Today, we celebrate the 73rd death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Even on this day, the vision and principles shown by the Father of the Nation stand as a lesson for all. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who led the fight for India’s freedom from the British through non-violence was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar of Gujarat. In those days’ child marriages were the usual norm and Mohandas (13) was married to Kasturbai Makhanji Kapadia AKA Kasturba (14) in May 1883. He completed his education in Porbandar and Rajkot. At the age of 19, he left for London to pursue law at the University College. Gandhi also made a promise to his mother that he would abstain from meat, alcohol and women.
Studying in England
Mahatma Gandhi who left for London to study law and jurisprudence didn’t limit himself to reading books on law, instead, even read many other Holy Books. This led him to arrive at the opinion that all religions basically taught a single point and its impact reflected in every stage of his life. Having graduated in law in 1891, Gandhi returned to India from London and set up an office in Mumbai and Rajkot.
It was during this time that Gandhi got an opportunity to work as a lawyer in South Africa’s province of Natal in 1893. He then spent 21 years in South Africa, wherein his political views, ethics and politics evolved. In those times, Gandhi had faced severe discrimination like other coloured people due to his skin colour and heritage. Once he was even forced to get off a train at Pietermaritzburg despite having purchased a first-class ticket. The disparity was so strong that Gandhi was not even allowed to enter his hotel. In 1894, Gandhi even fought against a bill that denied Indians right to vote and then for the first time adopted Satyagraha, a non-violent protest.
The profound influence of Bhagavad Gita
Mahatma Gandhi had a strong influence of Bhagavad Gita in his life. It even was his strong companion during the tough phases of his life. Having returned in 1914 to India, Gandhi attended the meetings of Indian National Congress and went on to become a key leader in the party. He held the Satyagraha in Champaran, Kheda protesting against the forceful cultivation of Indigofera, a cash crop for Indigo dye by the British. The strong influence of the agitation by Mahatma Gandhi led the Britishers to back down and led them to pay high prices and reduce taxes on peasants. The aftermath of these incidents led farmers to hail Gandhi as ‘Bapu’ or the ‘Mahatma’.
Ahimsa his greatest weapon
Gandhiji’s Ahimsa ended the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, popularly known as the Rowlatt Act by the British. According to Gandhi, retaliation against violence is evil. On 13 April 1919, around 400 innocent civilians were massacred at Jallianwala Bagh by the British. This incident led to many Indians believe that non-violence was not the right path. However, for Gandhiji ahimsa or non-violence was his greatest weapon till his last breath.