In this article, read an inspirational essay on Mahatma Gandhi, The father of Nation. This essay on Bapu is for students and children of different classes. It includes his life history, early life, principles, leadership works, and more.
Essay on Mahatma Gandhi for Students and Children (1500+ Words)
India is a land of great women and men who have done such ideal works for the country that Indians will always remember. Many great men surrendered their bodies, minds, and wealth to our freedom struggle.
Mahatma Gandhi was one of such great men. Mahatma Gandhi was an era man towards whom the whole world has a feeling of respect.
Childhood and Education
This great man was born on the 2nd of October 1869 at a place called Porbandar in Gujarat. His full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was the Diwan of Rajkot and mother Putlibai was a straightforward woman with a religious temperament. The impression of Mata’s character on Mohandas’s personality was visible.
After completing his primary education in Porbandar and passing the matriculation examination from Rajkot, he went to England for advocacy. He was advocated on return after layer study. He had to go to South Africa during a trial. Seeing the plight of Indians there, they were unfortunate.
The national spirit awakened in him, and he got engaged in the service of Indians. Gandhi started the Satyagraha movements against the devious policy and inhuman behavior of the British. He led the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Principles of Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhiji made Satyagraha his primary weapon to show opposition to the British. Gandhi started the Satyagraha movements against the devious policy and inhuman behavior of the British in front of the non-violent weapons.
He led the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement. British bow down in front of Gandhiji’s high command and truth and left India. Thus our country became Independent on the 15th of August 1947.
Other Work of Gandhi Ji
Gandhiji saved the untouchables and named him ‘Harijan.’ He strived to eliminate differences in language, caste, and religion, emphasized the use of indigenous goods.
He taught to spin yarn, observe all religions with respect and adopt truth, non-violence in life. Gandhiji gave the message of peace to the world.
Epilogue
Gandhiji ruled the hearts of the people of India with a feeling of love and brotherhood. They wanted to establish Ramrajya in the country. After India’s independence, the country was divided into two parts – India and Pakistan. He was despondent about this.
It was India’s misfortune we could not get the guidance of this leader for much longer after attaining independence. Gandhiji’s life was ended on the 30th of January 1948 by the bullet of a person named Nathuram Godse.
A visionary, epoch-eater went from India’s midst. Today Gandhiji is not with us, but we will always remember his ideal principles. His name will remain immortal.
Leadership of Mahatma Gandhi
All India from north to south or east to west was united under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. His appeal to the Indian masses, especially to the poor class, witnessed no leader.
People from all social groups at the time; gather in Millions on one call by Mahatma Gandhi or Bapu (as he was fondly known in India), forgetting about religious and caste differences.
His strict observance of the policy of non-violence and Satyagraha won him recognition from around the world. He had and still has many supporters in South Africa, where he fought for the citizenship rights of native African residents and Indian residents.
His contribution to the Indian fight for freedom was unprecedented, and it is still believed that only thanks to his policy of non-violence and Satyagraha, India achieved independence on the 15th of August 1947.
The Initial Life Story of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was the youngest son of Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi (1822-1885) and Putlibai (1844-1891). Although he had only primary education, Karamchand was known for his skills and hard work and served as Diwan of the princely state of Porbandar (Gujarat).
In 1874 Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi went to Rajkot to serve as an adviser to Maharaja in Rajkot. In 1876, he was appointed Diwan of Rajkot. The initial Gandhiji training took place in Porbandar.
He was an average student who won the award but was very shy and introverted. Gandhiji was strongly inspired by the stories of Shravana Kumar and Satyavadi Raja Harish Chandra, which played an essential role in shaping his career and goals.
Mahatma Gandhi was also profoundly influenced by his Mother Putlibai, who was an ardent devotee, beginning her work with prayer. She is also known for maintaining two to three uninterrupted posts per week.
Gandhiji married Kasturbai Makhanji Kapadia at the age of 13, and then at age of14 in May 1883. Their first son died early. He survived only a few days. They had four sons, Harilal (1888), Manilal (1892), Ramdas (1897) and Devdas (1900).
Gandhi Ji graduated from college in Ahmedabad in November 1887 and enrolled in college at Samaldas College Bhavnagar, but dropped out to join his family in Porbandar.
A graduate of law from London
Mavji Dave Joshiji, a brahmana, and friend of the Gandhi family suggested Mahatma Gandhi go to London to obtain a degree from the Inner Temple in London.
Although Gandhiji willingly agreed, his mother Putlibai was adamant not sending him to London, fearing that he would go for alcohol and meat. However, it gradually subsided when Gandhiji gave the word to refrain from alcohol, meat, and women.
At the age of 22, June 1891, Gandhiji returned to India and started layer practice.
