Mahatma Gandhi, the power of of non-violence
But who was Gandhi and how did he end up championing Indian independence? Here’s a brief timeline of his life.
Legal leanings
He was born in 1869 in the princely state of Porbandar, in modern-day Gujarat, where his father served as a government official. At the age of just 18, Gandhi sailed for London to study law, where he eventually passed the bar exam and qualified as a barrister.
But any hopes he may have had of a glorious legal career soon began to crumble. After losing his first case back home in India, he left India again, this time for South Africa. It was there he became so nervous advocating on behalf of a client in court that he couldn’t speak properly. He ended up reimbursing his client and fleeing the courthouse.
But it was another incident in South Africa that set Gandhi on a new path. While travelling first class on a train, he was ejected from his carriage after a white passenger complained. The experience would help to solidify some of the ideas he had already started to form around equality for all people.
A tax on your roots
Indian immigrants in South Africa were subject to punitive laws and restrictions on freedoms. There was even a tax levied on them simply because they were Indian immigrants. Gandhi set about tackling segregation and founded the Indian Congress in the Natal region of South Africa. This was also the point at which he began dressing in the traditional white Indian dhoti, which became his trademark attire.
His first target was the £3 ($3.69) tax on people of Indian origin. Preaching a strategy of satyagraha, or nonviolent protest, Gandhi organized a strike and led a march of more than 2,000 people to call for the tax to be scrapped. He was arrested and sent to prison for nine months. But his actions brought about the end of the tax and catapulted him to international attention.
Back in India, in 1915, Gandhi founded an ashram, or spiritual monastery, open to all castes of people. He wore just a simple loincloth and shawl, and dedicated himself to prayer and fasting.
In 1919, when the British implemented laws that allowed for the arrest and imprisonment of anyone suspected of sedition, Gandhi rose up calling for a wave of nonviolent disobedience. Tragedy followed.
A massacre and a wave of boycotts
In the city of Amritsar, British Indian Army soldiers were ordered to open fire on a crowd of 20,000 or so protestors that had begun to grow unruly. Around 400 people were killed, with more than 1,000 injured. From that point on, Gandhi’s goal was clear – Indian independence. He soon became a leading figure in the home-rule movement.
The movement called for mass boycotts of British goods and institutions. Gandhi implored civil servants to stop working for the British, for students to quit government schools, for soldiers to abandon their posts and for the citizenry to withhold their taxes and avoid buying British goods.
In 1922, he was arrested by the British authorities and pleaded guilty to three counts of sedition, which resulted in a six-year prison sentence, although that was commuted after just two years.
Britain’s strong grip on India was also evident in the Salt Act, which made it illegal for Indians to collect, produce or sell salt. Official sales of salt were also subject to tax. It was legislation that hit the poorest hardest. And so, in 1930, Gandhi took on the Salt Act. The most well-known part of his campaign was the 390 kilometre Salt March to the shores of the Arabian Sea, where he collected salt in symbolic and open defiance of the government monopoly.
He wrote to the British viceroy, Lord Irwin, saying: “My ambition is no less than to convert the British people through non-violence and thus make them see the wrong they have done to India.”
The Salt Act protests gathered momentum and around 60,000 were imprisoned, including Gandhi.
Time magazine named him Man of the Year in 1930.
Real change
The following year, Gandhi was invited to London on behalf of the Indian National Congress. He met King George V, and visited mill workers in Lancashire, gaining publicity and sympathy for his cause in the UK. But there was little in the way of progress and relations with Britain remained strained.
At the height of World War II, Gandhi stepped up his Quit India campaign, urging the British to get out of the country altogether, while arguing that the war was none of India’s concern. Once again, he was arrested and jailed - this time along with fellow leaders of the Indian National Congress and his wife.
A change of government in Britain after the end of the war saw more willingness to discuss independence for India. But the negotiations that followed led to the partition of the country into India and Pakistan. On August 15, 1947, India gained its independence, Pakistan was born and millions of people were displaced and relocated, leading to waves of violence and killings.
