Gandhi Jayanti
- Manyanshi Joshi
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated every year on October 2nd to honor the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, one of the most prominent leaders of India's independence movement and a global symbol of peace, non-violence, and truth.
🗓 Date:
2nd October
It is a national holiday in India.
🙏 Why It’s Celebrated:
To commemorate the birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (born on 2 October 1869).
To remember his philosophy of non-violence (Ahimsa) and truth (Satya).
To reflect on his role in India’s freedom struggle through peaceful civil disobedience.
🕊 Key Highlights:
Prayer services are held across the country, especially at Raj Ghat, Gandhi's memorial in Delhi.
Tributes are paid through songs, speeches, and cultural programs.
Schools and colleges organize essay, drawing, and speech competitions on Gandhi's life and ideals.
It is also observed as the International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations.
🧠 Gandhi’s Core Principles:
Ahimsa (Non-violence)
Satya (Truth)
Swaraj (Self-rule)
Sarvodaya (Welfare of all)
Simple living and high thinking
🌿 Mahatma Gandhi: A Life of Truth and Non-Violence
🧒 Early Life:
Full Name: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Born: 2 October 1869, Porbandar, Gujarat, India
Parents: Karamchand Gandhi (father), Putlibai (mother)
Raised in a religious and disciplined household that deeply influenced his moral values.
🎓 Education:
At 19, Gandhi went to London to study law at University College London.
Became a barrister and returned to India in 1891.
In 1893, he went to South Africa to work as a lawyer — and this became a turning point in his life.
🌍 In South Africa:
Gandhi faced racial discrimination (like being thrown off a train for being Indian).
He spent 21 years there fighting for the civil rights of Indians using non-violent methods.
Developed his principle of Satyagraha — meaning “truth force” or non-violent resistance.
🇮🇳 Return to India & Freedom Movement:
Returned to India in 1915.
Led several movements against British rule, including:
Champaran Satyagraha (1917) – for indigo farmers
Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22)
Salt March (Dandi March) in 1930 – walked 240 miles to protest the salt tax
Quit India Movement (1942) – demanded an end to British rule
Gandhi inspired millions of Indians to fight for independence using non-violence, boycotts, and civil disobedience.
💬 Beliefs & Ideals:
Ahimsa (Non-violence): Never harm others, even in the face of violence.
Satya (Truth): Always speak and act truthfully.
Swaraj (Self-rule): Not just political independence, but also self-control and self-reliance.
Advocated for equality, cleanliness, rural development, and Hindu-Muslim unity.
🕊 Death:
Date: 30 January 1948
Cause: Assassinated in Delhi by Nathuram Godse, a radical Hindu nationalist, who opposed Gandhi's efforts for Hindu-Muslim unity.
🌟 Legacy:
Called “Father of the Nation” in India.
Inspired world leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and others.
His birthday, October 2, is celebrated as:
Gandhi Jayanti in India
International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations
Here’s a list of important movements started or led by Mahatma Gandhi during India’s freedom struggle:
🇮🇳 Major Movements Started by Mahatma Gandhi
1. Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
Location: Champaran, Bihar
Cause: Indigo farmers were forced by British landlords to grow indigo under unfair conditions.
Gandhi's Role: First major Satyagraha in India. He led peaceful protests to support farmers.
Outcome: British agreed to change policies; farmers got relief.
2. Kheda Satyagraha (1918)
Location: Kheda district, Gujarat
Cause: Farmers couldn't pay taxes due to crop failure and famine, but the British refused tax relief.
Gandhi's Role: Organized peaceful resistance with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Outcome: Tax collection was suspended.
3. Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918)
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Cause: Textile mill workers demanded better wages.
Gandhi's Role: Mediated between workers and mill owners using hunger strike and peaceful negotiation.
Outcome: Workers received better wages.
4. Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922)
Cause: Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919) and the Rowlatt Act (1919) which curtailed civil liberties.
Gandhi's Call: Urged people to boycott British goods, schools, courts, and resign from government jobs.
Unique Feature: First nationwide mass protest using non-violence.
Ended After: Chauri Chaura incident (1922), where violence broke out and Gandhi called off the movement.
5. Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)
Started with: Dandi March (Salt March) – Gandhi walked 240 miles to the sea at Dandi to make salt, defying the British salt law.
Call to Action: Refuse to follow unjust British laws, including salt law, forest laws, and pay taxes.
Nationwide Participation: Included people from all classes and regions.
Result: Increased global attention; British began negotiations.
