Mohandas+K.+Gandhi

= Mohandas K. Gandhi  = - **__Basic Information__** o Current City: Killed in New Delhi o Hometown: Porbandar, Kathiawar, India o Sex: Male o Birthday: October 2, 1869 o Political Views: Nonviolence, Satyagraha, and Civil Disobedience o Religious Views: Hinduism o Bio: I am Mohandus Gandhi, the leader of Indian nationalism. I studied law in London, but I did not enjoy my work because I had wanted to become a doctor. After passing the bar examination, I left my family in India to work at a law firm in South Africa, where I experienced segregation and social injustice firsthand. I quickly became a leader, often petitioning the South African congress and organizing protests and groups determined to fight discrimination. I believed strongly in nonviolence and using peaceful means to create change, because it is necessary to uphold moral values in order to unite people and make progress. I had become well-known as a leader who would get personally involved in helping everyone I could, because I wanted to "free men politcally, restore them spiritually, and heal them physically", which became my motto. When a bill was proposed in South Africa that would take away the right for Indians to vote, I arranged the Natal Indian Congress, an opposition force that used satyagraha to fight for civil rights. Satyagraha means "truth force", and is a strategy of nonviolent protest that attempts to show the opponents the error of their ways. I was arrested during the civil rights struggle, and while in jail I read Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience, which influenced my ideas as a leader and became the inspiration behind many of my later struggles. After twenty years and the Boer War in South Africa, I returned to India with my family where I had also become well-known for my reform efforts. I entered the Indian National Congress, and when British took control of India after World War I, I announced a satyagraha on their unfair policies. In 1930, I led the Salt March in protest of an unfair tax, which resulted in many jailings. During World War II, I organized the Quit India movement that demanded Indian independence and British withdrawl from the war. I was jailed again, but a new British party then came to power who created new policies and took steps toward freeing India from British rule completely. Over the years I achieved much with my policies of nonviolence and came to be seen as a spiritual leader, which earned me the name Mahatma, or "Great Soul". o Favorite Quotations: "Be the change you want to see in the world." "Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him with love." "Nonviolence is a weapon of the strong." - **__Relationships__** o Mother: Putlibai Gandhi o Father: Karamchand Gandhi o Daughters: None o Sons: Halrilal, Manilal, Ramdas, and Devadas o Brothers: Laxmidas and Karsandas o Sisters: Raliatbehn - **__Likes and Interests__** o Activities: Praying, Petitioning, Leading demonstrations, protests, and marches o Interests: Philosophy, Hindu and Christian beliefs, helping people o Music: Lead Kindly Light by Janaki Subramaniam, Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye, Raghupati Raghav Rajaram o Books: Bhagavad Gita, Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau, and texts of the Christian New Testament o Movies: Gandhi (1982) o Television: 700 Club, Eternal Word Television Network (ETWN) Programming - **__Education and Work__** o High School: Village school in Porbandar o College/University: Samaldas College in Bhavnaga, Inner Temple law college in London o Employer: The south African Outpost of a large Indian Law Firm in Porbandar