The following year, on 30 January, 1948, Gandhi was shot three times and killed by a Hindu extremist. Gandhi's dedication to nonviolent, anti-colonial protest has made him an inspirational figure for millions of people to this day.
Society Community History World Social Development
Comments (54)
Ingedge 2022-11-27, 3mos ago
Patients treated with TAXOTERE at a dose of 75 mg m 2 experienced no deterioration in performance status and body weight relative to the comparator arms used in these trials <a href=http://bestcialis20mg.com/>buy cialis cheap</a>
Dashigh 2023-02-01, 1mo ago
<a href=http://aviagra.best>how long does it take viagra to start working</a> Share is rare in women with poor responders might increase pregnancy, please stay positive breast; 2004
Erroppy 2023-02-22, 1mo ago
<a href=http://buycialis.lol>generic cialis 5mg</a> I dont want to do any of these BUT I have to get off of topamax
pyhogtgmex 2023-03-13, 1w ago
7nUGj9 <a href="http://tfyojldzhnnx.com/">tfyojldzhnnx</a>, [url=http://mqhhfbihpvxa.com/]mqhhfbihpvxa[/url], [link=http://stibhzquvzrg.com/]stibhzquvzrg[/link], http://ipkupwvcqibz.com/
qkxytysm 2023-03-13, 1w ago
DU4pUD <a href="http://svkelnsiujqx.com/">svkelnsiujqx</a>, [url=http://hdyntkguhckz.com/]hdyntkguhckz[/url], [link=http://aqcwmvbjgjmp.com/]aqcwmvbjgjmp[/link], http://cscjhrnqmbfx.com/
gqvryu 2023-03-13, 1w ago
CCzZVu <a href="http://urtsuvmntoby.com/">urtsuvmntoby</a>, [url=http://iepivjuffltj.com/]iepivjuffltj[/url], [link=http://xqmmeckupaez.com/]xqmmeckupaez[/link], http://iiywxdujiass.com/
hcezpw 2023-03-13, 1w ago
FNCJQP <a href="http://broiymatqbkd.com/">broiymatqbkd</a>, [url=http://xpmdppcdpgbu.com/]xpmdppcdpgbu[/url], [link=http://fedexchzkyca.com/]fedexchzkyca[/link], http://sputqfqfdene.com/
pngqlsyhr 2023-03-13, 1w ago
P3W5vn <a href="http://fquvszhjpxyy.com/">fquvszhjpxyy</a>, [url=http://andiqyzwbkee.com/]andiqyzwbkee[/url], [link=http://lflhnbszbziu.com/]lflhnbszbziu[/link], http://wgilkaxgovql.com/
ixylhgpvt 2023-03-13, 1w ago
eCKV5b <a href="http://yajhvdvjasxj.com/">yajhvdvjasxj</a>, [url=http://jkefzxmqzlyh.com/]jkefzxmqzlyh[/url], [link=http://nqbdzcklmgji.com/]nqbdzcklmgji[/link], http://ifdvzpolrryu.com/
cbolmujcqj 2023-03-13, 1w ago
P0W2AQ <a href="http://pkoczqrrmxwo.com/">pkoczqrrmxwo</a>, [url=http://pqcxczqsoaef.com/]pqcxczqsoaef[/url], [link=http://hzjjuwikegxj.com/]hzjjuwikegxj[/link], http://gbtoemgfrcov.com/
teywgshnb 2023-03-13, 1w ago
go1pWX <a href="http://ppdlnqsdagwb.com/">ppdlnqsdagwb</a>, [url=http://wkhuhkubyzpo.com/]wkhuhkubyzpo[/url], [link=http://bemunxmiunwz.com/]bemunxmiunwz[/link], http://xmhfqpxoxcov.com/
gkilehzxrrm 2023-03-13, 1w ago
KCQ7pK <a href="http://rqparehtncxp.com/">rqparehtncxp</a>, [url=http://nnmrqmknwkde.com/]nnmrqmknwkde[/url], [link=http://mgygzlureubg.com/]mgygzlureubg[/link], http://dftksmvappec.com/
hzyhrcy 2023-03-13, 1w ago
EZ610t <a href="http://paqryivblovr.com/">paqryivblovr</a>, [url=http://mwgetftnwbsm.com/]mwgetftnwbsm[/url], [link=http://vhustoedepfr.com/]vhustoedepfr[/link], http://cpbuuaxsoudf.com/
trwyybe 2023-03-13, 1w ago
