On Oct 2, 1869, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born into the British-controlledcountry of India.

Great Britain held some control of Indiaas early as the 1770’s. They also hadcontrol of who else at that time?

India was originally ruled bythe East India Trading Co.In 1858, full control of Indiawas given to the Britishgovernment.

Under Great Britain, India got many new thingslike roads, telegraphs, railroads, etc.

But the Indian people grew to wanttheir independence.

By 1892, Gandhi had gottenmarried, gone to school in England,had two children, and become a lawyer; after beingturned down for a job as a high school teacher.

In 1893, Gandhi travelled to South Africa, where whitepeople mistreated minorities, including the blacks that lived there, and Indians too.

Gandhi was kicked out of the first class train, eventhough he had a valid ticket. While in the third class trainhe was beaten by a worker.

Another time, while in court, he refused to remove histurban, and got in trouble for that.

During the Zulu and Boer Wars, theBritish government refused to letIndians join the military as officers.All of this angered Gandhi and otherIndians.

By the early 19-teens, Gandhi had begun to fight forIndian rights.

He helped recruit Indians to fighton the side of the British in WWI.

After the war, he continued to fight against British rule.He encouraged Indians to ‘civil disobedience.’

But he taught, ‘ahimsa,’ which meant non-violence.

Gandhi was even sent to jail for two years for speakingagainst and leading people against the government.

In 1930, Gandhi led the Salt March.He and thousands of his followersmarched over 240 miles to make theirown salt, because they didn’t likethe British government’s high tax on salt.

This encouraged many to get even more angry with the government.

The British government arrested about 60,000 protesters.

During WWII, Gandhi didn’t want India to help Britainfight for democracy when the people of his country didn’t even have the freedom of democracy.

Gandhi continued to fight for the rights of dalits, and opposed ‘untouchability.’

In 1942, Gandhi called for full Indian Independence, and started the campaign called ‘Quit India.’

He went to jail again.

Finally, on August 15,1947, Indiagained its independence fromBritain.

Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948 by anangry Hindu Indian. Some think this man was crazy.

In 1949, the Indian government abolished caste-based discrimination, though mistreatment still occurs.

Gandhi has been called, “the father of the nation.”