While the whole world is wondering how to pay tribute to India’s Father of the Nation on his 151st birthday, we believe it will be only possible if we understand his life, philosophies and implement them in our lives.
Finding the purpose of your life can be a daunting task and we have already seen that pep talks hardly make any difference. Things will change for us only when we are responsible to take charge of our lives for better.
Every year, October 2 is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, fondly known as “Bapu” and this year marks his 150th birthday. He was born on this very day in 1869 in Gujarat and was raised by a Hindu family.
Some Interesting Facts About Gandhiji
- He was married at the age of 13 to Kasturba Makhanji Kapadia, who was one year older than him. They were married for 62 years and had four sons but later he took a vow of celibacy.
- He went to London to study law in September 1888 and began his training as a barrister in that country. The teachers there used to scold him for his bad handwriting.
- Gandhi was ‘vegan’ much before the term was coined and avoided milk products (including ghee) but due to his deteriorating health, he had to start consuming goat’s milk.
- Once he fasted for 21 days and government nutritionists were called in to explain how this was possible for a common man.
- There are hardly any photos of his fasting as the British Government didn’t want the Indians to get motivated to fight for India’s independence.
- His non-violent methods and hunger strikes against the oppressive British rule gave Indians the courage to fight for freedom and a taste of liberty.
- He lived in Africa for 21 years and there he was imprisoned many times.
- While India got freedom in 1947, the very next year, he was assassinated on January 30 by Nathuram Vinayak Godse, who shot him three times at the point-blank range. His last words were “Hey Ram”.
- His life and works have inspired great world leaders such as Barack Obama and Martin Luther King Jr and till today people quote his teachings and wisdom to inspire themselves and others.
Some of Mahatma Gandhi’s quotes that inspire…
- Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?
- Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.
- You must be the change, you want to see in this world.
- The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
- Confession of errors is like a broom which sweeps away the dirt and leaves the surface brighter and clearer. I feel stronger for confession.
- Where love is, there God is also.
- There is more to life than increasing its speed.
- If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide.
- First, they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
- Partition is bad. But whatever is past is past. We have only to look to the future.