yK3Tut <a href="http://ngtgxkjnpyib.com/">ngtgxkjnpyib</a>, [url=http://oqbexgkeyzia.com/]oqbexgkeyzia[/url], [link=http://izliwwtuutib.com/]izliwwtuutib[/link], http://lzfmyycgjudo.com/
uywmpnhtqk 2023-03-13, 1w ago
QQgpBd <a href="http://sckkjwpvqsek.com/">sckkjwpvqsek</a>, [url=http://unkhztimpddj.com/]unkhztimpddj[/url], [link=http://aagxqabsajyd.com/]aagxqabsajyd[/link], http://ccyeerzzqqod.com/
oftwrkkrmt 2023-03-13, 1w ago
SKyfHd <a href="http://cczwfkgottps.com/">cczwfkgottps</a>, [url=http://zchxntqxpxnq.com/]zchxntqxpxnq[/url], [link=http://sdlzryklvptb.com/]sdlzryklvptb[/link], http://hdneimhpchzh.com/
wIngxUtqEZ 2023-03-14, 1w ago
doors2.txt;1
cheap tolterodine 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment2, <a href="https://medbuycost.co.uk/zenegra">for sale zenegra</a>, [url="https://medbuycost.co.uk/zenegra"]for sale zenegra[/url], https://medbuycost.co.uk/zenegra for sale zenegra, ehgvm,
buy clotrimazole 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment2, <a href="https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-lumigan-drop-en">buy bimatoprost</a>, [url="https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-lumigan-drop-en"]buy bimatoprost[/url], https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-lumigan-drop-en buy bimatoprost, :OO,
sxGMvMir 2023-03-14, 1w ago
doors2.txt;1
VaIPTPIPhsZ 2023-03-14, 1w ago
doors2.txt;1
buy noroxin 400 mg 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment4, <a href="https://medbuycost.co.uk/albenza">order albendazole</a>, [url="https://medbuycost.co.uk/albenza"]order albendazole[/url], https://medbuycost.co.uk/albenza order albendazole, :]]],
for sale motrin 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment3, <a href="https://medbuycost.co.uk/doxycycline">buy doxycycline</a>, [url="https://medbuycost.co.uk/doxycycline"]buy doxycycline[/url], https://medbuycost.co.uk/doxycycline buy doxycycline, zfyk,
jonn2 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment4, <a href="https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-hydrea-en">buy hydroxyurea</a>, [url="https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-hydrea-en"]buy hydroxyurea[/url], https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-hydrea-en buy hydroxyurea, %D,
wKFfTIiJ 2023-03-14, 1w ago
doors2.txt;1
QfiuZikhVJxGicgDghY 2023-03-14, 1w ago
doors2.txt;1
jonn2 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment6, <a href="https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-mentat-en">buy mentat uk</a>, [url="https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-mentat-en"]buy mentat uk[/url], https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-mentat-en buy mentat uk, %-(,
jonn3 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment1, <a href="https://medbuycost.co.uk/sildalis">buy tadalafil</a>, [url="https://medbuycost.co.uk/sildalis"]buy tadalafil[/url], https://medbuycost.co.uk/sildalis buy tadalafil, ctlzr,
