GAndhi Jayanti

2. Mohandas Gandhi was born in the state
Mohandas Gandhi was born in the state
of Gujarat, India in 1869.
of Gujarat, India in 1869.

3. At the age of
At the age of
thirteen Mohandas
thirteen Mohandas
was married to
was married to
Kasturba.
Kasturba.
The marriage had
The marriage had
been arranged for him
been arranged for him
by his family.
by his family.
They had four sons.
They had four sons.

4. When he was 18 Gandhi came to London
When he was 18 Gandhi came to London
to train as a barrister.
to train as a barrister.
He tried behaving like an Englishman
He tried behaving like an Englishman
and took up ballroom dancing. We know
and took up ballroom dancing. We know
that he took a dislike to his landlady’s
that he took a dislike to his landlady’s
boiled cabbage!
boiled cabbage!
In these days he got ‘stage fright’ when
In these days he got ‘stage fright’ when
speaking in court.
speaking in court.

5. He returned to
He returned to
India in 1891, then
India in 1891, then
accepted a job at
accepted a job at
an Indian law firm
an Indian law firm
in South Africa.
in South Africa.

6. His experience of racism in South Africa
His experience of racism in South Africa
proved to be a turning point in his life.
proved to be a turning point in his life.
He was refused admission to hotels, beaten up
He was refused admission to hotels, beaten up
when he refused to give up his seat to a white
when he refused to give up his seat to a white
man on a stage coach …..
man on a stage coach …..
…
…and thrown off a train when he refused to
and thrown off a train when he refused to
move to a third class compartment, after he
move to a third class compartment, after he
had paid for a first class ticket.
had paid for a first class ticket.

7. When he was about to
When he was about to
return to India, he heard
return to India, he heard
that a law was going
that a law was going
to be passed to prevent
to be passed to prevent
Indian people from voting.
Indian people from voting.
He decided to draw attention to this
He decided to draw attention to this
injustice and became an activist.
injustice and became an activist.

8. However, Gandhi said:
However, Gandhi said:
‘
‘There are many causes that I am
There are many causes that I am
prepared to die for, but no causes that
prepared to die for, but no causes that
I am prepared to kill for.’
I am prepared to kill for.’
He developed a new non-violent way to
He developed a new non-violent way to
make things right, by getting lots of
make things right, by getting lots of
people to disobey unfair laws, and to be
people to disobey unfair laws, and to be
unco-operative with rulers who were
unco-operative with rulers who were
treating them badly.
treating them badly.

9. Over the next seven years Gandhi led a
Over the next seven years Gandhi led a
non-violent campaign of resistance to
non-violent campaign of resistance to
laws which were unfair to ‘coloured’
laws which were unfair to ‘coloured’
people.
people.
During this time thousands of Indians,
During this time thousands of Indians,
including Gandhi, were flogged or jailed,
including Gandhi, were flogged or jailed,
and many were shot for striking or
and many were shot for striking or
burning their registration cards.
burning their registration cards.

10. Eventually the government was forced
Eventually the government was forced
to seek a compromise with Gandhi, and
to seek a compromise with Gandhi, and
when he left South Africa, conditions
when he left South Africa, conditions
for Indian people had greatly improved.
for Indian people had greatly improved.

11. He spun his own yarn and made his own
He spun his own yarn and made his own
cloth. He encouraged others to do the
cloth. He encouraged others to do the
same, instead of buying imported British
same, instead of buying imported British
material.
material.

12. At this time Indian villagers were poorly
At this time Indian villagers were poorly
paid, and many were dying of famine.
paid, and many were dying of famine.
In 1918 Gandhi began a campaign to get
In 1918 Gandhi began a campaign to get
them to stand up for themselves against
them to stand up for themselves against
the British who were ruling India.
the British who were ruling India.

13. It was at this time that
It was at this time that
Gandhi became known as
Gandhi became known as
Mahatma,
Mahatma,
which means ‘Great Soul’.
which means ‘Great Soul’.

14. The British became
The British became
worried about
worried about
keeping control.
keeping control.
Soldiers were
Soldiers were
ordered to prevent
ordered to prevent
people from
people from
gathering together
gathering together
for meetings.
for meetings.

15. Nevertheless, in 1919 ten thousand unarmed
Nevertheless, in 1919 ten thousand unarmed
people attended a protest meeting in
people attended a protest meeting in
Amritsar.
Amritsar.
Without warning, British soldiers fired on
Without warning, British soldiers fired on
the crowd, killing nearly 400 people, and
the crowd, killing nearly 400 people, and
wounding over one thousand.
wounding over one thousand.
People were very shocked by this atrocity,
People were very shocked by this atrocity,
and many more joined Gandhi’s campaign.

16. Meanwhile the
Meanwhile the
British rulers
British rulers
continued to collect
continued to collect
heavy taxes from the
heavy taxes from the
people, which kept
people, which kept
them in poverty.
them in poverty.

17. In 1930 Gandhi led a 248 mile march to
In 1930 Gandhi led a 248 mile march to
the sea, as a protest against a tax on salt.
the sea, as a protest against a tax on salt.
Thousands joined him in making salt of
Thousands joined him in making salt of
their own.
their own.
Over 60,000
Over 60,000
people were
people were
arrested.
arrested.

18. However, the British government was
However, the British government was
forced to negotiate with Gandhi, and
forced to negotiate with Gandhi, and
they agreed to release political
they agreed to release political
prisoners if he stopped his campaign of
prisoners if he stopped his campaign of
non-co-operation.
non-co-operation.

19. In 1933 Gandhi went
In 1933 Gandhi went
on a fast for 21 days
on a fast for 21 days
to draw attention to
to draw attention to
the treatment of
the treatment of
the very poorest
the very poorest
people in India, who
people in India, who
he called ‘The
he called ‘The
Children of God’.
Children of God’.

20. By 1947 Gandhi’s campaign had weakened
By 1947 Gandhi’s campaign had weakened
the British government’s hold on the
the British government’s hold on the
country, but with independence looming,
country, but with independence looming,
killings and riots raged between Hindus
killings and riots raged between Hindus
and Muslims who hoped to take control of
and Muslims who hoped to take control of
the new Indian government.
the new Indian government.

21. During the second World War, Gandhi
and his followers made it clear that
they wouldn’t support Britain unless
India was granted independence.
In 1942 Gandhi was arrested by the
British, and imprisoned for two years.

22. It was decided to divide India into two
It was decided to divide India into two
separate countries - India and Pakistan.
separate countries - India and Pakistan.
Gandhi was strongly opposed to this
Gandhi was strongly opposed to this
idea, but was forced to agree because
idea, but was forced to agree because
of the threat of civil war.
of the threat of civil war.

24. The violence continued.
The violence continued.
Gandhi's appeals for calm
Gandhi's appeals for calm
were ignored, so he
were ignored, so he
began another fast.
began another fast.
Only when the Hindu, Sikh and Muslim
Only when the Hindu, Sikh and Muslim
leaders promised to renounce violence
leaders promised to renounce violence

25. A few days later, on January 30
A few days later, on January 30th
th
1948
1948
Gandhi was shot by a Hindu fanatic on his
Gandhi was shot by a Hindu fanatic on his
way to a prayer meeting in Delhi..
way to a prayer meeting in Delhi..

26. His ashes were dipped in all the major
His ashes were dipped in all the major
rivers of the world before being
rivers of the world before being
enshrined in the Mahatma Gandhi World
enshrined in the Mahatma Gandhi World
Peace Memorial.
Peace Memorial.

27. In India Gandhi is often called ‘The
In India Gandhi is often called ‘The
Father of the Nation.’
Father of the Nation.’
Gandhi’s birthday,
Gandhi’s birthday,
October 2
October 2nd
nd
, is a
, is a
public holiday in India.
public holiday in India.

28. ‘
‘Be the Change you
Be the Change you
want to see in the
want to see in the
World!’
World!’
-Mahatma Gandhi
-Mahatma Gandhi