Mahatma Gandhi

Who was Gandhi?

Mohandas 'Mahatma' Gandhi was an Indian nationalist leader, who gained worldwide sympathy for Indian independence with his peaceful protests.

When was Gandhi active?

Gandhi trained as a lawyer in Britain in 1888, and then worked in South Africa from 1893. In the 1920s and 1930s he led non-violent protests against British rule in India. He was assassinated in 1948.

What were Gandhi's achievements?

Gandhi was part of the nationalist movement for many years, and contributed greatly to India being granted independence in 1947.

• ❖ While working in South Africa, Gandhi saw the injustice of British rule there, which turned him into a nationalist, working for Indian independence.
• ❖ In 1909, Gandhi wrote 'Hind Swaraj', a book that promoted Indian self-rule. He explained that British rule was dependent on Indian co-operation, so if Indians stopped cooperating, then Britain would take self-rule seriously.
• ❖ In South Africa, Gandhi promoted the policy of passive resistance, also known as non-co-operation, to improve the situation for Indians in South Africa.
• ❖ In India, in 1920-22, Gandhi called on Indians to close offices and factories, and to withdraw from British-controlled schools and the civil service. British goods and services were to be boycotted.
• ❖ In 1930, Gandhi went on the Salt March, to protest against the tax the British put on salt. This gained him worldwide attention, and global sympathy for Indian nationalism.
• ❖ Gandhi was arrested and imprisoned a number of times, but he was a high-profile nationalist whose actions contributed to Indian independence.

What was the significance of Gandhi?

These are some of the ways in which Gandhi was significant.

• ❖ Gandhi played a major role in the development of the Indian nationalist movement, which eventually gained independence in 1947.
• ❖ Gandhi's book, 'Hind Swaraj', and his campaign of non-violent non-co-operation (satyagrahas) gained worldwide coverage, and sympathy for the nationalist cause.
• ❖ Gandhi's policy of non-violent protest inspired many other campaigners around the world, most famously Martin Luther King in the US campaign for civil rights for African-Americans.
• ❖ Although Gandhi is a controversial figure in India, he is remembered as a major player in the nationalist movement, and is honoured around the world to the present day.