Biography of Mahatma Gandhi and Brief Description of Major Satyagraha Movements

Biography of Mahatma Gandhi: A brief description of the biography of Mahatma Gandhi and the major Satyagraha movements carried out by Mahatma Gandhi is given here. Also, information about Gandhi's early life, education-initiation, and Gandhi assassination is given here.

Mahatma Gandhi
Birth	October 02, 1869
Death	January 30, 1948
birth place	Porbandar, Kathiawar
Full Name	Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
father's name	Karamchand Gandhi
Mother's name	Putlibai Gandhi
wife's name	Kasturba Gandhi

Gandhi's early life

Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, a coastal city in Gujarat. His father Karamchand Gandhi was the Diwan of a small princely state of Kathiawar during the British Raj. Mohandas's mother was Putlibai, she was of a highly religious nature, which influenced young Mohandas and these values ​​later played an important role in his life.

In 1883, at the age of 13 and a half, he was married to 14-year-old Kasturba. When Mohandas was 15 years old, his first child was born but he died within a few days. His father Karamchand Gandhi also passed away in the same year (1885). Later, Mohandas and Kasturba had four children – Harilal Gandhi (1888), Manilal Gandhi (1892), Ramdas Gandhi (1897), and Devdas Gandhi (1900).

Gandhi's education

He had his middle school education in Porbandar and high school in Rajkot. In 1887, he passed the matriculation examination from Ahmedabad. After this, Mohandas joined Shamaldas College in Bhavnagar, but due to ill health and home disconnection, he left the college and went back to Porbandar. In the year 1888, Mohandas went to England to study law at University College London and became a barrister. Gandhi returned to India in June 1891 and learned of his mother's death. He started advocacy in Bombay but did not get much success. After this, he went to Rajkot where he started writing cases for the needy, but after some time he had to leave this work too. Finally, in 1893, he accepted the work of advocacy from an Indian firm in South Africa on a one-year contract.

Gandhiji in South Africa (1893 – 1914)

Gandhi reached South Africa at the age of 24. He spent 21 years of his life in South Africa where his political thought and leadership skills developed. He faced severe racial discrimination in South Africa. In view of the injustice being done to Indians in South Africa, questions related to the respect of Indians and their own identity under the British Empire began to arise in their mind. He also raised the issue of the citizenship of Indians with the South African government and actively motivated British officials to recruit Indians in the Zulu War of 1906. According to Gandhi, Indians should cooperate in the British war effort in order to legalize their citizenship claims.

The struggle of Indian Freedom Struggle (1916 – 1945)

Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in the year 1914. By this time, Gandhi had become a nationalist leader and organizer. He came to India at the behest of liberal Congress leader Gopal Krishna Gokhale and in the early stages, Gandhi's ideas were largely influenced by Gokhale's ideas. Initially, Gandhi visited different parts of the country and tried to understand political, economic, and social issues. After coming to India, Gandhiji also did some movements which are as follows –

Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

On April 15, 1917, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi reached Champaran, Motihari with Rajkumar Shukla. He was ordained at the house of Babu Gorakh Prasad. Champaran, located in the northwest of Bihar, is the area where the foundation of Satyagraha was laid. In 1917, the movements in Champaran, Bihar, gave Gandhi the first political success in India. British zamindars in Champaran used to force farmers to cultivate indigo instead of food crops and buy crops at cheap prices, which worsened the condition of the farmers. Due to this, he was surrounded by extreme poverty. After a devastating famine, the British government imposed repressive taxes, the burden of which increased day by day. Overall the situation was very disappointing. Gandhiji led protests and strikes against the landlords, after which the demands of the poor and farmers were accepted.

Kheda Satyagraha (1918)

Kheda Satyagraha was a satyagraha (movement) of farmers in the Kheda district of Gujarat against the British government's tax collection. In 1918, Kheda in Gujarat was hit by floods and drought, due to which the condition of farmers and the poor became worse and people started demanding tax waivers. In Kheda, under the guidance of Gandhiji, Sardar Patel led the farmers to discuss this problem with the British. After this, the British released all the prisoners by giving them freedom from revenue collection. Thus after Champaran and Kheda, Gandhi's fame spread across the country and he emerged as an important leader of the freedom movement.

Khilafat Movement (1919 – 1924)

The Khilafat Movement (1919–1924) was a politico-religious movement mainly led by Muslims in India. The purpose of this movement was to put pressure on the British to restore the post of Caliph in Turkey.

