Mohandas Gandhi‭ (‬1869-1948‭): ‬Courageous man of non-violence and peace‬

His full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi; he was also known as Mahatma Gandhi. He was born in the present state of Gujarat, India, and he was Hindu by faith. Gandhi was educated in law in London and admitted to the British bar. India was at that time par the British Commonwealth of Nations. 

As a young lawyer, Gandhi returned to India in 1891, to practice law but had little success in his own country. He was soon invited to practice law in South Africa where he encountered racial discrimination commonly known at apartheid and was treated as “a member of an inferior race.” Indian immigrants to South Africa were denied basic “civil liberties and political rights.” 

Desiring to change this system, Gandhi began to reach and practice a policy of passive, non-violent resistance to South African (British) authorities as he campaigned for Indian rights. He was inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ and by Russian author Leo Tolstoy. He organized campaigns of non-violence and of non-cooperation with South African authorities, and was subsequently arrested and imprisoned many times. “In 1914, the government of the Union of South Africa made important concessions to Gandhi’s demands, including recognition of Indian marriages and the abolition of the poll tax for them. His work in South Africa complete, he returned to India” (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2003). 

Now back in India where the caste system existed, Gandhi led the campaign for home rule by the same passive, non-violent methods  … to include “the complete boycott British goods.” He encouraged civil disobedience as Great Britain resisted. But, finally, Britain granted India its independence in 1947, thanks to this strong but passive man of peace. 

Martin Luther King Jr. was inspired by, and admired, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. King adopted the similar policy of passive, non-violent resistance as he led the way to freedom and civil rights for all Americans regardless of race., religion, age, education or gender. Gandhi had been to India what Martin Luther King later became for America. Courageous leaders suffer indignities, threats, persecution, injustice and imprisonment. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on Jan. 30, 1948 by a Hindu fanatic. History remembers him in honor. 

In closing this sketch on Gandhi, let us remember that he was a man of peace, of prayer, of humility, of courage and of non-violence … all outstanding characteristics for anyone to have.