biography of mahatma gandhi video

Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi was the primary leader of India’s independence movement and also the architect of a form of non-violent civil disobedience that would influence the world. He was assassinated by Hindu extremist Nathuram Godse.

(1869-1948)

Who Was Mahatma Gandhi?

Mahatma Gandhi was the leader of India’s non-violent independence movement against British rule and in South Africa who advocated for the civil rights of Indians. Born in Porbandar, India, Gandhi studied law and organized boycotts against British institutions in peaceful forms of civil disobedience. He was killed by a fanatic in 1948.

Early Life and Education

Indian nationalist leader Gandhi (born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Kathiawar, India, which was then part of the British Empire.

Gandhi’s father, Karamchand Gandhi, served as a chief minister in Porbandar and other states in western India. His mother, Putlibai, was a deeply religious woman who fasted regularly.

Young Gandhi was a shy, unremarkable student who was so timid that he slept with the lights on even as a teenager. In the ensuing years, the teenager rebelled by smoking, eating meat and stealing change from household servants.

Although Gandhi was interested in becoming a doctor, his father hoped he would also become a government minister and steered him to enter the legal profession. In 1888, 18-year-old Gandhi sailed for London, England, to study law. The young Indian struggled with the transition to Western culture.

Upon returning to India in 1891, Gandhi learned that his mother had died just weeks earlier. He struggled to gain his footing as a lawyer. In his first courtroom case, a nervous Gandhi blanked when the time came to cross-examine a witness. He immediately fled the courtroom after reimbursing his client for his legal fees.

Gandhi’s Religion and Beliefs

Gandhi grew up worshiping the Hindu god Vishnu and following Jainism, a morally rigorous ancient Indian religion that espoused non-violence, fasting, meditation and vegetarianism.

During Gandhi’s first stay in London, from 1888 to 1891, he became more committed to a meatless diet, joining the executive committee of the London Vegetarian Society, and started to read a variety of sacred texts to learn more about world religions.

Living in South Africa, Gandhi continued to study world religions. “The religious spirit within me became a living force,” he wrote of his time there. He immersed himself in sacred Hindu spiritual texts and adopted a life of simplicity, austerity, fasting and celibacy that was free of material goods.

Gandhi in South Africa

After struggling to find work as a lawyer in India, Gandhi obtained a one-year contract to perform legal services in South Africa. In April 1893, he sailed for Durban in the South African state of Natal.

When Gandhi arrived in South Africa, he was quickly appalled by the discrimination and racial segregation faced by Indian immigrants at the hands of white British and Boer authorities. Upon his first appearance in a Durban courtroom, Gandhi was asked to remove his turban. He refused and left the court instead. The Natal Advertiser mocked him in print as “an unwelcome visitor.”

Nonviolent Civil Disobedience

A seminal moment occurred on June 7, 1893, during a train trip to Pretoria, South Africa, when a white man objected to Gandhi’s presence in the first-class railway compartment, although he had a ticket. Refusing to move to the back of the train, Gandhi was forcibly removed and thrown off the train at a station in Pietermaritzburg.

Gandhi’s act of civil disobedience awoke in him a determination to devote himself to fighting the “deep disease of color prejudice.” He vowed that night to “try, if possible, to root out the disease and suffer hardships in the process.”

From that night forward, the small, unassuming man would grow into a giant force for civil rights. Gandhi formed the Natal Indian Congress in 1894 to fight discrimination.

Gandhi prepared to return to India at the end of his year-long contract until he learned, at his farewell party, of a bill before the Natal Legislative Assembly that would deprive Indians of the right to vote. Fellow immigrants convinced Gandhi to stay and lead the fight against the legislation. Although Gandhi could not prevent the law’s passage, he drew international attention to the injustice.

After a brief trip to India in late 1896 and early 1897, Gandhi returned to South Africa with his wife and children. Gandhi ran a thriving legal practice, and at the outbreak of the Boer War, he raised an all-Indian ambulance corps of 1,100 volunteers to support the British cause, arguing that if Indians expected to have full rights of citizenship in the British Empire, they also needed to shoulder their responsibilities.

In 1906, Gandhi organized his first mass civil-disobedience campaign, which he called “Satyagraha” (“truth and firmness”), in reaction to the South African Transvaal government’s new restrictions on the rights of Indians, including the refusal to recognize Hindu marriages.

After years of protests, the government imprisoned hundreds of Indians in 1913, including Gandhi. Under pressure, the South African government accepted a compromise negotiated by Gandhi and General Jan Christian Smuts that included recognition of Hindu marriages and the abolition of a poll tax for Indians.

Return to India

In 1915 Gandhi founded an ashram in Ahmedabad, India, that was open to all castes. Wearing a simple loincloth and shawl, Gandhi lived an austere life devoted to prayer, fasting and meditation. He became known as “Mahatma,” which means “great soul.”

Opposition to British Rule in India

In 1919, with India still under the firm control of the British, Gandhi had a political reawakening when the newly enacted Rowlatt Act authorized British authorities to imprison people suspected of sedition without trial. In response, Gandhi called for a Satyagraha campaign of peaceful protests and strikes.

Violence broke out instead, which culminated on April 13, 1919, in the Massacre of Amritsar. Troops led by British Brigadier General Reginald Dyer fired machine guns into a crowd of unarmed demonstrators and killed nearly 400 people.

No longer able to pledge allegiance to the British government, Gandhi returned the medals he earned for his military service in South Africa and opposed Britain’s mandatory military draft of Indians to serve in World War I.

Gandhi became a leading figure in the Indian home-rule movement. Calling for mass boycotts, he urged government officials to stop working for the Crown, students to stop attending government schools, soldiers to leave their posts and citizens to stop paying taxes and purchasing British goods.

Rather than buy British-manufactured clothes, he began to use a portable spinning wheel to produce his own cloth. The spinning wheel soon became a symbol of Indian independence and self-reliance.

Gandhi assumed the leadership of the Indian National Congress and advocated a policy of non-violence and non-cooperation to achieve home rule.

After British authorities arrested Gandhi in 1922, he pleaded guilty to three counts of sedition. Although sentenced to a six-year imprisonment, Gandhi was released in February 1924 after appendicitis surgery.

He discovered upon his release that relations between India’s Hindus and Muslims devolved during his time in jail. When violence between the two religious groups flared again, Gandhi began a three-week fast in the autumn of 1924 to urge unity. He remained away from active politics during much of the latter 1920s.

