Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi also known as Father of the Nation was born on the 2nd of October 1869. The honourable title Mahatma (great soul) was given to him in 1914, since then he was known as Mahatma Gandhi. In India, he is often called Bapu (father.) Gandhi fought not just for independence but also for civil rights for women, the abolition of the caste system and fair treatment of all people regardless of religion.
Gandhi demanded fair treatment for the untouchables (a lower caste in India) and also underwent fasting to support the cause. He called the untouchables as Harijans (children of God.) Gandhi was assassinated by a right wing advocate of Hindu nationalism Nathuram Godse, on the 30th of January 1948. Godse shot Gandhi three times at point blank range. An urn that once contained Gandhi’s ashes is now at a shrine in Los Angeles, California.
A few unknown facts about Mahatma Gandhi:
1. Gandhi at the age of 13 married Kasturbai Makhanji Kapadia who was one year older than him. Gandhi had his first child at the age of 15, the child passed away a few days later. At the beginning of their marriage, Gandhi was also possessive and manipulative. He wanted the ideal wife who would follow his command. The couple had four more children before Gandhi took a vow of celibacy. In 1944, Kasturbai passed away when she was in prison.
2. Despite being famous for nonviolence and Independence, Gandhi recruited Indians to fight for Britain during World War 1. Later, Gandhi opposed India’s involvement in World War 2.
3. Gandhi took a vow to avoid milk products. However, after his health declined he started drinking goat’s milk. Gandhi sometimes travelled with his goat to ensure the milk is fresh and that he was not given cow or buffalo milk.
4. Gandhi alone could have intervened effectively to save Bhagat Singh’s life. He did not, till the very last.
5. Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for the Noble Prize 5 times. In 1930, Gandhi was named the Man of the Year also known as TIME Person of the Year by TIME Magazine. It is said no other Indian has ever been TIME’s Person of the Year since then. Twenty one years after Gandhi passed away, Great Britain released a stamp honouring him.
6. Other than the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and the German physicist Albert Einstein, Gandhi also wrote a letter to Hitler before the war. Gandhi addressed Hitler as a dear friend in which he urged him to try to stop the war. The letter remains unanswered.
7. Gandhi attended law school in London and was famous among the faculty for his bad handwriting. It is said Gandhi failed as a lawyer, he could not carry on his practice as a lawyer in India. Gandhi could not cross question his witnesses or put up speeches. His hands and knees would often tremble while delivering a speech.
