Mahatma Gandhi
By Illa Vij

MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI belonged to a well-to-do Hindu family in Porbandar, a small town in the Kathiawad peninsula of western India. As a child he was shy and indifferent towards his studies. There seemed nothing very promising in the child. As a youth, he decided to make a legal career for himself and went to England to study law. In 1893, he accepted a legal assignment which had to be carried out in South Africa.

There were about one lakh Indians in South Africa who were being harassed by a tyrannical legislation. This greatly disturbed Gandhi. The Orange Free State did not permit Indians to farm, own property or do any trade. There was so much of harassment that in some parts of Cape Colony, Indians were forbidden to walk on the pavements. The Boer war caused further miseries. The labourers were taxed and the living conditions became extremely harsh.

Gandhi began a counter attack, but in an entirely novel way. He did not believe in returning evil for evil. He wanted to achieve his goal entirely through non-violence. He called his idea ‘satyagraha’. He wanted to conquer without a war, wanted to invade with sympathy, patience and love. In the process, Gandhi faced many dangers. In Durban, he was attacked by a mob. Often he found himself in prison, but his selflessness and wisdom kept him going. He had immense faith in his system and was sure that in the end victory would be theirs. Finally the Indians did win, and in 1914 the Union Parliament passed the Indian Relief Bill, and most of the harsh rules were relaxed. The principle of racial equality was accepted. The £ 3 tax was revoked, Indian marriages became valid and the law on travel relaxed.

Having gained success and experience in South Africa, Gandhi returned to India in 1915. He had yet another Herculean task to undertake. With selfless dedication, he began the struggle for a free India. He lived simply, fasted often and spent much time in prayer and peaceful thinking. He travelled on foot for hundreds of miles, halting in villages, urging people to become self-sufficient and work towards the freedom of the country. People of all religions showed great unity and Gandhi’s call for non-cooperation move-ment was responded to with great enthusiasm. Many people were imprisoned and the stir became more intense. Unfortunately at Chauri Chaura, a wild mob set fire to the police station and many policemen died. This was a great setback to Gandhi and his plan.

Then Gandhi fought for the removal of tax on salt. On March 12, 1930, he set out from Ahmedabad for Dandi. Numerous satyagrahis accompanied him. Gandhi gathered a handful of salt, and silently thousands did the same, breaking the salt laws. The government reacted fiercely. Gandhi was arrested, people were mercilessly beaten up, but there was no retaliation. With each arrest, Gandhi became more powerful — people’s faith in him strengthened — and the government felt more insecure. Gandhi also conducted prayers to motivate Hindus to accept the Dalits as a part of them. He detested untouchability. The Sabarmati Ashram was yet another endeavour of the Mahatma.

In September 1940, the All-India Congress Committee met in Bombay and made further plans to free India. Such forbidden meetings led to many arrests. Within a span of a few months, more than 30,000 Congress men were imprisoned. But the fight, using non-violent methods, continued. In August, 1942, the All-India Congress Committee passed the Quit India Resolution. This led to arrests, strikes, and a series of long talks. Gandhi was accused of encouraging violence. He felt that the charge was unjust and since he was not given justice, he undertook a fast which lasted for 21 days.

Gandhi’s wife, Kasturba, was always by his side. She helped him to recover from his failing health. In the meantime, her own health deteriorated. After suffering from two heart-attacks, she grew worse and one day died in his arms. Gandhi was finally released, but be was frail and weak.

On June 3, 1947, Attlee, the British Prime Minister, announced the plan which would divide India into two parts. The Congress and the Muslim League accepted it but it left the Mahatma heart-broken. The great man’s end was very tragic. On January 30, after a mid-day nap, and a meeting with Sardar Patel, he left for his evening prayer. As he walked along with his two grand daughters, he was shot by a youth who came forward pretending to seek his blessings. Gandhi fell saying "Hey, Ram". He died instantly and the world lost one of the greatest leaders of all times.