Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (* October 2nd, 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat), called "Mahatma" (great Soul) by his followers - this honorary title probably was coined by Rabindranath Tagore -, is a world-famous Indian Activist and peaceful Revolutionary.
A early as the turn of the 20th century, Gandhi was engaged in South Africa for the cause of equal rights for the Indians, where he developed Methods of non-violent political struggle. After his return to India in 1915, he supported the Congress Party's resistance against the British Raj and became the most famous fighter for a free India during the 1920s. He was one of the first to use Hunger strikes as a political Weapon. Gandhi turned against colonial exploitation and demanded human rights for the so-called Untouchables too, but without demanding to eradicate the Indian caste system altogether. He wished for India to become a secular State, in which Hindus and Muslims should live together peacefully. He favored labor-based Autarchy and an economic system based on small farms.
1888-91, he studied Laws in London. Via the Vegetarian movement there, he came in contact with the Theosophers, who encouraged him to study Hinduist and buddhist Texts. 1893-1914, he stayed in South Africa, where he stood up for the Rights of the Indians, for which he once was beaten up by Whites. After having returned to British India, he worked for its independence and the Rights of the poor and casteless - whom he calls "Harijan", children of God -, for which he has to cooperate with such different Men as Jawaharlal Nehru (his secretary since 1917), Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and Subhas Chandra Bose.
His Actions like the Salt March, working on the Spinning wheel, the Boycott of foreign-made (especially British) Goods, and especially his Hunger strikes - more than once, he announced to "Fast until death" - created a lot of attention for his causes. During 1922-24, he went to prison for his cause; he used the time to study many Classics of World literature. He's especially influenced by Tolstoy, Socrates, and Henry Thoreau.
Gandhi was betrothed at the early age of seven with same-aged Kasturba Makthaji and married to he at 13 by his Family. Their children are Harilal (* 1888), Manilal (* 1956), Ramdas (* 1897), and Devdas (* 1900).
Winston Churchill is a sharp critic of him, once called him a "naked Fakir". Since the Beginning of World War II however, there's peace between them, whether they like it that much or not.
