India: Gandhi

Gandhi as a young man, studying law

Background of Monhandas Gandhi:
In 1888 Monhandas Gandhi, son of Karamchand and Putlibai Gandhi, went to England to study law. From there in 1893, he was sent by a law firm to South Africa, where he remained until 1914, and also where he was first introduced to racism. Upon leaving South Africa, Gandhi returned to India where he eventually joined the INC. From there, he was recognized as the spiritual leader of Indian Independence refried to as the "Mahtma" loved as a "Bapu". Gandhi thought of his goal not in terms of political independence but in the broader terms of self rule.

Monhandas Gandhi's entire life after his research and time in South Africa was devoted towards peace in India and non-violence. Gandhi believed that violence was no way to solve problems, and instead of bloodshed and harming one another to get a entire point across, one could talk it out or show it in a peaceful protest. With his peaceful philosophies, Gandhi tried to remove the British Raj from Indian soil and wanted India to become an independent country.

Gandhi and thousands of Indians practiced non-violent protests against the British Raj. From the 1920's to 1948 he led nationalist movements throughout India. Some non-violent revolts Gandhi praticipated in were the Salt March, and the 1942 Quit India Movement. After his release from jail after the failure of his Non-cooperative protests, he continued his non-violent protests but on January 30, 1948 Monhandas Gandhi was assinated by a member of the Hindu group.

Above is a clip of one of Gandhi's speeches.

To view other helpful links to understand how peaceful Gandhi was visit http://www.mkgandhi.org/health/dailyroutine.htm to view his daily routine

Primary Sources

Bibliography

1. India Independence "India Independence." Facts About India. http://www.factsaboutindia.org/ (accessed April 27, 2009). http://www.factsaboutindia.org/india-independence.htm

2. Mishra, Patit Paban. "Nehru Motilal." Ub Ackermann, Marsha E., Michael Schroeder, Janice J. Terry, Jiu-Hwa Lo Upshur, and Mark F. Whitters, eds. Encyclopedia of the World History: Crisis and Achievement, 1900 to 1950, vol. 5. New York: Facts on File, Inc., http://fofweb.com/ (accessed April 29, 2009). http://fofweb.com/history/reference.asp?ID=10074

3. Nehru Jawaharlal. "Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964): Speech on the Granting of Idian Independence, August 14, 1947. "FORDHAM.Edu. http://www.fordham.edu/ (accessed April 28,2009.) Http://www.forham.edu/halsall/mod/1947nehru1.html

4. Encyclopedia of Modern Asia. "Quit India Movement." Book Rays. http://www.bookrags.com/ (accessed April 25, 2009).

5. Wlash, Judith E. "Gandhi and the nationalist movement in India." A Brief History of India, Brief History. New York: Facts on File, Inc, 2006. http://www.fofweb.com/ (accessed April 27, 2009). http://fofweb.com/history/reference.asp?ID=10074

6. Kaul, Dr. Chandrika. "From Empire to Independence: The British Raj in India

1858-1947." BBC. N.p., 3 Mar. 2011. Web. 5 June 2011.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/independence1947_01.shtml