Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an important leader in India during its independence movement, He was born in 1869 in Porbandar in the Indian state of Gujarat and died in 1948. 

After his father died in 1885, he moved to England  and studied law in London to become a lawyer  after he returned to India in 1891 to practice, where he discovered that his mother had died while he was abroad.  In 1893 he took on a one-year contract to do legal work in South Africa, where he saw for the first time the extent of racism present in the world and then decided to stay for 21 years  working to secure the rights of indigenous people.

He developed a method of action based upon the principles of courage, nonviolence and truth called Satyagraha. He believed that the behavior of people is more important than what they achieve.  In 1915, Gandhi returned to India becoming the next 15 years he became the leader of the Indian nationalist movement. 

Using the principles of Satyagraha he led the campaign for Indian independence from Britain. Gandhi was arrested many times by the British for his activities in South Africa and India. He believed it was honorable to go to jail for a just cause. Altogether he spent seven years in prison for his political activities.  More than once Gandhi used fasting to impress upon others the need to be nonviolent. Finally India was granted independence in 1947, and partitioned into India and Pakistan. Rioting between Hindus and Muslims followed. Gandhi had been an advocate for a united India where Hindus and Muslims lived together in peace.

On January 13, 1948, at the age of 78, he began a fast with the purpose of stopping the bloodshed. After 5 days the opposing leaders pledged to stop the fighting and Gandhi broke his fast. Twelve days later a Hindu fanatic, Nathuram Godse who opposed his program of tolerance for all creeds and religion assassinated him.

Gandhi was highly respected before and after his death, he was known as the Mahatma Sanskrit Great Soul   He was also known as The Father of the Nation. Every year the Gandhi Jayanti  (a national holiday)  is celebrated  on his birthday, October 2

In 2007, The United Nations General Assembly declared October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence.

In my personal opinion if the leaders of our countries think like Gandhi and implement its peace policy the world would be much better, there would be less violence in our country, in our schools and in our homes.  It would be a better place for future generations