Being one of the most influential people, a leader whose non-violent acts and pure will to fight against the British, helped India to taste freedom & gain Independence. Well, the man is none other than, you know it and that’s right – He is “Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi” aka “Mahatma Gandhi”.
Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869, primarily responsible to fight for Independence of the country, there are still few things we never knew about him. On the occasion of his birthday, we got this covered for you.
1. Gandhi Ji’s father Karamchand Gandhi was prime minister in Porbandar. He was a lover of his clan, truthful, brave and generous, but short-tempered.
2. Gandhi Ji Sacrificed all his self and acknowledged himself with the poorest of the poor. He dressed like them and lived like them. In the oppressed and the depressed people, he saw god.
3. The National Indian Congress was established by Gandhi on May 22, 1984, and this activism became increasingly well-known in South Africa, Britain and India.
4. Gandhi ji’s struggles and triumphs in South Africa had been widely reported in the international press, so by the time he reached home in 1915 he was not just a national but an international hero.
5. Gandhi Ji Lived in Sabarmati Ashram for sixteen years along with his family & with others who had been part of the Phoenix Settlement. It was during then when Gandhi was given the honorary title of Mahatma (“Great Soul”).
6. Gandhi Ji began a 21-day fast, known as the great fast of 1924, as he found the country in a violent situation between Muslims and Hindus. People thought he would die on day 12 because he was still recovering from his appendicitis surgery but he rallied. This situation surely bought a temporary peace.
7. Study of religions and Bhagwat Gita had a deep impression on him. The ideologies of renunciation and non-violence created a great impact on him and he continued the study of religions throughout his life.
8. Gandhi Ji desired to have a centre for satyagrahis and that’s when the Tolstoy Farm was established. The inmates numbered about 50-75. It was a tribute to Gandhi’s leadership that they remained together happily under hard conditions. A school was started and Gandhi took the responsibility of educating the children. Life was simple, hard, but joyful.
9. While the country was celebrating the Independence Day on 15th August 1947, Gandhi was in Bengal to fight communal madness. Partition was followed by riots, a massacre of unparalleled dimensions. It witnessed the movement of about one crore people and killing of at least six lac people. Calcutta was once more on the verge of riots. Gandhi undertook a fast which had the magical effect, Lord Mountbatten described him as ‘one-man peace army’. Gandhi continued to plead for sanity in those turbulent days.
Being called as ‘Mahatma’, fighting for India’s freedom while trying to maintain peace is definitely not the easy position be in.
A DOER for the country! Happy Birthday, Mahatma Gandhi!