Although Gandhi is regarded as 'saintly' and honest a lot of what he did was of a political bent. He was a very smart man who knew how to get people to follow him, and knew what he wanted. This is not meant to reduce his achievements in any way, but he wasn't the absolute martyr everyone assumes he is.
He actually studied law in England before he went on to become a revolutionary figure. At one time, on a train to Pietermaritzburg (South Africa) he was kicked off the train for refusing to move out of the first class compartment (he had purchased a first class ticket). The racial discrimination shocked him, and he vowed to change things when he got back to India.
The entire basis for his civil rights movement was ahimsa, or nonviolent protest and boycott. Rather than asking people to fight back against the British colonizers, he asked them to respond by simply refusing to cooperate. When British soldiers came to stop protests and rallies, people would just sit down on the roads and quietly refuse to move.
Some other notable incidents were the Dandi Salt March and the Quit India Movement.
He also inspired dozens of others including Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr.
He was assassinated on 30th January 1948 by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist who believed that he had divided India by allowing Pakistan to secede. According to legend, his last words were "He Rama," which he said with a smile. It translates to "Oh God," as in "I see you God."
What can you tell me about Gandhi and Indian Independence?
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Interesting article: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc ... ndhi/8550/
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