10 Interesting facts about the 'father of the nation'
Gandhi called for nonviolent resistance to British rule - Gandhi’s doctrine of nonviolent protest was called satyagraha. It was adopted as an important device for protesting British colonial rule by the Indian independence movement.
Gandhi was influenced by religious concepts - Gandhi’s life led him to become familiar with religions such as Jainism. This morally exacting Indian religion had important principles such as nonviolence.
He studied law in London - Gandhi was called to the bar at age 22 in June 1891, having studied law at the Inner Temple, one of the four law colleges of London.
Gandhi lived in South Africa for 21 years - He remained in South Africa for 21 years. His experience of racial discrimination in South Africa was initiated by a series of humiliations on one journey.
Gandhi supported the British Empire in South Africa - Gandhi supported the British cause during the Second Boer War (1899-1902) because he hoped the loyalty of Indians would be rewarded by the extension of voting and citizenship rights in South Africa.
In India, Gandhi emerged as a nationalist leader - Gandhi returned to India at the age of 45 in 1915. He organized peasants, farmers, and urban laborers to protest against rates of land tax and discrimination.
He led the Salt March to demonstrate the power of Indian nonviolence - The Salt March of 1930 was one of the key acts of nonviolent civil disobedience organized by Mahatma Gandhi.
He became known as the Great Soul - As a prominent political figure, Gandhi became associated with folk heroes and was portrayed as a messiah figure.
Gandhi decided to live modestly - From the 1920s, Gandhi lived in a self-sufficient residential community. He ate simple vegetarian food.
Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu nationalist - Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948 by a Hindu nationalist who fired three bullets into his chest. His assassin was Nathuram Godse.