Live Simply That Others May Simply Live

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Live Simply That Others May Simply Live

Mahatma Gandhi born 2nd October 1869 in India Porbander or the White City his father Karamchand Gandhi was the prime minister of several local Indian princes at this time his mother was Putlibai his fathers 4th wie. Gandhi was set to take over his fathers position in state. He spent his youth in awe of his father but very much devoted to his mother. He grew up in an extended family. He attended private school, from the age of 7. He was always one for playing jokes during his youth although he did hold a high endurance for the truth. He was engaged to his future wife from the age of 7 and this angered him as an adult although he did have a happy marriage Gandhi is quoted as saying at the time of his young marriage that he had no difficulty assuming the role of Husband and immediately took control of his young wife.  He was married at the early age of 13 to Kasturbai. Their marriage lasted 62 years. He had taken a year out of school for this marriage to commence but soon went back after the wedding.

Kasturbai was married in 1882 to Gandhi and it is thought that the beginning of their marriage was not a happy one with Gandhi’s overbearing attitude. She was an influential figure an joined Gandhi in his movements. She had an independent spirit and did not always conform to what Gandhi insisted upon her doing. They did have difficulties within their marriage she believed he neglected his children but he did not see why they needed special privilege because they were his sons. It is obvious that despite their differences and the fact they were married at an early age they cared for each other and Kasturbai died when held in detention with Gandhi during the Quit India campaign.

Gandhi was not an athletic child and shied from physical activities. Religion was a large part of Gandhi’s life he lived in a Hindu family but jis father had a mixed group of friends that included Muslims and Jains. It is thought that as a child Gandhi was particularly interested in Jainism as it proved to be a large part of his adult life – Jainism teaches preciousness of life and also to avoid killing even the smallest of creatures:-

Gandhi had a huge belief in peace and is noted as saying:-

                        “An eye for an eye and we would all be blind.”

These ideas he heard as a child had great effect in his adult hood but as a child the subject of religion bored him and he bordered on being an atheist. He was seen as a good student although at the age of 16 his father died (1885) and due to the fact he missed his fathers final minutes because he was with his wife he felt extreme guilt and began lacking in school and barely scraped through exams.

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He was then sent to England to study for his Bar exams in the hope of becoming a barrister. He found it hard to get permission to go to England from his mother due to the compromising position it was felt he would be put in due to the differences of Hindu law and normal practice of England and the Elders of Gandhi’s caste objected also to the trip and Gandhi was expelled from the Caste. All obstacles had now been taken away and in September 1888 at the age of 19 Gandhi left for England leaving his 3-month-old ...

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