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Gandhi's Birth
Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India. -
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Gandhi's Life
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Traveling to London
In 1888 Gandhi left India, without his wife or newborn son, inn order to study to become a barrister in London. -
Studying
Gandhi returned to India and studied law for two years. Unfortunately, Gandhi found that he lacked both knowledge of Indian law and self-confidence at trial. -
More Traveling
At the age of 23 Gandhi once again left his family and went to South Africa. He was hoping to learn more about law and earn some money. It was in South Africa that Gandhi transformed from a very quiet and shy man to a leader against discrimination. -
Natal Indian Congress
On May 22, 1894 Gandhi established the Natal Indian Congress. It started out as an orginazation for welathy Indians but Gandhi worked diligently to expand its membership to all people. Gandhi became well known for his activism and his acts were told in the Newspaper in India. In a few short years, Gandhi had become a leader of the Indian community in South Africa. -
Boer War In South Africa
The Gandhi organized the Indian Ambulance Corp in which 1,100 Indians helped injured British soldiers. -
The Black Act
The first time Gandhi officially used satyagraha was in South Africa beginning in 1907 when he organized opposition to the Asiatic Registration Law. -
The Black Act was passed
The Black Act was passed, requiring all Indians - young and old, men and women - to get fingerprinted and to keep registration documents on them at all times. While using satyagraha, Indians refused to get fingerprinted and picketed the documentation offices -
Protesting
It took seven years of protest, but in June 1914, the Black Act was repealed. Gandhi had proved that nonviolent protest could be immensely successful. It was a hard fought because lots of protesters were beaten and arrested including Gandhi. -
Rowlatt Act
In 1919, the British gave Gandhi something specific to fight against - the Rowlatt Act. -
More about the Rowlatt Act
This Act gave the British in India nearly free-reign to root out "revolutionary" elements and to detain them indefinitely without trial. In response to this Act, Gandhi organized a mass hartal. Unfortunately, such a large scale protest quickly got out of hand and in many places it turned violent. -
Call of the Hartal
Even though Gandhi called off the hartal once he heard about the violence, over 300 Indians had died and over 1,100 were injured from British reprisal in the city of Amritsar. -
Satyagrah
Gandhi created the concept satayagrah was a non-violent way of protesting against injustices. Satayagrah means "Truth Force." -
Gandhi to prison
Gandhi was jailed for sedition and after a trial was sentenced to six years in prison. After two years, Gandhi was released due to ill-health following surgery to treat his appendicitis. -
Salt March
Gandhi and the Indian National Congress announced a new challenge to the British government. If India was not granted the status of a Commonwealth by December 31, 1929, then they would organize a nation-wide protest against British taxes. The deadline came and passed with no change in British policy. -
The Salt March begins
Gandhi and 78 other people marched from the Sabarmati Ashram and headed to the sea, about 200 miles away. When they rached Dandi on April 5th they stoped and and prayed all night. In the morning Gandhi made a presentation of picking up a piece of sea salt, technically he had just broken the law. -
The assassination
Not everyone was happy with Ganhi's peace plan. It was time for the prayer meeting, Gandhi began the walk to Birla House. People gathered around him and young Hindu stopped before him and bowed, Gandhi bowed back. When the boy came back up he shot Gandi three times and he died.