Lawyer practice by Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhiji left London for India on June 1891. He practiced as a lawyer in Mumbai for a short time, but he failed because he could not interrogate witnesses.
He then returned to Rajkot, where he prepared petitions for trial parties to earn modestly, but was forced to stop working because of a conflict with a British officer.
A civil rights activist in South Africa (1893–1914)
During his apprenticeship in Rajkot, a wealthy Muslim merchant from Kathiawar, Dada Abdullah, approached Gandhi Ji.
Abdullah ran a successful forwarding business in South Africa and needed a lawyer, preferably from the Kathiawar region, to handle the case in South Africa. Gandhiji asked about his salary and found it satisfactory. In 1893 he went to Johannesburg (South Africa).
Upon arriving in South Africa, Gandhiji witnessed racial discrimination based on skin color. He was thrown out from the first-class compartment of the train he boarded and protested, sitting at the station all night, shaking with cold, but refusing to board another train.
He could board the next day, but the incident impressed him profoundly and sowed the seeds of civil rights movements in South Africa and India.
The case in which Gandhi Ji went to Africa ended in 1894. The Indian merchant community organized a fair well for Gandhiji and was persuaded to extend his stay to legally assist buyers and workers, as most were not well educated and barely read or wrote in English. With the trust and responsibility given to him by the Indian community, Mahatma Gandhi agreed to stay there.
During his stay in South Africa, he fought for the civil rights of the Natal Indians, demanding for them equal status as white people. He fought discrimination in travel, hotels, and other public places. Gandhiji founded the Native Indian Congress in 1894, for promoting equivalent human rights in South Africa for Indians.
Later, he also struggled for the voting rights of the indigenous people of Africa and led many protests for the “right to vote.” Gandhi Ji was proclaimed a national hero when black Africans gained the right to vote in 1894, and many statues of Mahatma Gandhi can still be seen in South Africa.
Indian Independence Movement (1915–1947):
Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915 and was furious at the crowded politics of the British Empire. He fought for unfair tax laws applied to Indians by the British government, strictly following his policy of non-violence and civil disobedience. The Honorary Mahatma (Great Soul) was first handed over to him by Rabindranath Tagore on the 6th of March 1915.
Gandhiji beat up an essential role during World War I, appealing to Indian youth to enlist in the army for defense. Mahatma Gandhi assumed the leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1931. He organized protests against oppressive politics and unfair tax regulations of the British Empire.
Some are Champaran’s excitement, Kher’s excitement, the Khilafat movement, and the non-cooperative movements are some of the significant moves he led. He led the Dandi march, protesting against taxes charged by the British administration on salt production by the Indians in the coastal city of Dandi (Gujarat).
The Dandi march was aimed at producing salt from seawater, as was commonly practiced by Indians, especially coastal regions, to meet their salt needs. The Dandi march lasted 25 days from the 12th of March 1930. To the 6th of April 1930, the British rulers finally bowed to the protests.
Besides Salt Satyagraha he also organized many protests against the British Empire, such as the Swadeshi Movement, the Quit India Movement, and various others, leading India to the path of total independence or “Purna Swaraj” or Self-Governance.
‘Gave us freedom, without a shield and a sword
Saint of Sabarmati, you did fantastically. ‘
It is popularly saying about Gandhiji:
Post-Independence
Because of the division of India and Pakistan, millions of people were crossing borders in hope to ensure the security of the religious majority. Massive mass riots followed, and millions from both sides lost their lives.
While other national leaders celebrated independence, Gandhi traveled to distant places in Punjab and Bengal, encouraging people to resort to peace and non-violence.
Death of the Father of the Nation – Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi had many fast strikes during the Independence Movement. One of his last was the demand for money from the newly created Pakistan, as agreed by the Indian government.
The Indian government paid Pakistan 25 crowns out of 75 crowns but refused to pay the remaining amount after the Pakistani army attacked Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian government believed that Pakistani forces would use the money against India. However, Gandhiji was against the decision, stating this would mean a return to an agreement between them.
He sat on the fast until his death or until his demands were met. He was shot dead by Hindu radical Nathuram Godse in 1948, who thought Gandhi’s support of Pakistan was anti-Indian.
Conclusion:
Throughout his life, Mahatma Gandhi fought for civil rights, strictly followed the principles of nonviolence and civil disobedience.
He was the most exceptional leader of Indian descent who fought for the civil rights of Indians and the indigenous people of South Africa when he was in South Africa and played a vital role in the Indian independence movement.
His appeal to the masses brought him names such as Mahatma, Bapu and was proclaimed Father of the Nation. His birthday on the 2nd of October is celebrated as a national holiday in India and International Day against violence around the world.
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