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A Legend is Born
On October 2, 1869, Mohandas Gandhi was born in Porbandar, India to Karamchand Gandhi and Purtlibai. They were a wealthy family from a high Hindu caste. -
A Forced Marraige
At the age of 13, Gandhi married the 14-year-old Kasturba Makhanji. He did not even know in advance that he was going to marry this girl. -
Studying Law in England
Gandhi moved to England at the age of 19 to study law, breaking Hindu caste tradition. He never completely adjusted to the English way of life. -
Gandhi Gets A Job
Gandhi accepted a job in which he would work for Muslims in South Africa. However, on his train ride to South Africa, he was asked to get off the train by a white man. This prompted his goal to end racial prejudice. -
The NIC
On May 22, 1894, Gandhi established the Natal Indian Congress. Although it was an organization for wealthy Indians, Gandhi tried to expand its membership to all classes and castes. -
Gandhi Restricts Himself
In 1906, Ganhi took the vow of bramacharya, which was abstinence against any sexual relations, even with his wife. He also restricted his diet to foods that were unspiced and uncooked. -
Passive Resistance
In late 1906, Gandhi came up with the concept of satyagraha, which meant passive resistance. Satyagraha was focused on nonviolent resistance to a particular injustice. -
Gandhi Returns To India
At age 45, Gandhi returned to India after 21 years of practicing law in South Africa. He began campaigning for home rule and the reacceptance of all classes and religious groups. -
The Rowlatt Act Protest
When Britain passed the unjust Rowlatt Act, Gandhi organized a mass hartal, or strike, which began on March 30, 1919. This protest quickly got out of hand and was called off when it turned violent. -
Leading The INC
After World War I, Gandhi became the leader of the Indian National Congress, a group that worked for change. -
Gandhi Arrested
British magistrates in India sentenced Gandhi to six years in prison for disobedience. After spending two years in prison, he was released due to bad health following a surgery. -
The Great Fast
After Gandhi was released from prison, he became unhappy with the violence that was going on between Muslims and Hindus. To show his hatred toward violence, Gandhi began a 21-day fast, known as the Great Fast of 1924. -
The Salt March
Britain would not grant India the status of a commonwealth, so Gandhi and the INC organized a nation-wide protest against the British tax on salt. Gandhi and about 50,000 Indians marched to the coast to make salt. The Salt March sparked Indian nationalism, but Gandhi was arrested because of it. -
"Quit India" Campaign
Britain announced that India would be freed when World War II ended, but Gandhi wanted independence sooner. He organized the "Quit India" campaign in 1942, but he was soon arrested because of it. -
Gandhi Assassinated
On Jan. 30, 1948, Gandhi, surrounded by a crowd, walked to the Birla House for a prayer meeting. Out of the crowd came Nathurum Gosde, a Hindu extremist. The young Gosde stopped before Gandhi and bowed. He then shot Gandhi three times, killing him.