20 Facts about Mahatma Gandhi that you were Unaware of

Mahatma Gandhi was a renowned leader in India's struggle for independence. He was a law graduate and the most ardent disciple of Jainism. Between 1888 and 1891, he lived in London and vowed to become a vegetarian. Later, Gandhi joined the executive committee of the London Vegetarian Committee and began reading a variety of holy texts in order to get understanding on cross-religions.

Every year, India commemorates the birthday of its great leader. He has been given the title 'Father of the Nation' in recognition of his great contributions to the country. He played a significant part in achieving independence from the British. It is an excellent opportunity for countrymen to honour this great man who gave his life for the advancement of the country.

20 fascinating facts about Mahatma Gandhi, the people's leader

1. Mahatma Gandhi's mother tongue was Gujarati.

2. He attended Alfred High School in Rajkot.

3. His birthday, October 2nd, is observed globally as International Day of Nonviolence.

4. He was his parents' youngest kid. He was the youngest of three siblings.

5. Gandhi's father was a Hindu of the Modh Baniya caste.

6. Gandhi's personal secretary was Mahadev Desai.

7. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was killed in the lawn of the erstwhile Birla House.

8. Gandhi Ji and the great author Leo Tolstoy corresponded via letters.

9. Gandhi Ji established a tiny colony, Tolstoy Farm, on a 1100 acre location 21 miles from Johannesburg, South Africa, for his Satyagraha companions.

10. During the freedom struggle, he led the Dandi Salt March in 1930 and the Quit India Movement in 1942.

11. He not only battled for independence, but also advocated equal treatment for untouchables and inferior castes, and participated in multiple fasts in their support. Untouchables were also referred to as Harijans, which means "children of God" by him.

12. Gandhi got the Academic Award for Best Motion Picture in 1982 for its epic historical drama film based on Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

13. He was named Time Magazine's Man of the Year in 1930. He was a prolific writer, with the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi totaling 50,000 pages.

14. Do you know how many times Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize? Gandhi ji was nominated in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947, and just a few days before his assassination in January 1948.

15. The country against whom he fought for India's Independence, Great Britain, released a stamp honouring him, 21 years after his death.

16. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was not born with the title Mahatma. According to some sources, he was given the title by Nobel Prize-winning Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore.

17. Gandhi ji was not present when Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his tryst with destiny speech to commemorate India's freedom.

18. Mahatma Gandhi's funeral procession was believed to be 8 kilometres long.

19. Reserve Bank of India issued The Gandhi series banknotes by displaying a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi since its introduction in 1996. The 1996 series consists of 10 and 500 rupee banknotes.

20. In 1959, Gandhi Memorial Museum was established. It is situated in the Tamil Nadu city of Madurai. The Gandhi Museum is another name for it. It consists of a blood-stained robe worn by Mahatma Gandhi when he was slain by Nathuram Godse.