2. Mohandas Gandhi was born in the stateMohandas Gandhi was born in the state
of Gujarat, India in 1869.of Gujarat, India in 1869.
3. At the age of thirteenAt the age of thirteen
Mohandas was marriedMohandas was married
to Kasturba.to Kasturba.
The marriage had beenThe marriage had been
arranged for him by hisarranged for him by his
family.family.
They had four sons.They had four sons.
4. When he was 18 Gandhi came to London toWhen he was 18 Gandhi came to London to
train as a barrister.train as a barrister.
He tried behaving like an Englishman andHe tried behaving like an Englishman and
took up ballroom dancing. We know that hetook up ballroom dancing. We know that he
took a dislike to his landlady’s boiledtook a dislike to his landlady’s boiled
cabbage!cabbage!
In these days he got ‘stage fright’ whenIn these days he got ‘stage fright’ when
speaking in court.speaking in court.
5. He returned toHe returned to
India in 1891, thenIndia in 1891, then
accepted a job ataccepted a job at
an Indian law firman Indian law firm
in South Africa.in South Africa.
6. His experience of racism in South AfricaHis experience of racism in South Africa
proved to be a turning point in his life.proved to be a turning point in his life.
He was refused admission to hotels, beaten upHe was refused admission to hotels, beaten up
when he refused to give up his seat to a whitewhen he refused to give up his seat to a white
man on a stage coach …..man on a stage coach …..
……and thrown off a train when he refused toand thrown off a train when he refused to
move to a third class compartment, after hemove to a third class compartment, after he
had paid for a first class ticket.had paid for a first class ticket.
7. When he was about toWhen he was about to
return to India, he heardreturn to India, he heard
that a law was goingthat a law was going
to be passed to preventto be passed to prevent
Indian people from voting.Indian people from voting.
He decided to draw attention to thisHe decided to draw attention to this
injustice and became an activist.injustice and became an activist.
8. However, Gandhi said:However, Gandhi said:
‘‘There are many causes that I amThere are many causes that I am
prepared to die for, but no causes thatprepared to die for, but no causes that
I am prepared to kill for.’I am prepared to kill for.’
He developed a new non-violent way toHe developed a new non-violent way to
make things right, by getting lots ofmake things right, by getting lots of
people to disobey unfair laws, and to bepeople to disobey unfair laws, and to be
unco-operative with rulers who wereunco-operative with rulers who were
treating them badly.treating them badly.
9. Over the next seven years Gandhi led aOver the next seven years Gandhi led a
non-violent campaign of resistance tonon-violent campaign of resistance to
laws which were unfair to ‘coloured’laws which were unfair to ‘coloured’
people.people.
During this time thousands of Indians,During this time thousands of Indians,
including Gandhi, were flogged or jailed,including Gandhi, were flogged or jailed,
and many were shot for striking orand many were shot for striking or
burning their registration cards.burning their registration cards.
10. Eventually the government was forcedEventually the government was forced
to seek a compromise with Gandhi, andto seek a compromise with Gandhi, and
when he left South Africa, conditionswhen he left South Africa, conditions
for Indian people had greatly improved.for Indian people had greatly improved.
11. He spun his own yarn and made his ownHe spun his own yarn and made his own
cloth. He encouraged others to do thecloth. He encouraged others to do the
same, instead of buying imported Britishsame, instead of buying imported British
material.material.
12. At this time Indian villagers were poorlyAt this time Indian villagers were poorly
paid, and many were dying of famine.paid, and many were dying of famine.
In 1918 Gandhi began a campaign to getIn 1918 Gandhi began a campaign to get
them to stand up for themselves againstthem to stand up for themselves against
the British who were ruling India.the British who were ruling India.
13. It was at this time thatIt was at this time that
Gandhi became known asGandhi became known as
Mahatma,Mahatma,
which means ‘Great Soul’.which means ‘Great Soul’.
14. The British becameThe British became
worried aboutworried about
keeping control.keeping control.
