Martyr's Day: Pictorial journey of Mahatma Gandhi's life

Bhubaneswar: He was born in an ordinary Gujarati Hindu family in the era when British held the whip of India’s fate. As he grew up and become a lawyer, he witnessed from the front row seat, the adversities that his fellow Indians had to bear with, in the pre-independent era. Thus began his journey from Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a lawyer, an anti-colonial nationalist and political ethicist to ‘Mahatma Gandhi’- the father of the nation.

Mahatma Gandhi devoted his entire life to free India from the chains of British tyranny. Spearheading several campaigns as a leader of the Indian National Congress, he relentlessly worked for eradicating poverty in India, expanding women’s rights, ending untouchability and ultimately achieving Swaraj or self-rule. He went on war along with his contemporaries without letting go of his principle of Ahimsa and in 1947; a unanimous vision of Independent India did become reality. However, he could not stay for long to witness the revelry as he was shot dead on January 30, 1948 by Nathuram Vinayak Godse.

Remembering Mahatma Gandhi on his 73^rd death anniversary, here is a rare pictorial journey of his life:

• Gandhi from his early days of legal practice in Johannesburg in1900

• Gandhi with wife Kasturba 

• Gandhi during Kheda Satyagraha in 1918

• Gandhi accepting charges of the Congress Presidentship from Mohammed Ali at Belgaum in December 1924

• Gandhi at the charkha (spinning wheel) in the  Sabarmati Ashram in 1925

• Gandhi in Madras addressing the scouts 

• Gandhi with Kheda workers in 1928

• The Dandi march in 1930

• Gandhi with Kasturbai, Malaviya and Mrs. Naidu

• Gandhi on his way to attend the Round Table Conference in London. August 29, 1931

• Gandhi  at the working Committee meeting with Sardar Patel, Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Ansari, Azad, Miraben and other members at Mani Bhavan, Bombay, December 29, 1931

• Gandhi and Kasturba with Harijan children at Bhavnagar on July 3, 1934

• Gandhi at Borsad Camp in May 1935 with (from left) Mahadev Desai (standing) and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

• Gandhi on fast protesting against the ruler of Rajkot  in March 1939 after the former did not keep the promise given to people

• Gandhi writing a draft for 1942 Quit India Resolution Bombay on August 1942

• Gandhi's  broadcast message to refugees on November 12, 1947  the All-India Radio, New Delhi

• Gandhi  assassinated on his way to a prayer meeting in Delhi on January 30, 1948

• Gandhi's bloodstained shawl

• Gandhi's funeral pyre

• Lord Mountbatten attending Gandhi's funeral  at Rajghat

• The last of Mahatma Gandhi's belongings