**Early Life and Education** He was born into an affluent family with a rich cultural and religious heritage. His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was the Diwan (Chief Minister) of Porbandar, while his mother, Putlibai, was very religious, and their influence played an important role in shaping Gandhi's values. Gandhi was the youngest of three children and showed a quiet, observant demeanor from an early age. Gandhi's early education was in Porbandar, followed by schooling in Rajkot. Gandhi was initially hesitant about leaving India, but his family encouraged him to take advantage of the opportunity. The time spent in London introduced him to Western education and ideas, but it also deepened his understanding of different religions, especially Christianity, and the philosophy of nonviolence, which later shaped his political views. **Beginning of political awakening** Conditions for Indians in South Africa were harsh, and they faced discrimination, exploitation, and inequality. Gandhi initially went to South Africa for a short time, but remained there for 21 years, during which he developed his philosophy of nonviolent resistance, which he later called **satyagraha**. In South Africa, Gandhi campaigned for the rights of the Indian community, fighting discriminatory laws that restricted their civil liberties. He organised protests and led peaceful demonstrations against oppressive policies, including a law that required Indians to register their fingerprints and carry identity cards. Gandhi's insistence on nonviolence and civil disobedience earned him respect and support from both the Indian and South African communities. **Return to India and leadership of the freedom struggle** After spending more than two decades in South Africa, Gandhi returned to India in 1915, where he was welcomed as a leader who fought for justice and equality. His return came at a time when the Indian independence movement was gaining momentum. British colonial rulers had imposed stringent restrictions on the Indian population, and there was widespread discontent over their exploitation. Gandhi immediately became involved in the Indian independence movement, initially working with the Indian National Congress (INC) to press for greater autonomy. His leadership style was quite different from other political leaders of the time. Gandhi promoted the principles of **Ahimsa** (non-violence) and **Satyagraha** (truth-force) to challenge British rule. He believed that non-violent resistance could not only disarm the oppressor but also bring about lasting change through moral authority. **Major Movements and Campaigns** Gandhi's first major involvement in the Indian independence movement was the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917. He led the peasants of Champaran, a region in Bihar, who were being exploited by British indigo planters. Gandhi's peaceful protest forced the British authorities to negotiate with the peasants and provide relief. This was followed by the **Kheda Satyagraha** in Gujarat, where peasants were fighting against high taxes during a famine. Gandhi's approach to non-violent resistance became widely recognised. One of Gandhi's most important movements was the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922), which called for a boycott of British goods, schools, courts, and government services. Gandhi encouraged Indians to stop cooperating with British rulers and millions joined the movement. The movement gained widespread popularity, but was withdrawn by Gandhi after the violent Chauri Chaura incident in 1922, where protesters clashed with the police. Gandhi, who had a deep commitment to non-violence, could not tolerate such violence and withdrew the movement. In 1930, Gandhi led the Salt March, a 240-mile long protest against the British monopoly on salt production and sales. Gandhi and his followers march to the coastal town of Dandi, where they made salt from seawater in defiance of British laws. **Struggle for Independence** In the late 1940s, the independence movement intensified. Gandhi's leadership played a key role in organising mass protests, hunger strikes and boycotts against the British rulers. He also emphasised the importance of self-emancipation
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