Mahatma Gandhi: Essay, Biography, Article, Speech, Paragraph

Mahatma Gandhi: Essay, Biography, Article, Speech, Paragraph

Introduction (Essay on Mahatma Gandhi)

Affectionately called as Bapu by Indians and people all around the world, Mahatma Gandhi is one of the few personalities who is known for his ideas and concepts on non-violence.  Popularly known as the Father of the Nation, while everyone knows about all that he has done for the country, not everyone knows about him and the kind of person he was.

Named as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi at birth, he was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat.  His father was Mr.Karamchand Gandhi, a political figure in Porbandar; he had served as the Diwan of Porbandar, Rajkot, and Bikaner. Mahatma Gandhi’s mother was Putlibai Gandhi, a devout Hindu. She and the rest of the Gandhi family belonged to a sect of Hindus where violence between each other and even amongst the castes were frowned upon. His religious background is often accredited to his actions and the force behind his strong belief.

Also Read: Gandhi Jayanti : Essay, Article, Short Notes, Speech, Paragraph

Life and Career of Gandhiji

In the latter half of the 1880’s, he went to London where he completed his education in the field of law and order. After completing his studies, Gandhi came back to India and worked as a Barrister for some time before shifting base to Natal in South Africa, where he was employed under an Indian trading company. It was during his stay here, that he started his meatless diet and immersed himself entirely to religion. He immersed himself in sacred texts and opted for a life of simplicity, austerity, fasting and celibacy i.e a life which was free of material goods.His endeavors to get equality and to ensure proper treatment of all humans regardless of their race and caste was carried out even in South Africa. Over there he was working to improve the living conditions of the Indian minority living there. This work, which was particularly coordinated and aligned against the progressive supremacist enactment, influenced him to gradually build up a solid traditional and religious duty, and a will to altruism. With a lot of accomplishments, he presented a technique for peacefulness (non-violence) indigenously referred to as ‘satyagraha’ in the Indian battle for fundamental human rights. The concept of satyagraha was highly idealistic and promoted the use of zero violence for any issue whatsoever.

Politics and South Africa Journey of Mahatma Gandhi

Seeing the rate of success of his work in South Africa, he was then implored by the Gopal Krishna Gokhale to return to India, which was conveyed to Mahatma Gandhi by C.F Andrews.  Returning to India in 1915, Gandhi initially just toured the country trying to find out the different issues that the people of his country were facing. His first major achievement in India came in 1917 when he pitted the local peasants of Champaran against their cruel landlords. The peasantry here were forced to grow indigo as well as pay exorbitant taxes, which led to huge discontent. He then led rallies and protests across the country and garnered a huge base of supporters who would come out on the streets to protest if given an order by Gandhi. These included the Kheda agitations, the Khilafat movement, the Salt March, the Non-Cooperation Movements among many others.

Gandhi, with his increasing support base and gradual success that he was achieving, was slowly becoming a folk hero. There were plays that revolved around him and a lot of poems and writings about him and his fight against the oppressing British. These were increasingly popular among the rural masses who saw him as the champion from the Indian public who would fight against the whites who ruled over them.

Major movements by Gandhiji

Towards the latter part of the freedom struggle, Gandhi played the role of a negotiator and participated in roundtable conferences and meetings, trying to put across as well as get his demands approved. When finally after the Quit India Movement and getting the Indian demands met with, he was able to return the country of India to the Indians.

On the 30^th of January 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by NathuramGodse, when he was walking with his grandnieces in the garden of the Birla house, where he was housed during the time.  Godse was arrested after firing 3 bullets into Gandhi from point-blank range. With no defense to his actions, NathuramGodse was then sentenced to jail.

Conclusion

So popular was he that even after his death, his ashes had to be sent in urns to different parts of the country for his memorial services, yet most of the ashes have been immersed in Sangam, Allahabad. His death was mourned by the entire country with no exceptions.

The life of Gandhi should be a case study for any person who wants to be a public figure who is loved by all, there were legit only a few people who disliked him, at that point and that too was because of his increasing sympathies for the Dalits and the Muslims. All in all, he was a great man, one who deserves his place amongst the gilded pages of history.

Source For Table: Wikipedia