A salute to the Mahatma of non-violence
Gandhi Jayanti, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, is celebrated worldwide as the “International Day for Non-Violence”.
Born as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, he was first called Mahatma in 1914 in South Africa. The title, which roughly translates as “A Great Soul” in Sanskrit, is how the entire world remembers Gandhi today.
The beginning
Gandhi was born as the youngest son of a Hindu merchant in 1869. An average student with no remarkable achievements, there was little to suggest that he would become such an important figure in India’s history. He left for London to study law and enrolled at the Inner Temple. It was here where he learnt more about diverse religious literature, vegetarianism and other subjects.
Personal life and family
Gandhi got married in 1883 when he was just 13 years old, to Kasturba Gandhi, who was then 14 years old. They had four sons together and Kasturba, also a political leader, passed away while imprisoned in 1944. Though initially adamant on living life befitting a barrister, it was in South Africa that he slowly reduced his wants and needs to lead a simple life.
Gandhi and his wife, Kasturba in 1902
In India, he wore the traditional dhoti and shawl, which he spun himself, along with sandals. He was termed as “the half naked fakir” by Winston Churchill due to his eccentric dressing – from a Britain’s persepective.
To South Africa
In 1893 at the age of 24, after an unsuccessful attempt to make his living in India after his mother’s death, Gandhi accepted a one-year contract as a legal representative to an Indian firm in the colony of Natal. In South Africa, he was victim to the prevalent racial discrimination against Indians. He was thrown out of a moving train for occupying a first class seat despite having a ticket. The following day he was attacked by a train conductor for refusing to move out of his reserved seat for a European passenger.
A clip from the movie Gandhi (1982), showing his first train trip in South Africa
It was in Natal that he started to question his people’s freedom and the standing of Indians in the British Empire. He came to realise that he was out of contact with the diverse cultural and religious complexities of Indians. His time in South Africa helped him to understand more about India.
Awakening
He made his first public speech during his early months in South Africa, under the theme of truthfulness in business. He also spoke passionately about the oppression suffered by Indians. After the speech, it was agreed that Indians would be given second and first class tickets, provided they were well-dressed. This, though partial, was a giant step towards equality and respect.
A clip from the movie Gandhi showing his first speech inviting civil disobedience in Natal
In 1894, at his farewell dinner, Gandhi was shown the news about the Franchise Bill which targeted Indian merchants. Knowing that this would be the start of further discrimination and oppression, Gandhi agreed to stay in South Africa for a further month, which inadvertently turned out to be 21 years.
Satyagraha and Natal Indian Congress
He helped found the Natal Indian Congress in 1894 and led its operations against oppression of Indians in South Africa.
Natal Indian Congress; Gandhi is in the top row, fourth from left
By 1896, Gandhi was a renowned political leader in South Africa bringing together Indians from all castes, religions and communities under the concept of “Satyagraha”. The term coined and developed by Gandhi essentially means “truth force” or “insistence for truth”. Satyagraha, as per Gandhi’s philosophy, is not passive resistance, which is a weapon of the weak and less insistent on truth, but a means of non-cooperative, yet peaceful resistance.
While in Africa, he started urging Indians to defy oppressive laws. Those who chose to defy discriminatory laws would not resist or retaliate to government bullying tactics. They “took the beatings quietly”, so to speak. This non-violent resistance forced the government to compromise with Gandhi.
Indian independence struggle
Gandhi returned to India in 1915 and took up leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1920. He successfully convinced the Muslim community to join the peaceful civil disobedience. A strong feeling of Indian nationalism was sparked by the horrific Jallianwala Bagh Massacre by British troops in Amritsar. He put forward the concept of self-rule, or “Swaraj”, and complete independence from Britain.
Dandi March of 1930
Salt March to Dandi, 1930
In 1930 he initiated the famous Salt March to Dandi, opposing the British salt monopoly in India, marching 388 kilometres to make salt himself. The imprisonment and attack on the non-violent supporters of the march drew worldwide attention to British Imperial tyranny and the independence struggle of Indians. He fought against untouchability, caste discrimination and other social evils which were being used by the British Empire to maintain rule over India.
Quit India, Independence and Partition
It was during World War II when Gandhi intensified his demand for independence by starting the “Quit India” movement against Britain. Congress leaders and members were arrested as a last attempt at stamping out the protests.
Gandhi in London in 1931 as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress
The war had taken its toll on Britain, and effectively brought an end to the Empire. So began a much-favoured era of decolonization. The British government gave clear indications of transferring power back to India and released all imprisoned leaders.
Gandhi with Lord Mountbatten and his wife
India finally became independent on August 15, 1947, but this victory was not one of joy for the father of the nation. The partition of India and Pakistan was a great blow to his vision and he struggled to avoid it. Giving in to his political peers’ demands, he tried his best to alleviate the communal tension and bloodshed that followed the partition.
Upholding his principles
Political leaders such as Martin Luther King, James Lawson, James Bevel and Nelson Mendela drew their own political theories of non-violence from Gandhi’s writings. Martin Luther King used to refer to Gandhi as “the little brown saint”. Einstein referred to him as “a role model for generations to come” and exchanged several letters with Gandhi. Other followers of his principles are the14th Dalai Lama, Lech Wałęsa, Cesar Chavez, Aung San Suu Kyi, Benigno Aquino Jr. and Desmond Tutu. US President Barack Obama said in 2009 that his biggest inspiration came from Mahatma Gandhi.
Assassination
Mahatma Gandhi, also addressed as Bapu, which means "father", was assassinated on January 30, 1948 by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist who was against Gandhi’s non-violent movement and favour for Muslims. His last words are believed to be “He Ram!” loosely translated to “Oh God!”