 * __Photos__**
 * ALBUM 1: My Life

ALBUM 2: South African Civil Rights

ALBUM 3: Quit India

__Groups__** - The group ConnectingUniverse is centered around teachings of peace and balance in the universe. My beliefs and lessons were largely centered around achieving spiritual peace. The group's page talks about how all people are linked through friendship, which promotes unity around the world. I share many of these beliefs and was a large influence in promoting and spreading them around South African and Indian society. GROUP 2: world_guards - The organization The Sovereign Order of World Guards is a group committed to peacemaking and peacekeeping around the world. They base their teachings off the principles of satyagraha, which I also follow closely. I used the idea of satyagraha to peacefully bring about change for the world. The World guards group shares these same values as well as other teachings and beliefs that I contributed to through my life's work. GROUP 3: AntiBarbarian - The group AntiBarbarian is a forum for general nonviolent ideas and organizations. I founded and participated in many peaceful groups such as these to show the world that violence is not the answer. The group's motto is "Satyagraha Means Truth", which is the same moral code that I stuck to as a leader and pacifist. The group does outreach programs that unite people from all over the world, which was a main goal of my efforts. GROUP 4: pymamaitreya - This group is for people dedicated to meditation and other self-disciplining ideas. I was a vegitarian and very strong believer in the power of self control and introspection. I prayed every day and often held public prayer meetings, which this group supports. I also went on fasts to support my beliefs and display my discipline and intent for the world, which often helped me in my cause for peace. GROUP 5: giftoflovingkindness - The giftoflovingkindness group is a place to talk about meditation and the peace that it brings to each person individually. I believed in moral ideas over physical or forceful ones, and was a very spiritual man. Meditation allowed me to find inner peace and connect with my values and spirtiual nature. The group would be a good fit for me because I promoted the benefits of meditation and reflection with my teachings. GROUP 6: APS_HINDUITES - The group is for students of Hindu College, which I did not attend, but I still maintain many of the same beliefs due to our common faith. I was raised Hindu and studied many of the sacred texts extensively, but I did not strictly believe in all of the Hindu ideals. Some things about my personal philosophy were adopted from other religions or groups, such as my extremely peaceful views that I developed out of Jainist ideas. The I followed many Hindu traditions closely, such as self-discipline and vegitarianism, but shaped the religion to fit my beliefs. GROUP 7: Democracy_Human_Rights - I was a huge advocate for the advancement of human rights, as this group promotes. I worked for twenty years in South Africa to win equal rights for all people, including the right to vote for Indians. My entire life was dedicated to uniting people and making progress toward peace in the world. The group also talks about how everyone has a right to equal treatment and good governance, for which I am also an advocate. GROUP 8: Pravs World - The group Pravs World is dedicated to spreading inspiration and making a positive impact. I share the same goals as this group, because I wanted to show people the value of life and help them geteverything that they deserved out of it. The group uses inspiring words and hope to encourage everyone in their dreams and goals, which is very similar to what I achieved with my works. My teachings also promoted understanding between people, which the group is trying to carry on into the whole world. GROUP 9: Pacifism - The pacifism group feaures a quote by me about achieving justice through peaceful means and self achievements. My teachings are obviously very centered around this idea, and my work reflects what I was trying to achieve with these morals. I believed that the use of nonviolence in protests, such as demonstrations of satyagraha, would be just as effective as the use of force, and maybe more so. Maintaining a peaceful offense also keeps the cause's moral compass clean, so the organization will have a good conscience and be able to focus better to make a change. GROUP 10: JAGO-INDIA - JAGO-INDIA is the name for the group called the "Honest Law Abiding Indian Citizens" who want to unite and fight corruption in India. They are not an organized society, but are looking for a leader. Throughout my life, I often led groups such as this, because I felt that the moral and social benefits of standing up for my beliefs greatly outweighed the responsibility of being the leader. Though I went to jail numerous times for upholding my morals, I felt it was worth that sacrifice, and that is what this group is looking for as well.
 * GROUP 1: ConnectingUniverse

__Quizzes__** - RESULTS: Eccentric cottager -** You like living in cottages in small quiet areas whether it's on a farm or a field. You're a little bit eccentric, but that's why people love you. You're not easily influenced and you have good morals. ROCK ON!!! QUIZ 2: Are you a caring person - RESULTS: You are a very giving person! -** You are always there to help someone out! You are very reliable and you are always where ever your friends need you whether it be for advice or just... money! Just don't let people take advantage of you! QUIZ 3: What is your animal personality? - RESULTS: The Badger -** You are hard-working and you appreciate the people who treat you with love and respect, which you give back in bulk. QUIZ 4: What piece of furniture are you - RESULTS: Lamp -** you are a lamp because you usally have a sunny demeanor, are eager to please, and love to have fun with friends. QUIZ 5: What element are you - RESULTS: Air -** you're shy but you have many friends
 * QUIZ 1: Which Feeling Are You
 * - I lived a very simplistic life with few material goods or dependence on objects. My peaceful ideas and morals combined with my high level of self-discipline were very important in my life, so it makes sense that the quiz has told me that I might like to live in a small quiet area. I had very strong beliefs that never wavered, so the last sentence of my results seems the most accurate. The quiz asked me what type of person I am, and I replied "very natural" because of the importance of nature and simplicity in my life.
 * - My life was largely based around being altruistic and helping others by making positive change. I was well-known in South Africa and India because I was someone that any person could come to and recieve help, regardless of his class or caste. While I tried to do things that would help large groups of people, like petitioning and protesting unfair laws and policies, I also tried to help individual people. I originally wanted to be a doctor so that I could help people, but was forced into law by my parents, so the quiz result seems fairly accurate.
 * - I am a very hard-worker, and this quiz asked many questions that I found good for getting an accurate response. One question asked what I want most out of life, and I found the answer "Peace, I want to reach enlightenment within myself and the world around me" to be perfect in describing me. I try to be very appreciative of all life, and especially those who respect me as the quiz result says. I am also very self-disciplined, which allows me to use my strong willpower to work hard and accomplish my goals.
 * - The quiz asked me whether I am considered a shy person, and I responded yes. It seems contradictory, since so much of what I am known for is inspiring people by talking to them and being very outsomken with my beliefs. However, I was actually so shy at the beginning of my work in improving civil rights that other people had to read my speeches for me. I overcame that barrier once I realized the true extent of my outrage at social injustice, and decided that I would be willing to do anything in my power to help people, even if it meant being a public speaker.
 * - This quiz also told me that I am shy, but the result also explains how I was willing to put myself out there for what I believe. I took this quiz because the balance between elements was considered very important in nature and for peace. My spiritual education and discoveries were all related to the balance between all things, which is also a large part of the Hindu beliefs that I was taught. The policies of peace and nonviolence that I encouraged were related to natural balance as well, because I believed that all people have an equal right to live their lives freely.**


 * __MLA Bibliography__**