Soldiers wereSoldiers were
ordered to preventordered to prevent
people frompeople from
gathering togethergathering together
for meetings.for meetings.
15. Nevertheless, in 1919 ten thousand unarmedNevertheless, in 1919 ten thousand unarmed
people attended a protest meeting in Amritsar.people attended a protest meeting in Amritsar.
Without warning, British soldiers fired on theWithout warning, British soldiers fired on the
crowd, killing nearly 400 people, and woundingcrowd, killing nearly 400 people, and wounding
over one thousand.over one thousand.
People were very shocked by this atrocity, andPeople were very shocked by this atrocity, and
many more joined Gandhi’s campaign.many more joined Gandhi’s campaign.
16. Meanwhile theMeanwhile the
British rulersBritish rulers
continued to collectcontinued to collect
heavy taxes from theheavy taxes from the
people, which keptpeople, which kept
them in poverty.them in poverty.
17. In 1930 Gandhi led a 248 mile march toIn 1930 Gandhi led a 248 mile march to
the sea, as a protest against a tax onthe sea, as a protest against a tax on
salt. Thousands joined him in making saltsalt. Thousands joined him in making salt
of their own.of their own.
Over 60,000Over 60,000
people werepeople were
arrested.arrested.
18. However, the British government wasHowever, the British government was
forced to negotiate with Gandhi, andforced to negotiate with Gandhi, and
they agreed to release politicalthey agreed to release political
prisoners if he stopped his campaign ofprisoners if he stopped his campaign of
non-co-operation.non-co-operation.
19. In 1933 Gandhi wentIn 1933 Gandhi went
on a fast for 21 dayson a fast for 21 days
to draw attention toto draw attention to
the treatment ofthe treatment of
the very poorestthe very poorest
people in India, whopeople in India, who
he called ‘Thehe called ‘The
Children of God’.Children of God’.
20. By 1947 Gandhi’s campaign had weakened theBy 1947 Gandhi’s campaign had weakened the
British government’s hold on the country, butBritish government’s hold on the country, but
with independence looming, killings and riotswith independence looming, killings and riots
raged between Hindus and Muslims whoraged between Hindus and Muslims who
hoped to take control of the new Indianhoped to take control of the new Indian
government.government.
21. During the second World War, Gandhi
and his followers made it clear that
they wouldn’t support Britain unless
India was granted independence.
In 1942 Gandhi was arrested by the
British, and imprisoned for two years.
22. It was decided to divide India into twoIt was decided to divide India into two
separate countries - India and Pakistan.separate countries - India and Pakistan.
Gandhi was strongly opposed to thisGandhi was strongly opposed to this
idea, but was forced to agree becauseidea, but was forced to agree because
of the threat of civil war.of the threat of civil war.
23.
24. The violence continued.The violence continued.
Gandhi's appeals for calmGandhi's appeals for calm
were ignored, so hewere ignored, so he
began another fast.began another fast.
Only when the Hindu, Sikh and MuslimOnly when the Hindu, Sikh and Muslim
leaders promised to renounce violenceleaders promised to renounce violence
25. A few days later, on January 30A few days later, on January 30thth
19481948
Gandhi was shot by a Hindu fanatic on hisGandhi was shot by a Hindu fanatic on his
way to a prayer meeting in Delhi..way to a prayer meeting in Delhi..
26. His ashes were dipped in all the majorHis ashes were dipped in all the major
rivers of the world before beingrivers of the world before being
enshrined in the Mahatma Gandhi Worldenshrined in the Mahatma Gandhi World
Peace Memorial.Peace Memorial.
27. In India Gandhi is often called ‘The FatherIn India Gandhi is often called ‘The Father
of the Nation.’of the Nation.’
Gandhi’s birthday,Gandhi’s birthday,
October 2October 2ndnd
, is a, is a
public holiday in India.public holiday in India.
28. ‘‘Be the Change youBe the Change you
want to see in thewant to see in the
World!’World!’
-Mahatma Gandhi-Mahatma Gandhi
