Inspiration to Live Your Magic: 75 Inspiring Biographies

Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi was a peaceful warrior who fought for 
India’s independence, and for social justice for India’s people. To the 
rest of the world, he demonstrated the power of non-violent protest as 
an effective way to fight oppression.
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All over the world, people use non-violent protests to fight for justice - they march, sing, 
sit, and either refuse to cooperate or to resist when authorities try to move them. This 
form of protest is popular because it is often successful and because it does not involve 
violence.
One man is given credit for proving the power of non-violent protests - Mahatma Gandhi.
Nearly a hundred years ago, Mohandas Gandhi (who came to be known later in life as 
Mahatma, or “great soul”) was a lawyer from India who cared deeply about social 
injustice. He first got involved in protests while working in South Africa, where the 
Indian population was oppressed along with other non-whites.
On his return to India, Gandhi saw that his country was filled with unfairness, too - 
classes and castes oppressed each other, and the ruling British imposed their rules on 
everyone.
With his experience and quietly powerful personality, Gandhi soon became leader of the 
protest movement demanding fair treatment and Indian independence from England. He 
knew that violent protests would only give authorities an excuse to crack down on 
everyone involved, and to arrest or harm protestors.

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So, Gandhi developed the idea of non-violent protests. Under his leadership, huge crowds 
would march vast distances or peacefully occupy a public space. His methods attracted a 
lot of media attention and embarrassed the authorities, who looked bad in the public eye 
if they arrested people who weren’t even resisting. Gandhi himself staged hunger strikes 
to back up his demands for justice, often coming near to death.
Through years of struggle, Gandhi and his followers won one battle after another - fairer 
taxes, less discrimination, better relations between religious groups, less poverty, and 
more rights for women. But they paid a terrible price, with thousands of people killed or 
injured by police and soldiers, and tens of thousands arrested.
Gandhi’s last struggle, for Indian independence, was the hardest one. He and his family, 
along with their closest supporters, were imprisoned for years. Gandhi’s wife died and 
the Mahatma himself was nearly killed by malaria.
Independence finally came in 1947, thanks largely to Gandhi’s leadership and courage.
But the British cut the nation into two parts, India and Pakistan, sparking violence and 
starvation that killed hundreds of thousands of people. If Gandhi had not stepped in 
personally, it would have been even worse.
The Mahatma was assassinated in 1948 while leading a prayer meeting. He died as he 
lived, seeking peace.
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