Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on Oct 2 nd, 1869 and was the greatest

leader of the Indian Independence Movement in British-ruled India. Gandhi led India
to independence and due to the freedom movements conducted by Gandhi; he was
applied Mahatma (high-souled) for the first time in 1914 in South Africa. He is also
called Bapu and Indians call him The Father of the Nation which not been officially
accorded by the Government of India since Indian constitution does not permit any
titles except educational and military titles. He was born and raised in Porbandar,
Gujarat, India and got trained in Law in London, he was first employed in South
Africa. After getting back to India in 1915 he influenced peasants, farmers and
urban laborers to protest against the excessive land tax and discrimination.
Mahatma Gandhi led several movements against British rule in India and fought for
civil rights and discrimination; his non-violent movements freed India from the
British Rule and made it a democratic nation. His birthday i.e. 2 nd day of October is
considered as National Holiday in India and it is also the International day for
Nonviolence.
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated five times for Nobel Prize but never awarded on as
the award is never given posthumously. He was responsible for civil rights in
movements in four continents and twelve countries. Great Britain, the country
against whom he fought for independence, released a stamp honoring him, 21
years after his death. He was a dedicated leader to fight for the Indian
Independence as he walked and travelled for about 18 kilometers a day to see the
Nation be free from British Rule.
2nd Oct, 2015 is the 146th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi; he fought, marched and
did everything to give a nation we dreamt for. Most relics of Gandhi including the
clothes he wore when he was shot are still preserved in Gandhi Museum, Madurai.
He also helped in fighting the World War 1 st by recruiting Indians for war efforts, this
incident somewhere raised question about him for being the non-violent leader.
Gandhi believed only the co-operation by Indians has led to the British Rule in India
and if Indians will not co-operate rather oppose, this will collapse the British Rule
and will bring swaraj into the country. Gandhi with the help of Congress started with
non-violence, non cooperation and peaceful base to fight against the British Rule.
Many

Movements

led

by

Gandhi

were

the

Non-cooperation, Salt March, Untouchable, etc. He strongly favored the equality of

women where he opposed Purdah, child marriage, untouchability and the ill
treatment of Hindu widows including sati practice.

We salute the spirit and hard work of the Father of the Nation who fought and gave
us the India we have today.