Mahatma Gandhi - Father Of The Nation

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the leader of the Indian independence movement against the British. Gandhi carried the India's movement for freedom for over 20 years upholding values of non-violence and peace. Winning a battle without raising a hand at your enemy is a feat not many could accomplish; but Gandhi did, earning him the title Mahatma, or the revered one.

Although his morals were imbibed in him since birth, his strive for freedom was not. It was in Africa, when he was studying law, where he was kicked out of a first class compartment becasue of his brown color, despite having a ticket. Gandhi realised the need for freedom not just for himself but the billion people suffering under the British regime back in India. He abandoned his studies and travelled back to India to spark the freedom movement, which was a 20 year peaceful war waged against the British.

Gandhi's policy of non-violence and peace were intially condemned, but holding strong to his beliefs he eventually gained several supporters which continued to multiply with every movement. He intiated satyagraha, the practice of buring British goods sold in India. Furthermore, Gandhi encoruaged Indians to boycott foreign goods which the British sold in India. This was a direct attack on the British as it hurt the growth of British companies. 

When the British raised the tax on salt, Gandhi led a group of followers towards the Arabian Sea, a treck which covered 240 miles. This was a campaign of tax resistance, where in Gandhi and his followers would illegally produce salt from seawater. Although Gandhi's methods were peaceful, his enemies weren't. The British continued to use violence to supress the movement, with several killings, including the massacre in Punjab, which was a public shooting of 1000 innocent men, women and children in closed quarters. Even in times of such brutality, Gandhi urged his followers to stick to their morals.

Despite the resistance, Gandhi contined to intiate several movements targeted towards the British regime. His followers grew in numbers, causing an intially weakened India to stand strong against the face of British oppression. On August 15, 1947, he earned India its independence. The man was justly called the 'Father of the Nation'.