Mahatma Gandhi: From legal career to leader of Indian independence

Mahatma Gandhi is recognized as the central figure of India’s non-violent struggle for independence from British imperial rule. His leadership was defined by major popular movements, including the 1930 Dandi March, a 241-mile journey from Sabarmati Ashram to the sea to protest salt laws.

Before his political leadership in India, Gandhi’s formative years included studying law in London and a period of legal practice in Bombay and Rajkot. In 1893, he traveled to South Africa for a legal assignment involving an Indian merchant, Dada Abdullah Jhaveri. His 21-year residence in South Africa significantly influenced his political approach and his methods for fighting injustice.