Life lessons from Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is considered the father of the Indian independence movement.  He was born in Porbander, India on the 2^nd of October 1869. During childhood, Mohandas Gandhi was a shy, soft-spoken and a mediocre student at school. Gandhi learned from his mother the Indian Maxim, “There is nothing higher than Truth.” He also learned the powers of truthfulness (Satyam)and non-hurting (‘Ahimsa’). In September 1888, Gandhi travelled to England to study law at University College London. Gandhi accepted the post of law consultant at South Africa in April 1893.   Having spent 21 years in South Africa, Gandhi returned to India in 1915.His life at South Africa transformed him into a freedom fighter. In 1921, Gandhi became involved with the Indian National Congress. On March 12, 1930, Gandhi began his historic 24-day Salt March as a protest against a tax on salt introduced by the British government. Gandhi used passive non-violent resistance (“Truth Force”) against the British to fight for India’s freedom. During the fight, Gandhi’s focus was on Indian Self-rule (Swaraj). Gandhi founded Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmadabad. Rabindranath Tagore, the poet Nobel laureate of India described Gandhi as “Mahatma” (“the Great Soul”).  In 1942, Gandhi launched ‘Quit India Movement’. On August 15, 1947, the British government granted independence to India. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first president of independent India. On January 30, 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse at the age of 78. Gandhi’s principle of Satyagradha (pursuit of truth) has inspired great democratic activists like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948) - My life is my message.

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"Where there is love, there is life."

"Love never claims,it ever gives;
Love never suffers, never resents,never revenges itself.
Where there is love there is life;
Hatred leads to destruction."

"Happiness is when what you think,
  What you say and what you do
  are in harmony."

"Satisfaction lies in the effort,not in the attainment,
full effort is full victory."

"Strength does not come from winning.
Your struggles develop your strengths.
When you go through hardships and
decide not surrender, that is strength."

"The future depends on what you do today."