Mahatma Gandhi Biography: Wife, Net Worth, Age, Nationality, Death, Wikipedia, Books

Mahatma Gandhi, born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India, became one of the most influential figures in the Indian independence movement.

He rose to prominence for his advocacy of nonviolent resistance, known as Satyagraha, which played a crucial role in India’s liberation from British rule.

Gandhi’s commitment to civil rights and justice made him a leader in India and a symbol of worldwide peace and resistance against oppression.

He led several significant movements, including the Salt March and the Quit India Movement, now key chapters in history books.

Profile

• Full name: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
• Nickname: Mahatma (“Great Soul”)
• Date of birth: October 2, 1869
• Age: Deceased at the age of 78
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Porbandar, Gujarat, India
• Nationality: Indian
• Profession: Lawyer, Political Leader, Social Activist
• Height: 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm)
• Parents: Karamchand Gandhi , Putlibai Gandhi
• Siblings: Three older brothers and one sister
• Spouse: Kasturba Gandhi
• Children: Harilal, Manilal, Ramdas, Devdas
• Relationship status: Married (Kasturba Gandhi until she died in 1944)
• Religion: Hinduism
• Ethnicity: Gujarati, Vaishnava Hindu
• Net worth: N/A (Mahatma Gandhi lived a modest life, renouncing material wealth)

Early Life and Education

Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India. By 2024, Gandhi would have been 155 years old.

His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was a local political leader, and his mother, Putlibai, was deeply religious, following the Vaishnavism tradition intertwined with Jainism’s principles of nonviolence and simplicity.

Gandhi grew up in an environment that emphasized religious piety, and this early upbringing profoundly shaped his ethical and spiritual outlook.

Gandhi attended school in Porbandar and Rajkot before attending University College London in 1888 to study law.

He completed his studies in 1891 and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple. Gandhi returned to India but faced difficulties establishing a legal career, which prompted him to take a position in South Africa in 1893.

Personal Life

At 13, Gandhi was married to Kasturba Gandhi, which was in line with Indian customs at the time. The couple had four children: Harilal, Manilal, Ramdas, and Devdas.

Kasturba stood by Gandhi’s side throughout his political campaigns and even supported him during several imprisonments. They shared a deep bond, although their marriage faced challenges due to Gandhi’s long absences and his vows of celibacy later in life. Gandhi and Kasturba remained married until she died in 1944.

Gandhi was known to have embraced an austere lifestyle centered on truth, simplicity, and nonviolence, influencing his relationships.

Career

Gandhi’s career took shape when he moved to South Africa in 1893 to work as a lawyer. It was here that he first encountered racial discrimination, which transformed him from a lawyer into a social activist.

His campaigns against racial injustice in South Africa laid the foundation for his future nonviolent resistance strategies.

Upon returning to India in 1915, Gandhi took up the cause of Indian independence. His early campaigns, including the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917 and the Kheda Satyagraha in 1918, were pivotal in bringing him to the national stage as a leader of the masses.

Gandhi’s most iconic campaigns included the Salt March of 1930, protesting British salt taxes, and the Quit India Movement in 1942, which demanded an immediate end to British rule.

His nonviolent methods inspired civil rights movements worldwide, earning him the title “Father of the Nation” in India. A moral commitment to nonviolence and the power of peaceful resistance defined his career.

Net Worth

Gandhi lived an ascetic life, renouncing personal wealth and material possessions.

While no financial estimate applies to his wealth, his influence and legacy have been invaluable to the global movement for civil rights.

Death

Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist who opposed Gandhi’s efforts toward Hindu-Muslim unity.

His death sent shockwaves across the world, and he was mourned by millions, including global leaders.

Many people attended Gandhi’s funeral procession, and his ashes were immersed in rivers across India.

Controversy

Throughout his life, Gandhi was a subject of both admiration and controversy. His philosophy of nonviolence and inclusivity clashed with the radical wings of the Indian independence movement.

Many young nationalists, including Subhas Chandra Bose, criticized him for not taking a more aggressive stance against the British.

Moreover, Gandhi’s relationship with the Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was fraught with tension, especially over the issue of Partition.

Some saw Gandhi’s insistence on Hindu-Muslim unity as favoring one side over the other, and he was blamed for the eventual division of India into two nations, India and Pakistan.

Gandhi also faced criticism for his views on social issues. His efforts to abolish untouchability were questioned by leaders within the Dalit community, such as B. R. Ambedkar, who argued that Gandhi’s approach was too moderate and failed to address the deep-seated inequalities of the caste system.

Gandhi’s strict dietary and celibacy practices were subject to scrutiny in his personal life. He maintained controversial views on sexuality and conducted experiments on self-restraint, which involved sharing his bed with young women to test his vows of celibacy. These experiments were widely criticized both during his lifetime and in modern times.

Social Media

Books

• The Story of My Experiments with Truth (1927)
• Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule (1909)
• Satyagraha in South Africa (1924)
• The Bhagavad Gita According to Gandhi (1942)