Gandhi and the Salt March

Gandhi returned to active politics in 1930 to protest Britain’s Salt Acts, which not only prohibited Indians from collecting or selling salt—a dietary staple—but imposed a heavy tax that hit the country’s poorest particularly hard. Gandhi planned a new Satyagraha campaign, The Salt March , that entailed a 390-kilometer/240-mile march to the Arabian Sea, where he would collect salt in symbolic defiance of the government monopoly.

“My ambition is no less than to convert the British people through non-violence and thus make them see the wrong they have done to India,” he wrote days before the march to the British viceroy, Lord Irwin.

Wearing a homespun white shawl and sandals and carrying a walking stick, Gandhi set out from his religious retreat in Sabarmati on March 12, 1930, with a few dozen followers. By the time he arrived 24 days later in the coastal town of Dandi, the ranks of the marchers swelled, and Gandhi broke the law by making salt from evaporated seawater.

The Salt March sparked similar protests, and mass civil disobedience swept across India. Approximately 60,000 Indians were jailed for breaking the Salt Acts, including Gandhi, who was imprisoned in May 1930.

Still, the protests against the Salt Acts elevated Gandhi into a transcendent figure around the world. He was named Time magazine’s “Man of the Year” for 1930.

Gandhi was released from prison in January 1931, and two months later he made an agreement with Lord Irwin to end the Salt Satyagraha in exchange for concessions that included the release of thousands of political prisoners. The agreement, however, largely kept the Salt Acts intact. But it did give those who lived on the coasts the right to harvest salt from the sea.

Hoping that the agreement would be a stepping-stone to home rule, Gandhi attended the London Round Table Conference on Indian constitutional reform in August 1931 as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress. The conference, however, proved fruitless.

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Protesting "Untouchables" Segregation

Gandhi returned to India to find himself imprisoned once again in January 1932 during a crackdown by India’s new viceroy, Lord Willingdon. He embarked on a six-day fast to protest the British decision to segregate the “untouchables,” those on the lowest rung of India’s caste system, by allotting them separate electorates. The public outcry forced the British to amend the proposal.

After his eventual release, Gandhi left the Indian National Congress in 1934, and leadership passed to his protégé Jawaharlal Nehru . He again stepped away from politics to focus on education, poverty and the problems afflicting India’s rural areas.

India’s Independence from Great Britain

As Great Britain found itself engulfed in World War II in 1942, Gandhi launched the “Quit India” movement that called for the immediate British withdrawal from the country. In August 1942, the British arrested Gandhi, his wife and other leaders of the Indian National Congress and detained them in the Aga Khan Palace in present-day Pune.

“I have not become the King’s First Minister in order to preside at the liquidation of the British Empire,” Prime Minister Winston Churchill told Parliament in support of the crackdown.

With his health failing, Gandhi was released after a 19-month detainment in 1944.

After the Labour Party defeated Churchill’s Conservatives in the British general election of 1945, it began negotiations for Indian independence with the Indian National Congress and Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s Muslim League. Gandhi played an active role in the negotiations, but he could not prevail in his hope for a unified India. Instead, the final plan called for the partition of the subcontinent along religious lines into two independent states—predominantly Hindu India and predominantly Muslim Pakistan.

Violence between Hindus and Muslims flared even before independence took effect on August 15, 1947. Afterwards, the killings multiplied. Gandhi toured riot-torn areas in an appeal for peace and fasted in an attempt to end the bloodshed. Some Hindus, however, increasingly viewed Gandhi as a traitor for expressing sympathy toward Muslims.

Gandhi’s Wife and Kids

At the age of 13, Gandhi wed Kasturba Makanji, a merchant’s daughter, in an arranged marriage. She died in Gandhi’s arms in February 1944 at the age of 74.

In 1885, Gandhi endured the passing of his father and shortly after that the death of his young baby.

In 1888, Gandhi’s wife gave birth to the first of four surviving sons. A second son was born in India 1893. Kasturba gave birth to two more sons while living in South Africa, one in 1897 and one in 1900.

Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi

On January 30, 1948, 78-year-old Gandhi was shot and killed by Hindu extremist Nathuram Godse, who was upset at Gandhi’s tolerance of Muslims.

Weakened from repeated hunger strikes, Gandhi clung to his two grandnieces as they led him from his living quarters in New Delhi’s Birla House to a late-afternoon prayer meeting. Godse knelt before the Mahatma before pulling out a semiautomatic pistol and shooting him three times at point-blank range. The violent act took the life of a pacifist who spent his life preaching nonviolence.

Godse and a co-conspirator were executed by hanging in November 1949. Additional conspirators were sentenced to life in prison.

Even after Gandhi’s assassination, his commitment to nonviolence and his belief in simple living — making his own clothes, eating a vegetarian diet and using fasts for self-purification as well as a means of protest — have been a beacon of hope for oppressed and marginalized people throughout the world.

Satyagraha remains one of the most potent philosophies in freedom struggles throughout the world today. Gandhi’s actions inspired future human rights movements around the globe, including those of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in the United States and Nelson Mandela in South Africa.

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QUICK FACTS

• Name: Mahatma Gandhi
• Birth Year: 1869
• Birth date: October 2, 1869
• Birth City: Porbandar, Kathiawar
• Birth Country: India
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Mahatma Gandhi was the primary leader of India’s independence movement and also the architect of a form of non-violent civil disobedience that would influence the world. Until Gandhi was assassinated in 1948, his life and teachings inspired activists including Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.
• Civil Rights
• Astrological Sign: Libra
• University College London
• Samaldas College at Bhavnagar, Gujarat
• Nacionalities
• Interesting Facts
• As a young man, Mahatma Gandhi was a poor student and was terrified of public speaking.
• Gandhi formed the Natal Indian Congress in 1894 to fight discrimination.
• Gandhi was assassinated by Hindu extremist Nathuram Godse, who was upset at Gandhi’s tolerance of Muslims.
• Gandhi's non-violent civil disobedience inspired future world leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.
• Death Year: 1948
• Death date: January 30, 1948
• Death City: New Delhi
• Death Country: India

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CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Mahatma Gandhi Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/political-figures/mahatma-gandhi
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: September 4, 2019
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014
• An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
• Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary.
• Religions are different roads converging to the same point. What does it matter that we take different roads, so long as we reach the same goal? In reality, there are as many religions as there are individuals.
• The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
• To call woman the weaker sex is a libel; it is man's injustice to woman.
• Truth alone will endure, all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time.
• A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.
• There are many things to do. Let each one of us choose our task and stick to it through thick and thin. Let us not think of the vastness. But let us pick up that portion which we can handle best.
• An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it.
• For one man cannot do right in one department of life whilst he is occupied in doing wrong in any other department. Life is one indivisible whole.
• If we are to reach real peace in this world and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with children.