6. Quit India Movement (1942)
Launched on: 8 August 1942
Slogan: "Do or Die"
Goal: Immediate and complete independence from British rule.
British Response: Gandhi and Congress leaders were jailed; protestors faced brutal repression.
Outcome: Though crushed temporarily, it created irreversible momentum toward independence.
✊ Gandhi's Methods in All Movements:
Satyagraha: Peaceful resistance based on truth and moral courage.
Ahimsa: Non-violence, even in the face of violence.
Swadeshi: Use of Indian goods; boycott of British products.
Mass Mobilization: Involved farmers, workers, students, women – ordinary people became freedom fighters.
🇮🇳 Mahatma Gandhi’s Fight for Freedom
🕊️ Who was Gandhi?
Mahatma Gandhi, also known as Bapu and the Father of the Nation, was the leader who united millions of Indians in the struggle for freedom through non-violence (Ahimsa) and truth (Satya).
🔥 How He Fought for Freedom:
1. Returned to India (1915)
After fighting for civil rights in South Africa, Gandhi returned to India.
He studied the conditions of Indian peasants and poor workers.
Believed that freedom must come through non-violent mass movements.
2. Led Local Movements First
Champaran Satyagraha (1917) – Helped indigo farmers in Bihar.
Kheda Satyagraha (1918) – Supported farmers refusing tax during famine.
Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918) – Fought for workers’ fair wages.
These movements showed that non-violence could challenge British rule.
3. Launched National Movements
Movement | Year | Goal |
Non-Cooperation Movement | 1920–22 | Boycott British goods, schools, jobs |
Civil Disobedience Movement | 1930 | Break unfair British laws (started with Salt March) |
Quit India Movement | 1942 | British must leave India immediately (“Do or Die”) |
4. Salt March (1930)
Gandhi walked 240 miles to the sea at Dandi, making salt illegally to protest the British salt tax.
Became a symbol of resistance worldwide.
5. Quit India Movement (1942)
Gave the powerful slogan "Do or Die".
Demanded full and immediate independence.
British jailed Gandhi and leaders, but protests continued across India.
🌍 His Impact:
Brought millions of common people into the freedom movement.
Maintained non-violence, even when British used violence.
Gained worldwide attention and support for India’s cause.
🎯 Final Result:
After years of protests, jail terms, and peaceful resistance, India became independent on 15 August 1947.
Gandhi did not hold any political position, yet he was the moral leader of the nation.
😔 His Sacrifice:
Assassinated on 30 January 1948 by a radical who disagreed with his views.
But his message of peace and non-violence lives on.
🌟 In Gandhi's Words:
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
🕯️ Mahatma Gandhi's Death
📅 Date of Death:
30 January 1948
📍 Place:
Birla House, New Delhi, India
⚰️ What Happened:
On the evening of 30 January 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was walking to attend his regular evening prayer meeting at Birla House. As he walked through the garden, surrounded by followers, a man stepped forward.
The man was Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist who disagreed with Gandhi’s views on Hindu-Muslim unity and his support for peace with Pakistan.
Godse shot Gandhi three times at point-blank range.
🕊️ Gandhi’s Last Words:
It is believed that as he fell, Gandhi said “Hey Ram” – calling out to Lord Rama, a symbol of truth and righteousness.
😢 Impact of His Death:
The entire nation was shocked and heartbroken.
People from all over the world mourned his death.
Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel paid tribute to the man who had led India to independence without violence.
Nehru said on radio: “The light has gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere...”
🕯️ Legacy:
30 January is observed every year as Martyrs’ Day in India.
Two minutes of silence is held at 11:00 AM to honor Gandhi and all those who died for the nation.
A memorial called Raj Ghat was built in Delhi, where people come to pay tribute.
🙏 Why He Was Killed:
Nathuram Godse and others accused Gandhi of being "too soft" on Muslims and Pakistan after Partition. But Gandhi always believed in:
Peace and unity
Religious tolerance
Brotherhood among Hindus and Muslims
He gave his life for those ideals.
🌍 Even after his death, Gandhi remains:
A symbol of peace
A global icon for non-violence
The moral soul of India
Mahatma Gandhi was not just a leader of India’s freedom struggle, but a guiding light for the entire world. Through his principles of truth, non-violence, and love, he showed that real strength lies in peace, not violence. He inspired millions to fight injustice without hatred.
Even though he is no longer with us, his values and teachings continue to guide us. In today’s world, full of conflict and division, Gandhi’s message of unity, tolerance, and non-violence is more important than ever.
Let us remember him not only as the Father of the Nation, but also as a man who lived and died for truth, peace, and humanity.
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