Mahatma Gandhi, Bapu, or the Father of the Nation, dedicated his life to India's struggle for freedom and advocated the path of truth and non-violence.
Digital Desk: Mahatma Gandhi, also referred to as the Father of the Nation, was born in Porbandar, now a part of Gujarat, on October 2, 1869. This year marks his 154th birth anniversary. Every year, Gandhi Jayanti is observed in India to remember his birth anniversary and to honour his life's philosophy as well as his enormous contributions to the Indian independence movement.
October 2 is observed as a national holiday. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, commonly referred to as Mahatma Gandhi, Bapu, or the Father of the Nation, dedicated his life to India's struggle for freedom and advocated the path of truth and non-violence.
Some lesser-known facts about Mahatma Gandhi:
Mahatma Gandhi receives Time Magazine honour: Mahatma Gandhi was named Man of the Year in 1930, making him the first and only Indian to hold this honour.
Irish accent: Gandhi's early teacher was an Irishman, which is why he spoke English with an Irish accent.
Nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize: Gandhi was nominated five times, although he was never given the prize.
Title "Mahatma": The eminent Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore bestowed Gandhi with the appellation "Mahatma."
Shared birthday: Lal Bahadur Shastri, who was born in 1904, and Mahatma Gandhi both have the same day.
Funeral procession: The 8-kilometer-long funeral procession for Gandhi.
Gandhi-related roads: There are 53 roads within India and 48 roads outside the nation with his name.
Henry Ford's enthusiasm for Mahatma Gandhi: Henry Ford, the creator of Ford Motor Company, was a fervent supporter and adherent of Gandhi.
In addition to government and non-government offices, schools and universities all around the nation observe Gandhi Jayanti. The International Day of Non-Violence was established by the UN General Assembly in 2007 to honour Gandhi's values.
