155th Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti

Syllabus: GS1/ Personalities in news

Context

• Gandhi Jayanti, celebrated on October 2nd, marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation.
  • It is also observed as the International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations.

About Mahatma Gandhi

• Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat. 
• He was an Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer who became the leader of the nationalist movement against the British rule of India. 
• He played a crucial role in India’s independence movement by leading nonviolent protests against British rule. 

Role in freedom Struggle of India

• Champaran Satyagraha (1917): This was Gandhi’s first significant application of Satyagraha in India, where he supported indigo farmers in Bihar against oppressive plantation systems.
• Kheda Satyagraha (1918): Gandhi organized a non-violent movement to help farmers in Gujarat who were facing economic hardship due to crop failures and British taxation policies.
• Non-Cooperation Movement (1920): Encouraged Indians to boycott British institutions and goods, which shook British authority.
• Salt March (1930): A peaceful protest against the British salt tax, where Gandhi marched 240 miles to make salt from seawater. This act of defiance became symbolic of India’s resistance.
• Quit India Movement (1942): A mass protest demanding an end to British rule, leading to widespread participation across India, especially among the youth.

Teachings of Gandhi

• Non-Violence: He believed that peace and justice could only be achieved through non-violent resistance.
  • His interpretation of non-violence extended beyond physical acts to include non-violence in thought, speech, and relationships. 
• Satyagraha: This principle involves the force of truth and passive resistance, aiming for justice without coercion or aggression.
• Self-Suffering: Gandhi believed that the path to changing the oppressor’s heart lies in the willingness to suffer oneself, rather than inflict suffering on others.
  • The Satyagrahi must endure physical, emotional, or material hardship to bring moral pressure on the oppressor, showing the strength of their convictions.
• Sarvodaya (Welfare of All): Gandhi stressed the importance of social welfare and upliftment of all sections of society, particularly the marginalized.
• Unity and Compassion: He promoted unity among different communities, urging people to transcend caste, religion, and race.
• Simple Living: Gandhi’s lifestyle reflected simplicity, urging people to focus on necessities rather than material excess.

Literary work

• Hind Swaraj (1909)
• Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth 
• Newspapers: Young India, Harijan, and Navajivan.

Legacy of Mahatma Gandhi

• His philosophy of Satyagraha (truth and non-violence) inspired countless people, including leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. 
• Gandhi was named Time’s Man of the Year in 1930 for his efforts in leading India’s independence struggle.
  • Gandhi’s efforts ultimately helped India gain independence in 1947. 

Source: PIB