Gandhi's birth name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was given the title of "Mahatma," which means "great soul," by his followers in South Africa.
Gandhi studied law at the University College London from 1888 to 1891. After graduating, he returned to India to practice law.
Gandhi went to South Africa in 1893 to work as a lawyer for an Indian Muslim merchant. He was shocked by the racism and discrimination that Indians faced in South Africa, and he became involved in the fight for their civil rights.
Satyagraha is a Sanskrit word that means "force for truth." It is a philosophy of nonviolent resistance that Gandhi developed in South Africa. Satyagraha is based on the belief that truth will ultimately prevail over injustice.
In 1930, Gandhi led the Salt March to protest the British salt tax. The Salt March was a 240-mile walk to the sea, where Gandhi and his followers made their own salt. The Salt March was a major turning point in the Indian independence movement.
Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times, but he never won. The Nobel Committee said that Gandhi's work was too "political" to be awarded the peace prize.
On January 30, 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse,.