Learn About The Program

Read the details of the programs offered for grades K-12 and youth groups, including Girl Scouts
Click Here

See the Testimonials

Read testimonials from people who have seen the program or watch video interviews with participants
Click Here

Sign Up for the Newsletter

Sign up for the newsletter (on real paper) that goes out every two months of the school year
Click Here

Mohandas Gandhi

Origin: Gujarat, India
(October 2, 1869 - January 30, 1948)

Heroic Values: Achievement, Caring, Courage, Faith, Humility, Integrity, Perseverance, Selflessness, Tolerance, Vision, Wisdom

Background

Mohandas Gandhi was married at 13 and headed to England at age 18 to study law. He took up the study of religion and vegetarianism during his time there and returned to India with a law degree. He was unable to get a job or start a successful business and ended up taking a job in South Africa.

Gandhi experienced intolerance, racism, and injustice while in South Africa. He stayed on longer than his one year contract to help fight for the rights on Indians. He promoted non-violent resistance to a new law requiring Indians be registered and was successful.

Upon returning to India, Gandhi earned his nicknames of Mahatma (Great Soul) and Bapu (Father) by fighting for better conditions for impoverished farmers on British lands. He began a fight for Indian independence, urging Indians to boycott English products and titles. He was imprisoned in 1922 for two years and his unification efforts fell apart. 1930 saw Gandhi take up the struggle again, fighting for independence. World War 2 became a rallying point as Gandhi began the Quit India campaign, vowing that India would not support England in the war until it was granted independence. In 1946, independence was granted to India, but the country was split according to religion. Gandhi fought to bring the sides together - Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh. He was successful.

Gandhi was shot dead on January 30, 1948 by a radical Hindu man. His ashes were spread in the world's major rivers. He is remembered for his non-violence, faith, simple-living, and wisdom. He has inspired many other heroes, including the Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela.

Sources

Wikipedia
The online encyclopedia

Quotations Page
Quotes from Gandhi

Manas
A Gandhi resource