died but he proved to the world that freedom can be achieved through the path of non-violence - a true symbol of peace and truth. He is still remembered and admired all over the world for his life long battle for the values of humanity and equality.
Events and Activities
- Birthday of Gandhi is traditionally and officially observed by the President and Prime Minister, along with other eminent political leaders by paying homage at Raj Ghat (a memorial), on the banks of the river Yamuna in New Dehli, where Mahatma Gandhi's body was cremated on January 31, 1948.
- Other major observations take place at 'The Martyr's Column' at the Gandhi Smriti in New Dehli' where Mahatma Gandhi was shot on January 30, 1948 and the 'Triveni Sangam' where the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati come together near Allahabad.
- Bunches of flowers or flower garlands are placed on many statues of Mahatma Gandhi throughout India. Plays based on Gandhi's life maybe organised at various venues.
- Prayer meetings, commemorative ceremonies and tributes are held in various states. The day is observed all over the country, both in government and non-government forums. Verses and prayers are read out from the holy books of all the religions. Gandhi's favourite song, 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram', is sung at all the gatherings associated with him.
- Gandhi Jayanti Holiday is also observed by organising various events like art exhibitions, essay competitions, award ceremonies to personalities involved in non-violence based activities and other social services.
- Certain institutions hold a special show of 'Gandhi' movie or movies associated with Gandhi and book readings on Mahatma Gandhi's life and achievements.
- On Gandhi's Birthday all offices and schools, throughout the country, remain closed.
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