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A selection of films made on Gandhiji’s life is presented here. Some of these films contain original archival footage.

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Title: Martyrdom of mahatma

Videographer: films division, acknowledgment: films division (india) , ministry of information and broadcasting (india), govt. of india., title: swadeshi for self reliance, title: a voyage of discovery, title: 85 nayak ni pol porbandar, title: glimpses of gandhiji, videographer: documentary films of india, title: his memory we cherish, videographer: films division in collaboration with gandhi smarak nidhi, title: mahatma part-1, videographer: the gandhi national memorial fund in collaboration with the films division, title: mahatma part-2, title: mahatma part-3, title: mahatma part-4, title: mahatma part-5, title: ambar charkha, title: wheel of prosperity, title: a boundless ideal, title: we remember, title: a trip down memory lane, title: mani bhavan, title: youth is the salt of nation, title: namak ki kankari, title: gandhi an emerging reality, title: then came gandhi, title: dawn of gandhian era, title: gandhi dharam, title: gandhi, nehru & modern art, title: gandhi vichar, title: the last journey, videographer: the gandhi smarak nidhi in collabroation with films division, title: gandhiji's letter to hitler, title: gandhiji's through the eyes of cartoonist, title: a sketch, title: gandhi ashram, title: gandhi the 20th century prophet part-1 (1/4), description: a documentary film by a.k. chettiar made in 1940 part-1, title: gandhi the 20th century prophet part-1 (2/4), title: gandhi the 20th century prophet part-1 (3/4), title: gandhi the 20th century prophet part-1 (4/4), title: gandhi the 20th century prophet part-2 (1/5), description: a documentary film by a.k. chettiar made in 1940 part-2, title: gandhi the 20th century prophet part-2 (2/5), title: gandhi the 20th century prophet part-2 (3/5), title: gandhi the 20th century prophet part-2 (4/5), title: gandhi the 20th century prophet part-2 (5/5), title: gandhi: 5.17 (1/5), description: gandhi: 5.17, title: gandhi: 5.17 (2/5), title: gandhi: 5.17 (3/5), title: gandhi: 5.17 (4/5), title: gandhi: 5.17 (5/5), title: in europe for the second round table conference september, 1931, description: in europe for the second round table conference september, 1931, title: vaishnav jan - bhajan by afganistan artist - nazia iqbal, acknowledgment: publications division (india) , ministry of information and broadcasting (india), govt. of india., title: vaishnav jan - bhajan by bangladesh artist - rezwana choudhury, videographer: india high commission, title: vaishnav jan - bhajan by maldives artists, title: vaishnav jan - bhajan by pakistan artist, title: vaishnav jan - bhajan by south african artist - karthi egasen pillay, title: vaishnav jan - bhajan by srilankan artists, videographer: high commission of india colombo, title: vaishnav jan - bhajan by united kingdom artist - swati natekar, videographer: the nehru centre, high commission of india, london, title: vaishnav jan - bhajan by prasar bharati, central archives, videographer: prasar bharati, central archives, title: vaishnav jan - bhajan by ranjan bejbaruva in sanskrit language, title: vaishnav jan - bhajan by bhutan artist.

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Videos on Mahatma Gandhi

MAHATMA - Life of Gandhi (1869-1948)

This is a 5 hrs. 10 min. documentary biography of Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi. All events and principles of Gandhi's life and thought are viewed as integrated parts of his truth-intoxicated life depicting permanent and universal values.

Imagine the world today...Award-winning Mahatma Gandhi commercial.

Mahatma Gandhi, who taught the concept of non-violence to the entire world, if only he could spread his message like this, maybe we would have been a different world today headed in a different direction. (Duration: 1.05 min.)

ORIGINAL VIDEO INTERVIEW & TALKS

MAHATMA GANDHI : THE FATHER OF WORLD PEACE AND POLITE. ( Mahatma Gandhi First Television Interview - 30 April 1931) (Duration: 4.29 min.)

Mahatma Gandhi : God is Life, Truth, Light, Love and The supreme

(Duration: 5.19 min.)

Salt Satyagraha - Dandi March

Salt Satyagraha Dandi March video. (Duration: 1.21 mins)

GANDHI - Philosophy of Non-violence

This brief documentary describes the development of Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence. (Duration: 1.28 min.)

The girl who silenced the world at the U.N. for 5 minutes

(Duration: 8.31 min)

Mahatma Gandhi - Speed Painting by Martin Missfeldt

This is a tribute to all people who searches for freedom, liberty and peace. (Duration: 4.12 min.)

Mahatma Gandhi : Spiritual Message on God, 1931

'During his stay in England in 1931, when the Columbia Gramophone Company requested him to make a record for them, Gandhi pleaded his inability to speak politics, and added that, at the age of sixty-two, he could make his first and last record which should, if wanted, make his voice heard for all time. Confessing his anxiety to speak on the spiritual matters, on October 20, 1931 he read out his old article "On God". (Duration: 6.11 min.)

Martin Luther King, Jr. - Influence of Gandhi and Nonviolence

In this interview, Dr. King explains how he was first exposed to the ideas of Gandhi and the philosophy of nonviolence. (Duration: 0.54 min.

Video of painting of Mahatma Gandhi by bicycle

Massive 24 square metre painting of Mahatma Gandhi, performed in a public space in Kyoto. The painting was executed by Borja de Pedro on his bicycle. This video is intended to remind people of Gandhi. Gandhi changed the course of history through non-violence. (Duration: 10.00 min.)

Gandhi Painting

Painting on Mahatma Gandhi (Duration: 2.04 min.)

Crazy art Gandhi fingerprint painting

(Duration: 3.42 min.)

MS Paint Art : Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi's 11 principles

(Duration: 2.49 min.)

Interesting GANDHI Video

(Duration: 1.29 min.)

Documentary on Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal

(Duration: 10.48 min.)

Virtual Tour of Sevagram Ashram

Sevagram Ashram was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936. You can have a quick tour of the ashram with a commentary in English.

