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	Mahatma Gandhi

"You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind."

Gandhi was imprisoned in 1922, 1930, 1933 and 1942 as part of his campaign of non-violence. He took the religious principle of 'doing no harm' common to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism and turned it into a passive tool for mass action. He used it to fight not only colonial rule but social evils such as racial discrimination. Among the techniques used were peaceful demonstrations, hunger strikes and civil disobedience.

Mahatma Gandhi was one of the pivotal figures, if not the main figure, in India's history in the Twentieth Century - opposing imperial British rule and shaping the country's history up to its independence in 1947.

He said, "Truth, purity, self-control, firmness, fearlessness, humility, unity, peace, and renunciation - these are the inherent qualities of a civil resister."

Our resident language expert, Professor David Crystal, explains how Gandhi ensured his words were remembered

Factoids on Gandhi

Mahatma means 'Great Soul'

Married at the age of 13 and father to 4 children

Named 'Time' magazine's man of the year in 1930

78 years old when he fasted for peace in 1948

Unsuccessfully nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947 & 1948.

Profile

Born in 1869 in India, Mahatma Gandhi was a lawyer by profession. His work led him to South Africa, where from 1883 he worked to secure the rights of Indians living under British rule. It was there he developed his principles for obtaining political and social goals - 'satyagraha'. Returning to India, he became the leader of the Indian nationalist movement where he actively led the campaign for India's independence, gained in 1947.

With the partition into India and Pakistan, rioting between Hindus and Muslims broke out. Being a staunch advocate for a united India, Gandhi began a fast to shame rioting mobs into order. Five days later the opposing leaders pledged to stop the fighting and Gandhi broke his fast. However not long after, Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu extremist who was opposed to his willingness to engage in dialogue with people of all religions.