Here are 49 fascinating facts about Mahatma Gandhi:

Early Life and Background

1. Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat, India.
2. His full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
3. Gandhi’s father, Karamchand Gandhi, was a political figure and the diwan (chief minister) of Porbandar.
4. Gandhi’s mother, Putlibai, was a deeply religious woman who had a significant influence on his spiritual life.
5. Gandhi was a shy and introverted child who was initially not very academically inclined.
6. He went to London in 1888 to study law at University College London.
7. Gandhi was deeply influenced by the teachings of Jainism, particularly its emphasis on non-violence (Ahimsa) and truth (Satya).
8. Gandhi was a mediocre student but he passed the bar exam in 1891 and became a lawyer.
9. Gandhi married Kasturba Gandhi in 1883 when he was just 13 years old, following the customs of the time.
10. Gandhi and Kasturba had four children.

Early Struggles and Journey Abroad

11. Gandhi moved to South Africa in 1893 to work as a lawyer and became a champion for the civil rights of Indians living there.
12. In South Africa, Gandhi experienced discrimination and racism that profoundly shaped his later activism.
13. Gandhi was thrown off a whites-only train compartment in South Africa, an incident that became a turning point in his life.
14. Gandhi led the Indian community in South Africa in the fight for civil rights and fought against discriminatory laws.
15. Gandhi developed the concept of Satyagraha (nonviolent resistance) during his time in South Africa, which he later used in India’s struggle for independence.
16. He founded the Natal Indian Congress in South Africa in 1894 to fight for Indian rights.
17. Gandhi spent 21 years in South Africa, where his ideas about social justice, equality, and non-violence were refined.
18. Gandhi was deeply influenced by the teachings of Leo Tolstoy, and he even corresponded with him during his time in South Africa.

Return to India and Political Movement

19. Gandhi returned to India in 1915, after spending over two decades in South Africa.
20. Gandhi was immediately recognized as a leader due to his fame from his work in South Africa.
21. In 1916, he became involved in the Champaran Satyagraha, his first major nonviolent protest in India, which successfully helped the farmers of Bihar.
22. In 1917, Gandhi launched the Kheda Satyagraha, which was aimed at helping farmers facing heavy taxation in Gujarat.
23. In 1919, Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement to resist British rule by nonviolent means, calling for the boycott of British goods, schools, and law courts.
24. Gandhi was arrested in 1922 for sedition and sentenced to six years in prison, but he was released after two years due to his health.
25. Gandhi led the famous Salt March in 1930, a 240-mile protest against the British monopoly on salt production in India.
26. In 1942, Gandhi initiated the Quit India Movement demanding an end to British rule, which resulted in his arrest and imprisonment for almost two years.
27. Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence (Ahimsa) and truth (Satya) became the foundation of his political ideology.

Personal Philosophy and Influence

28. Gandhi believed in simple living and high thinking, wearing simple clothes, and leading a minimalist lifestyle.
29. Gandhi took a vow of celibacy in 1906 and lived a life of self-control, even though he had been married.
30. He adopted vegetarianism and even spent time at a vegetarian colony in England to further his principles.
31. Gandhi was deeply influenced by the Bhagavad Gita, which he saw as a guide to living a life of selfless service and nonviolence.
32. He regularly practiced fasting as a form of self-purification and a means of political protest.
33. Gandhi believed in the principle of Sarvodaya, or the welfare of all, focusing on uplifting the poor and marginalized.
34. He also championed the cause of Dalits, referring to them as Harijans (children of God), and fought for their social and political rights.
35. Gandhi was against the caste system and believed in the equality of all human beings.
36. He was also a proponent of Swadeshi (self-reliance), urging people to boycott British goods and use indigenous products.
37. Gandhi promoted the idea of Khadi (hand-spun cloth), which became a symbol of India’s independence movement.
38. He practiced truthfulness in all aspects of his life, and it was the core value of his philosophy.
39. Gandhi emphasized the importance of self-discipline and self-reliance in the fight for independence.
40. Gandhi believed in religious tolerance and sought unity among Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians in India.

Role in Independence Movement

41. Mahatma Gandhi was called the “Father of the Nation” by the people of India.
42. Gandhi’s leadership brought millions of people together for the common cause of independence, especially peasants, workers, and women.
43. His approach to the independence struggle was based on nonviolent resistance, leading to India’s eventual independence in 1947.
44. Gandhi never wanted power for himself and refused to hold any official government position after India’s independence.
45. He was deeply committed to reconciliation and peace between Hindus and Muslims, especially during the partition of India in 1947.
46. Gandhi is credited with fostering the idea of Indian nationalism and making it a mass movement.
47. He continuously sought to create an India where everyone could live in harmony, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion.
48. Gandhi advocated for non-violent civil disobedience and inspired global leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

Final Years and Legacy

49. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist who opposed Gandhi’s views on Hindu-Muslim unity.

Gandhi’s legacy of non-violence, truth, and peaceful protest has had a profound impact on civil rights movements around the world. His life and teachings continue to inspire generations.