Facts About Gandhi, The Father Of Modern India
Most facts about Gandhi, one of the outstanding figures of the 20th century, are well known, at least in general terms. Gandhi, whose full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, sometimes spelled Gandhiji, was usually referred to as Mahatma Gandhi, Mahatma being an honorific title meaning Great Soul.
When we think of Gandhi, two things usually come to mind, the concept of non-violent resistance, and the independence of India. For many years the British, who ruled India, regarded Gandhi as a thorn in the side. A very big thorn at times, Gandhi spent a number of years in British jails. Even at the end of World War II, when Great Britain was at last beginning to take India's desire for independence seriously, Gandhi was still looked upon as a troublemaker.
Delving deeper into the facts about Gandhi will lead one to discover that his aim was not simply one of throwing off British rule. Gandhi believed that to be successful as a nation, India had to discard many aspects of its culture, and eliminate cultural habits and beliefs that might stand in the way of it ever becoming a united nation. Gandhi sought to discard the caste system and the concept of untouchable. He championed equal rights for women, and fought against racial discrimination, as he had witnessed during years spent in South Africa, and again under British rule in India.
The Quiet Way - Ironically, while promoting non-violence and civil disobedience as the main weapons in achieving independence, Gandhi knew that civil disobedience had certain legally immoral aspects to it. His way however was not one of smashing shop windows and encouraging struggle with uniformed authorities, but the way of work stoppages, strikes, and simply ignoring those laws which discriminated against the Indian people. Gandhi also used fasting as an effective means of achieving certain of his goals. His fasting led to a truce, though not a permanent one, between Hindus and Muslims who were locked in combat following Indian independence.
Many countries feature their leaders on coins or postage stamps. India did as well, but the portraits were not of Gandhi or other political leaders, but of Queen Victoria, and Kings Edward VII, George V, and George VI, of Great Britain. Those Indians who were featured on Indian postage stamps were princes, whose feudal states and fiefdoms, represented yet another obstacle to a united India nation.
The Congress Party - Even though under the British crown, political parties began forming in India early in the 20th century. Some of these parties were moderate in their views, others strongly nationalistic, and still others, quite militant. The party which emerged as the strongest was the Congress party, of which Gandhi had become the leader, and which is still the most prominent political party in India today. One other great leader of the party, a follower of Gandhi, was Jawaharlal Nehru, one of the more prominent international leaders during the post war years.
Success - Towards the end of World War II, negotiations were held between Great Britain and Gandhi and other Indian political leaders on the subject of independence. When the British hesitated, Gandhi called for a general protest, which fanned throughout the country, resulting in Gandhi's arrest in 1942. He was released from jail in 1944 due to concerns for his health. He immediately took up the cause of Indian independence again, this time with success.
Almost But Not Quite - It would be nice to be able to add to the facts about Gandhi that he realized his dream of a truly united nation, but that was not do be. The feudatory states and other fiefdoms were brought into the fold, but a reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims was never achieved. Though at the time of Gandhi's death in 1984, India was indeed an independent nation, the Muslims would break away, forming the nation of Pakistan. Pakistan was divided into East Pakistan and West Pakistan, bordering India like bookends. Eventually, East Pakistan declared its own independence, forming the nation of Bangladesh.