Mahatma Ghandi

Mohandas Ghandi is one of the most revered figuires in the history of the world. Ghandi is affectionatly known as the "Father of the Nation" for his unrelenting pursuit for independence from the British. He is not only revered in his home region of India, but also in the United States and around the world. His use of civil disobedience, inspired by American author Henry David Thoreau, was revolutionary. The massive demonstrations of non-violent disobedience was one of the main factors in the liberation of India. The great civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. listed Ghandi as his main influence. Ghandi was also the largest figuire in support of women's rights and the fight against poverty.



Ghandi stood for 6 basic principles in his life which he urged his followers to also undertake. The first of these principles was Truth, which Ghandi said he achieved by allways learning from his mistakes and seeking the truth. The second was his most famous, nonviolence. Ghandi saw nonviolence as a way to combat the ruthless tyrants in India and around the world, but warned people to not use this as a "cover for their cowardice." Ghandi's third principle was a strict adherence to vegetarianism, which sometimes included complete fasting. His 4th principle was one of Brahmacharya which translates to spiritual and practical purity. Ghandi's 5th principle is that of simplicity which was most recognized by his use of the spinning wheel to make his own clothes. He believed that Indians who made their own clothes rather than buying it from British owned companies would help to further the movement. And the last principle of Ghandi's life was faith. He had incredible faith. He believed that at the core of every relgion was the same rules of truth and love. His practices of non violence and fasting required alot of fortitude and faith. It is these principles that many remember Mahatma Ghandi for, but it is his actions which truley changed the world.