Mohandas Karamchand "Mahatma" (The great soul) Gandhi life and unknown reasons behind his death

Mohandas Karamchand "Mahatma" (The great soul) Gandhi life and unknown reasons behind his death

Born: 2 October 1869

place of birth: Porbandar, Porbandar State, Kathiawar Agency, Bombay Presidency, British India

Died: 30 January 1948 (aged 78) New Delhi, India

Cause of death: Assassination (gunshot)

Wife: Kasturba Gandhi

Children: Harilal, Manilal, Ramdas, Devdas

Father: Karamchand Gandhi

Mother: Putlibai Gandhi

Monuments: Raj Ghat, Gandhi Smriti

Nationality: Indian

Other names: Mahatma Gandhi, Bapu ji, Gandhi ji, M. K. Gandhi

Alma mater: University College London (LL.B.) Inner Temple

Occupation: Lawyer, Politician, Activist, Writer

Years active: 1893–1948

Era: British Raj

Popularity: Indian Independence Movement, Nonviolent resistance

Notable work: The Story of My Experiments with Truth

Office: President of the Indian National Congress

Term: 1924–1925

Political party: Indian National Congress

Movement: Indian independence movement

Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi, "Mahatma" meaning person with a great soul, was born at Porbandar, otherwise known as Sudamapuri,  on  the  2nd  October, 1869, and  passed his childhood in Porbandar. His father's name was Kaba Gandhi.  He  was  a  member  of  the Rajasthanik  Court which is  now  extinct, but in those days  it was  a  very  influential  body  for  settling disputes  between  the  chiefs  and  their  fellow  clansmen. His mother's name was Putlibai and his wife name was kastuba. The Gandhis  belong to the Bania caste.

He got married to his wife at the age of thirteen who was the same age as him. but due his inborn maturity he took  no time in assuming the authority  of  a husband. He was a very shy type during his early years which he claimed himself as one of  the reasons  for  his  aloofness.

In 1887. He passed his matriculation examination. At that time, only two colleges  were available one in Bhavnagar  and the other  in Bombay, and as  the former  was  cheaper, he decided to go  there  and join the Samaldas  College. He went, but found himself  entirely  at sea. Everything was  difficult. He could  not  follow,  let  alone  taking  interest  in the professors' lectures. He was  so raw and has no solid knowledge foundation.  At the end of  the  first term, Gandhi returned home.   

After his father's death Mavji Dave, who was  a shrewd  and learned Brahman  an  old  friend  and  adviser  of  their family who  had  kept  up his  connection with the family  even after  his father's  death advised the family without having a proper  education  none  of  the deceased children can expect to succeed to their father's  gadi and also advised sending Gandhi to England to study  law.

Read also: bertha benz untold story

In 1888. Gandhi finally went to England and after his education in england, he returned to India and  at age 22 in June 1891 he took his first case of one Mamibai which he neither won nor lost due to his phobic nature. He charged the his client Rs. 30 and later payed Rs. 51 as settlement, recording a loss in his first case. He left Bombay for Rajkot where he sets up his own office.

In April, 1893. He went to south Africa for the job of an advocate their he met different religious groups which helped shaped his view of other religions through religious discussion. Although his stay in south Africa was of mixed fortune of both hardship and accomplishment of his purpose over their.

In  1896, Gandhi asked permission to go home for  six  months,  in order to relocate his  wife and children and then  return  and settle  out permanently there. He went on to stay for 21 years.

In 1915, after many turbulent years in South Africa then,  aged 45, he returned to India where he joined the Indian national congress and made a part in Indian revolution against the British colonial masters and in 1920 he was made the leader of the Indian movement for independence. 

In 1922, he was arrested by the British authorities for sedition, found guilty, and imprisoned  when he abruptly called off the satyagraha and led to violence eruption. In 1924, his was release from principle and led an extended fast in protest of Hindu-Muslim violence., he returned to national politics  In 1928, when he demanded sovereignty status for India.

In 1930, he launched a mass protest against the British salt tax, that is having an adverse effect on poor Indians. Gandhi and his followers famously marched to the Arabian Sea, where they made their own salt by evaporating the sea water. The march, later resulted in the arrest of Gandhi and 60,000 of his followers, this heaped new international recognitions and respect and even support for Gandhi and his fight.

In 1931, Gandhi was granted bail to attend the Round Table Conference on India in London as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress. The meeting turned out be a great disappointment, and was imprisoned again on his return.

In 1942, Gandhi launched the movement “Quit India", which called for a total British withdrawal, when the British refused his offer during the outbreak of world war II. Gandhi and other nationalist leaders were imprisoned and were not released until 1944.

In 1945, negotiations for India’s independence began after a new government came to power in Britain, and  Gandhi aspired a unified India, but the Muslim League had other motives.

On August 15, 1947 Britain decided to part the two leagues and create the two "new independent states of India" and "Pakistan". Gandhi was not happy by the partition, and not long dirty violence broke out between India Hindus and Muslims.

Read also: Mystery of the giant dwarf

On 13 January, 1948. Gandhi explained that what he dreamt of  was for the Indian Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians and Muslims to live together in amity  and was qouted: ‘Death for me would be a glorious deliverance rather than that I should be a helpless witness of the destruction of India, Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam’,. 

During this times Nathuram Godse, who was also a very big fan of  Gandhi but not his follower. Those who followed Gandhi were reffered to as "Neheru", people who indulge in resolving matters nonviolently and the second were the follower of Bhagat Singh people who believe in resolving matters violently. Godse belong to the later group and the group inspired his hatred towards Gandhi. He's believed to have murdered Gandhi because he thought Gandhi is favoring Indian Muslims above the Hindus but there are other reasons which might have fueled this reason; Firstly, Gandhi failed to influence Bhagat Singh's prosecution. Secondly, Gandhi's reaction after the partition of India and pakistan. Third, Gandhi's Pang strike.

Many attempts were made to murder Gandhi by some group of Hindu fanatics detesting his calls for peace, unity and tolerance. On 20, January 1948. A bomb was purposely set off some yards away from him, but had no harm on him. He was quoted: ‘If I am to die by the bullet of a madman, I must do so smiling. There must be no anger within me. God must be in my heart and on my lips.’

On 30, January 1948. Nathuram Godse, who had various reasons against Gandhi and his philosophies returne armed with a Beretta automatic pistol. About 5pm in the afternoon the 78-year-old Gandhi, who is exhausted from fasting and being escorted on his way to a prayer meeting when Nathuram Godse emerged from the on watching crowd, bowed to him by paying his last respect and shot him three times at point-blank range in the chest. Gandhi greeted him in the hindu gesture of greeting by raising his hands in front of his face, before he slumped to the ground, with fatal wound.

Gandhi slumped

Final goodbye before cremation

Godse at the trial (left side)

Gandhi’s nonviolence methods of civil rights movement influenced other leaders around the world till today and he is regarded as one of the greatest influencers of the 20th century and all time. 

Today, many statue have been built in honour of his legacy and various landmarks have also been built in his name. Gandhi also has a place on the Indian's currency note and present on the wall of all institutions in India.

Writer: Disha Goyal

Follow on Facebook