Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2 1869–January 30, 1948) (Devanagari: ??????? ??????? ?????, Gujarati મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી) was a national icon who led the struggle for India's independence from British colonial rule, empowered by tens of millions of common Indians. Throughout his life he opposed any form of terrorism or violence, instead using only the highest moral standards. His philosophy of nonviolence, for which he coined the term satyagraha, has influenced national and international nonviolent resistance movements to this day, including the American Civil Rights Movement led by Martin Luther King.

Related Topics:
October 2 - 1869 - January 30 - 1948 - Devanagari - Gujarati - India's - British colonial rule - Indians - Terrorism - Nonviolence - Satyagraha - Nonviolent resistance - American Civil Rights Movement - Martin Luther King

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From the time he took charge of the freedom struggle and the Indian National Congress in 1918, he was lovingly reverred as "Mahatma", or "Great Soul" by millions of Indians. Although he was much averse to honorary addresses, Gandhi is still today commonly referred to as Mahatma Gandhi, rather than Mohandas Gandhi, all over the world. Apart from being considered one of the greatest Hindu and Indian leaders of all time, he is revered by many in India as the "Father of the Nation" or Bapu (Hindi for Father). His birthday on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, is a national holiday in India.

Related Topics:
Indian National Congress - 1918 - Hindu - Father of the Nation - Hindi - October 2 - Gandhi Jayanti - National holiday in India

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By means of nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi helped bring about India's independence from British rule, inspiring other colonial peoples to work for their own independence and ultimately dismantling the British Empire. Gandhi's principle of satyagraha (from Sanskrit; satya for truth and agraha for endeavor), often translated as "way of truth" or "pursuit of truth", has inspired other freedom activists such as the Dalai Lama, Lech Wa??sa, Steve Biko, Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela. However, not all these leaders kept to Gandhi's strict principle of nonviolence and nonresistance.

Related Topics:
Civil disobedience - British Empire - Sanskrit - Dalai Lama - Lech Wa??sa - Steve Biko - Aung San Suu Kyi - Nelson Mandela - Nonresistance

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gandhi often stated that his principles were simple; drawn from traditional Hindu beliefs: truth (satya) and nonviolence (ahimsa). As Gandhi said: "I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and nonviolence are as old as the hills."

Related Topics:
Hindu - Truth - Satya - Nonviolence - Ahimsa

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~