Mahatma Gandhi was a prominent Indian leader who fought for India’s independence from British rule using non-violent methods. He was born as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, a coastal town in Gujarat. He studied law in London and practised as a lawyer in South Africa, where he faced racial discrimination and became involved in civil rights activism. He returned to India in 1915 and joined the Indian National Congress, a political party that sought self-rule for India. He led several campaigns against British policies, such as the Salt March of 1930 and the Quit India Movement of 1942. He also advocated for social reforms, such as abolishing untouchability and empowering women. He was known as Mahatma, meaning “great soul” or “venerable”, a title given to him by his admirers. He was assassinated by a Hindu extremist on January 30, 1948, in Delhi.
