Modern Indian History

Mahatma Gandhi was married to Kasturba Gandhi (often referred to as Kasturba Bai). They were married in 1883 when Gandhi was 13 and Kasturba was 14. She remained his lifelong companion and supported him throughout his political and social work.

Mahatma Gandhi traveled to England in September 1888 to study law and become a barrister. He enrolled at the Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court, and was called to the bar in 1891 before returning to India to practice law.

The Dandi Salt March (also called the Salt Satyagraha) was initiated by Gandhi on March 12, 1930, in response to the British salt tax. It was a 240-mile march to the Arabian Sea coast where Gandhi symbolically made salt, sparking the Civil Disobedience Movement.

In 1893, while appearing in a Durban court, the magistrate ordered Gandhi to remove his turban as a sign of respect. Gandhi refused, arguing that removing his turban was against his religious and cultural customs. This early stand against racial discrimination in South Africa shaped his future approach to civil rights.

Gandhi became the undisputed leader of the Indian National Congress in 1921, following his successful leadership of the Non-Cooperation Movement. The Nagpur Session of 1920 marked a turning point where Gandhi's principles of non-violent resistance were officially adopted by the Congress. His leadership transformed the Congress from a elite body into a mass organization.

'The Story of My Experiments with Truth' is Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography, originally written in Gujarati and later translated into English. It covers his life from early childhood through 1921, detailing his philosophical evolution and experiments with truth, non-violence, and satyagraha. The book provides insights into his personal and political development.

Raj Ghat in Delhi is the memorial where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated on January 31, 1948, the day after his assassination. The memorial is a simple black marble platform marking the spot of his cremation. It has become a national pilgrimage site where dignitaries from around the world pay homage to Gandhi.

Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse during a prayer meeting at Birla House in New Delhi. Gandhi was walking to the prayer ground when Godse fired three bullets at point-blank range. His assassination shocked the nation and the world, coming just months after India's independence.

The Swadeshi Movement's core strategy was to boycott British goods and revive domestic industries to promote economic self-reliance. It emphasized using indigenous products instead of imported British manufactured goods. This movement emerged as a response to the partition of Bengal and became a powerful tool in India's freedom struggle.

Mahatma Gandhi founded the Natal Indian Congress in 1894 in South Africa to fight for the rights of Indians living there. This organization was inspired by the Indian National Congress and became the platform for Gandhi's early political activism. It fought against racial discrimination and unjust laws targeting the Indian community in South Africa.

The Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942, during the All-India Congress Committee meeting in Bombay. The movement demanded an end to British rule immediately, with the slogan 'Do or Die'. It was a mass civil disobedience movement that marked the final phase of India's freedom struggle.

Mahatma Gandhi had four sons: Harilal (born 1888), Manilal (born 1892), Ramdas (born 1897), and Devdas (born 1900). All four sons were born to Gandhi and his wife Kasturba Gandhi. Harilal had a troubled relationship with his father and struggled with personal issues throughout his life.

The Tana Bhagat Movement took place during 1913-14 in the Chhota Nagpur region (now Jharkhand). It was a tribal uprising against British colonial rule and exploitative practices by local landlords and moneylenders.

Dayanand Saraswati, founder of the Arya Samaj in 1875, coined the slogan 'Back to the Vedas' as part of his reform movement. He advocated a return to Vedic principles and rejected later religious corruptions.