The life that Mahatma Gandhi led was one of protest, but also of peace. A five time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, Gandhi was determined to improve the lives of his fellow Indians under British rule peacefully, by organizing boycotts and civil disobedience.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is more commonly known as “Mahatma” which means “great soul.” Growing up in British occupied Porbandar, Kathiawar in India, Gandhi followed the Indian religion of Jainism which embraced meditation and non-violence.
At eighteen years old, Gandhi sailed to England to study law. From there he went to work in South Africa where he was appalled at the apartheid that plagued the country. A crucial moment of Gandhi’s life occurred during a train ride, where a white passenger complained about his presence in the first class section, and despite having a ticket, Gandhi was forcibly removed from the train. It was this personal act of discrimination that fueled his desire to fight for equality.
Back home in India, Gandhi became the leader of the Indian National Congress fighting for Indian independence. He called for mass boycotts of British products and urged Indians to stop working for the British. To protest the unfair Salt Acts imposed by the British, Gandhi undertook a 390km march. This led to the imprisonment of 60,000 supporters for collecting salt from seawater.
After focusing on poverty and education for a time, Gandhi launched the “Quit India” campaign against British rule, finally achieving Indian independence in 1945. After this victory, Gandhi continued to tour India to appeal for peace between Muslims and Hindus. Even after his death, Gandhi’s legacy lives on and he continues to inspire pacifist protesters worldwide striving for equality and peace.