Mahatma Gandhi, The Salt March, The Dandi March: Learn English

Learn about "The Salt March" also called the "The Dandi march", a non violent protest organized by Mahatma Gandhi. This event later became a turning point in the history of the Indian independence movement.

"मोहनदास से महात्मा: ''दक्षिण अफ्रीका, सत्याग्रह और गाँधीजी | South Africa, Satyagraha & Gandhi

The best part of my life' is how Gandhi described his days in South Africa 25 years after he had left it. It was certainly the most formative period of his career. Without the challenges, the trials, and the opportunities that his South African experience brought him, it is unlikely that his personality and politics could have been cast in the unique mould which made him one of the most charismatic and creative leaders of the twentieth century. RSTV revisits this phase of his life in THE special series ‘Mohandas se Mahatma Tak’.

Vaishnav Jan To...sung by artists from 124 countries

As part of the 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, artists from over 124 countries have contributed musically in paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi through his favourite bhajan 'Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye'

Animation film on 'Vaishnav Jan...

Courtesy: Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV), an Indian public broadcast service.

GANDHI film by Richard Attenborough (Hindi)

Full 'GANDHI' movie video in Hindi.

Mahatma Gandhi embarking on SS 'Rajputana' at Bombay on August 29, 1931. Arrival at Folkstone, UK, on September 12, 1931.

Courtesy: Gandhi Films Foundation / GandhiServe

Mahatma Gandhi Biography: From Humble Beginnings to Global Icon

Mahatma Gandhi, also known as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , was a prominent leader, political activist and spiritual guide in India’s struggle for independence from British rule. His life and teachings continue to inspire millions around the world, making him an icon of peace, nonviolence and social change. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll delve into various aspects of Mahatma Gandhi’s life, from his early days and remarkable achievements to his unique leadership style and profound influence on India’s history.

Mahatma Gandhi Biography

Mahatma Gandhi Early Life

First of all, let us trace the early life and background of Mahatma Gandhi . He was born on October 2, 1869, in the coastal city of Porbandar in present-day Gujarat, India. Gandhiji was from a simple family and his father was serving as the Chief Minister of the local princely state. As a young boy, he displayed an inclination towards truthfulness and moral values, which shaped the foundation of his character.

Achievements of Mahatma Gandhi

Second, the life of Mahatma Gandhi is replete with many achievements that shaped the course of India’s history. One of his most notable achievements was leading a non-violent civil disobedience movement against British colonial rule, known as the Salt March, which became a turning point in the fight for independence. Gandhi’s efforts also led to important reforms, such as the Civil Disobedience Movement, the Quit India Movement and the successful Dandi March, all of which contributed to India’s independence.

Mahatma Gandhi Leadership Style

Furthermore, Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership style was characterized by his unwavering commitment to truth, non-violence and self-discipline. He advocated “Satyagraha”, a unique philosophy of passive resistance where individuals peacefully protested against injustice and oppression. Gandhi believed that nonviolent resistance could bring about social change without resorting to violence, and he used this approach to organize the masses and challenge the British Raj.

Mahatma Gandhi nonviolent resistance

Furthermore, central to Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy was the principle of nonviolent resistance. He believed that love and compassion could overcome hatred and violence, leading to a more harmonious society. Gandhiji’s nonviolent protests and hunger strikes gained widespread attention and support, forcing the British to engage in negotiations, and eventually India’s independence in 1947.

Mahatma Gandhi’s impact on India

Another important aspect of Mahatma Gandhi’s life was his profound influence on the history and culture of India. His tireless efforts in advocating human rights, promoting social equality and upliftment of the oppressed classes left an indelible mark on the nation. Gandhi’s teachings influenced various leaders and movements around the world, including Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

Continuing the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi

Finally, Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy lives on today and continues to inspire generations for truth, non-violence and social justice. His unwavering commitment to these principles not only transformed India but also served as a guiding light for the global fight against oppression and injustice. As we reflect on his life, we can draw valuable lessons from Mahatma Gandhi’s journey and apply them to our own lives, creating a better and more compassionate world for all.

Q1: When and where was Mahatma Gandhi born?

A1: Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, a coastal town in present-day Gujarat, India.

Q2: What is Mahatma Gandhi’s full name?

A2: Mahatma Gandhi’s full name is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

Q3: What were Mahatma Gandhi’s early life and upbringing like?

A3: Mahatma Gandhi hailed from a modest family and displayed a penchant for truthfulness and moral values from a young age. His father served as a chief minister in the local princely state.

Q4: What significant role did Mahatma Gandhi play in India’s independence movement?

A4: Mahatma Gandhi led various nonviolent civil disobedience movements against British colonial rule, including the Salt March and the Quit India Movement, which played a pivotal role in India’s struggle for independence.

Q5: What is the philosophy of nonviolent resistance, and how did Gandhi use it in his activism?

A5: The philosophy of nonviolent resistance, or “Satyagraha,” was central to Gandhi’s approach. He believed that peaceful protests and passive resistance could bring about societal change without resorting to violence.

Q6: What were Mahatma Gandhi’s notable achievements during his lifetime?

A6: Some of Mahatma Gandhi’s notable achievements include leading India to independence, advocating for human rights, promoting social equality, and inspiring civil rights movements globally.

Q7: How did Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership style differ from other leaders of his time?

A7: Gandhi’s leadership style was characterized by his unwavering commitment to truth, nonviolence, and self-discipline, setting him apart from many other leaders who used force or aggression.

Q8: How did Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings influence other global leaders and movements?

A8: Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of nonviolent resistance inspired leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, as well as civil rights movements in various parts of the world.

Q9: What were the major challenges faced by Mahatma Gandhi during his activism?

A9: Gandhi faced numerous challenges, including imprisonment, opposition from colonial authorities, and internal disagreements within the Indian National Congress.

Q10: How is Mahatma Gandhi remembered and celebrated today?

A10: Mahatma Gandhi is revered as the “Father of India” and is celebrated worldwide for his teachings on peace, nonviolence, and civil rights. His birthday, October 2, is observed as the International Day of Non-Violence.

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Mahatma Gandhi

Indian independence activist (1869–1948) / from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, dear wikiwand ai, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:.

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Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( ISO : Mōhanadāsa Karamacaṁda Gāṁdhī ; [pron 1] 2 October 1869   – 30 January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British rule . He inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The honorific Mahātmā ( from Sanskrit   'great-souled, venerable' ), first applied to him in South Africa in 1914, is now used throughout the world.

