Mahatma Gandhi Age, Wiki and Bio

Mahatma Gandhi

Quick Info

ProfessionPolitician, Lawyer, Peace Activist, Philosopher
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth02/10/1869
Age78 years (died on 30, Jan, 1948)
BirthplacePorbandar State, Kathiawar Agency, British Indian Empire (now in Gujarat, India)
CasteModh Baniya
EducationBarrister-at-law
Date of Death30/01/1948

Bio/Wiki

Full NameMohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Nickname(s)
  • Mahatma
  • Father of the Nation
  • Bapu
Significant Events
  • Witnessed racism and prejudice in South Africa and extended his stay to oppose a bill denying Indians the right to vote.
  • Founded the Natal Indian Congress in 1894 and unified the Indian community in South Africa.
  • Started 'Satyagraha', a non-violent protest, against the Transvaal government's Act in 1906.
  • Returned to India in 1915 and played a major role in India's Independence.
  • Initiated Champaran and Kheda agitations in 1918.
  • Led the Salt March Movement in 1930 against the British salt tax.
  • Initiated the 'Quit India Movement' on 8 August 1942.
Famous Quotes
  • Be the change that you want to see in the world.
  • The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong.
  • An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.
  • Nobody can hurt me without my permission.
  • In a gentle way, you can shake the world.
  • An ounce of patience is worth more than a tonne of preaching.
  • A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes.
  • Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
  • First, they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
  • Poverty is the worst form of violence.

Physical Stats & More

Height5’ 5” (165 cm)
Weight46.7 kg (102 lbs)
Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorBald

Educational Qualification(s)

School
  • A Local School in Rajkot
  • Alfred High School, Rajkot
  • A High School in Ahmedabad
College
  • Samaldas College, Bhavnagar State (now, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat), India
  • Inner Temple, London
  • UCL Faculty of Laws, University College, London

Personal Life

Date of Death30/01/1948
Place of DeathNew Delhi, India
Death CauseAssassination by shooting
Resting PlaceRaj Ghat in Delhi
Zodiac SignLibra
HometownPorbandar, Gujarat
ReligionHinduism
Food HabitVegetarian
Hobbies
  • Reading
  • Listening to Music
Controversies
  • In 2016, Ghanian students accused Gandhi of being racist towards black people and called for the removal of his statue.
  • In 1906, Gandhi took an oath to abstain from sex life and conducted controversial celibacy experiments.

Relationships & More

Sexual OrientationStraight
Marital Status (at the time of death)Widower
Marriage DateMay 1883
Marriage TypeArranged

Family

FatherKaramchand Gandhi, Dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar state
MotherPutlibai Gandhi (Homemaker)
Siblings
Brothers
  • Laxmidas Karamchand Gandhi
  • Karsandas Gandhi
SisterRaliatbehn Gandhi
SpouseKasturba Gandhi (born as Kasturbai Makhanji Kapadia) (11 April 1869 - 22 February 1944)
Children
Sons
  • Harilal
  • Manilal
  • Ramdas
  • Devdas
Daughters
  • Laxmi (adopted)
  • Madeleine Slade aka Mirabehn (adopted)

Career

Early Life
  • Entered local school in Rajkot at age 9.
  • Graduated from high school in Ahmedabad in 1887.
  • Enrolled at Samaldas College, Bhavnagar State in January 1888 but dropped out to pursue law in London.
  • Called to the British Bar and enrolled in the High Court in 1891.
  • Started practicing law in Bombay, then Rajkot.
South Africa Experience
  • In April 1893, he started his journey to South Africa.
  • Witnessed racism and was thrown out of a first-class train compartment in Pietermaritzburg.
  • Founded the Natal Indian Congress in May 1894.
  • Led the Indian Ambulance Corps during the Boer War.
Return to India and Independence Movement
  • Returned to India on 9 January 1915.
  • Played a major role in the Indian National Congress and India's Independence movement.
  • Started the Salt March in March 1930.
  • Led the Quit India Movement in August 1942.

Favourites

Persons
  • Gautama Buddha
  • Harishchandra
  • Putlibai (mother)
AuthorLeo Tolstoy
SingerJuthika Roy

Some Lesser Known Facts

Mahatma Gandhi smoked but quit while studying law in London.
Mahatma Gandhi drank alcohol but quit while studying law in London.
Born in Porbandar to a Hindu Modh Baniya family.
Father Karamchand Gandhi had four marriages.
Mother Putlibai belonged to a Pranami Vaishnava family.
Started schooling at a local Rajkot school at age 9.
Married Kasturbai Makhanji Kapadia at 13 in May 1883.
Father passed away in 1885, the year Gandhi's first child was born.
Completed high school in Ahmedabad in November 1887.
Departed for London on 4 September 1888 for law studies.
Passed Law Examination on 12 January 1891.
Became a British barrister in June 1891.
Traveled to South Africa in 1893 to serve a Muslim merchant.
Forced to leave a train compartment at Pietermaritzburg despite a valid ticket.
Established Natal Indian Congress in May 1894.
Introduced 'Satyagraha' against Transvaal Government law on 11 September 1906.
Founded 'Tolstoy Farm' near Johannesburg in 1910.
Returned to India on 9 January 1915.
Opened Satyagraha Ashram in Ahmedabad in May 1915.
Led Champaran protest against British oppression in April 1917.
Commenced Dandi March on 12 March 1930.
Initiated Quit India Movement on 8 August 1942.