Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (also popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi) – A man who needs no introduction to attach to his great image. A freedom fighter whose contribution to Indian soil rocked the foundation of the British Empire in India.
A lawyer by profession and an ardent ahimsa propagator, he carved out the political image of India in varied ways.
Born on 2nd October 1869 in Porbandar, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi popularly addressed as Bapu did his schooling at Alfred High School, Rajkot.
He then was trained in law at the Inner Temple in London and was later called to the bar at the age of 22 in June 1891.
The man behind the idea of collective revolution of Indians towards the colonial rulers and flagbearer of many such movements that initiated the belief of Swaraj, his contribution to India earned him the title ‘Father of the Nation.’
Some unknown facts on Mahatma Gandhi
1) The importance of Satya(truth)
Mahatma Gandhi was always a firm believer in truth. Once, the inspector of schools Mr. Giles came to Gandhiji’s school, he read out five words and asked the students to write them.
When it was Gandhi’s turn, he was able to write four but failed to write the fifth word ‘Kettle’. His teacher gave him a sign to copy the word from his neighbour’s slate but he ignored it. When the Inspector went, his teacher scolded him for not following his order and others laughed at him.
He was not sad for he knew he had done the right thing but he was disappointed at his teacher who asked him to cheat. That’s the power of Satya he carried in his life.
2) Mahatma Gandhi was an average student-
Mahatma Gandhi was a very shy student. As soon as the school bell rang he would hurriedly carry all his books and head home. He never really liked playing with other kids as they would make fun of him, who knew this shy boy would turn into a father figure one day?
Although many might have thought that the great figure to be a child prodigy but to the surprise of many he wasn’t! Although he was a very ethical student and believer of righteousness with a very good command of English, he was very poor in Geography and Maths.
Bapu was also embarrassed about his bad handwriting.
3) He was against child marriage
Although Gandhi married young at the age of 13 years to Kasturba Gandhi in 1882, he did not believe in child marriage.
Gandhi and Kasturba weren’t too fond of each other as a child after their marriage. The death of their first child made Gandhi an ardent non-supporter of child marriage.
4) Gandhi and Civil Disobedience Movement
Gandhiji and his contribution to Civil Disobedience Movement is widely known to us but did you know this idea was not unique to him, there is a story behind its adoption.
Faced with discrimination in South Africa Gandhiji among many Indians were required to be registered and fingerprinted to the police according to the law passed by the Boer legislature however he refused and was put in prison.
While in Prison Gandhiji read the essay “Civil Disobedience” by American writer Henry David Thoreau. Gandhiji, inspired by it, adopted the term and notion to fight against injustice by the means of fight or struggle through non-violent means. He referred to this as Satyagraha.
5) International Achievement
Gandhi never won the popular Nobel Peace Prize despite being nominated five times. Gandhiji is the only Indian till today to achieve the Time Magazine’s ‘Person of the year’ title for his movement to break the salt law popularly known as Salt Satyagraha in 1930.
6) Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy
Gandhiji had a very good contact with Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. Both of them regularly communicated with each other.
Gandhiji even wrote a letter to Hitler addressing him as “Dear Friend” to stop the war however, Hitler never replied.
Gandhiji is a man whose one speech at the round table conferences could shake the Britisher’s decision. The man carried with himself an aura of courage, righteousness and never lost his aim despite being sometimes ridiculed by the Britishers.
One among the many freedom fighters whom India instils a sense of pride in. Remembering the great Mahatma on his 152nd birthday.
