Democracy & Governance
Mahatma Gandhi -The Father of Civil Disobedience.
Mahatma Gandhi didn’t hold any office. He neither cared for career nor accumulated wealth. Yet, his life is fascinating for many Indians. His achievements are a symbol of his untiring efforts and hard work. Millions of people in India and around the world are captivated by his life and his achievements. He was an inspiration for millions of Indians as he practiced what he preached. His great accomplishments are in this piece.
He aimed at India’s freedom and Sarvodaya- upliftment of all. He also fasted and passionately worked for uplifting untouchables. Mahatma Gandhi’s accomplishments are mentioned in the following account. Gandhiji went to South Africa in 1893 as a barrister to practice.
There he was thrown out of a train because he was not a ‘white’ person. Shook by this unjust encounter, he set on a non-violent movement based on satyagrah to expose the evils of racial discrimination (apartheid). His tireless efforts bore fruit and he succeeded in his mission to liberate people against apartheid.
When he returned to India, he became determined to liberate the country and the countrymen from shackles of slavery. He instituted Non Co-operation Movement in 1920. It lasted for two years. The Indian National Congress supported it vehemently. The protestors refused to use British goods and started using every thing manufactured in India. Everything and every institution that was British was boycotted. This movement was marching towards success when in 1922, Gandhiji took it back as his followers indulged in non- violence and his doctrine was violated.
Mahatma Gandhi led the Civil Disobedience Movement in the year 1930. It proved to be a significant milestone in the annals of Indian Nationalism. With his followers he indulged in Dandi March and prepared salt and broke the salt law of the British. The chief ideology of this movement was to defy the laws made by the British. As the hand and guidance of Mahatma Gandhi was in this movement, success was bound to follow and the same happened. The Quit India Movement is also known as Bharat Chhodo Andolan or the August Movement. This movement was launched in August 1942. This movement was a response to Gandhiji’s call for immediate independence. The British put all their atrocities into practice to curb it but the spark ignited by Gandhiji had been turned into a blazing flame. His efforts bore fruits and India got independence in next five years. Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography titled An Autobiography of My Experiments with Truth, which gives a detailed account of his life till 1920, was published in 1927. In 1999, HarperCollins publishers declared it one of the ‘100 Most Important Spiritual Books of the 20th Century’. Such was the charisma of Mahatma Gandhi that the Time Magazine named him the Man of the Year in 1930.
Mahatma Gandhi was chosen for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1948, but he was assassinated before it was conferred to him. In response to this, the Nobel Committee decided not to award the Peace Prize for that year.
In 1999, Gandhi was declared the runner-up for Time magazine’s ‘Person of the Century’ title (which eventually went to Albert Einstein.) Mahatma Gandhi’s accomplishments can’t be bound in words. Throughout his life, he was indulged in the work of serving his country and countrymen. It was under his forceful guidance that National Movements of India took shape, were put into practice and succeeded.
His life was dedicated to selflessness. No wonder, he accomplished so much without any desire for name and fame.
Odah Moses
September 27, 2013 at 1:29 pm
great man 4ver