Mahatma Gandhi 1869-1915: Mahatma Gandhi’s real name is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Indians venerate him as Bapu and Jati Pita. Netaji revered him as the Father of the Nation. Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd October, 1869 in Porbandar (now in Gujarat State) to Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi and Putlibai. His uncle and father held positions as Diwans of Rajkot and Porbandar at different times.
Mahatma Gandhi journeyed to London at the age of 18 to pursue a law degree. He successfully completed his studies as a barrister at the Inner Temple, University College London, and returned to India in 1892. At the age of 13, he entered into marriage with Kasturba Gandhi. (Second part of this article may be read at: Mahatma Gandhi 1915-1948.)
Mahatma
It is widely believed that Shri Rabindranath Tagore referred to Gandhi as Mahatma in the 1940s. However, credible historical records indicate that Gandhi was first addressed as Mahatma in 1914 at the Durban town hall in South Africa, just before he was set to return to India.
Father of the Nation
Mahatma Gandhi is revered in India as the Father of the Nation, or Jaati Pita of Contemporary India. It was Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose who first referred to Gandhi by this title during a radio address to Indians from Singapore on July 6, 1944, while advancing towards India with his Indian National Army alongside the Japanese forces. Globally, Gandhi is honored for his commitment to a simple lifestyle and his effective nonviolent resistance against British colonial rule. His legacy is commemorated with statues in at least 70 countries worldwide.
Between 1857 and 1947, approximately 350,000 individuals sacrificed their lives in the struggle to expel British rule from India. Shri Balagangadhar Tilak, originating from Pune, was the first to assert swaraj (freedom) as an inherent right. Tilak fostered unity among Hindus by initiating Ganapathi celebrations, while Shri Arabindo Ghosh of Bengal undertook similar efforts by launching Dasserah celebrations in Bengal. The strategies employed by Tilak and Arabindo Ghosh effectively resonated with the Indian Hindu population, galvanizing them for participation in the burgeoning National movement.
Despite this, both Tilak and Ghosh faced persecution by the British authorities due to their advocacy and use of aggressive tactics to expel British rule from India.
Let us explore how Gandhi is globally revered for his approach and why figures like Churchill express frustration when reflecting on Gandhi’s methods.
Albert Einstein on Gandhi
Gandhi utilized Satyagraha as a peaceful approach to resist the oppressive British rule.
Albert Einstein expressed his admiration for Gandhi, saying, “We should all feel fortunate and grateful that fate has given us such an enlightened figure as Mahatma Gandhi, a guiding example for future generations. Future generations will find it hard to believe that someone like this man lived in the world in flesh and blood.”
Human rights champion Martin Luther King from the United States praised Gandhi, saying, “Christ provided us with the objectives, while Mahatma Gandhi offered the strategies.”
However, it is clear that the stunning allure of a peacock that captivates a poet does not evoke the same emotions in a big cat. In 1931, after the Round Table Conference failed, Churchill ridiculed Gandhi by stating: ‘It is both alarming and repulsive to witness Mr. Gandhi, a rebellious lawyer from the Middle Temple, now presenting himself as a fakir of a well-known type in the East, striding half-naked up the steps of the Vice-regal palace… to negotiate on equal footing with the representative of the King-Emperor.’
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Churchill on Gandhi
Churchill referred to Gandhi as ‘a dictator’ and a ‘Hindu Mussolini’, stirring racial tensions and trying to replace the Raj with Brahmin supporters, taking advantage of the Indian people’s ignorance for his own gain. He depicted Gandhi as a ‘deceptive trickster’ focused on self-interest, an ‘ambitious tyrant’, and an ‘ancient symbol of primal Hinduism.’ Ultimately, in 1944, concerned about the possible death of the fasting Gandhi while incarcerated, Churchill sent a telegram to prison officials saying, ‘that half-naked fakir must not perish in prison, release him immediately.’
The British government banned photographs of Gandhi taken during his hunger strikes in prisons to prevent evoking sympathy in England and Europe.
Gandhi was sincerely respected by his contemporaries in India and beyond. Time Magazine acknowledged the Dalai Lama, Lech Wałesa, Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez, Aung San Suu Kyi, Benigno Aquino, Jr., Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela as Children of Gandhi and his heirs in the pursuit of nonviolence.
Barack Obama on Gandhi
In a speech delivered to the Indian Parliament in 2010, US President Barack Obama remarked, ‘I recognize that I may not be here today as President of the United States if it weren’t for Gandhi and the message he conveyed to America and the world.’
Subhas Chandra Bose and Gandhi
Let us know that numerous associates of Gandhi, including Rajendra Prasad, Tez Bahadur Sapru, Patel, Nehru, and Bose, sometimes had differing opinions on his policies; however, they were unable to part ways with Gandhi, with the exception of Bose.
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Bose was forced to resign as President of the Indian National Congress following his second victory in 1938. He had differing views from Gandhi on the methods to be used in the fight for independence. However, this did not stop Netaji from calling Gandhi the Father of the Nation in 1944. (Bose tragically died in an airplane crash in 1944.) Patel led the Congress elite, while Nehru was a compelling orator who attracted large audiences. Gandhi facilitated their cooperation while guiding the freedom movement to its ultimate conclusion.
In his last days in 1950, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel implored his visiting friends to back Nehru and to refrain from opposing him for the benefit of the young nation.
