Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948)

Why in News? : Mahatma Gandhi’s 156th birth anniversary was celebrated on October 2,2025.
Early Life : Born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat. During his stay in South Africa (1893-1915), he developed the concept of Satyagraha while opposing apartheid regime. Returned to India on January 9, 1915. This day is celebrated as the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. In 1917, he established Sabarmati Ashram, near Ahmedabad.
Gandhi’s major movements in India :
- Champaran Satyagraha (April 1917) Gandhi’s first civil disobedience in India. The movement was against the forced cultivation of indigo by farmers in Bihar, known as Teen Kathia system.
- Ahmedabad Mill Strike (February-March 1918) : Gandhiji’s first hunger strike in India. Gandhiji supported workers demand of 35% wage increase.
- Kheda Satyagraha (March 1918) : This was Gandhiji’s first Non-cooperation movement in India.
- Non-Cooperation Movement (August 1920- February 1922) It began after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and aimed to resist cooperation with the British government.
- Civil Disobedience Movement (12 March, 1930 -6 April,1930): It started with Dandi March to protest against the British salt law.
- Quit India Movement (8 August, 1942) : It began during World War II. The slogan ‘Do or Die’ became popular.
Important Facts : Title of Mahatma: by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore; Political Guru of Gandhiji: Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Published Books: Hind Swaraj, My Experiments with Truth (autobiographical). Newspaper: Young India, Navjeevan, Harijan.
Death : Assassinated by Nathuram Godse on January 30, 1948.