Profile of the Day: Mahatma Gandhi

Posted October 2, 2023 by Amanda | No Comment

Today we remember Mahatma Gandhi, who was born on this day in 1869. Regarded as “the father of the nation” in India, Gandhi led the country to independence from British rule through nonviolent civil disobedience. His actions would help inspire civil rights movements all across the globe.

Image: Mahatma Gandhi / Nationaal Archief, Wikimedia Commons CC0

He was born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 1869 to a Hindu merchant caste family. He studied law in London and spent 21 years in South Africa opposing discriminatory legislation against Indians. It was there that he developed his political leadership skills that would come to be admired throughout the world.

In 1914, Gandhi returned to India and became a leader in the Indian National Congress. He led the campaign for Indian independence using a policy of noncooperation, nonviolence, and peaceful resistance. On August 15, 1947, India finally achieved independence from British rule.

Gandhi’s leadership brought significant change to the 20th century and would go on to inspire movements of nonviolence, civil rights, and freedom around the world.

Explore Mahatma Gandhi’s family tree on Geni!