He became a father at nineteen, before leaving India to study law in England. Gandhi later worked as a lawyer in South Africa, where he fought against racial discrimination.

On his return from South Africa he was hailed as "Mahatma", or the Great Soul.

From a young age Gandhi made was determind to act in accordance with truth and non-violence.He preached equal respect for all faiths.He disavowed any new message and claimed what he said was as old as the hills. It is said he made heros out of dust.

Viscount Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, was quoted as saying "Mahatma Gandhi will go down in history on a par with Buddha and Jesus Christ"

Buddhists respected this man of peace highly.He has been viewed in the same light as the Buddha.

This great man, stripped himself of all worldly goods and vowed to live a simple life, often fasting in his struggle for peace and Indian independence from British rule. He encouraged a boycott of British goods, urging Indians to spin their own cloth. Gandhi himself set an example, no matter how busy his life was or what his daily commitments were, he never slept without having spun some cloth.