Born and raised in a Hindu family in coastal Gujarat , Gandhi trained in the law at the Inner Temple in London, and was called to the bar in June 1891, at the age of 22. After two uncertain years in India, where he was unable to start a successful law practice, he moved to South Africa in 1893 to represent an Indian merchant in a lawsuit. He went on to live in South Africa for 21 years. There, Gandhi raised a family and first employed nonviolent resistance in a campaign for civil rights. In 1915, aged 45, he returned to India and soon set about organising peasants, farmers, and urban labourers to protest against discrimination and excessive land-tax.

Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity, ending untouchability , and, above all, achieving swaraj or self-rule. Gandhi adopted the short dhoti woven with hand-spun yarn as a mark of identification with India's rural poor. He began to live in a self-sufficient residential community , to eat simple food, and undertake long fasts as a means of both introspection and political protest. Bringing anti-colonial nationalism to the common Indians, Gandhi led them in challenging the British-imposed salt tax with the 400   km (250   mi) Dandi Salt March in 1930 and in calling for the British to quit India in 1942. He was imprisoned many times and for many years in both South Africa and India.

Gandhi's vision of an independent India based on religious pluralism was challenged in the early 1940s by a Muslim nationalism which demanded a separate homeland for Muslims within British India . In August 1947, Britain granted independence, but the British Indian Empire was partitioned into two dominions , a Hindu-majority India and a Muslim-majority Pakistan . As many displaced Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs made their way to their new lands, religious violence broke out, especially in the Punjab and Bengal . Abstaining from the official celebration of independence , Gandhi visited the affected areas, attempting to alleviate distress. In the months following, he undertook several hunger strikes to stop the religious violence. The last of these was begun in Delhi on 12 January 1948, when he was 78. The belief that Gandhi had been too resolute in his defence of both Pakistan and Indian Muslims spread among some Hindus in India. Among these was Nathuram Godse , a militant Hindu nationalist from Pune , western India, who assassinated Gandhi by firing three bullets into his chest at an interfaith prayer meeting in Delhi on 30 January 1948.

Gandhi's birthday, 2 October, is commemorated in India as Gandhi Jayanti , a national holiday , and worldwide as the International Day of Nonviolence . Gandhi is considered to be the Father of the Nation in post-colonial India. During India's nationalist movement and in several decades immediately after, he was also commonly called Bapu ( Gujarati endearment for "father", roughly "papa", [2] "daddy" [3] ).

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• Mahatma Gandhi Biography and Political Career

Biography of Mahatma Gandhi (Father of Nation)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , more popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi . His birth place was in the small city of Porbandar in Gujarat (October 2, 1869 - January 30, 1948). Mahatma Gandhi's father's name was Karamchand Gandhi, and his mother's name was Putlibai Gandhi. He was a politician, social activist, Indian lawyer, and writer who became the prominent Leader of the nationwide surge movement against the British rule of India. He came to be known as the Father of The Nation. October 2, 2023, marks Gandhi Ji’s 154th birth anniversary , celebrated worldwide as International Day of Non-Violence, and Gandhi Jayanti in India.

Gandhi Ji was a living embodiment of non-violent protests (Satyagraha) to achieve independence from the British Empire's clutches and thereby achieve political and social progress. Gandhi Ji is considered ‘The Great Soul’ or ‘ The Mahatma ’ in the eyes of millions of his followers worldwide. His fame spread throughout the world during his lifetime and only increased after his demise. Mahatma Gandhi , thus, is the most renowned person on earth.

Education of Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi's education was a major factor in his development into one of the finest persons in history. Although he attended a primary school in Porbandar and received awards and scholarships there, his approach to his education was ordinary. Gandhi joined Samaldas College in Bhavnagar after passing his matriculation exams at the University of Bombay in 1887.

Gandhiji's father insisted he become a lawyer even though he intended to be a docto. During those days, England was the centre of knowledge, and he had to leave Smaladas College to pursue his father's desire. He was adamant about travelling to England despite his mother's objections and his limited financial resources.

Finally, he left for England in September 1888, where he joined Inner Temple, one of the four London Law Schools. In 1890, he also took the matriculation exam at the University of London.

When he was in London, he took his studies seriously and joined a public speaking practice group. This helped him get over his nervousness so he could practise law. Gandhi had always been passionate about assisting impoverished and marginalised people.

Mahatma Gandhi During His Youth

Gandhi was the youngest child of his father's fourth wife. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the dewan Chief Minister of Porbandar, the then capital of a small municipality in western India (now Gujarat state) under the British constituency.

Gandhi's mother, Putlibai, was a pious religious woman.Mohandas grew up in Vaishnavism, a practice followed by the worship of the Hindu god Vishnu, along with a strong presence of Jainism, which has a strong sense of non-violence.Therefore, he took up the practice of Ahimsa (non-violence towards all living beings), fasting for self-purification, vegetarianism, and mutual tolerance between the sanctions of various castes and colours.

His adolescence was probably no stormier than most children of his age and class. Not until the age of 18 had Gandhi read a single newspaper. Neither as a budding barrister in India nor as a student in England nor had he shown much interest in politics. Indeed, he was overwhelmed by terrifying stage fright each time he stood up to read a speech at a social gathering or to defend a client in court.

In London, Gandhiji's vegetarianism missionary was a noteworthy occurrence. He became a member of the executive committee in joined the London Vegetarian Society. He also participated in several conferences and published papers in its journal. Gandhi met prominent Socialists, Fabians, and Theosophists like Edward Carpenter, George Bernard Shaw, and Annie Besant while dining at vegetarian restaurants in England.

Political Career of Mahatma Gandhi

When we talk about Mahatma Gandhi’s political career, in July 1894, when he was barely 25, he blossomed overnight into a proficient campaigner . He drafted several petitions to the British government and the Natal Legislature signed by hundreds of his compatriots. He could not prevent the passage of the bill but succeeded in drawing the attention of the public and the press in Natal, India, and England to the Natal Indian's problems.

He still was persuaded to settle down in Durban to practice law and thus organised the Indian community. The Natal Indian Congress was founded in 1894, and he became the unwearying secretary. He infused a solidarity spirit in the heterogeneous Indian community through that standard political organisation. He gave ample statements to the Government, Legislature, and media regarding Indian Grievances.

