MAHATMA GANDHI

Mahatma Gandhi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION3

II. GANDHI'S EARLY LIFE3

III. GANDHI IN AFRICA4

IV. SPIRITUAL REALITY IN AFRICA4

V. GANDHI RETURNS TO INDIA5

VI. INDIAN CLOTH6

VII. SATYAGRAHA6

VIII. A FREE INDIA7

IX. THE SALT MARCH8

X. BHAGAVAD-GITA8

XI. GANDHI ON CASTE9

XII. THE FINAL DAYS10

XIII. CONCLUSION11

Mahatma Gandhi

I. Introduction

From Gandhi to the Gandhiji, the "Mahatma" and "Baapu”, Mahatma Gandhi traveled away from the national hero legend. Gandhi's life was much higher. Gandhi was a thinker, philosopher, and statesman. He believed that could only lead when he was a worthy leader. To be a good leader must be morally strong. As he spoke, a liar can not teach their students to speak the truth, a coward can not teach young people to be brave. "Thus, to be morally strong, he believes need to be strong in spirit. (Gandhi 1977)To be strong in spirit, to live in accordance with his beliefs, according to a strict code of conduct. With a comprehensive view of life in all spheres of human life was of interest to Gandhi. Very little escaped his attention. A cursory glance would never do for Gandhi. He would think about, think about it during periods of silence or imprisonment, to write about it, discuss it, experiment with it in their lives - whether it was the subject of the post, giving up salt in the diet, celibacy abstinence or use of violence as a political tool(Jack, 1956).

II. Gandhi's Early Life

Mahatma Gandhi was born on Oct 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India. His parents belonged to the Vaisya (merchant) caste of Hindu's. Gandhi was a shy and serious boy and grew up in an atmosphere of religious tolerance and acceptance of teachings of various Hindu sects. When he was 13 years old, he married Kasturibhai, a girl of the same age. The wedding was arranged according to custom by his parents. The Gandhi's had four children. At the age of 19, Gandhi traveled to England to study law. In London he began develop his philosophy of life. He also studied the great Indian religious classic the Bhagavad-Gita and also turned to the New Testament of the Bible and to the teachings of the Buddha. In 1891 Gandhi returned to India to practice law but met with little success.

III. Gandhi in Africa

In 1893,Gandhi went to South Africa to do some legal work. South Africa was then under British rule. Almost immediately, he was abused because he was an Indian who claimed his rights as a British subject. He saw that all Indians suffered from discrimination. His law assignment was for one year, but he stayed on in South Africa for 21 years to work for Indian rights. Gandhi led many campaigns in South Africa and edited a newspaper, Indian Opinion. As a part of sahyagraha, he promoted civil disobedience campaigns and organized a strike among Indian Miners. (Bose 1948)Gandhi also worked for the British when he thought justice was on their side. They decorated him for medical work in the Anglo-Boer ...