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Birth of Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, more commonly known as ‘Mahatma’ (meaning ‘Great Soul’) was born in Porbandar, Gujarat, in North West India, on 2nd October 1869, into a Hindu Modh family. His father was the Chief Minister of Porbandar, and his mother’s religious devotion meant that his upbringing was infused with the Jain pacifist teachings of mutual tolerance, non-injury to living beings and vegetarianism. -
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Mahatma Gandhi
Major events in the life of Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi -
Primary Schooling
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi did his primary schooling in Porbandar.Gandhi attended an all boy school when he was about seven years old in Rajkot. -
Marriage
Born to Gokuladas and Vrajkunwerba Kapadia of Porbandar. In May 1883, 14-year old Kasturba was married to 13-year old Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in an arranged marriage, according to the custom of the religion. -
Matriculation
Passed matriculation examination at Ahmedabad and entered Samaldas College, Bhavnagar, Kathiawad. As he was finishing high school Gandhi began to wonder were he would attend collage. He wanted to study in a different place besides India where he had lived all his life. His mother was really worried about his decision especially since they didn't really have a lot of money to pay for his career. But she still supported her son to do what he wanted to do and that was to study law in London. -
Sailed to England
Gandhi leaves for England to study law. -
Passes the bar exam
Gandhi adapted to the country's way of dressing and other things involving school and work. But he never broke the promise he made to his mother and that was never to eat meat, drink whine, or do anything that was against his religion during his career in London. All Gandhi did in London was focus in his career and the work he had to accomplish just like he promised his mother and himself. After a four year career Gandhi finally returned to India in 1891. -
South Africa
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (his birth name) arrived in South Africa in 1893 at the relatively tender age of 24 as a newly qualified lawyer on a temporary assignment to act on behalf of a local Indian trader in a commercial dispute. Sailed for South Africa to become lawyer for an Indian firm. Found himself subjected to colour discrimination What was meant to be a short stopgap for the struggling young lawyer turned into a 21-year stay, with spells in India and England. -
Back to India
With the family embakked for India. -
Indian National Congress
Travelled extensively in India, attended Indian National Congress meeting in Calcutta and opened law office in Bombay. -
Back to South Africa
Returned to South Africa at the request of the Indian community. -
Indian Opinion
Established the weekly journal 'Indian Opinion', Organised Phoenix Farm near Durban. -
Satyagraha campaign in South Africa
First 'satyagraha' campaign in protest against proposed Asiatic ordinance directed against Indian immigrants in Transvaal. -
The Mahatma Title
The honorific Mahatma (Sanskrit: "high-souled", "venerable") applied to him first in 1914 in South Africa and is now used worldwide. The title of 'Mahatma' was accorded on Gandhiji in 1915 by his admirer Rabindranath Tagore. He is also called Bapu in India. In common parlance in India he is often called Gandhiji. He is unofficially called the Father of the Nation. -
Left South Africa forever
Returned to India, leaving South Africa forever. -
Established Satyagraha Ashram
Established Satyagraha Ashram near Ahmedabad. -
Moved Ashram to new site
Moved Ashram to new site on Sabarrnati River. Led successful 'Satyagraha' campaign for rights of peasants on indigo plantations in Champaran. Defied order to leave area in April, was arrested at
Motihari and tried, but case was withdrawn. -
First Fast in India
Led strike of millworkers at Ahmedabad. Millowners agreed to arbitration after his three-day fast (his first fast in India). -
Stand for peasants at Kheda
Led 'satyagraha' for peasants in Kheda. -
Becoming editor of weekly
Organised nationwide hartal suspension of 3 activity for a day against the Rowlatt Bills. Fasted at Sabarmati for three days in penitence for violence and suspended 'satyagraha' campaign which he called a 'Himalayan miscalculation' because people
were not disciplined enough. Became Editor of English weekly 'Young India' and Gujarati weekly 'Navajivan'. -
President of All India Home Rule League
Elected president of All India Home Rule League. Successfully urged resolutions for a 'Satyagraha' campaign of non-cooperation. -
Wearing a loin cloth
Resolved to wear only a loin cloth to propagate homespun cotton and to signify his identification with the people. Mass civil disobedience, thousands went to jaal. Gandhi invested with 'sole executive authority' on behalf of Indian Congress. -
Dandi March
Set out from Sabarmati with 79 volunteers on historic Salt March 200 miles to sea at Dandi. -
Salt Act
Broke salt law by picking a handful of salt up at seashore. Arrested by armed policemen at Karadi and imprisoned in Yervada jail without trial.
One hundred thousand persons arrested. -
Quit India Movement
Met with Sir Stafford Cripps in New Delhi but called his proposals 'a postdated cheque'; these were ultimately rejected by the Congress. Congress passed 'Quit India Resolution' (8 August)- the final nationwide 'Satyagraha campaign' with Gandh hi as the leader. Arrested with other Congress leaders and Kasturba and imprisoned in Aga Khan Palace, near Poona. -
Fast at Aga Khan Palace
Began fast at Aga Khan Palace to end deadlock between Viceroy and Indian leaders. -
Kasturbha Gandhi Dies
Kasturba died in detention at Aga Khan Palace at the age of 74. -
Release from Aga Khan Palace
After decline in health, was released unconditionally from detention (this was his last imprisonment; he had spent 2,338 days in jail during
his life-time). -
Calming the tension between Hindus-Muslims
Gandhiji's efforts were concentrated on effecting Hindu-Muslim accord. Hindu-Muslim riots had broken out all over India, ever since the League President Jinnah, rejected the Cabinet Mission Plan
and prochimed August 16, 1946 as Direct Action Day. It was never clarified what Direct Action really involved. But the Muslims responded to this call with vengeance. The great Calcutta killings of
August 16/18 were the first bitter harvest of the Direct Action Day, Gandhiji visited many of these areas. -
Indian Independence
When the moment of freedom came, on 15th August 1947, Gandhi was no where to be seen in the capital, though Nehru and the entire Constituent Assembly were to salute him as the architect of Indian independence, as "The Father of the Nation." -
Mahatma Gandhiji's assasination
Gandhiji undertook a fast for 5 days to bring about communal unity. On 30 January, while holding a prayer meeting at Birla House, Delhi, Gandhiji was shot dead by a Hindu fanatic Nathurarn Vinayak Godse, who was deadly opposed to Gandhiji's efforts to bring about Hindu-Muslim amity. Thus ended the life of the greatest Indian since the Buddha.
