Overview
Timelines
Return to India and Nationalist Movement
Later Life and Assassination
Relationship with Kasturbai Gandhi
Social and Economic Reforms
Overview and main events
Personal Life and Relationships
Major Protests and Movements
Early Life and Education
Philosophy and Spiritual Development
Career in Law and Early Activism
International Influence and Recognition
International Interactions and Influence
Chronicle
Articles
Mahatma Gandhi. Overview and main events
Overview and main events
Mahatma Gandhi, born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, was a pivotal figure in Indian history and a global icon of nonviolent resistance. Born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India, Gandhi's life was marked by his unwavering commitment to achieving Indian independence from British rule through peaceful means. His influence extended far beyond India, inspiring civil rights movements around the world. Here is a timeline of some of the most significant events in his life.
October 2, 1869
Birth
Mahatma Gandhi was born in Porbandar, a coastal town in the state of Gujarat, India. He was the youngest son of Karamchand Gandhi, the chief minister of Porbandar, and Putlibai Gandhi, a deeply religious woman. His early life was influenced by Hinduism and Jainism, which instilled in him the principles of nonviolence and truth.
1888
Education in London
At the age of 18, Gandhi left for London to study law at the Inner Temple. During his time in London, he was exposed to Western culture and education, which significantly shaped his worldview. Despite initial difficulties, he was called to the bar at the age of 22.
1893-1915
Life in South Africa
Gandhi moved to South Africa in 1893 to represent an Indian merchant in a lawsuit. Over the next 21 years, he became involved in the civil rights movement for Indians in South Africa, employing nonviolent resistance for the first time. This period was crucial in developing his philosophy of satyagraha (nonviolent resistance).
1917
Establishment of Sabarmati Ashram
After returning to India in 1915, Gandhi established the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad in 1917. This ashram became a center for his social and political activities, where he promoted self-reliance, simple living, and nonviolent resistance.
March 12, 1930
Dandi March
Gandhi led the famous Dandi March, a 24-day walk from Sabarmati Ashram to the seaside town of Dandi, to protest the British Salt Act. This march was a significant event in the Indian independence movement, symbolizing the defiance of British laws and the quest for self-rule.
April 6, 1930
Breaking the Salt Law
At the end of the Dandi March, Gandhi and his followers broke the Salt Law by making salt from seawater, an act of civil disobedience that sparked widespread protests across India against British rule.
August 8, 1942
Quit India Movement
Gandhi launched the 'Quit India' movement, calling for an immediate end to British rule in India. This movement was marked by widespread protests and civil disobedience, although it was also met with severe repression by the British authorities.
January 30, 1948
Assassination
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist. His death was a profound loss to the nation and the world, but his legacy of nonviolent resistance continues to inspire movements for civil rights and freedom globally.
