Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, indisputably, Gandhi's role as a freedom and peace fighter made way for India to gain independence from the British Empire. The author points out that Gandhi took on the British empire's policies of injustice, discrimination, and colonial domination without any violent means, rather choosing to exert the political pressure of mass agitations controlled by truth and non-violence, or "satagraha". The paper relates that Gandhi sought to achieve not only political independence, but also social reform; he succeeded in gaining independence for oppressed women and making the mistreatment of the untouchables illegal.

From the Paper:

"Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, born into an elite family in Porbandar on October 2, 1889, received an education in law at University College, London. In 1891, after being admitted to the British bar, Gandhi returned to India and made an unsuccessful attempt to practice law in Bombay. Shortly after, an Indian firm with interests in South Africa retained him as legal adviser in its office in Durban. Arriving in Durban, Gandhi found himself treated as a member of an inferior race. He was appalled at the widespread denial of civil liberties and political rights to Indian immigrants. After being attacked and beaten by white South Africans, he began to teach the policy of passive resistance against injustice, oppression and wrong."

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