Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) Biography, Family

Quick Info

Profession	Politician, Lawyer, Peace Activist, Philosopher
Nationality	Indian
Date of Birth	02/10/1869
Age	78 years (died on 30, Jan, 1948)
Birthplace	Porbandar State, Kathiawar Agency, British Indian Empire (now in Gujarat, India)
Caste	Modh Baniya
Education	Barrister-at-law
Date of Death	30/01/1948

You can vote only once.

Full Name	Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Nickname(s)	Mahatma Father of the Nation Bapu
Significant Events	Witnessed racism and prejudice in South Africa and extended his stay to oppose a bill denying Indians the right to vote. Founded the Natal Indian Congress in 1894 and unified the Indian community in South Africa. Started 'Satyagraha', a non-violent protest, against the Transvaal government's Act in 1906. Returned to India in 1915 and played a major role in India's Independence. Initiated Champaran and Kheda agitations in 1918. Led the Salt March Movement in 1930 against the British salt tax. Initiated the 'Quit India Movement' on 8 August 1942.
Famous Quotes	Be the change that you want to see in the world. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong. An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind. Nobody can hurt me without my permission. In a gentle way, you can shake the world. An ounce of patience is worth more than a tonne of preaching. A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes. Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. First, they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. Poverty is the worst form of violence.

School	A Local School in Rajkot Alfred High School, Rajkot A High School in Ahmedabad
College	Samaldas College, Bhavnagar State (now, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat), India Inner Temple, London UCL Faculty of Laws, University College, London

Place of Death	New Delhi, India
Death Cause	Assassination by shooting
Resting Place	Raj Ghat in Delhi
Zodiac Sign	Libra
Hometown	Porbandar, Gujarat
Religion	Hinduism
Food Habit	Vegetarian
Hobbies	Reading Listening to Music
Controversies	In 2016, Ghanian students accused Gandhi of being racist towards black people and called for the removal of his statue. In 1906, Gandhi took an oath to abstain from sex life and conducted controversial celibacy experiments.

Sexual Orientation	Straight
Marital Status (at the time of death)	Widower
Marriage Date	May 1883
Marriage Type	Arranged

Father

Karamchand Gandhi, Dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar state

Mother

Putlibai Gandhi (Homemaker)

Siblings

Brothers	Laxmidas Karamchand Gandhi Karsandas Gandhi
Sister	Raliatbehn Gandhi

Spouse

Kasturba Gandhi (born as Kasturbai Makhanji Kapadia) (11 April 1869 - 22 February 1944)

Children

Sons	Harilal Manilal Ramdas Devdas
Daughters	Laxmi (adopted) Madeleine Slade aka Mirabehn (adopted)

Early Life	Entered local school in Rajkot at age 9. Graduated from high school in Ahmedabad in 1887. Enrolled at Samaldas College, Bhavnagar State in January 1888 but dropped out to pursue law in London. Called to the British Bar and enrolled in the High Court in 1891. Started practicing law in Bombay, then Rajkot.
South Africa Experience	In April 1893, he started his journey to South Africa. Witnessed racism and was thrown out of a first-class train compartment in Pietermaritzburg. Founded the Natal Indian Congress in May 1894. Led the Indian Ambulance Corps during the Boer War.
Return to India and Independence Movement	Returned to India on 9 January 1915. Played a major role in the Indian National Congress and India's Independence movement. Started the Salt March in March 1930. Led the Quit India Movement in August 1942.

Persons	Gautama Buddha Harishchandra Putlibai (mother)
Author	Leo Tolstoy
Singer	Juthika Roy

1. Mahatma Gandhi smoked but quit while studying law in London.
2. Mahatma Gandhi drank alcohol but quit while studying law in London.
3. Born in Porbandar to a Hindu Modh Baniya family.
4. Father Karamchand Gandhi had four marriages.
5. Mother Putlibai belonged to a Pranami Vaishnava family.
6. Started schooling at a local Rajkot school at age 9.
7. Married Kasturbai Makhanji Kapadia at 13 in May 1883.
8. Father passed away in 1885, the year Gandhi's first child was born.
9. Completed high school in Ahmedabad in November 1887.
10. Departed for London on 4 September 1888 for law studies.
11. Passed Law Examination on 12 January 1891.
12. Became a British barrister in June 1891.
13. Traveled to South Africa in 1893 to serve a Muslim merchant.
14. Forced to leave a train compartment at Pietermaritzburg despite a valid ticket.
15. Established Natal Indian Congress in May 1894.
16. Introduced 'Satyagraha' against Transvaal Government law on 11 September 1906.
17. Founded 'Tolstoy Farm' near Johannesburg in 1910.
18. Returned to India on 9 January 1915.
19. Opened Satyagraha Ashram in Ahmedabad in May 1915.
20. Led Champaran protest against British oppression in April 1917.
21. Commenced Dandi March on 12 March 1930.
22. Initiated Quit India Movement on 8 August 1942.