Non-Cooperation Movement (1921)

Gandhiji believed that the British rule in India was possible only with the cooperation of Indians and if we all together do non-cooperation against the British on everything then freedom is possible. Gandhi's growing popularity had made him the biggest leader of the Congress and now he was in a position to use non-cooperation, non-violence, and peaceful retaliation against the British. Meanwhile, the Jallianwala massacre inflicted a huge blow on the country, which ignited the flames of anger and violence among the people. Gandhiji called for the Swadeshi policy in which foreign goods, especially English goods, were to be boycotted. He said that all Indians should wear Khadi made by our own people instead of clothes made by the British. He asked men and women to spin yarn daily. Apart from this, Mahatma Gandhi boycotted the educational institutions and courts of Britain, He also requested to leave the government jobs and return back the honor and honor received from the British government. The non-cooperation movement was getting immense success, which increased enthusiasm and participation in all sections of the society, but in February 1922, it ended with the Chauri-Chaura incident. After this violent incident, Gandhiji withdrew from the non-cooperation movement. He was arrested and tried for treason in which he was sentenced to six years imprisonment. He was released by the government in February 1924 due to ill health. Heard. He was released by the government in February 1924 due to ill health. Heard. He was released by the government in February 1924 due to ill health.

Bardoli Satyagraha (1928)

When the Simon Commission came to India in 1928, it was boycotted nationwide. Due to this boycott, the people of India had an indomitable enthusiasm for independence. When the commission was still in India, the Satyagraha of Bardoli had also started. Bardoli is located in the Gujarat district. The main reason for the Satyagraha in Bardoli was that the annual rent which the farmers were paying there suddenly increased by 30% and the increased rent was to be implemented from 30 June 1927. It was natural for the farmers to be angry about this increased rent. The Legislative Assembly of Mumbai State also opposed this increase in rent. A circle of farmers went to meet the higher officials but to no avail. This rent was also opposed by many public meetings, but the Mumbai government did not budge. Then it was decided to launch a Satyagraha movement in protest against this rent being compelled. A huge meeting of farmers was organized at Bardoli, In which it was unanimously decided that the increased rent would not be given at any cost. Non-cooperation would be done with the government employees who would come to collect the rent because during that time the arrangements for food and transportation for the government employees were made by the farmers. The responsibility of this movement was entrusted to Shri Vallabhbhai Patel. Which he accepted on the advice of Gandhiji. When the government employees did not get the rent in Bardoli, they started taking away the animals of the farmers. The movable and immovable property of the farmers also started being attached. In protest against this atrocity, Vitthalbhai Patel, who was the elder brother of Vallabhbhai Patel, warned the government that, if this atrocity was not stopped, he would resign from the post of the President of the Central Assembly.

Swaraj and the Salt Satyagraha (1930)

The flag of India was hoisted in Lahore on 31 December 1929 and the Congress celebrated 26 January 1930 as Indian Independence Day. After this, Gandhi started the Salt Satyagraha in protest against the imposition of tax on salt by the government, under which he traveled from Ahmedabad to Dandi, Gujarat, from 12 March to 6 April. Traveled around 388 km. The purpose of this journey was to produce salt itself. Thousands of Indians participated in this yatra and were successful in disturbing the British government. During this, the government arrested more than 60 thousand people and sent them to jail. After this, the government represented by Lord Irwin decided to hold discussions with Gandhi, which resulted in the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in March 1931. Under the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, the British government agreed to release all political prisoners. As a result of this agreement, Gandhi participated in the Round Table Conference held in London as the sole representative of the Congress, but this conference was very disappointing for the Congress and other nationalists. After this Gandhi was again arrested and the government tried to crush the nationalist movement. Participated in the conference but this conference was very disappointing for Congress and other nationalists. After this Gandhi was again arrested and the government tried to crush the nationalist movement. Participated in the conference but this conference was very disappointing for Congress and other nationalists. After this Gandhi was again arrested and the government tried to crush the nationalist movement.

In 1934, Gandhi resigned from the membership of the Congress. Instead of political activities, he focused on building the nation 'from the lowest level' through 'constructive programs'. He started the work of educating rural India, continuing the movement against untouchability, promoting spinning, weaving, and other cottage industries, and creating an education system suited to the needs of the people.

Harijan Movement (1932)

As a result of the efforts of Dalit leader BR Ambedkar, the British government had allowed separate electorates for the untouchables under a new constitution. Gandhiji, who was lodged in Yerwada Jail, observed a six-day fast in September 1932 in protest against this and forced the government to adopt a similar system (Poona Pact). This was the beginning of the campaign launched by Gandhiji to improve the lives of the untouchables. On 8 May 1933, Gandhi observed a 21-day fast for self-purification and began a one-year campaign to further the Harijan movement. Dalit leaders like Ambedkar were not pleased with this movement and condemned Gandhi's use of the word Harijan for Dalits.

