THE BAPU : Mahatama gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi  2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was an Indian lawyer anti-colonial nationalist and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for Indias independence from British Rule and in turn inspire movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The honorific Mahātmā  first applied to him in 1914 in South Africais now used throughout the world. Born and raised in a Hindu family in coastal Gujarat western India Gandhi was trained in law at the Inner Temple London and called to the bar at age 22 in June 1891. After two uncertain years in India where he was unable to start a successful law practice he moved to South Africa in 1893 to represent an Indian merchant in a lawsuit. He went on to stay for 21 years. It was in South Africa that Gandhi raised a family and first employed nonviolent resistance in a campaign for civil rights. In 1915 at age 45 he returned to India. He set about organising peasants farmers and urban labourers to protest against excessive land-tax and discrimination. Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921 Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty expanding womens rights building religious and ethnic amity ending untouchability and above all for achieving Swaraj or self-rule.