Essay on Mahatma Gandhi for Students

Essay on Mahatma Gandhi for Students

English Essays

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Mohandas Gandhi, better known as Mahatma Gandhi, was one of the most important people in history. He helped India become free from British rule without using violence.

Instead of fighting with weapons, he taught people to protest peacefully. People called him “Mahatma,” which means “great soul.”

Early Life

Gandhi was born in India on October 2, 1869. His family was well-off, and his father worked as a chief minister in a small Indian state. As a child, Gandhi was shy but honest. He learned from his mother about being kind to others and living a simple life. These early lessons shaped who he would become.

When Gandhi was young, he went to London to study law. After finishing his studies, he tried to work as a lawyer in India but wasn’t very successful. Then, in 1893, he took a job in South Africa. This move changed his life forever.

Fighting for Rights in South Africa

In South Africa, Gandhi saw how badly Indian people were treated. They faced many unfair rules and weren’t given the same rights as white people.

Once, he was thrown off a train because he sat in a first-class section, even though he had a ticket. This made him angry, but instead of fighting back with violence, he decided to fight unfairness in a new way.

Gandhi started teaching people about “peaceful resistance.” This meant standing up for your rights without hurting anyone.

He led peaceful protests and helped Indian people in South Africa gain more rights. He lived in South Africa for 21 years and learned many important lessons about fighting for justice.

Return to India

When Gandhi returned to India in 1915, he saw that his country needed help. India was ruled by Britain, and many Indian people were poor and treated unfairly. Gandhi decided to use what he learned in South Africa to help free India.

He started wearing simple clothes made from handspun cotton instead of fancy British clothes. He lived a very simple life and gave up most of his possessions. This showed people that they didn’t need to depend on British goods. He asked Indians to make their own clothes and other things instead of buying British products.

Famous Protests

Gandhi led many peaceful protests that made history. One of the most famous was the Salt March in 1930. At that time, British rulers forced Indians to buy salt only from them and pay high taxes on it. Gandhi walked 240 miles to the sea with thousands of followers to make their own salt from seawater. This simple act showed the world how unfair British rules were.

He also asked people to protest peacefully by sitting in the streets, refusing to buy British goods, and not cooperating with unfair rules. Many times, he was put in jail for these protests. But he never fought back with violence, even when others were violent toward him and his followers.

Living Simply and Teaching Others

Gandhi lived what he taught. He ate simple food, made his own clothes, and lived without luxuries. He believed that living simply helped people think more clearly about what was right and wrong. He also worked to help poor people and tried to end many unfair practices in Indian society.

He wanted people of all religions to live together peacefully. Even though he was Hindu, he respected all religions and often read from different holy books. He also worked hard to help people who were treated as “untouchables” in Indian society, calling them “Harijans” (children of God).

Independence and Death

After many years of peaceful protest, India finally became independent from Britain in 1947. But Gandhi wasn’t completely happy because the country was split into two parts – India and Pakistan – based on religion. He worked hard to stop fighting between Hindus and Muslims during this time.

Sadly, on January 30, 1948, Gandhi was shot and killed by a man who was angry about his message of peace between different religions. People around the world were shocked and saddened by his death.

Gandhi’s Legacy

Even today, people remember Gandhi’s teachings about peaceful protest and living simply. His ideas helped many other leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela fight for justice in their own countries. His birthday, October 2, is celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Gandhi showed the world that you don’t need weapons to make big changes. His famous saying, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” still inspires people today. He proved that one person’s peaceful actions can help change an entire country and influence the whole world.

Gandhi wasn’t perfect, and he made mistakes like everyone else. But his dedication to peace and justice, his simple way of living, and his courage to stand up for what’s right made him one of history’s most important teachers. His life shows us that the strongest power isn’t in weapons or money, but in standing peacefully for what you believe is right.

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