8/12/2019 A Short Biography on Mahatma Gandhi in English Language

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A short biography on Mahatma Gandhi in English languageDEEJAY SAM

Gandhiji's full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was born on October2, 1869 in a town called Poxbandar, Gujarat. He was the architect of India'sfreedom and one of the greatest men of this century. Mahatma Gandhi's life wasdedicated to the ideals of truth, non-violence and love.Young Gandhi had his primary education up to the seventh year at Porbandar.Then his education continued at Rajkot. Once an Inspector of Schools visited theschool. The teacher dictated some English words. Gandhiji had spelt the word'Kettle' incorrectly. The teacher noticed this, and made signs to Gandhiji to correctit by copying from his neighbour. But Gandhiji did not do so. He also felt that the

same teacher, who had taught him that copying was bad, was not right inprompting him to do so. Still, the respect he had for his teacher did not grow less.When Mahatma Gandhi was only nineteen years old, he went to England to becomea barrister. He obtained the degree of Barrister-at-Law and started practising lawin South Africa.

Once he had to make a journey by train,, so he bought a first-class ticket. Duringthe journey, an officer of the railway asked him to vacate his seat for a white man,and to move to the van on the train. Mahatma Gandhi refused. The railwayofficials, with the help of the police, had his things thrown out. He was alsoremoved from the carriage by force. Thus Gandhiji was subject to untold shame.This incident transformed him. Gandhi started an organisation and called it 'TheNatal Indian Congress'. It was to carry on the struggle of the Indians against racialdiscrimination. He also started a newspaper called 'The Indian Opinion'. The paperbecame an organ to give information about the struggle.

Mahatma Gandhi stayed on in South Africa for nearly 21 years to fight againstracial discrimination against Indian settlers. He propagated the conceptofSatyagraha (satya means truth and agraha firmness). It was the use of 'Soul-Force' against 'Brute-Force' or violence.He trained men, women and children as volunteers. He called his band a 'PeaceBrigade'. He won his battle when, finally, the South African Government gave in tohis demands. Gandhi now became a world-renowned person. He soon earned the

title of 'Mahatma' (maha means great and atma means soul) among Indians all overthe world.Gandhiji came back to India in 1915 and built an ashram on the banks of theSabaramati river near Ahmadabad. It was called 'Satyagraha Ashram'. The way oflife that he practised there was known as 'Sarvodaya' the well-being of all. Hefought peacefully for many causes and succeeded in persuading the government toabolish many abuses against labourers in Bihar, theKaira peasants in Gujarat, etc.