Finally, he got exposed to the discrimination based on his colour and race, which was pre-dominant against the Indian subjects of Queen Victoria in one of her colonies, South Africa.

Mahatma Gandhi spent almost 21 years in South Africa. But during that time, there was a lot of discrimination because of skin colour. Even on the train, he could not sit with white European people. But he refused to do so, got beaten up, and had to sit on the floor. So he decided to fight against these injustices, and finally succeeded after a lot of struggle.

It was proof of his success as a publicist that such vital newspapers as The Statesman, Englishman of Calcutta (now Kolkata) and The Times of London editorially commented on the Natal Indians' grievances.

In 1896, Gandhi returned to India to fetch his wife, Kasturba (or Kasturbai), their two oldest children, and amass support for the Indians overseas. He met the prominent leaders and persuaded them to address the public meetings in the centre of the country's principal cities.

Unfortunately for him, some of his activities reached Natal and provoked its European population. Joseph Chamberlain, the colonial secretary in the British Cabinet, urged Natal's government to bring the guilty men to proper jurisdiction, but Gandhi refused to prosecute his assailants. He said he believed the court of law would not be used to satisfy someone's vendetta.

Political Teacher of Mahatma Gandhi

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was one of the prominent political teachers and mentors of Mahatma Gandhi. Gokhale, a renowned Indian nationalist leader, played a significant role in shaping Gandhi's political ideology and approach to leadership. He emphasized the importance of nonviolence, constitutional methods, and constructive work in achieving social and political change. Gandhi referred to Gokhale as his political guru and credited him with influencing many of his principles and strategies in the Indian freedom struggle. Gokhale's teachings and guidance had a profound impact on Gandhi's development as a leader and advocate for India's independence.

Death of Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi's death was a tragic event and brought clouds of sorrow to millions of people. On the 29th of January, a man named Nathuram Godse came to Delhi with an automatic pistol. About 5 pm in the afternoon of the next day, he went to the Gardens of Birla house, and suddenly, a man from the crowd came out and bowed before him.

Then Godse fired three bullets at his chest and stomach, who was Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi was in such a posture that he to the ground. During his death, he uttered: “Ram! Ram!” Although someone could have called the doctor in this critical situation during that time, no one thought of that, and Gandhiji died within half an hour.

How Shaheed Day is Celebrated at Gandhiji’s Samadhi (Raj Ghat)?

As Gandhiji died on January 30, the government of India declared this day as ‘Shaheed Diwas’.

On this day, the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, and the Defence Minister every year gather at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at the Raj Ghat memorial in Delhi to pay tribute to Indian martyrs and Mahatma Gandhi, followed by a two-minute silence.

On this day, many schools host events where students perform plays and sing patriotic songs. Martyrs' Day is also observed on March 23 to honour the lives and sacrifices of Sukhdev Thapar, Shivaram Rajguru, and Bhagat Singh.

Gandhi believed it was his duty to defend India's rights. Mahatma Gandhi had a significant role in attaining India's independence from the British. He had an impact on many individuals and locations outside India. Gandhi also influenced Martin Luther King, and as a result, African-Americans now have equal rights. Peacefully winning India's independence, he altered the course of history worldwide.

FAQs on Mahatma Gandhi Biography and Political Career

1. What was people's reaction after Nathuram Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi?

When Nathuram Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi, people shouted to kill Nathuram. After killing Mahatma Gandhi, Nathuram Godse tried to kill himself but could not do so since the police seized his weapons and took him to jail. After that, Gandhiji's body was laid in the garden with a white cloth covered on his face. All the lights were turned off in honour of him. Then on the radio, honourable Prime minister Pandit Nehru Ji declared sadly that the Nation's Father was no more.

2. How vegetarianism impacted Mahatma Gandhi’s time in London?

During the three years he spent in England, he was in a great dilemma with personal and moral issues rather than academic ambitions.

The sudden transition from Porbandar's half-rural atmosphere to London's cosmopolitan life was not an easy task for him. And he struggled powerfully and painfully to adapt himself to Western food, dress, and etiquette, and he felt awkward.

His vegetarianism became a continual source of embarrassment and was like a curse to him; his friends warned him that it would disrupt his studies, health, and well-being. Fortunately, he came across a vegetarian restaurant and a book providing a well-defined defence of vegetarianism.

His missionary zeal for vegetarianism helped draw the pitifully shy youth out of his shell and gave him a new and robust personality. He also became a member of the London Vegetarian Society executive committee, contributing articles to its journal and attending conferences.

3. Who was the first person to write a biography of Mahatma Gandhi (Father of The Nation)?

Christian missionary Joseph Doke had written the first biography of Bapu. The best part is that Gandhiji had still not acquired the status of Mahatma when this biography was written.

4. Who was Gandhiji’s favorite writer?

Gandhiji’s favorite writer was Leo Tolstoy.

5. What is Mahatma Gandhi’s date of birth?

Mahatma Gandhi's date of birth is October 2, 1869. We celebrate every year on October 2nd as Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti.

6. Which are the famous Mahatma Gandhi books?

Mahatma Gandhi authored several influential books and writings that have left a lasting impact on the world. Some of his famous books include:

Autobiography

Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule

Satyagraha in South Africa

Young India

The Essential Gandhi

These books reflect Gandhi's deep commitment to nonviolence, truth, and social justice, making them essential reads for those interested in his life and principles.

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• Where To Watch

His reputation is uncontroversial. The reality couldn’t be more different.

How did a man so loyal to the British Empire that he acted as a recruiting sergeant in World War 1 eventually lead the Indian people to a revolution that would end British rule forever? And how, when his blueprint for India would be largely ignored, is he still revered as the ‘Father of the Nation’?

Journalist Mishal Husain uncovers the complicated legacy of Mahatma Gandhi in this biographical documentary on BBC Select.

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Mohandas Gandhi

Historian Yohuru Williams gives a brief recap of the life of Mahatma Gandhi.

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KS3 / GCSE History: Gandhi

BBC Teach > Secondary Resources

Video summary

Andrew Marr describes how Mahatma Gandhi led India to independence during British led rule through a campaign of civil disobedience.

He explores the background to the campaign, the key events and negations, and Gandhi’s legacy through the 20th century.

Warning: There are some scenes of violence.

This is from the series: Andrew Marr's History of the World.

Teacher Notes

Gandhi's concept of non-violent resistance and the role of civil disobedience were the corner-stones of his motive and methods to achieve Indian independence.

