Early Life and Education
Mahatma Gandhi, born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, a coastal town in the Kathiawar peninsula of what is now the state of Gujarat in western India. His father was Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi, the diwan (prime minister) of Porbandar State. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's mother was Putlibai who came from a family of moderate means.
Gandhi studied law at Inns of Court School of Law in London and passed his bar-at-law exams on June 10, 1891. He married Kasturba Makhanji Kapadia at age thirteen; she was four years older than him.
The Salt March: A Turning Point
In August 1930, Gandhi led the famous Salt March or Dandi March from Ahmedabad to Dandi—a distance of about 390 kilometers—to protest British salt taxes imposed upon Indians without representation in government bodies that governed them.
On April 6, he set out with seventy-nine others for Dandi; by the time they reached there on April 5th following year—over one hundred thousand people had joined him along the way. This non-violent march garnered international attention and galvanized Indian opposition to British rule.
Non-Violent Resistance: Satyagraha
Gandhi developed this concept as an extension of civil disobedience which he learned during his stay in South Africa where he fought against discrimination against Indians by white colonists using passive resistance techniques like boycotts and strikes.
Satyagraha involved three elements:
Non-violence
Truthfulness
Absolute Harmlessness towards living beings
He used these principles effectively throughout his life fighting for rights and justice not only within India but also globally such as during World War II when he called for peace through non-cooperation with Britain's war effort while supporting Britain's cause indirectly through supplying goods needed for its war efforts like textiles and raw materials.
Quit India Movement & Imprisonment
By mid-1942 it became clear that independence could not be achieved without direct action from Indians themselves rather than just waiting passively until it might come their way because Britain had shown no signs it would willingly grant self-rule voluntarily any time soon given its colonial interests were still intact due to wars fought abroad particularly World War II which required resources including manpower from colonies like India though both sides agreed not engage each other directly militarily.
Therefore after much debate among Indian leaders especially those closely associated with Gandhiji himself decided that mass civil disobedience known as Quit India Movement should begin involving millions nationwide refusing cooperation with British authorities henceforth even if it meant facing imprisonment again something many had already experienced under previous movements led by Gandhiji before this last major push towards independence took place eventually culminating into eventual success albeit after much bloodshed between Hindus & Muslims causing division amongst former allies leading ultimately up to partitioning into two separate countries named Pakistan & Bangladesh later respectively splitting off parts previously under British control over centuries long history since then has been marked by turmoil instability terrorism conflict etcetera despite being richly endowed natural resources human capital highly skilled workforce all things considered however growing economy GDP per capita ranks among world’s highest but overall prosperity remains elusive due mainly political corruption inefficient governance widespread poverty inequality crime violence etcetera thus can say progress has been slow difficult challenging yet ongoing process till date still working hard making progress slowly gradually day-by-day trying best achieve better future everyone alike hope never give up continue striving forward always remember quote "Be The Change You Wish To See In The World"
