As the first rays of sun-light would go visible on the 2nd of October 2009, the Mahatma would get older by a year and become 140 years old. Many would be wondering the mystery behind the reference of the sun-rays instead of the midnight, but, as Gandhi was a traditionalist Indian, and according to Indian mythology, the new day begins as the first rays of sun-light go visible. Mahatma Gandhi, born on the October 2nd of 1869 to the prime minister of the princely state of Porbandar, Karamchand and Putlibai Gandhi, did always spend his life around the Jain traditions and cent percent vegetarian diet. At a very early age of 14, in 1883, he got married to Kasturbai Makhanji. Gandhi and his bride gave birth to their first child, when Gandhi was just 15. Unfortunately, the child dead within a few days itself, nevertheless the couple had more children in Harilal, Manilal, Ramdas and Devdas. Gandhi secured his matriculation from a college in Bhavnagar as an average student. When he was 18, he travelled to London to train as a barrister at the University College London. Gandhi travelled back to India in June 1891 after he got the news of his mother’s demise. He in a sense became an integral part of a couple of British societies which supported the vegetarian diet and reading Bhagwat Gita in South Africa. After his return to India, he wasn’t able to practice law in Mumbai and was forced to earn a livelihood by filing petitions for litigants. In this atmosphere, he got a year-long contract from Dada Abdulla & Co., an Indian firm and was eventually placed in the Natal, South Africa.

When in 1893 he arrived in South Africa, which then was under British Empire, he faced racial discrimination all way round. He was thrown off a train in Pietermaritzburg after refusing to shift in the third-class compartment from first-class even after holding a valid first-class ticket. He once also was beaten by driver of a stagecoach when he refused to give his seat to a European passenger. Furthermore, he once refused the court, when he was asked to remove his turban. This was the time when he really felt like justifying himself and other Indians who were discriminated in South Africa. He helped form the Natal Indian Congress in 1894. When in 1906, the Transvaal government passed a law restricting Indians to register to the colony; Gandhi adopted Satyagraha for the first-ever time. After a seven year struggle, a South African general Jan Christiaan Smuts was forced to make a compromise with Gandhi as it was truly justified because the Indians were absolutely peaceful even against the harshest form of the South African government. Later in 1906, when Zulus attacked and killed two British officers, the British declared a war against the Zulus. Gandhi played an integral role in here too and encouraged the British to recruit Indians. Even though the British down-played his encouragements, he was allowed to form a group of corps and treat the injured British. 

In 1915, Gandhi returned to India and spoke for the Indian National Congress. He was introduced to the Indian issues by a prominent congress leader then, Gopal Krishna Gokhale. He then started his satyagraha from his home land in Champaran. He too established the Ashram, Gandhi Ashram as known now on the banks on river Sabarmati. The Champaran Satyagraha was followed by the Dandi March in 1930 and the initiation of the Quit India movement in 1942. After the entire non-violent struggle, Gandhi was able to independent India off the British rule in 1947, but wasn’t able to restrict the partition. If notable critics are to believed, Gandhi was just against the idea of India-Pak partition. He was too generous with Mohd. Ali Jinnah, the then leader of Muslim League. He too tempted Jinnah to be the Prime Minister after the partition instead of Nehru. But Sardar Patel and Nehru had other ideas; they felt being too humble to Jinnah was just not okay. Apart from this, the Hindu-Muslim mass had been so communalized that it was difficult for both now to be the equal part of a nation. Hence, against Gandhi’s will, the partition went on, the country of British India was independent and was parted into India and Pakistan.

After Independence, Gandhi’s health too started to deteriorate. On the other hand, flames of communal riots were burning hard all across the country. The government just wasn’t able to control them. Observing the same, Gandhi decided to fast until death. Gandhi wanted a promise from both parties i.e. Hindus and Muslims that they won’t ever fight again. After days’ struggle, Nehru and Sardar Patel were able to contain the riots and Gandhi thus stopped fasting.

Later, he too decided to go to Pakistan! He wanted to prove to all the Hindus and the Muslims that the evil was just in their hearts. But it was not the way he wanted, on January 30th, 1948, he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, while Gandhi was having his regular evening walk at the Birla Bhavan in New Delhi. His Samadhi Raj Ghat meaning the King Court bears the quote “Hey Rama” meaning “Oh God”, which is supposed to be his last words. 

Mahatma Gandhi was known for his truth, non-violence, simplicity and vegetarianism. His autobiography is known as the “The story of my experiments with truth”. A few films have been based on Gandhi. Ben Kingsley’s 1982 Oscar winning film Gandhi portrayed everything about his legacy. It was one such film that showcased everything that he was a part of.

Gandhi was, is and will be remembered by ‘n’ number of generations all throughout the world. He was a man of substance and quality, which the centuries might not ever experience. Long live Gandhi…