Mohandas Gandhi

1869- 1948

Indian Politician

Born Mohandas Karamchand, civil rights activist Gandhi studied law in London, and then returned to India. In 1893, he gave up his legal practice and moved to South Africa to fight South African discrimination against Indians. There, he spent nearly 21 years.

In 1914 he returned to England, and was soon running the Congress Independence movement. Gandhi earned the name "Mahatma," or "great soul," preaching a policy of non-violent civil disobedience.

He led the fight against British control of India until his country was granted independence. Gandhi was assasinated by a Hindu fanatic in 1948.