Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, in present-day Gujarat. Trained as a lawyer in England, he first gained political experience in South Africa, where he led campaigns against racial discrimination and developed his philosophy of Satyagraha—non-violent resistance based on truth and moral force.

Returning to India in 1915, Gandhi emerged as the foremost leader of the national movement. He guided mass campaigns such as the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement, transforming the struggle for independence into a nationwide effort involving peasants, workers, and the urban middle class.

Gandhi emphasized self-reliance, communal harmony, and ethical politics. Though deeply troubled by the violence surrounding Partition, his leadership played a decisive role in ending British rule. He was assassinated on 30 January 1948, leaving behind a legacy rooted in non-violence, moral courage, and social reform.