Mahatma Gandhi begins the Salt March, a 200-mile march to the sea to protest the British monopoly on salt in India

Known throughout the world as Mahatma Gandhi, a title meaning "great-souled" or "venerable" first bestowed upon him in South Africa in 1914, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was an extraordinary Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and profound political ethicist. His enduring legacy is inextricably linked to his pioneering use of nonviolent resistance, a philosophy that successfully spearheaded India's independence movement against oppressive British rule and profoundly inspired subsequent civil rights and freedom struggles across the globe.

Early Life, Education, and the Call to Law

Born and raised in a traditional Hindu family within the coastal region of Gujarat, India, Gandhi's early life laid the groundwork for his eventual global impact. His formal education led him to embark on a transformative journey to London, where he pursued legal training at the prestigious Inner Temple. By June 1891, at the age of 22, he was called to the bar, ready to begin his legal career.

However, his initial attempts to establish a successful law practice back in India proved challenging and uncertain. This period of professional struggle ultimately led him to a pivotal decision: in 1893, he accepted an offer to represent an Indian merchant in a lawsuit in South Africa. What was intended as a temporary engagement blossomed into a profound 21-year chapter of his life.

South Africa: The Crucible of Nonviolent Resistance

It was on the soil of South Africa that Gandhi's family grew, and, more importantly, where his revolutionary methodology of nonviolent resistance, which he termed Satyagraha (loosely translated as "truth-force"), first took root and blossomed. Confronted by systemic racial discrimination and injustice against Indians, Gandhi began to organize and lead campaigns for civil rights, learning the power of collective, peaceful protest in the face of adversity. This period was instrumental in shaping his political philosophy and leadership style, laying the foundation for his future role on the world stage.

Return to India and the Struggle for Swaraj

In 1915, at the age of 45, Gandhi returned to his homeland, an India still firmly under the grip of the British Raj. He swiftly immersed himself in the nation's political landscape, initially organizing peasants, farmers, and urban laborers to challenge exorbitant land-taxes and pervasive discrimination. His growing influence soon led him to assume the leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, transforming it into a formidable mass movement that brought anti-colonial nationalism to the common Indian.

Under his guidance, the Congress launched nationwide campaigns addressing critical societal issues: easing poverty, advocating for expanded women's rights, fostering religious and ethnic amity, and, crucially, working to abolish the deeply entrenched practice of "untouchability." Above all, his overarching goal was the achievement of swaraj, or complete self-rule, for India.

As a powerful symbol of identification with India's rural poor, Gandhi famously adopted a minimalist lifestyle, donning a short dhoti woven from hand-spun yarn. He embraced life in a self-sufficient residential community, ate simple food, and frequently undertook long fasts—not only as a means of personal introspection but also as potent forms of political protest, drawing attention to injustices and appealing to the moral conscience of both the people and the authorities.

The Dandi Salt March: A Defining Act of Civil Disobedience

Background and Genesis of Salt Satyagraha

One of Gandhi's most iconic and strategically brilliant acts of defiance against the British Raj was the Dandi Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagraha or Dandi Satyagraha. The British Salt Act of 1882 gave the colonial government a monopoly on salt production and distribution, imposing a tax that disproportionately affected the poorest Indians, for whom salt was a daily necessity. Recognizing this injustice as a powerful symbol of colonial exploitation, Gandhi chose it as the primary target for his next major campaign. The movement, following the Indian National Congress's Purna Swaraj (complete self-rule) declaration on 26 January 1930, needed a strong inauguration to galvanize public support and inspire millions to embrace the path of civil disobedience.

The March Itself (March 12 – April 6, 1930)

On 12 March 1930, Mahatma Gandhi, along with 78 of his most trusted volunteers, embarked on a momentous 24-day journey. This epic march spanned approximately 239 miles (385 km), beginning from his Sabarmati Ashram and culminating at the coastal village of Dandi (then known as Navsari, now in Gujarat). As they traversed the landscape, growing numbers of ordinary Indians, inspired by Gandhi's unwavering resolve and the purity of his nonviolent message, joined the procession. The sight of thousands marching peacefully to challenge an unjust law became a powerful testament to the burgeoning spirit of Indian nationalism.

The defining moment arrived at 8:30 am on 6 April 1930, when Gandhi ceremonially broke the British Raj's salt laws by picking up a lump of natural salt from the seashore. This simple, yet profoundly symbolic, act ignited widespread acts of civil disobedience across the subcontinent, with millions of Indians producing and selling salt illegally.

Aftermath and Global Impact

Following his act at Dandi, Gandhi continued along the coast, making salt and addressing rallies, further spreading the message of defiance. The Indian National Congress planned a subsequent Satyagraha at the Dharasana Salt Works, located 25 miles (40 km) south of Dandi. However, just days before the planned action, Gandhi was arrested on the midnight of 4-5 May 1930. Despite his imprisonment, the movement continued, most notably at Dharasana, where hundreds of nonviolent protesters were brutally beaten by colonial police, an event that garnered extensive worldwide news coverage through newspapers and newsreels.

