ANCIENT& not so ancient WISDOM
offering a weekly positive perspective

March 20, 2003

Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.

- Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, India. 

The Indian people called Gandhiji  'Mahatma', meaning Great Soul. Gandhi married Kasturba, a girl the same age, 13 in an arranged marriage by their parents. The Gandhis had four children. Gandhi studied law in London and returned to India in 1891 to practice. In 1893 he took on a one-year contract to do legal work in South Africa.

When he attempted to claim his rights in British controlled South Africa as a British subject, he was denied and abused and soon saw that all Indians suffered similar treatment. Gandhi stayed in South Africa for 21 years working to secure rights for Indian people.

He developed a method of action based upon the principles of courage, nonviolence and truth called Satyagraha. He believed that the way people behave is more important than what they achieve. Satyagraha promoted nonviolence and civil disobedience as the most appropriate methods for obtaining political and social goals. In 1915, Gandhi returned to India and within 15 years became the leader of the Indian nationalist movement.

Using the principles of Satyagraha, he led the campaign for Indian independence from Britain. Gandhi was arrested many times. He believed it was honorable to go to jail for a just cause. Altogether he spent seven years in prison for his political activities.

More than once Gandhi used fasting to impress upon others the need to be nonviolent. India was granted independence in 1947, and partitioned into India and Pakistan. Rioting between Hindus and Muslims followed. Gandhi had been an advocate for a united India where Hindus and Muslims lived together in peace.

On January 13, 1948, at the age of 78, he began a fast with the purpose of stopping the bloodshed. After 5 days, the opposing leaders pledged to stop the fighting and Gandhi broke his fast. Twelve days later, a Hindu fanatic, Nathuram Godse, who opposed his program of tolerance for all creeds and religion assassinated him.  

Wishing you great and continued success!

Sincerely,