Interesting Facts About Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi, India's Father of the Nation, ledGandhi led the Non-cooperation movement in
the country's independence movement through1922. To protest the British-imposed salt tax, he
'Satyagraha', resistance to oppression throughled the 400 km Dandi Salt March in 1930, and
mass civil disobedience, and 'ahimsa', totallater in calling for the British to Quit India in 1942.
non-violence. He has inspired movements for civilHe was imprisoned for many years, on numerous
rights across the world.occasions, in both South Africa and India.
Born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, KathiawarGandhi, a practitioner of non-violence and truth,
in western Indian state of Gujarat, toadvocated that others follow the principles. He
Karamchand Gandhi and Putlibai, he was marriedlived modestly and wore the traditional Indian
at the age of 13 to 14-year old Kasturbaidhoti and shawl, woven with yarn he had hand
Makhanji. He had four sons.spun on a charkha. He ate simple vegetarian food,
Gandhi first employed non-violent civil disobedienceand also undertook long fasts as means of both
in South Africa, in the resident Indian community'sself-purification and social protest.
struggle for civil rights. After his return to India inGandhi was also a prolific writer. For decades he
1915, he set about organising peasants, farmers,edited several newspapers including Harijan in
and urban labourers in protesting excessiveGujarati, Hindi and English; Indian Opinion while in
land-tax and discrimination by the BritishSouth Africa and, Young India, in English, and
government.Navajivan, a Gujarati monthly. He also wrote a
In 1921, he assumed the leadership of the Indianfew books including his autobiography, An
National Congress and led nationwide campaignsAutobiography or My Experiments with Truth.
for easing poverty, for expanding women's rights,On 30 January 1948, Gandhi was shot and killed
for building religious and ethnic amity, for endingon the grounds of the Birla Bhavan (Birla House) in
untouchability, and above all for achieving theNew Delhi.
independence of India from foreign domination.