Page 156 - (DK) How to be a GENIUS?

Mahatma We do not often link politics with genius.
Yet some political figures have the genius
to see problems in a new way and use

Gandhi this insight to change history. One of the
greatest was Mahatma Gandhi, the leader
of the Indian independence movement.
He pioneered resistance to authority by
nonviolent mass civil disobedience—an
idea that inspired movements for civil
rights and freedom across the world.

Rude awakening
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Born in 1869 in Gujarat, India, In South Africa, Gandhi i
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Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi found racism in the
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studied to become a lawyer. In 1893,
courts, where he was
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he went to work in South Africa on c o u rt s, , wh ere h e wa s
a 12-month contract and came
to
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not allowed to wear
face-to-face with racism when he n o t a l l o w ed to w ea r
was thrown off a train for refusing
rb
his turban.
to give up his first-class seat. He h i s t u rb a n .
became a political agitator, staying
in South Africa to help resident
Indians obtain the right to vote.
At the age of 19, Gandhi travelled to Great Britain (c) 2011 Dorling Kindersley. All Rights Reserved.
to train as a lawyer at University College London.
Nonviolent protest
In 1906, the South African government tried to
force resident Indians to carry registration cards.
Gandhi called on Indians to defy the law but not
use violence. During a seven-year campaign,
thousands were jailed, beaten, or even shot—
yet Gandhi stood firm. Eventually this harsh
treatment of peaceful protesters forced
the government to negotiate with Gandhi.
Nonviolent protest had won its first victory. South Africa. Here he is with his staff in 1903.
Great soul
Gandhi returned to British-ruled India in 1915
and became involved in the independence struggle.
He campaigned against the unfair taxation of poor
villagers, earning the name Mahatma, or “great
soul.” He always advocated nonviolent protest,
even after the 1919 Amritsar Massacre in which
British-commanded soldiers opened fire on an
unarmed gathering, killing at least 379 people.
154
2011
Dorling
(c) 2011 Dorling Kindersley. All Rights Reserved.
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Rights
Reserved.
Kindersley.
All