The Salt Satyagraha campaign, based firmly on Gandhi's principles of "truth-force," endured for nearly a year, ending with Gandhi's release from jail and subsequent negotiations with Viceroy Lord Irwin at the Second Round Table Conference. While the British made no immediate major concessions, and over 60,000 Indians were jailed, the campaign achieved immense success in demonstrating the effectiveness of civil disobedience against social and political injustice. Its global attention significantly boosted the **Indian independence** movement and laid the foundation for the nationwide Civil Disobedience movement that continued until 1934. Moreover, Gandhi's teachings and the **Dandi Salt March** profoundly influenced later **civil rights** leaders, including **Martin Luther King Jr.** and James Bevel, during the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, showcasing the universal applicability of his methods.

The Road to Independence, Partition, and Tragic End

Gandhi's vision for an independent India, predicated on religious pluralism, faced its greatest challenge in the early 1940s from a rising Muslim nationalism. This movement, spearheaded by the demand for a separate homeland for Muslims within British India, ultimately led to the painful reality of partition. In August 1947, Britain granted independence, but it came at a devastating cost: the **British Indian Empire** was tragically divided into two distinct dominions, a Hindu-majority India and a Muslim-majority Pakistan.

The joy of independence was overshadowed by horrific communal violence. As millions of displaced Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs attempted to reach their new homelands, particularly in the regions of Punjab and Bengal, an unprecedented wave of religious strife erupted. In this period of immense suffering, Gandhi famously abstained from official independence celebrations. Instead, he tirelessly visited the affected areas, attempting to alleviate distress and undertaking several hunger strikes in a desperate effort to quell the violence.

His final hunger strike, commenced in Delhi on 12 January 1948 at the age of 78, not only sought to halt the bloodshed but also indirectly aimed to pressure the newly formed Indian government to release cash assets owed to Pakistan. Though both the Indian government and the religious rioters eventually relented, a dangerous sentiment simmered among some Hindu nationalists: that Gandhi had been too lenient, too resolute in his defense of Pakistan and Indian Muslims, especially those besieged in Delhi. Among those who harbored such resentment was Nathuram Godse, a militant Hindu nationalist from western India.

Tragically, on 30 January 1948, at an inter-faith prayer meeting in Delhi, Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, firing three bullets into his chest. His death marked a sorrowful end to a life dedicated to peace and justice.

Enduring Legacy and Global Recognition

Though his life was cut short, **Mahatma Gandhi's** influence remains immeasurable. His birthday, 2 October, is not only observed as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday in India, but also celebrated worldwide as the International Day of Nonviolence, a testament to his universal appeal and the timeless relevance of his principles. He is commonly, though unofficially, revered as the "Father of the Nation" in India, affectionately known as "Bapu" (a Gujarati term of endearment for father or papa). His philosophy of Satyagraha continues to inspire movements for social change and **civil rights** across continents, proving that truth-force can indeed move mountains and advocate for justice without resorting to violence.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mahatma Gandhi

Who was Mahatma Gandhi?
Mahatma Gandhi, born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist. He is renowned for leading **India's independence** movement against British rule through his philosophy of nonviolent resistance, known as Satyagraha, and for inspiring **civil rights** movements globally.
When and where was he born and when did he die?
He was born on 2 October 1869 in coastal Gujarat, British India, and was tragically assassinated on 30 January 1948 in Delhi, India.
What is Satyagraha?
Satyagraha is Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy and practice of **nonviolent resistance**. Derived from Sanskrit words satya ("truth") and agraha ("insistence"), it literally means "insistence on truth" or "truth-force." It involves peaceful civil disobedience and moral persuasion to achieve social and political justice.
What was the Dandi Salt March?
The Dandi Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagraha, was a pivotal act of **nonviolent civil disobedience** led by **Mahatma Gandhi** in 1930. It was a 24-day, 239-mile march from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, protesting the British salt monopoly and tax. Gandhi's act of illegally making salt sparked widespread resistance and garnered global attention for the **Indian independence** movement.
How did Gandhi contribute to India's independence?
Gandhi led the Indian National Congress, organized mass campaigns against injustice, and mobilized millions through his doctrine of **Satyagraha**. Key campaigns include the Dandi Salt March and the "Quit India" movement, which directly challenged British rule and built national consensus for self-rule, ultimately leading to **India's independence** in 1947.
What is Gandhi Jayanti?
Gandhi Jayanti is the national holiday in India commemorating Mahatma Gandhi's birthday on 2 October. It is also recognized globally as the International Day of Nonviolence, celebrating his enduring legacy of peace and the principles of nonviolent action.