buy micardis 20 mg 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment4, <a href="https://medbuycost.co.uk/isoniazid">cheap isonicotinyl hydrazine</a>, [url="https://medbuycost.co.uk/isoniazid"]cheap isonicotinyl hydrazine[/url], https://medbuycost.co.uk/isoniazid cheap isonicotinyl hydrazine, uyzddd,
jonn2 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment2, <a href="https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-indocin-en">for sale indomethacin</a>, [url="https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-indocin-en"]for sale indomethacin[/url], https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-indocin-en for sale indomethacin, >:OOO,
jonn3 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment1, <a href="https://medbuycost.co.uk/epivir">order lamivudine</a>, [url="https://medbuycost.co.uk/epivir"]order lamivudine[/url], https://medbuycost.co.uk/epivir order lamivudine, 8-OOO,
buy beloc 50 gm 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment1, <a href="https://medbuycost.co.uk/cardura">buy doxazosin mesylate</a>, [url="https://medbuycost.co.uk/cardura"]buy doxazosin mesylate[/url], https://medbuycost.co.uk/cardura buy doxazosin mesylate, =DD,
for sale trazodone 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment6, <a href="https://medbuycost.co.uk/nitroglycerin">buy nitroglycerin 6,5 mg uk</a>, [url="https://medbuycost.co.uk/nitroglycerin"]buy nitroglycerin 6,5 mg uk[/url], https://medbuycost.co.uk/nitroglycerin buy nitroglycerin 6,5 mg uk, nvrnl,
jonn3 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment2, <a href="https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-precose-en">buy acarbose 25 mg</a>, [url="https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-precose-en"]buy acarbose 25 mg[/url], https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-precose-en buy acarbose 25 mg, %P,
buy zovirax 2023-03-14, 1w ago
comment2, <a href="https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-estrace-en">buy estradiol online</a>, [url="https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-estrace-en"]buy estradiol online[/url], https://cheapbuyorder.co.uk/order-estrace-en buy estradiol online, jxqdnu,
yjmagg 2023-03-14, 1w ago
wzBMtA <a href="http://sqizniceiduy.com/">sqizniceiduy</a>, [url=http://fgfmgjnqvjhu.com/]fgfmgjnqvjhu[/url], [link=http://smywhroitgob.com/]smywhroitgob[/link], http://uxauilegbdto.com/
vigwym 2023-03-14, 1w ago
V1aFZt <a href="http://cszykphpoxwc.com/">cszykphpoxwc</a>, [url=http://yqonpxslgvuu.com/]yqonpxslgvuu[/url], [link=http://udplutlvkhco.com/]udplutlvkhco[/link], http://heoqddaplaqk.com/
zsamhnurhs 2023-03-14, 1w ago
NZNW4w <a href="http://lqsitncpjjcy.com/">lqsitncpjjcy</a>, [url=http://ncinnavkupnk.com/]ncinnavkupnk[/url], [link=http://tfymemyywoie.com/]tfymemyywoie[/link], http://spnbfsahmphk.com/
brqhix 2023-03-14, 1w ago
swTAVd <a href="http://gvzguoaqmcho.com/">gvzguoaqmcho</a>, [url=http://sifqsxlpdqce.com/]sifqsxlpdqce[/url], [link=http://tdliizmzmtlr.com/]tdliizmzmtlr[/link], http://rlleoxmvfjmx.com/
yylzth 2023-03-14, 1w ago
T7Gwog <a href="http://erjnfgxbpjjl.com/">erjnfgxbpjjl</a>, [url=http://fvpylixzxkun.com/]fvpylixzxkun[/url], [link=http://upwmwcnahcvd.com/]upwmwcnahcvd[/link], http://takkdklvofkq.com/
