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Mahatma Gandhi:
- He was an Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer who became the leader of the nationalist movement against the British rule of India.
- He was born on October 02, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat.
- He completed his early education at Gujarat and Bombay University.
- He went to London on September 04, 1888, to become a barrister.
- In 1893, he went to South Africa.
- In January 1915, He returned to his homeland after two decades of residence abroad
- His first major public appearance was at the opening of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in February 1916.
Role in Freedom struggles
- He spent much of 1917 in Champaran, seeking to obtain for the peasant’s security of tenure as well as the freedom to cultivate the crops of their choice.
- The following year, 1918, Gandhiji was involved in two campaigns in his home state of Gujarat.
- First, he intervened in a labour dispute in Ahmedabad, demanding better working conditions for the textile mill workers.
- Then he joined peasants in Kheda in asking the state for the remission of taxes following the failure of their harvest
- In 1919 he decided to launch a nationwide satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919).
- This Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the united opposition of the Indian members.
- It gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowed the detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
- He also organized the Non Cooperation movement in 1920.
- He organized a civil disobedience movement in 1930, it is also known for Dandi Yatra.
- The final nail in the coffin for British Raj in India was the Quit India Movement, led by Gandhi in 1942.
Other Contributions
- He worked for the upliftment of untouchables and gave them a new name ‘Harijan’ meaning the children of God.
- Writing: ‘Young India,’ Navajivan’, My Experiments with Truth (Autobiography), Hind Swaraj.
Government Initiatives to honour him
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
- Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti is one of the institutions formed by the government of India in September 1984 by the merger of Gandhi Darshan at Rajghat and Gandhi Smriti.
- Gandhi Shilp Bazaar is a govt’s scheme to promote and Market Indian handicrafts and provide financial assistance to different eligible organizations to organize Crafts Bazar in various places.
- The Bunkar Bima Yojana was introduced by the Government of India in December 2003.
- From 2005-06 this scheme was revised and has been implemented with the title “Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Yojana”.
- Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana is a special social security scheme that includes Pension and Life Insurance.
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