Politics
Mahatma Gandhi
Leader of the Indian independence movement
Born 1869 · Died 1948
Photo: Elliott & Fry · Public domain
«If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.»
Mahatma Gandhi developed non-violent civil disobedience as a political method and used it to help end British rule in India. His approach directly influenced Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.
Key achievements
- Led India to independence through non-violent resistance
- Created satyagraha, adopted by King and Mandela
Universities
London, Bloomsbury
Studied law in London from 1888 to 1891, taking classes at UCL while training for the bar at the Inner Temple.
Facts
- He was painfully shy as a student in London and could not bring himself to speak at a vegetarian society meeting, reading a written statement instead.
- He first read the Bhagavad Gita in London, in English translation, at the suggestion of two English friends.
- He took dancing and violin lessons in a short-lived attempt to become an English gentleman before abandoning the project.
Photographs
Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are shown on each image.