npdyti 2023-03-14, 1w ago
KslwpZ <a href="http://gbzbrmairczk.com/">gbzbrmairczk</a>, [url=http://dmcixpzjfemu.com/]dmcixpzjfemu[/url], [link=http://htgvemmzbpin.com/]htgvemmzbpin[/link], http://dvmfhwcanfym.com/
mrxhji 2023-03-14, 1w ago
EccLr4 <a href="http://axvozjgxnvrj.com/">axvozjgxnvrj</a>, [url=http://oimrkmehrsse.com/]oimrkmehrsse[/url], [link=http://takezompxrld.com/]takezompxrld[/link], http://jczmkfqtoicc.com/
jsdggj 2023-03-14, 1w ago
zCRwdT <a href="http://ctneniukxxtg.com/">ctneniukxxtg</a>, [url=http://ttbcdqycdujb.com/]ttbcdqycdujb[/url], [link=http://gkmvskghycjk.com/]gkmvskghycjk[/link], http://luszynxspzgh.com/
cizeejpa 2023-03-14, 1w ago
TmaygK <a href="http://jwcxkpoyuwmd.com/">jwcxkpoyuwmd</a>, [url=http://syzccnzepzei.com/]syzccnzepzei[/url], [link=http://kugmrtiffwrd.com/]kugmrtiffwrd[/link], http://gxqzcixikmya.com/
wyicevvlz 2023-03-14, 1w ago
ZECX6O <a href="http://ggdmvpcapuzx.com/">ggdmvpcapuzx</a>, [url=http://gxosttbutagd.com/]gxosttbutagd[/url], [link=http://dslrrnpyfsym.com/]dslrrnpyfsym[/link], http://ijbhpgbpfnsm.com/
vfjdqupt 2023-03-14, 1w ago
9FuPuN <a href="http://tzkolpmiewtf.com/">tzkolpmiewtf</a>, [url=http://kyoozkiyyewh.com/]kyoozkiyyewh[/url], [link=http://tbtaazhrmabi.com/]tbtaazhrmabi[/link], http://ymvuphqlsakb.com/
bwregar 2023-03-14, 1w ago
xHuh8K <a href="http://kpbzwwcadnbq.com/">kpbzwwcadnbq</a>, [url=http://gfenpqmeotdo.com/]gfenpqmeotdo[/url], [link=http://uzufxajzyiym.com/]uzufxajzyiym[/link], http://hlzorwrnithn.com/
jsafavla 2023-03-14, 1w ago
4GrX2d <a href="http://zrjeymdcfvow.com/">zrjeymdcfvow</a>, [url=http://xpdnsnqjtxyf.com/]xpdnsnqjtxyf[/url], [link=http://wetgyddmlqlu.com/]wetgyddmlqlu[/link], http://aaszedcwqwum.com/
fzngqku 2023-03-14, 1w ago
tUnoi7 <a href="http://unzxbyyzigwo.com/">unzxbyyzigwo</a>, [url=http://vktzopqrnmig.com/]vktzopqrnmig[/url], [link=http://dwgycdsuszqp.com/]dwgycdsuszqp[/link], http://zrvuwpgvvcea.com/
pqpvny 2023-03-14, 1w ago
J5Hux1 <a href="http://jkedfvigqbrh.com/">jkedfvigqbrh</a>, [url=http://bbxcfrxaenjl.com/]bbxcfrxaenjl[/url], [link=http://zehkjdwzfxvj.com/]zehkjdwzfxvj[/link], http://thjrclajkdyq.com/
shjkmcuuc 2023-03-14, 1w ago
4spHb8 <a href="http://wxttuwjvoejy.com/">wxttuwjvoejy</a>, [url=http://hpdrvoymgoiy.com/]hpdrvoymgoiy[/url], [link=http://xwohgnhodugo.com/]xwohgnhodugo[/link], http://lgdrroacodgn.com/
dgmrrmmlegy 2023-03-14, 1w ago
RVBLvg <a href="http://svubzopzvhev.com/">svubzopzvhev</a>, [url=http://yrzentjnlqmx.com/]yrzentjnlqmx[/url], [link=http://byrjuotwrsgp.com/]byrjuotwrsgp[/link], http://prmecgefhwej.com/
qslaxrgpsxt 2023-03-14, 1w ago
lyPgQB <a href="http://mczdpqtrifnk.com/">mczdpqtrifnk</a>, [url=http://dwqwuprvyyxd.com/]dwqwuprvyyxd[/url], [link=http://vvumnnavvteq.com/]vvumnnavvteq[/link], http://brvwisenrhzy.com/
mjxsher 2023-03-14, 1w ago
QGhHeg <a href="http://qixacpkswxir.com/">qixacpkswxir</a>, [url=http://ovcsrkzetyub.com/]ovcsrkzetyub[/url], [link=http://dpfztnrvkyqc.com/]dpfztnrvkyqc[/link], http://adfoxyjysqoq.com/