Mahatma Gandhi was a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement from Great Britain.
Gandhi began his career as an activist when he moved to South Africa in 1893 at age 23. He worked as a lawyer there until 1914 when he returned to India because of health concerns. In India he became involved in politics and soon became known as Mahatma (“Great Soul”) Gandhi because of his dedication to nonviolence (ahimsa).
Gandhi led the Dandi March and other protests against the British rulers, which helped spark the Indian freedom movement. He believed that political freedom could only be achieved through nonviolent resistance.
Gandhi is widely considered to be one of the most important leaders in history. His philosophy of nonviolence influenced civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., who is known as one of the greatest advocates of nonviolent civil disobedience to achieve political and social change.
He lived an austere life, and during his lifetime he fasted many times to protest against social injustice. He became a leader of the Indian National Congress.
In 1916, Gandhi founded the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad with a group of supporters who were committed to achieving independence through peaceful means. The ashram served as a center for political activism where members trained themselves to resist oppression through nonviolent methods.
His work has been recognized with a Nobel Prize for Peace and the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor.
