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Gandhi is Born
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born and raised in Porbandar, India. His father was a government official there. -
London Education
Without his wife or son, Gandhi left India in order to persue a law school in London. -
Gandhi Graduates!
Mohandas Gandhi successfully finished his classes in London. He found it very hard to adapt to English life at first, though. -
Gandhi Returns to India
Two days after graduating, Gandhi sailed back to India. Over the course of the next two years, Gandhi attempted to practice law in India, but failed. -
Gandhi Arrives in South Africa
Gandhi was offered a year-long job in Africa, which he thankfully accepted. His job was at a Muslim firm in Pretoria, the capital of Transvaal (in the Union of South Africa). -
The Trip to India and Back
Gandhi returned to India for a short time, but only to take his wife and sons back to South Africa with him. He also informed other Indians of his mistreatment in Africa. -
"Civil Disobedience" and Satyagraha
While serving two months in prison, Gandhi read Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience". This essay greatly influenced Gandhi's refusal to obey unjust laws in both South Africa and India. It also led to Gandhi's development of Satyagraha, or "truth force", which Gandhi described as nonviolent resistance. -
Mahatma Gandhi Returns to India
After many years away from home, Gandhi and his family returned to India. By this time, he was known more commonly as Mahatma Gandhi, as opposed to Mohandas Gandhi. His ideas of giving up western ways appealed to all castes of India. Gandhi encouraged everyone to spin their own cloth and encouraged traditional Indian industries. -
Amritsar Massacre
10,000 unarmed Indian men, women, and children were gathered in a public area when British General Dyer ordered his 50-man troop to open fire on them. In just 10 minutes, 1650 shots were fired, and 379 Indians were dead, and 1200 Indians were wounded. This event deepened the distrust of Britain. The Indians realized that this was a call for complete separation from Britain. -
Civil Disobedience Campaigns
Throughout the 1920's, Gandhi began to campaign nonviolent resistance to British rule. To do this, he supported strikes and protests, as well as boycotting British made goods. Britain's response to all of the nonviolent retaliation was more force. -
Indian National Congress
Following World War I, this party became associated with Gandhi. In fact, even years afterwards, when younger men and women became the president of the INC, Gandhi remained the spiritual leader and mass icon. -
The Salt March
In the 1930's, Britain passed a law that forbid Indians to make their own salt. They were forced to buy heavily taxed British salt. To protest this taxation, Gandhi and thousands of Indians marched 241 miles to the coast (it took 24 days). The Indians broke the law and picked up their own salt, which was symbolic to their freedom. Over 50,000 Indians were arrested, and the British refused to get rid of the tax. -
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement was launched by Gandhi and other members of the INC. This was a policy of complete non-cooperation with Britain, and was a continuation of civil disobedience. Britain responded by arresting over 10,000 people nationwide. However, by 1945 Britain realized that it could no longer maintain India. -
India Independence Act
This act ended British rule and provided for a separation of India. It was split into a Hindu section, named India, and a Muslim section, comprised of Pakistan and East Pakistan. This led to much violence and mass migration in South East Asia. -
Gandhi is Assassinated
While traveling to Pakistan, Gandhi is shot and killed by a Hindu extremist. His name was Nathuram Godse. Godse shot Gandhi because he thought that Gandhi was betraying his own people.