Although Gandhi and Nehru had their disagreements on many occasions, they collaborated towards their shared objective of removing the British from Indian territory.
Nehru and Bose expressed their disapproval of Gandhi’s decision to halt the Non-Cooperation Movement following the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922. The general feeling at the time was one of continued unrest. However, this turmoil subsided with a single word from Gandhi. In 1946, when Patel was put forward for the presidency of the Indian National Congress by nearly all Pradesh Congress committees, Gandhi rejected Patel’s nomination and instead suggested Nehru. Patel graciously withdrew from the race. What was the source of Gandhi’s authority? I believe it stemmed from the trust the people placed in him. They had confidence in his honesty.
The customs of the Gandhi family rooted in Vaishnavite Advaita Vedanta and the Jaina religious environment had a profound impact on his character. Vaishnavism emphasizes devotion, faith in God, and a connection with the divine. Therefore, he likely upheld his dignity in his service to God. The Jain tradition promotes the principle of Nonviolence. I believe he harnessed this Jaina concept of nonviolence as a formidable weapon against oppression, all without resorting to physical arms.
My Experiments with Truth
In his book, The Story of My Experiments with Truth (originally written in Gujarātī as Satyana Prayogo Athava Aatmakatha), Gandhi shares an experience where a Quaker mission in South Africa attempted to convert him to Christianity. He engaged in their prayers and had discussions about Christian theology, but ultimately he rejected the notion that Christ was the only son of God. Gandhi believed that every person embodies the essence of God, making every human, including Jesus, a child of God. This idea aligns with Advaita philosophy, or non-duality, which posits that God resides within every individual and all living beings.
Gandhi mentioned that he started studying Hindu scriptures to grasp their meaning, which would help him address the critiques of Hindu rituals made by Christians.
In addition, Gandhi explored the Quran and the Bible. He held a deep respect for the character of Prophet Mohammad. However, he cautioned against misinterpretations of Islam.
Gandhi noted that he was a reserved person during his younger years. Nevertheless, community involvement was essential to his lifestyle. At the age of 20, while pursuing his law studies in London, he joined the London Vegetarian Society. Drawing from his personal experiences, he fostered a spirit of resilience in South Africa. He spent 21 years in South Africa, facing numerous challenges. He was arrested several times and served prison sentences. Yet, he consistently maintained his stance and never showed remorse for his words or actions. He remained true to his principles. He upheld his convictions.
Gandhi IN SOUTH AFRICA
In April 1893, at the age of 23, Gandhi set off for South Africa. Initially, he worked for Khan and Co. for a period, but later he established his own legal practice. His time in South Africa spanned 21 years.
He refused to comply with the demands of other European passengers in the stagecoach who wanted him to sit on the floor near the driver. Subsequently, he was assaulted. In another incident, he was pushed into a drain for being too close to a house. Additionally, he was forcibly removed from a train in Pietermaritzburg for refusing to leave the first-class compartment.
He stayed at the train station, shivering all night while pondering whether to return to India or to stand up for his rights. Ultimately, he chose to protest. The next day, he was allowed to board the train. In another incident, the magistrate of the Durban court ordered Gandhi to remove his turban, which he refused to do.
In January 1897, when Gandhi arrived in Durban, he was attacked by a group of white settlers. This incident marked the beginning of his experience with both mental and physical challenges in South Africa. Every Indian in that region likely faced similar adversities. However, Gandhi chose to confront the injustice in a foreign land through nonviolent means, steadfastly adhering to his beliefs and principles.
In South Africa, Europeans labeled him with terms such as “parasite,” “semi-barbarous,” “canker,” “squalid coolie,” and “yellow man,” among other derogatory names.
Gandhi fought against the passage of laws intended to disenfranchise Indians. While he did not succeed in his objective, his efforts effectively brought attention to the challenges encountered by Indians living in South Africa.
He was instrumental in founding the Natal Indian Congress in 1894.
In 1910, Gandhi founded “Tolstoy Farm” close to Johannesburg, with the help of his friend Hermann Kallenbach. There, he promoted his philosophy of nonviolent resistance. It is encouraging to see that after black South Africans achieved voting rights in 1994, Gandhi was celebrated as a national hero with several monuments erected in his honor. In 1915, at the urging of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, communicated to him by C. F. Andrews, Gandhi returned to India from South Africa.
Below is a summary of Gandhi’s imprisonments and penalties in South Africa.
10 January 1908 – He was arrested and sentenced to two months of simple imprisonment for failing to register or leave Transvaal. He was released on 30 January.
07 October 1908 – While returning from Natal, he was sentenced to hard labor imprisonment for not being able to present his registration, which he had accidentally burned.
25 February 1909 – He was arrested and received a three-month prison sentence in Transvaal for not presenting a registration certificate.
06 November 1913 – After the ‘great march’, he was arrested at Palm Ford and released on the 7th after Kallenbach posted bail.
08 November 1913 – He was detained again and subsequently released on bail.
09 November 1913 – He was apprehended and sentenced to nine months in prison. Volkhurst received an additional three-month sentence. However, he was released on 18 December 1913.
Gandhi wrote Hind Swaraj, also known as Indian Home Rule, in Gujarati and published it in 1909. In this work, he argued that merely removing the English from India is not enough; we must also reject Western culture. Failing to do so would result in India resembling England instead of Hindustan. He maintained that India could only attain independence through passive resistance, not through violent means.