-
His Story Begins (Birth)
-
Marriage
Gandhi got married to his wife Kasturba Kapadia when they both were only 13. -
College
He begins his 4-year study of law in London. Gandhi is introduced to the Bible -
His Lawyer Career Begins
Gandhi takes a job with an Indian law firm in South Africa. -
Natal Indian Congress
He founds NIC to agitate for Indian rights. Through that political organization, he infuses a spirit of solidarity in the heterogeneous Indian community. He floods the government, the legislature, and the press with closely reasoned statements of Indian grievances. -
Righting the Wrongs
A discriminatory law is passed in the Transvaal region of South Africa forcing all Indians to register with the provincial government or else face punishment. Under Gandhi’s leadership, the Indian community takes a pledge to defy the law and to suffer all the penalties resulting from its defiance. This practice becomes known as satyagraha. -
Indian Leader
Gandhi becomes a leader in the Indian National Congress political party. He campaigns for swaraj, or “self-rule.” He works to reconcile all classes and religious sects, especially Hindus and Muslims. In 1920 he launches a noncooperation campaign against Britain, urging Indians to spin their own cotton and to boycott British goods, courts, and government. -
Period: to
Time in Prison
Gandhi encourages Indians in Britain to repent against the British Government -
Salt...They argued over Salt
Gandhi leads tens of thousands of Indians on a 240-mile (385-kilometer) march to the sea to collect their own salt. The march is a protest against a British tax on salt and resulted in 60,000 people being arrested. -
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact
The British viceroy and Gandhi sign an agreement marking the end of a period of civil disobedience in India against British rule. The pact involves Gandhi pledging to give up the satyagraha campaign and the British viceroy agreeing to release all those who had been imprisoned and to allow Indians to make salt for domestic use. -
Fasting to Protest in Jail
While in prison he fasts to protest the British decision to segregate the so-called untouchables (the lowest level of the Indian caste system) by allotting them separate electorates in the new constitution. The fast causes an emotional upheaval in the country, and the British agree to change the policy. -
India formally achieves independence from British rule
However, the partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan is a great disappointment to Gandhi, who has long worked for Hindu-Muslim unity. Rioting between Muslims and Hindus over the partition breaks out in many areas. Again Gandhi turns to nonviolence, fasting until Delhi rioters pledge peace. -
Goodbye Gandhi
While on his way to prayer in Delhi, Gandhi is killed by a young Hindu fanatic who has been angered by Gandhi’s efforts to reconcile Hindus and Muslims.