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Uncover Mahatma Gandhi's Hidden Life: Surprising Facts You Never Knew!
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News18•02-10-2026, 12:01
Uncover Mahatma Gandhi's Hidden Life: Surprising Facts You Never Knew!
- •Mahatma Gandhi initially aspired to be an English gentleman, attempting to adopt their lifestyle with fashionable clothes, dancing, and elocution lessons during his early years in London.
- •A book by Henry S. Salt, "A Plea for Vegetarianism," deepened Gandhi's commitment to vegetarianism, transforming it from a family tradition into a personal ethical conviction.
- •Gandhi's spiritual journey involved exploring diverse religious philosophies, including the Bhagavad Gita, Edwin Arnold's "The Light of Asia," the Bible, the Quran, and the writings of Leo Tolstoy.
- •His experiences with racial discrimination in South Africa, particularly the Pietermaritzburg train incident, profoundly shaped his life and spurred his political activism, leading to the establishment of the Natal Indian Congress.
- •Gandhi's autobiography, "The Story of My Experiments with Truth," offers a candid self-examination of his struggles and evolving convictions, treating everyday experiences as opportunities for personal growth.
- •October 2, Gandhi's birthday, is also recognized as the International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations, promoting peaceful resistance and dialogue globally.
Key Questions Answered
During his early years in London where he travelled in 1888 to study law, Mahatma Gandhi was fascinated by English customs and made an earnest attempt to adopt that lifestyle by buying fashionable clothes, taking dancing and elocution lessons, and learning to play the violin.
Henry S. Salt’s book titled A Plea for Vegetarianism proved particularly influential during Gandhi's years in London, encouraging him to embrace vegetarianism as a personal conviction rather than just a family tradition.
In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence to promote peaceful resistance and dialogue through education and public awareness.
