Gandhi Jayanti 2022: Significance, History, Facts and All You Need to Know

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Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated on 2nd October every year to mark the birth anniversary of the well-known Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was famously known as Mahatma Gandhi.

Father of the Nation, as he was called, led India’s freedom movement along with many other national leaders against British rule in India. His ways of non-violence inspired many civil rights movements across the world. To celebrate his contribution to the nation, 2nd October is celebrated every year as a national holiday. On 15^th June 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution and declared 2nd October as the International Day of Non-Violence. During India’s freedom struggle Gandhi led most of the historic movements like the Dandi March in 1930 and the Quit India movement in 1942. He was involved in some of the movements during the freedom struggle.

Who was Mahatma Gandhi?

Born on 2nd October 1869, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was India’s greatest leader of the independence movement. He successfully led India’s non-violent movement.

Gandhi had studied law and he went to South Africa to represent a client. Upon return, he joined the Indian National Congress and led nationwide campaigns for farmers, peasants, and labourers. He also fought against caste discrimination and fought for expanding women’s rights.

He led some of the most historic movements in India’s freedom struggle and led Indians to break the salt law, through the Dandi March in 1930. He also led the Quit India movement in 1942. Gandhi was killed by Hindu nationalist Nathu Ram Godse on January 30, 1948.

Gandhi Jayanti 2023: History

Champaran Satyagraha – 1917:

The Champaran Satyagraha Movement was the first Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. This Movement was a farmer’s uprising movement in the Champaran District of Bihar. During British rule, the farmers were protesting about the planting of indigo with barely any payment. As a result of this nonviolent struggle, the government agreed to dismantle the tinkathia system. As compensation, the farmers received a portion of the money that was taken from them.

Kheda Satyagraha – 1918:

The Kheda Satyagraha was a movement in the Kheda district of Gujarat. This Movement was started by the farmers against the collection of taxes during famine and plague epidemics. This movement was led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel under the guidance of Gandhi.

Khilafat Movement – 1919:

The Khilafat Movement was a pan-Islamist protest which was started by Shaukat Ali, Maulana Mohammad AliJauhar to restore the caliph of the Ottoman Caliphate. In 1920, the Khilafat leaders and Gandhi, who was a leader of the Indian National Congress, came together to fight for the cause of Khilafat and Swaraj.

Non-Cooperation Movement – 1920:

This movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi because of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Gandhi didn’t want Britishers to control Indians so he started this movement but unfortunately ended up because 23 police officials were killed during this movement.

Dandi March Movement – 1930:

The Dandi March or Salt March was a nonviolent civil disobedience movement. This movement was led by Mahatma Gandhi against the steep tax the British levied on salt.

Quit India Movement – 1942:

The Quit India Movement was also called the August Kranti Movement which was started by Mahatma Gandhi on 8th August 1942, to end the British rule in India.

Gandhi Jayanti 2023: Significance

Gandhi Jayanti is observed in order to honour Mahatma Gandhi. On this day people remember Gandhi’s achievement & contributions towards the freedom movement of India. His policies and agenda of non-violence were celebrated by all. There are several activities conducted in educational institutions related to Gandhi and his movements in India’s freedom struggle in order to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti.

Gandhi Jayanti 2023: Quotes

Here are some of the famous quotes by Mahatma Gandhi:

“Forgiveness is the quality of the brave, not of the cowardly. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
“O object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil in it is permanent”.
“You may never know what results come of your actions, but if you do nothing, there will be no results”.

Amazing Facts About Mahatma Gandhi

Let’s have a look at some of the interesting facts by Mahatma Gandhi:

Gandhi and the famous writer Leo Tolstoy were very good friends. They used to interact with each other through letters. He also set up a Tolstoy Farm, 21 miles from Johannesburg, South Africa.
He relentlessly worked for the upliftment of the weaker section of the society and ‘untouchables’ whom he named Harijan or children of God.
Mahatma Gandhi was featured in Time Magazine as the Man of the Year which is a great honour.
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize. The last nomination was just a few days before he was murdered in 1948.
Mahatma Gandhi was a prolific writer. His collected works have 50,000 pages. And the honour of Mahatma was conferred on him by Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Prize-winning Bengali Poet.
The funeral of Mahatma Gandhi witnessed an eight-kilometer-long funeral procession.

Places In India That Are Dedicated To Mahatma Gandhi

Let us have a look at places that have Bapu commemorated forever.

1. Sabarmati Ashram

Referred to as Gandhi Ashram, Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad was the center of the freedom struggle movement in India. Gandhi used this Ashram as his base where he experimented with non-violence, peaceful protests, and truth.

2. Sevagram, Wardha

Gandhi used this ashram as his experimental laboratory from 1934 to 1940.

3. Aga Khan Palace, Pune

. It is the place where Bapu, Kasturba Gandhi, and Mahadev Desai, secretary of Gandhiji, were imprisoned during the Quit India Movement.

4. Gandhi Smriti, Delhi

It is the place where Gandhiji was assassinated while going for the morning prayers by Nathuram Godse. Today, the Birla House has been conserved as Gandhi Smriti.

Major Attractions Of Gandhi Jayanti

Here are some of the major attractions to visit on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti:

Raj Ghat
India Gate
Connaught Place
Red Fort

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When was Gandhiji born?

Gandhiji also known as the ‘Father of the Nation’ was born on 2 October 1869.

2. Where was Gandhiji’s first Satyagraha experimented?

Gandhiji’s first Satyagraha movement was experimented on in South Africa in 1906, September to protest against the Asiatic Ordinance issued against the Indians in Transval.

3. Name some of the famous books written by Mahatma Gandhi?

Some of the famous books written by Gandhi are:

The Essential Gandhi
The Wit and Wisdom of Gandhi
The Penguin Gandhi reader
The Bhagavad Gita According to Gandhi
The book of Gandhi’s wisdom
Hind swaraj and other writings
The Way to God
For Pacifists

4. Why do we celebrate Gandhi Jayanti?

Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated on 2nd October every year to mark the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was famously known as Mahatma Gandhi. Father of the Nation, as he was called, led India’s freedom movement along with many other national leaders against British rule in India.

5. What activities can we do on Gandhi Jayanti?

Here are some interesting fun activities for children to help them learn more about Mahatma Gandhi: