Mahatma Gandhi
Born 1869 · Age 157
Leader of the Indian independence movement who developed and championed satyagraha (nonviolent resistance); lawyer, social reformer and political ethicist called 'Mahatma'.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth in Porbandar, Kathiawar
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi born to Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi and Putlibai in Porbandar (Sudamapuri), Kathiawar Agency.
Family moves to Rajkot; primary schooling
Family moved to Rajkot where Gandhi attended local primary school and was betrothed to Kasturba (according to some accounts).
Entered Alfred High School, Rajkot
At age ~11–12 Gandhi entered high school (Alfred High School) in Rajkot and began secondary education.
Married Kasturba Kapadia (Kasturba Gandhi)
Arranged marriage at about age 13 to Kasturba Makhanji (Kapadia); marriage followed local custom and shaped his domestic life and later activism.
Death of father Karamchand Gandhi
Gandhi's father, Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi, died in late 1885; a formative family event.
Matriculation exam passed; joined Samaldas College
Passed matriculation at Ahmedabad and enrolled at Samaldas College in Bhavnagar (attended briefly).
Left for London to study law; joined Inner Temple
Sailed from Bombay to London (4 Sept 1888); enrolled at University College, London and the Inns of Court School of Law (Inner Temple) to train as a barrister.
Joined London Vegetarian Society executive
Became active in the London Vegetarian Society; joined its executive and helped establish a Bayswater chapter, shaping his lifelong vegetarianism and ethical commitments.
Unsuccessful early law practice in India
Tried to practice law in Bombay and Rajkot but struggled (shyness, inability to cross-examine) and made modest living drafting petitions.
Called to the Bar (London) and returned to India
Called to the bar (Inner Temple) in June 1891 and returned to India to begin legal practice.
Sailed for South Africa as legal representative
Accepted a one-year position (salary ~£105 plus travel) to represent an Indian merchant's cousin in Natal; left India for South Africa (April 1893).
Founded Natal Indian Congress
Organised the Indian community politically in South Africa by founding the Natal Indian Congress to agitate for Indian rights.
Returned to India briefly to bring family to South Africa
Made a trip to India (1896) to bring Kasturba and two children back to Natal after settling initial cases.
Organised Natal Indian Ambulance Corps for Boer War
Raised ~1,100 Indian volunteers (Natal Indian Ambulance Corps) to serve as stretcher-bearers during the Boer War to support British troops and counter racial stereotypes.
Received Queen's South Africa Medal
Gandhi and 37 other Indians received the Queen's South Africa Medal for ambulance service during the Boer War.
Opened law office in Johannesburg
Established a law practice in Johannesburg as his Indian legal work grew.
Founded the weekly journal Indian Opinion
Established Indian Opinion (a weekly) to advocate for Indian rights and spread ideas on social reform and nonviolent resistance.
Took vow of lifelong continence
Around 1906 Gandhi took a vow of brahmacharya (continence) as part of his ethical commitments.
Adopted satyagraha in response to Transvaal registration law
At a mass meeting in Johannesburg (11 Sept 1906) Gandhi launched the satyagraha (nonviolent resistance) campaign against forced registration of Indians in Transvaal.
Organised larger satyagraha campaigns in South Africa
Expanded civil disobedience against Transvaal/Asiatic Ordinances, leading to mass arrests and sacrifices.
Imprisoned in South Africa for satyagraha
Stood trial and was sentenced to two months in Johannesburg jail; later imprisoned for not carrying a permit, serving time in Volksrust jail.
Visited England; wrote Hind Swaraj en route
Traveled to England to present Indians' case; wrote 'Hind Swaraj' (Indian self-rule) while returning by sea.
Wrote 'Hind Swaraj' (publication)
Published/produced the key text 'Hind Swaraj' (written en route from England, critiquing modern civilization and outlining Indian self-rule).
Established Tolstoy Farm
Founded Tolstoy Farm near Johannesburg as a settlement for satyagrahis and their families.
Final major satyagraha in South Africa; penitential fast
Led the culminating phase of the South African campaign; undertook a prolonged penitential fast during the period over ashram discipline issues.
Honorific 'Mahatma' first applied (South Africa)
The honorific 'Mahatma' (great-souled) began to be used for Gandhi around 1914 while in South Africa; left South Africa in July 1914.
Returned to India; established Satyagraha Ashram (Kochrab)
Returned to India (1915) and set up an ashram at Kochrab near Ahmedabad; began organising peasants, workers and social reforms.
Secured removal of customs harassment at Viramgam
Early incipient satyagraha success: removal of customs harassment of Indian passengers at Viramgam.
Speech at opening of Banaras Hindu University
Participated in public life and gave address at the opening of the university in Benares (Varanasi).
Moved ashram to Sabarmati
Relocated ashram activity to Sabarmati (Sabarmati Ashram became a major base for campaigns).
Led Ahmedabad millworkers' strike
Mediated/led a successful strike of mill workers at Ahmedabad leading to arbitration with owners.
Rowlatt Acts protests and nationwide hartal
Organised nationwide hartal and civil protests against the Rowlatt Acts; Jallianwala Bagh massacre (April 1919) deeply affected the movement.
Assumed editorship of Young India and Navajivan
Became editor/influential voice of English weekly Young India and Gujarati weekly Navajivan, using them to spread ideas and organise.
Response to Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
The massacre (April 1919) was a turning point that intensified Gandhi's resolve and increased national support for his campaigns against British rule.