Ask students to make a list of the actions taken by Gandhi and place them in an order of significance and impact.

It might be used as the stimulus for a debate on the value and impact of peaceful protest in contemporary society.

Pupils could also discuss how 'The Empire' affected India and it's people.

How few benefits such as the railway system impacted on hundreds of thousands of people, including enslavement.

A study of India's independence movement might be followed up by this to provide an overview of issues, context and key characters.

As an extension, pupils might use this as part of a comparative investigation into key 20th century figures and political leaders.

This clip will be relevant for teaching History at KS3 and KS4/GCSE in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and National 5 and Higher in Scotland.

This topic appears in OCR, AQA, WJEC in England and Wales, CCEA GCSE in Northern Ireland and SQA Scotland.

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BIOGRAPHY OF GANDHI GANDHI - A PICTORIAL BIOGRAPHY

By shri b. r. nanda.

• Gandhi- A Pictoral Biography

About Gandhi

Gandhi - a pictorial biography.

Shri B. R. Nanda

Table of Contents

• Off To England
• Briefless Barrister
• In The 'Dark Continent'
• The Young Politician
• Satyagraha Struggle In South Africa
• The Making Of The Mahatma
• Return To India
• Gandhi's Ashram
• World War I
• Rowlatt Bills
• Nonviolent Non-cooperation
• Arrest And Imprisonment
• Reaction And Recovery
• Declaration Of Complete Independence
• Gandhi-Irwin Pact
• Round Table Conference
• Resumption Of Struggle
• Campaign Against Untouchability
• A New Deal For The Village
• The New Constitution
• Hindu-Muslim Antagonism
• Nonviolence In A Violent World
• Cripps Mission
• "Quit India"
• Simla Conference
• Cabinet Mission
• Communal Conflagration
• Partition of India
• Mission of Peace
• Gandhi and Nonviolence

About This Book

This is the first pictorial biography of Gandhi in which the narrative-concise, readable and incisive is illustrated with contemporary photographs and facsimiles of letters, newspaper reports and cartoons, adding up to a fascinating flash-back on the life of Mahatma Gandhi and the struggle for Indian freedom led by him. There is a skilful matching in this book of text and illustrations, of description and analysis and of concrete detail and large perspective. This pictorial biography will revive many memories in those who have lived through the Gandhian era; it should also be of interest to the post-independence generation.

About Author

Shri B. R. Nanda - former Director, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi. His full-scale biography of Mahatma Gandhi has been published in India, Britain and the U.S.A. and translated into French, Spanish, Italian and several other languages

Sevagram ashram near Wardha in Maharashtra founded by Gandhiji in 1936.

In January 1948, before three pistol shots put an end to his life, Gandhi had been on the political stage for more than fifty years. He had inspired two generations of India, patriots, shaken an empire and sparked off a revolution which was to change the face of Africa and Asia. To millions of his own people, he was the Mahatma- the great soul- whose sacred glimpse was a reward in itself. By the end of 1947 he had lived down much of the suspicion, ridicule and opposition which he had to face, when he first raised the banner of revolt against racial exclusiveness and imperial domination. His ideas, once dismissed as quaint and utopian ,had begun to strike answering chords in some of the finest minds in the world. "Generations to come, it may be", Einstein had said of Gandhi in July 1944, "will scarcely believe that such  one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon earth." Though his life had been continual unfolding of an endless drama, Gandhi himself seemed the least dramatic of men. It would be difficult to imagine a man with fewer trappings of political eminence or with less of the popular image of a heroic figure. With his loin cloth, steel-rimmed glasses, rough sandals, a toothless smile and a voice which rarely rose above a whisper, he had a disarming humility. He used a stone instead of soap for his bath, wrote his letters on little bits of paper with little stumps of pencils which he could hardly hold between his fingers, shaved with a crude country razor and ate with a wooden spoon from a prisoner's bowl. He was, if one were to use the famous words of the Buddha, a man who had "by rousing himself, by earnestness, by restraint and control, made for himself an island which no flood could overwhelm." Gandhi's, deepest strivings were spiritual, but he did not-as had been the custom in his country- retire to a cave in the Himalayas to seek his salvation. He carried his cave within him. He did not know, he said, any religion apart from human activity; the spiritual law did not work in a vacuum, but expressed itself through the ordinary activities of life. This aspiration to relate the spirit- not the forms-of religion to the problems of everyday life runs like a thread through Gandhi's career; his uneventful childhood, the slow unfolding and the near- failure of his youth, reluctant plunge into the politics of Natal, the long, unequal struggle in South Africa, and the vicissitudes of the Indian struggle for freedom, which under his leadership was to culminate in a triumph not untinged with tragedy.

Remembering Gandhi Assassination of Gandhi Tributes to Gandhi Gandhi's Human Touch Gandhi Poster Exhibition Send Gandhi Greetings Gandhi Books Read Gandhi Books Online Download PDF Books Download EPUB/MOBI Books Gandhi Literature Collected Works of M. Gandhi Selected Works of M.Gandhi Selected Letters Famous Speeches Gandhi Resources Gandhi Centres/Institutions Museums/Ashrams/Libraries Gandhi Tourist Places Resource Persons Related Websites Glossary / Sources Associates of Mahatma Gandhi -->

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Oxford University Press's Academic Insights for the Thinking World

The rising power paradigm and India’s 2024 general elections

The Unfinished Quest: India's Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi

• By T.V. Paul
• April 15 th 2024

India, the world’s largest democracy, is holding its national elections over a six-week period starting 19 April. The elections to the 543-member lower house of the parliament (Lok Sabha) with an electorate, numbering 968 million eligible voters, assumes critical importance as India is going through both internal and external changes that are heavily linked to its rising power aspirations and achievements. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been campaigning on the claim that under his leadership, India’s global status has improved substantially and that he is determined to make India a great power and developed country by 2047, the centenary year of independence. The growing Hindu middle class seems to agree. According to a February 2023 Pew survey , Modi had a 79% favorable approval rating. More interestingly, some 85% of Indians surveyed by Pew think a strong authoritarian leader or military rule is preferable to multi-party electoral democracy, the highest for any country surveyed.

