Mohandas Gandhi
Mohandas Gandhi born October 2, 1862 was born into a middle class Hindu family. Growing up, Gandhi went through school and at age thirteen married Kasturbai, a girl of the same age. At age sixteen his father died, he graduated high school and went off to study. At age 19 he traveled to India to study law and returned to India years later trying to set up his own law practice. At this time Gandhi fought laws that discriminated against Indians and adopted a method of nonviolent resistance. He called it satyagraha. Known as Mahatma, great soul, Gandhi was the leader of the Indian nationalist movement against British rule, and is widely considered the father of his country. He believed that every person should stand up against laws he or she felt was unfair. But also be willing to accept the consequences for doing so. His ideas were sought to fight against the British rule by using the power of love. He admired Christian teachings about love and read about civil disobedience. To set an example for this people he dressed in simple with traditional garment known as dhoti and launched a series of nonviolent actions against the British rule. Through boycotts he worked to restore India's pride and nationalism within the country. Gandhi took on the challenge to end the salt monopoly in India. He led a 200 mile march to the sea with thousands of followers to make his point, known as the Salt March. Gandhi and his followers were made fun of, beaten, and even sent to jail when people did not like what he was trying to say. Through this he transformed the Indian National Congress, and his programs of peaceful non-cooperation with the British. With the boycotts of British goods and institutions, led Gandhi and his followers to arrests of thousands. His campaign of nonviolence and the self-sacrifice of his followers slowly forced Britain to agree to hand over some power to India and other demands of the Congress party. Gandhi was prisoned for the Salt March and released a year later and met with Lord Irwin, the viceroy of India, and agree to call of the satyagraha in exchange for Gandhi as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress. India independence was later granted in 1947 and Gandhi was assassinated six months later. Sadly no material changes were made in the Salt Acts but Gandhi did play a major role in India leading movements and boycotts to help India free from Britain’s control.