Elected president, All-India Home Rule League; launched noncooperation
Elected to a leadership role in the Home Rule movement and launched the Non-cooperation Movement calling for boycotts of British institutions and goods.
Assumed leadership of Indian National Congress; adopted homespun dress
Assumed effective leadership of INC, promoted khadi/homespun cloth, publicly adopted a simple loincloth (dhoti) as symbol of solidarity with rural poor.
Suspended noncooperation after Chauri Chaura; arrested and tried
Called off movement after violence at Chauri Chaura; was arrested, pleaded guilty at trial in Ahmedabad and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment.
Fasted in Bardoli five days (penance)
Undertook a five-day fast as penance and discipline after suspension of mass campaign.
Wrote 'Satyagraha in South Africa' and parts of autobiography in prison
Composed works including Satyagraha in South Africa and began parts of his autobiography while imprisoned (1923).
Released from prison; 21-day 'great fast' and Congress presidency
Released in 1924 (after operation). Began a 21-day fast against communal rioting and presided over Congress session at Belgaum.
Announced one-year political silence
At Congress session in Cawnpore (Kanpur) announced a period of political silence/immobility for one year.
Moved compromise resolution at Calcutta Congress
Proposed a compromise calling for complete independence within a year or the renewal of all-India satyagraha.
Lahore Congress: Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) resolution
Congress at Lahore declared complete independence (Purna Swaraj) and set January 26 as National Independence Day; Gandhi arrested for burning foreign cloth and fined one rupee.
Launched Salt March (Dandi March)
Set out from Sabarmati with 78–79 volunteers on a 240-mile (approx. 385 km) march to Dandi to defy the British salt tax.
Completed Dandi salt act; mass arrests
Reached Dandi and ceremonially made salt in violation of the law; led to the arrest of tens of thousands (est. 60,000) across India and Gandhi's arrest at Karadi.
Gandhi–Irwin Pact and Round Table Conference (London)
Gandhi–Irwin Pact ended civil disobedience; Gandhi travelled to London for the Second Round Table Conference, stayed at Kingsley Hall, met leaders and broadcast internationally.
Recorded voice (17 Oct 1931)
A recording of Gandhi's voice (noted in some sources) dates from 17 October 1931 during his international travels.
Imprisoned and undertook 'epic fast' over untouchables' electorates
Imprisoned under new viceroy; fasted to protest separate electorates for 'untouchables' causing the British to alter policy (Yeravada Pact developments).
Launched weekly Harijan; renamed Sabarmati as Harijan Ashram
Started Harijan weekly to campaign against untouchability and renamed/disbanded Sabarmati as Harijan Ashram as a center for reform.
Launched All-India Village Industries Association
Started an initiative to promote village industries and self-reliance in rural India.
Tours for removal of untouchability and social reform
Visited South India and other provinces to promote removal of untouchability and social reforms.
Tour of Northwest Frontier Province with Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Traveled with frontier leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Frontier Gandhi) to promote communal harmony and nonviolence.
Fast unto death in Rajkot (satya/penance)
Undertook fast-unto-death in Rajkot as part of satyagraha and discipline efforts.
Limited individual civil-disobedience campaign
Launched limited acts of civil disobedience and resumed Harijan publication (after interruptions).
Quit India resolution; arrested (1942–44)
Congress passed Quit India resolution; Gandhi and the Congress leadership were arrested in 1942; Gandhi imprisoned until 1944.
Mahadev Desai died in detention at Aga Khan Palace
Gandhi's secretary Mahadev Desai died while the leadership was detained at Aga Khan Palace during WWII-era imprisonment.
21-day fast at Aga Khan Palace
Began a 21-day fast at Aga Khan Palace (to attempt to break deadlock and for other political/moral aims).
Death of Kasturba Gandhi in detention
Kasturba Gandhi died in detention at Aga Khan Palace (aged ~74), a personal loss for Gandhi during years of struggle.
Conferred with British Cabinet Mission; tour of East Bengal
Consulted with the British Cabinet Mission in New Delhi and undertook a four-month, 49-village tour of East Bengal to reduce communal violence.
Fasts and tours to quell communal violence after Partition
Abstained from official independence celebrations; toured affected areas (Punjab, Bengal, Delhi region), undertook fasts to stop communal rioting and visited refugee camps.
Indian independence and partition
Britain granted independence (15 Aug 1947); British India partitioned into India and Pakistan—an outcome Gandhi opposed though he accepted it reluctantly.
Posthumous recognition: 'Father of the Nation' and annual Gandhi Jayanti
Gandhi is widely venerated as 'Father of the Nation'; his birthday (2 Oct) observed in India as Gandhi Jayanti and internationally as the International Day of Nonviolence.
Began last major hunger strike in Delhi
Started a fast in Delhi (12 Jan 1948) aimed at ending communal violence; one of his final major fasts.
Bomb explosion at Birla House prayer meeting
A bomb exploded during a prayer meeting at Birla House (20 Jan 1948), illustrating the violent tensions surrounding Gandhi's peace efforts.
Assassination by Nathuram Godse at Birla House, Delhi
Gandhi was assassinated at an interfaith prayer meeting by Nathuram Godse (shot three times) and died that day; funeral procession followed with massive public mourning.
Funeral procession and cremation
State and mass funeral procession in New Delhi; cremated on the banks of the Yamuna (Jumna) River with over a million mourners reportedly in procession.
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