Mahatma Gandhi, that is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, was born on the 2nd of October 1869, at Porbander in Saurashtra. His father was Diwan in Rajkot Darbar. His mother was a religious woman and he derived his spiritual love of things from his mother. He was married at the early age of 13.
Mohanda’s early education took place at Porbander. But being a shy boy he could not make many acquaintances at school. He passed his final school examination but college education did not suit him.
In 1887 he went to England to study law. There was much opposition to his crossing the seas and the society declared him an outcaste. Before sailing he took a vow that in England he would never eat meat, or drink wine or touch a woman. He kept his vow throughout his life. Thus signs of high character were visible from the very boyhood.
Mohandas was first attracted to politics in South Africa where he found Indians in sub-human conditions. All social, political and economic privileges were denied to them. They could not even travel in first class. They were nicknamed “Sammy” or coolie.
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Mohandas felt very strongly about these indignities. He founded the National Indian Congress in 1894 to secure justice. In the wake of the struggle he had to counter color-ba and the Black Act. Seeds of the cult of Satyagraha -a unique weapon which Mahatma Gandhi gave to the suffering humanity-were sown at this time.
There was an outstanding quality in Mahatma Gandhi-the spirit of compromise. Though he was fighting the British in South Africa, yet at the time of the Boer War he urged Indians to co-operate with the government. Similarly he promised help to the British in India in their war against Germany during 1914-1919. His attitude towards his political opponents was also the same.
In spite of differences he took part in the Khilafat movement. He even risked his life by insisting on the Government of free India to pay Pakistan 55 crores of rupees in spite of the massacre of Hindus in that country.
Mahatma Gandhi’s other contribution to India was his attempt to change out social structure. He abolished all distinction between a caste Hindu and an untouchable. He founded Sabarmati Ashram where people met and worked together without considerations of caste, creed or color. The famous ‘Dandi March’ the defy the salt laws was started
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He had the unique quality of taking the whole nation in its stride. His word was magic. He had a wonderful quality of persuasion. We may look at him from any point of view, we do not find his equal anywhere in the world.
He sacrificed his life for the political freedom of India and the social upliftment of the backward classes. Like Abraham Lincoin, in was shot dead by a political adversary on 30th January, 1948. It is really a sad commentary on the part of the people to have taken the life of a person soon after the achievement of independence through him.