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At age 19, Gandhi went to England to study law. He tried to set up his own law practice but instead joined an Indian law firm in South Africa. 20 years Gandhi fought laws that discriminated against Indians in South Africa.
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Gandhi retured to India and joined Congress party. In his struggle against injustice, he adopted the weapon of nonviolent (passive) resistance.
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Amritsar Massacre was a turning point for many Indians. It convinced them of the evils of British rule.
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Gandhi called for boycotts of British gods, especially textiles, and urged Indians to wear only cotton grown and woven in India.
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Gandhi preached the ancient doctrine of ahimsa, or nonviolence and reverence for all life. Believed in civil disobedience, the refusal to obey unjust laws.
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With 78 followers, Gandhi set out on a 240 mile march to the sea. As the tiny band passed through villages, crowds listened eagerly to Gandhi's message. By the time they reached the sea, the marchers numbered in the thousands.
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Muslim League gained an able leader in Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He represented Muslim interests with in Congress Party. Later he threw his support behind the idea of a separate state for Muslims. It was called Pakistan "land of the ritually pure".
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Britain outraged Indian leaders by postponing further action on Independence and then bringing India into the war with out consulting them.
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Britain finally agreed to Indian nationalists demand for independence.
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Muhammad Ali Jinnah, leader of the Muslim League, insisted that Muslims have their own state, Pakistan. 1947 British officials hostily drew borders to create Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan.
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1947, millions of Hindus and Muslims crossed the borders of India and Pakistan in both directions. During the mass migration, centuries of mistrust - which the British had exploited to keep the population - plunged northern India into savage violence
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Jan. 30, 1948 Gandhi was shot and killed by a Hindu extremist. Gandhi's death discredited the extremists and helped end the worst violence.
