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Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi: The Architect of Nonviolent Resistance

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, often referred to as Mahatma Gandhi, was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India, and passed away on January 30, 1948, in Delhi. He was a prominent Indian lawyer, politician, social reformer, and author who rose to prominence as a key leader in India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule. Due to his significant contributions, he’s revered as the founding father of the nation. Gandhi’s commitment to non-violence, known as “satyagraha,” became a transformative tool for achieving political and societal advancements.
To countless Indians, he was revered as the “Great Soul” or Mahatma. The overwhelming love and admiration from the masses often overwhelmed him, making it challenging for him to work or even rest. As he once mentioned, the challenges faced by someone of his stature were only understood by those in similar positions. His influence wasn’t just confined to India; Gandhi’s reputation and legacy grew globally both during his life and after his passing. Today, the name Mahatma Gandhi is celebrated and recognized across the globe.
Mahatma Gandhi, often referred to as the ‘Father of the Nation’, played a pivotal role in India’s struggle for freedom. His unwavering commitment to nonviolence and justice propelled the country toward its goal of independence from British rule.
From South Africa to the Indian Subcontinent: In 1914, after championing the rights of Indians in South Africa, Gandhi decided it was time to return to his homeland. His journey took him to London for several months before arriving in Bombay in January 1915. Once back, he took a keen interest in understanding the intricacies of Indian politics and the depth of British colonialism.
Early Involvement in Indian Politics: Although initially distant from the political landscape, Gandhi’s perception began to change post-WWI. The Rowlatt Acts of 1919, which allowed the detention of individuals without trial, became a turning point. Gandhi, sensing the injustice, introduced the concept of ‘satyagraha’ or non-violent resistance. His methods were a blend of passive resistance and active resilience, aiming to shake the foundations of British rule in India.
One major incident that fuelled the fire of resistance was the Amritsar Massacre. British-led troops killed hundreds of unarmed Indians, and this brutal event spurred Gandhi to challenge British authority head-on. Through his guidance, by 1920, the Indian National Congress was transformed from an organisation of the elite to a massive movement that penetrated even the smallest towns and villages.

Mahatma Gandhi's Journey: From a Young Lawyer to India's Freedom Fighte

For 20 years before he got involved in the freedom struggle, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a lawyer in South Africa, a profession common among the ranks of India’s freedom fighters, from Lala Lajpat Rai to Jawaharlal Nehru.And yet, it is a profession that hardly seems to fit the man.
To the neutral observer, the very nature of legal practice – adversarial, materialistic (when it comes to civil cases), devoid of emotion or spirituality – would seem to be at odds with his philosophy as well as the approach he took to the independence movement and advocated in his writings.
Gandhi himself was the first to admit that he didn’t have the skills the best lawyers of the time like Pherozeshah Mehta, or Badruddin Tyabji were known for: powerful oration, exhaustive knowledge of statutes, the ability to recite case laws at will.
The Bombay High Court is one of the most beautiful courts in the country, famed for its neo-Gothic architecture and a favourite among legal interns looking for an impressive selfie. Take a trip to its courtrooms over the years and you’d be witness to arguments from some of the most famous names of the Indian bar, from Badruddin Tyabji to Ram Jethmalani, and from Nani Palkhivala to Indira Jaising, by way of Fali Nariman.
However, no matter how far back you go, you wouldn’t get to see MK Gandhi, barrister of the Inner Temple in London, arguing a case before the judges. That’s not to say you wouldn’t have seen him there at all, just that the sight would be of him taking the odd nap instead. Here’s what Gandhi himself wrote about the time in his autobiography:
“I used to attend High Court daily whilst in Bombay, but I cannot say that I learnt anything there. I had not sufficient knowledge to learn much. Often I could not follow the cases and dozed off. There were others also who kept me company in this, and thus lightened my load of shame. After a time, I even lost the sense of shame, as I learnt to think that it was fashionable to doze in the High Court.”
He had moved to Bombay with the idea of using his qualifications as a barrister in London, but failed to get a single brief in the high court during the months he spent there (in his autobiography he says he ran the practice for six months, Ramchandra Guha says he was there from November 1891 to September 1892). His one appearance in the small causes court ended in an embarrassing fashion after he found himself at a loss for words when he had to cross-examine the opposite party.
Apart from a few memorials he drafted, this stint at the Bombay court proved to be a complete failure. He struggled with getting to grips with Indian law, and his spiritual leanings – which had given him some success as a writer during his time in London while he was training to be a barrister – did not help him in the slightest.
And yet, Gandhi’s time in Bombay contributed towards his legacy in an entirely unexpected way. Chances are, when you think of Gandhi, the first image which pops into your head is of him leading the Dandi March, striding forward with his staff in one hand, followed by his compatriots.
He began the practice of walking everywhere while in Bombay as a practical way to manage his finances. What was a necessity as a ‘briefless barrister’ would, however, help keep him fit and free from illness – in his own words – and physically able to lead something like the Dandi March despite his age and diminutive physique.
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