Since its economic liberalization in 1991, in terms of comprehensive national power, including both hard and soft power markers, India has made substantial progress—in some areas more than in others—even though it still lags behind China in many indicators of material power and social welfare. The critical factor is the steady economic growth rate ranging from 6 to 8% over the past three decades. The $4 trillion economy, which recently overtook previous colonial ruler Britain to reach the fifth position in the world, is poised to become number three by 2030. The tactical and strategic advantages India has made under somewhat favorable geopolitical circumstances are many, but these could easily erode if its soft power foundations, especially democracy, secularism, and federalism, decline even further.

The $4 trillion economy, which recently overtook previous colonial ruler Britain to reach the fifth position in the world, is poised to become number three by 2030.

The implications of the elections to India’s rise as an inclusive democratic state is potentially far reaching. If the BJP wins a two-thirds majority, concerns are heightened that it would amend the Indian constitution, altering its core principles of liberal democracy and secularism and declare India a majoritarian Hindu state. India’s status advancement in recent years has benefitted the ruling establishment. Modi’s achievements are built on the foundations laid by the previous Congress Party-led governments of Prime Ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh. India’s 2005 rapprochement with the US and its opening to the world, especially to East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, occurred during that period. It was Rao and his Finance Minister Singh who opened the Indian economy to the world through their wide-ranging economic reforms in 1991. The economic growth was also very robust during much of Singh’s tenure. Many of the social programs were started during that period, but Modi has improved on their delivery by introducing direct transfer and also adding new welfare programs guaranteeing the poor subsided rations and cooking gas. Some 300 million Indians were lifted out of extreme poverty during Singh’s term in office alone, and a similar number may have come out during BJP rule. Yet India still hosts some 12% of its 1.4 billion population below the poverty line (considered as $2 a day) while 84% have an income less than $7 a day.  

If the BJP wins a two-thirds majority, concerns are heightened that it would amend the Indian constitution, altering its core principles of liberal democracy and secularism and declare India a majoritarian Hindu state.

The previous Congress regime’s inability to cash in on their achievements for electoral gains is in direct contrast to Modi’s success in presenting a different image to the public on India’s economic and military achievements and general international status advancement. Skillful propaganda, especially using social media, has enabled this. India’s swing power role in the Indo-Pacific, in terms of balancing China’s rise and aggressive behavior, has helped India’s geopolitical prominence and Modi has astutely used it for his own electoral successes. He has used contentious religious nationalism, including the building of a temple in Ayodhya over a destroyed Muslim mosque, repealing the Article 370 of the Constitution which gave Jammu and Kashmir special autonomous status, and adding programs to allow citizenship to displaced minorities (excluding Muslims) from neighboring Pakistan and Bangladesh, to solidify his support among ardent Hindu-nationalist groups. The 18 million-strong Indian diaspora contains many pro-Hindu groups that have helped Modi’s efforts by offering financial and moral support.

Although the rising power claim may have helped Modi’s possible third term re-election, there is another side to this story. Some of the BJP government’s internal policies may, in the long-run, undercut the status achievement by putting its legitimacy and sustainability in question. The number one challenge is the democratic backslide that has been happening under the BJP rule. Today India is ranked at 66 as a ‘partly free country’ by Freedom House , and the rating agency V-Dem recently demoted India as an ‘electoral autocracy.’ A number of measures curtailing freedom of expression and other essential democratic rights have occurred under Modi, denting India’s democratic credentials, one of its key soft power assets. Similarly, secularism, another soft power marker of India since independence, has been reduced as there is a direct effort to assert the Hindu majoritarianism as visualized by the BJP and its militant ideological arm, the Rastriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS).

The democratic backsliding presages considerable difficulties to legitimizing India’s status as a liberal democratic rising power. The major challenges to freedom of expression, the party’s increasing ideological control of India’s judiciary, and the attacks on minority rights, as well as harassment an arrest of opposition leaders using governmental agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, all portend the emergence of an illiberal state even when elections are held periodically. While Hindutva (Hindu-ness) aimed at the hegemony of Hinduism over all other religious groups has increasing sympathy among the Hindu electorate and sections of the diaspora, it is still to obtain any international traction as an attractive ideology or model for political order. It is yet to offer a coherent and convincing agenda for the emerging world order.

The father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, used Hindu and Buddhist religious ideas such as Ahimsa (non-violence), among others, to develop his model of non-violent struggle. Can Modi in his third term make a conscious effort to develop India as an inclusive, democratic state, and bring peaceful and tolerant aspects of Hinduism to the fore? Or will Indian democratic exceptionalism evolve into an entrenched populist majoritarian system with all its attendant challenges for democratic freedoms, even while India makes substantial material progress? The simultaneous democratic backsliding in many countries, including the US and Europe, does not help India’s prospects in this regard. India may still receive a higher geopolitical position (in the context of China’s rise) and the steady economic growth that would allow it to emerge as a key destination for trade and foreign investment, and a source of technically qualified workforce and migrants for the next two decades or more. India’s greater inclusion in global governance is needed for reasons of equity, efforts at solving many collective action problems, and greater effectiveness of international institutions. The peaceful accommodation of India will alter the historical patterns of rise and fall of great powers through war. Whether it will be a peaceful process internally is yet to be determined. The forthcoming elections will establish India’s trajectory in a colossal way both for its domestic politics and foreign relations.

Feature image by Graphic Gears on Unsplash , public domain

T.V. Paul  is James McGill Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Science at McGill University, Montreal and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He served as the President of the International Studies Association (ISA) for 2016-17. He is also the Founding Director of the Global Research Network on Peaceful Change (GRENPEC). Paul is the author or editor of 22 books, co-editor of 4 special journal issues, and author of over 80 scholarly articles and book chapters in the fields of International Relations, International Security, and South Asia. His latest book The Unfinished Quest published by Oxford University Press examines India's historic rise.

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Recent Comments

As you are an Indian origin intellectual, I appeal to you: do not let the West use you as a stooge to drive their agenda. There’s no decline in democracy, secularism, or federalism. You’re just touting the agenda you have been paid to promote.

The article does a good job of explaining India’s upcoming elections and its ambitions for global recognition. It talks positively about India’s economic growth and its increasing influence in international affairs. However, it also points out concerns like the decline in democratic values and the rise of Hindu majoritarianism under the current government. It’s noted that while India has made progress in lifting people out of poverty, there’s still a long way to go in ensuring equal rights for all citizens. The article suggests that India’s reputation as a democratic country might be at risk due to these issues. Overall, it gives a balanced view of India’s achievements and challenges, prompting readers to think about the implications of the election results on both domestic and international fronts.

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