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[[Image:5356356.jpg|right|thumb|Gandhi]]

[[Image:5356356.jpg|right|thumb|Gandhi]]

'''Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi''' (1869-1948) also known by the honorific title ''Mahatma Gandhi,'' was a great leader who obtained [[India]]'s independence from [[Britain]]. He urged peaceful [[civil disobedience]] to the British,<ref>Gandhi's ethic of nonviolence ... calls on each of us to break the self-perpetuating cycle of [[violence]] and [[revenge]] -- of [[action and reaction]] -- by recognizing the common [[humanity]] we share with those we consider our enemies. Gandhi put this philosophy into practice by developing a technique of militant [[nonviolence]] that was intended to force the British to see the humanity of those they oppressed, and the inhumanity of their own actions[http://www.transparencynow.com/news/preface.htm]</ref> calling on Indians to refuse to pay taxes to Britain and refuse to attend British schools.  He also called for a boycott of British manufactures, especially for the cloths that Indian weavers are so famous for.  The Indians heeded Gandhi’s leadership and stopped buying British cloth.  Gandhi also called for the Indian National Congress to change from an elite or wealthy group into more of a people’s voice that could advocate independence.  Gandhi drew upon [[Christian]] concepts as well as his native [[Hinduism]].  His education included studying law at the University College London, though Gandhi makes little mention of that in his autobiography and details are unclear.

'''Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi''' (1869-1948) also known by the honorific title ''Mahatma Gandhi,'' was a great leader who obtained [[India]]'s independence from [[Britain]]. He urged peaceful [[civil disobedience]] to the British,<ref>Gandhi's ethic of nonviolence ... calls on each of us to break the self-perpetuating cycle of [[violence]] and [[revenge]] -- of [[action and reaction]] -- by recognizing the common [[humanity]] we share with those we consider our enemies. Gandhi put this philosophy into practice by developing a technique of militant [[nonviolence]] that was intended to force the British to see the humanity of those they oppressed, and the inhumanity of their own actions<ref>[http://www.transparencynow.com/news/preface.htm]</ref> calling on Indians to refuse to pay taxes to Britain and refuse to attend British schools.  He also called for a boycott of British manufactures, especially for the cloths that Indian weavers are so famous for.  The Indians heeded Gandhi’s leadership and stopped buying British cloth.  Gandhi also called for the Indian National Congress to change from an elite or wealthy group into more of a people’s voice that could advocate independence.  Gandhi drew upon [[Christian]] concepts as well as his native [[Hinduism]].  His education included studying law at the University College London, though Gandhi makes little mention of that in his autobiography and details are unclear.

One of Gandhi’s acts of protest was to lead the Salt March in 1930 for 240 miles to the sea, so that Indians could obtain salt from evaporated salt water rather than buy it from (and pay taxes to) Britain.  A law required Indians to buy salt from the British government, but Gandhi’s march peacefully disobeyed that law and created much publicity.  Gandhi and many of his supporters were eventually arrested for some of their protests.

One of Gandhi’s acts of protest was to lead the Salt March in 1930 for 240 miles to the sea, so that Indians could obtain salt from evaporated salt water rather than buy it from (and pay taxes to) Britain.  A law required Indians to buy salt from the British government, but Gandhi’s march peacefully disobeyed that law and created much publicity.  Gandhi and many of his supporters were eventually arrested for some of their protests.

Eventually Gandhi’s protest efforts paid off, as the British Parliament enacted the Government of India Act in 1935.  This established self-rule at a local level and allowed some democratic elections.  Muslims, however, feared majority Hindu rule and requested a separate state for Muslims.  The Muslim League endorsed the creation of a new country called “[[Pakistan]]” for the predominantly [[Muslim]] population of that region.  India and Pakistan are fully independent today.

Eventually Gandhi’s protest efforts paid off, as the British Parliament enacted the Government of India Act in 1935.  This established self-rule at a local level and allowed some democratic elections.  Muslims, however, feared majority Hindu rule and requested a separate state for Muslims.  The Muslim League endorsed the creation of a new country called “[[Pakistan]]” for the predominantly [[Muslim]] population of that region.  India and Pakistan are fully independent today.

Gandhi was assassinated by Hindu ultra-nationalists on 20 January 1948, shortly after Indian independence.

Gandhi was a vegetarian and would go on fasts for causes of peace.  He was assassinated by Hindu ultra-nationalists on 20 January 1948, shortly after Indian independence.

==Famous quotes==

==Famous quotes==

*First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. Then they fight you. ''Then you win.''

*First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. Then they fight you. ''Then you win.''

*“There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever” [http://thinkexist.com/quotes/mahatma_gandhi/]

*“There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever” <ref>http://thinkexist.com/quotes/mahatma_gandhi/</ref>

*"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?" <ref> ''Non-violence in Peace and War'' (1942) Vol I, ch. 142 </ref>

*"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?" <ref> ''Non-violence in Peace and War'' (1942) Vol I, ch. 142 </ref>

[[Category:Political People]]

[[Category:Political People]]

[[Category:India]]

[[Category:India]]