Quit India Movement (1942)

At the beginning of the Second World War, Gandhi was in favor of giving 'non-violent moral support' to the British, but many Congress leaders were unhappy that the government had thrown the country into war without consulting the representatives of the people. Gandhi declared that on the one hand India was being denied independence and on the other, India was being drawn into the war for the victory of democratic forces. As the war progressed, Gandhiji and the Congress intensified the demand for the "Quit India" movement. 'Quit India' became the most powerful movement in the struggle for independence, with widespread violence and arrests. Thousands of freedom fighters were either killed or injured in this struggle and thousands were also arrested. Gandhi had made it clear that he would not support the British war effort until India was given immediate independence. He had also said that this movement would not stop despite personal violence. He believed that the government anarchy prevailing in the country is more dangerous than the real anarchy. Gandhiji asked all Congressmen and Indians to maintain discipline with do or die with non-violence.

As everyone anticipated, the British government arrested Gandhi and all the members of the Congress Working Committee in Mumbai on 9 August 1942, and Gandhi was taken to the Aanga Khan Palace in Pune where he was imprisoned for two years. Meanwhile, his wife Kasturba Gandhi died on 22 February 1944 and after some time Gandhiji also suffered from malaria. The British could not leave him in jail in this condition, so he was released on 6 May 1944 for necessary treatment. Despite the partial success, the Quit India movement organized India and by the end of World War II, the British government had given a clear indication that power would soon be handed over to the Indians. Gandhiji ended the Quit India Movement and the government released about 1 lakh, political prisoners.

Gandhi's assassination

On 30 January 1948, the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated at 5:17 pm at Birla House in Delhi. Gandhi was on his way to address a prayer meeting when his assassin Nathuram Godse fired three bullets into his chest. It is believed that 'Hey Ram' was the last word that came out of his mouth. Nathuram Godse and his associate were tried and sentenced to death in 1949.

