Mohandas K. Gandhi
On January 1948, before three pistol shots ended his life, Mohandas K. Gandhi had been on the political stage for more than 50 years. Mohandas Krachmad Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869. The Gandhi's belonged to the merchant caste apart from the other four social caste including untouchables, the poorest. The Gandhi's all lived in one house. Mohan lived with his aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters and mother and father. When Mohan was only thirteen he was married to Kasturbai. Mohandas was educated at a University in London and graduated with a degree in law. Then he was called to a case in South Africa he was to stay there for a year. He ordered first class tickets for himself and his wife. Once on the train British passengers complained that there were people that were colored in the first class area. Gandhi was kicked out of the train at the next station. Gandhi soon found that all Indian immigrants in South Africa were treated very poorly, and then he began his non cooperation fight for Indians. Gandhi spent 20 years in South Africa suffering imprisonment and being beaten. Gandhi started teaching passive resistance and non cooperation to the Indians. Finally the British just let the Indians have their rights such as being able to walk on the sidewalk. Gandhi decided it was time to return home to India. When Gandhi returned home he was greeted by lots of Indians who had heard what he accomplished in South Africa and wanted help because the British were in complete control over the Indians in India. Gandhi told the Indians to fight the British not with their hands or weapons but just do nothing they said or practice non cooperation .f For example, if the British told the Indians to buy British made clothes, the Indians should make their own clothes. Gandhi then began making his own clothes on the spinning wheel. Soon Indians in public office resigned, agencies such as courts of law where boycotted. Also children were pulled out of schools. Gandhi was imprisoned. Riots broke out all over India and British officers were killed. Gandhi was fasting in prison during this time for he did not want people to be killed. The riots stopped and Gandhi was let out of prison. On March 12, 1930 Gandhi took a 240 mile Salt March with many of his followers. They were protesting the British practice of taking all the salt and selling it to the Indians. The British just ignored it but soon all of the Indians were getting salt. Since the British main way to get money was from salt or clothing they soon were running out of money. When the Indians went to go get salt from the main British salt industry the British were waiting and beat every Indian that tried to get salt. Many Indians were injured or killed. The British finally gave up and left India. In 1941 India won Independence. But all was not good. The Hindus and Muslims had lived together for a long time but now the Muslims demanded their own country. The West side of India was turned into Pakistan for the Muslims and India for the Hindus. When the Muslims were walking to Pakistan and the Hindus to India they were very thirsty in the sun. They began to kill each other. Every one was fighting. Children, women and men of both races were killed. When Gandhi heard the news he was very angry. Gandhi fasted for twelve days at the age of 78! Finally the killing stopped. In New Delhi in a ceremonial service Gandhi was killed by a Hindu fanatic who blamed him for the separation of India. Gandhi died on January 30, 1948 at the age of 79.
