Mahatma Gandhi
By Shreya Pawar 1st Hour
Early Life
 Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2nd 1869 in Porbandar, Gujrat.
 Mahatma Gandhi was named Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi at
birth. Later he bacame known as Mahatma Gandhi. “Mahatma”
means great soul.
 His father was the Chief Minister of Porbandar.
 Mahatma Gandhi got married to Kasturba Makhanji at age 13.
 After graduating from Samaldas College he continued his education
at the University of Bombay.
 When he was 18, (September 1888) he got the opportunity of doing
further education at the University College in London.
Life in South Africa
 In 1893, he accepted a year’s contract to work for an
Indian firm in Natal, South Africa. At this time apartheid
was still taking place. He spent the next 21 years of his life
living here. One day, he was traveling on a first class train
carriage. Suddenly, he was thrown out because of his skin
color even though he had paid the fare. He then founded a
political movement in South Africa called the Natal Indian
Congress. He tried really hard to fight segregation. He
made many improvements to South Africa’s way of life.
Gandhi Returns to India
 While he was in South Africa, he introduced a new method of
protesting/fighting for freedom. He started using non-violence. This
method was also called “satyagraha” (truth force).
 When Mahatma Gandhi returned to India, he saw so many people
living in poverty with not having much. When he saw these people,
he felt bad because he used to wear a suit and tie everyday. It was
then he decided to live a simple life. He stopped wearing a suit and
started wearing a “dhoti” (a white cloth wore by men).
 Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915. His achievements from
South Africa had spread all over India. During the first few years of
his return, he became a leading figure in the Indian National
Congress.
Freedom Struggle
 The British were still ruling India at the time. In fact, they
had been ruling since the past 100-200 years!
 Gandhi fought hard for freedom using non-violence.
 Gandhi would also go on hunger strikes, so that the British
would give them freedom.
 Gandhi also led peaceful protests on the streets.
 Gandhi was put in jail for a total of 6 years because of his
protests. While he was in jail, he read Henry David
Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience.
 Finally, on August 15, 1947 India got its independence.
Famous Marches/Speeches Against
the British
 The Salt March- When the British decided to tax salt in
1930, Mahatma Gandhi led a 250 mile march to the
sea to collect his own salt.
 Mahatma Gandhi gave a “Quit India Movement”
Speech to make the British leave India.
Awards & Accomplishments
 Mahatma Gandhi won the Time’s Person of the Year
Award.
 Although he never won, Mahatma Gandhi was nominated
for the Nobel Peace Prize six times.
 Mahatma Gandhi wrote a couple books. They were “An
Autobiography of My Experiments with Truth”, “NonViolence Resistance (Satyagraha)” , and “Hind Swaraj or
Indian Home Rule”
 Mahatma Gandhi became known as the Father of India
 Mahatma Gandhi has several statues of him in India.
Life After Freedom
 When the British left, India got divided into two parts
which today is Pakistan.
 On January 30, 1948 Gandhi was shot and killed.
 After Mahatma Gandhi died, people in India mourned
for 11-13 days.
Inspiration & Impact
 Mahatma Gandhi inspired many people around the world. He inspired
Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela to fight for freedom using nonviolence.
 It is also said that Mahatma Gandhi inspired President Barack Obama.
 He also inspired Steve Biko (South Africa) and Aung San Suu Kyi
(Myanmar)
 Mahatma Gandhi helped people in South Africa and India and many other
countries as well.
Works Cited
Works Cited
Lal, Vinay. "Manas: History and Politics, Mahatma Gandhi." Manas: History and
Politics, Mahatma Gandhi. N.p., 2001,2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.
<https://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Gandhi/gandhi.html>.
"Mahatma Gandhi." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.biography.com/people/mahatma-gandhi-9305898>.
"Mahatma Gandhi." HISTORY. N.p., 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.history.co.uk/biographies/mahatma-gandhi>.
Romero, Frances. "Top 10 Political Prisoners." Time. Time Inc., 15 Nov. 2010.
Web. 29 Jan. 2015.
<http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2024558_2024522
_2024456,00.html>.
Tønnesson, Øyvind. "Mahatma Gandhi, the Missing Laureate." Mahatma Gandhi,
the Missing Laureate. Nobel Prize.org, 1998-2000. Web. 28 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/themes/peace/gandhi/>.
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