Important questions and answers related to Gandhiji

• At what age was Gandhiji married - 13 years
• The goal of Gandhiji's movement to boycott foreign goods was to encourage cottage industries.
• When has the tricolor been accepted as the national flag - Lahore Congress
• In which year the Salt Satyagraha was started - in 1930
• Where did Gandhi's 'Dandi Yatra' start - Ahmedabad
• In which year the Civil Disobedience Movement was started by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930
• Gandhiji's Dandi Yatra is an example of civil disobedience
• What are the important teachings of Gandhiji - truth and non-violence
• What was the ultimate goal of Mahatma Gandhi's Salt Satyagraha – Purna Swaraj for India
• After the failure of which movement 'Swarajya Party' was formed - The non-cooperation Movement
• The non-cooperation movement was started - in 1920 AD
• Who formed the 'Swarajya Party' together - Motilal Nehru and C.R. Slave
• Who led the 'Salt Satyagraha' with Gandhiji - Sarojini Naidu
• Which movement was started by Gandhiji in violation of 'Salt Law' - Civil Disobedience Movement
• Gandhiji's favorite song 'Vaishnav Jan Toh...' is written by - Narsi Mehta
• Who said "The real place of taste is not the tongue, but the mind." - Mahatma Gandhi
• Who said "Truth is the ultimate essence and it is God" - Mahatma Gandhi
• Gandhiji is considered a Philosophical Anarchist
• Who called Mahatma Gandhi a "half-naked fakir" - Winston Churchill
• Who strongly opposed the British government's negotiations with Mahatma Gandhi on the terms of equality in 1931 - Winston Churchill
• In which mass movement did Gandhiji say “will or die” or “do or die” – Quit India Movement
• Who gave the slogan "Quit India Movement" - Mahatma Gandhi
• "Quit India Movement" was started - in the year 1942 AD
• Which religious book did Gandhiji call his mother - Bhagavad Gita
• Which newspaper was edited by Gandhiji - "Navjivan", "Harijan" and "Young India"
• What was the name of the newspaper edited by Gandhiji in the year 1933 - Young India
• Which was the weekly magazine started by Mahatma Gandhi - Young India
• Who first addressed Gandhiji as "Father of the Nation" - Subhash Chandra Bose
• The name of the magazine published by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa was - Indian Opinion
• The name "Mahatma" was added to Gandhi's name during the Champaran Satyagraha.
• Who gave the idea of ​​"Antyodaya" - Mahatma Gandhi
• In the year 1919, against whom did Gandhiji organize a 'Satyagraha Sabha' - Rowlatt Act
• Where did Mahatma Gandhi use Satyagraha for the first time – South Africa
• In which year did Gandhiji start the Satyagraha movement - 1919
• With which movement did Mahatma Gandhi make his debut in Indian politics - Champaran
• Who was involved with Mahatma Gandhi during the Champaran struggle - Rajendra Prasad and Anugrah Narayan Singh
• Why did Gandhiji organize the 'Dandi March' in 1930 - Due to the imposition of tax on salt
• In which year Gandhiji established 'Sabarmati Ashram' in Gujarat - in 1917
• Which foreign journalist was appointed by Gandhiji at his Sabarmati Ashram during the Dandi March - Bev Miller
• What was the then government's reaction to Salt Satyagraha and Dandi Yatra – not taken seriously
• For what reason did Mahatma Gandhi start a fast unto death in Yerwada Jail on September 20, 1932 - Against Ramsay Macdonald's Communal Award
• Who was chosen by Mahatma Gandhi as the first Satyagrahi for Individual Satyagraha – Vinoba Bhave
• When did the Quit India Movement start - in 1942 AD.
• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's mother's name is Putlibai
• Which movement was withdrawn by Gandhiji after the 'Chauri-Chaura incident' - Non-cooperation Movement
• Through which principle did Gandhiji try to remove economic inequalities - Trusteeship Theory
• Who was once an ally of Gandhiji, later separated from him, who was the person who started a radical movement "Self-Respect Movement" - EV Ramaswamy Nayakar
• Gandhi-Irwin Pact is related to – The civil Disobedience Movement
• Mahatma Gandhi was most influenced by whose works and compositions - Leo Tolstoy
• Who went to meet Gandhiji in South Africa - Gopal Krishna Gokhale
• From which place did Mahatma Gandhi start the Civil Disobedience Movement in the year 1930 - Sabarmati Ashram
• What did Gandhiji consider Khadi to be a symbol of – economic freedom
• Which is the most powerful force in the world according to Mahatma Gandhi - Non-violence of the heroic
• The main reason for starting Quit India Movement in 1942 was the failure of the Cripps Mission
• Quit India Movement was started in 1942 in which month – August
• In which year did the Congress pass the resolution of 'Quit India Movement' - in 1942
• Quit India Movement was started in which year – 1942 AD
• Where was the 'Parallel Government' formed during the 'Quit India Movement' - Ballia
• Which prison Gandhiji was imprisoned for passing the Quit India Resolution - Aga Khan Palace
• In which Satyagraha did Gandhiji not directly participate - Rajkot Satyagraha
• In which area the riots generated by the Quit India Movement were most widespread - in Bihar and United Provinces
• Which leader of Bihar led the farmer's movement with Gandhiji - Dr. Rajendra Prasad
• In which peasant movement did Mahatma Gandhi first take part - Champaran
• Mahatma Gandhi had a close English friend during the freedom movement – ​​Reverend Charlie Andrews
• Mahatma Gandhi believed that which principle would be violated by participation in the Second World War - non-violence
• The Prime Minister of England at the time of the Quit India Movement was – Winston Churchill
• Why did Mahatma Gandhi support the Khilafat Movement - Gandhiji wanted to get the cooperation of Indian Muslims in his movement against the British.
• Who was the national leader of the Champaran Indigo Movement - Mahatma Gandhi
• Who gave the title of 'Nightingale of India' to Sarojini Naidu - Mahatma Gandhi
• Whom did Gandhiji consider his political guru – Gopal Krishna Gokhale
• Where did Gandhiji's first Satyagraha take place - Champaran
• Where did Gandhiji start the Phoenix Settlement - in Durban, South Africa
• Gandhiji returned to India from South Africa – on 9 January 1915
• Why did Gandhi give up the title Kaisari-e-Hind – Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)
• Which only Congress session was presided over by Gandhiji - Belgaum session (1924)
• When did Gandhiji start the weekly Harijan - 1933
• Who gave Tagore the name of Gurudev - Mahatma Gandhi
• Where did Gandhiji 'post-dated cheque' - Cripps Mission (1942)
• What is the real name of Gandhiji's autobiography – Truth nor Experiments
• When was Gandhiji's autobiography first published – 1927 (in Navajivan)
• In which language did Gandhiji write his autobiography? - Gujarati

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