Gandhi's vision of a free India was realised on 15 August 1947, when British granted independence to India.
'Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.' - Mahatma Gandhi. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born and raised in Gujarat. Known as the father of the nation, Gandhi's independence movement inspired civil rights movements across the world. He first employed non-violent civil disobedience as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa.
After returning to India, he organised protests against excessive land-tax and discrimination. He famously led the Quit India movement in 1942 and was imprisoned on several occasions in his lifetime. Gandhi's vision of a free India was realised on 15 August 1947, when British granted independence to India after partitioning India into two dominions.
On the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's 145th birth anniversary, here are a few vintage and rare photos from his days as a law student to the time he breathed his last.
1887: Indian thinker, statesman and nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869 – 1948), as a law student. (Photo by Henry Guttmann/Getty Images).
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) when he was a lawyer. (Photo by Jewish Chronicle/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
Mahatma Gandhi wearing western clothes. India, 1893 (Photo by Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
January 1922: Indian nationalist leader and organizer of the Indian National Congress’s campaign of passive non-cooperation, Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869 – 1948) with his wife, shortly before his arrest for conspiracy. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
20th May 1924: Indian statesman Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869 – 1948) reading his correspondance whilst living in seclusion after being released from prison. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
UNITED KINGDOM – SEPTEMBER 26: The Mahatma Gandhi Chatting With The Workers At Lancashire In England On September 26Th 1931 (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)
Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi), centre, and his wife meet film actor Charlie Chaplin at the home of Dr Katral in Canning Town, east London. Original Publication: People Disc – HD0266 (Photo by London Express/Getty Images)
27th September 1931: Indian thinker, statesman and nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) (1869 – 1948) arriving at Greenfield Mills, Darwin, Lancashire during his tour of Britain. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
3rd November 1931: Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi), outside 10 Downing Street, London. He is in London to attend the Round Table Conference on Indian constitutional reform. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)
Indian statesman Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1969 – 1948) fasts in protest against British rule after his release from prison in Poona, India. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
circa 1935: A postman arranging exhibits including a bust of Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) at the Post Office Art Exhibition at Mount Pleasant Post Office, London. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
circa 1935: Indian thinker and nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869 – 1948) speaking at a rally. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
1st March 1938: Members of the Indian National Congress on the dais at Haripura. From left to right, Seth Jamnalal Bajaj, Darbar Gopoldas Dasai, Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) and Subhas Chandra Bose. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
9th May 1938: Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) with a group of congressmen at the frontier between India and Afghanistan. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
9th June 1939: Indian thinker, statesman and nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869 – 1948), centre, waiting for a car outside Bifla House, Bombay, on his return from Rajkoy. Amongst the group with him are Pandit Nehru (1869 – 1964) (left) and Vallabhai Patel (right). (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
12th September 1931: Indian nationalist leader and thinker Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) on the deck of a boat taking him from Boulogne, France, to Folkestone in England for a Round Table Conference. (Photo by Douglas Miller/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869 – 1948) leaves the home of Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876 – 1948, left), founder of the Muslim League, en route to the Viceroy’s Lodge in Delhi, 24th November 1939. (Photo by Kulwant Roy/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
27th August 1940: Indian nationalist leader and thinker Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) on his way by rickshaw to the Viceregal Lodge to meet the Viceroy of India. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
1947: Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869 – 1948) at the beginning of a fast. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
The Indian Nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869 – 1948) meets the Viceroy of India Lord Mountbatten (1900 – 1979) and his wife, at the Viceroy’s House in New Delhi. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
26th August 1947: Indian Nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) arriving through a surging crowd for a prayer meeting on the Calcutta Maidan, India. 100,000 Hindus and Muslims congregated to listen to Gandhi during the meeting in celebration of the Muslim festival Id-ul-Fitr. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
16th September 1947: Indian philosopher, statesman and nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869 – 1948), with Lord Listowel, Secretary of State for Burma, at Government House, New Delhi. Their meeting took place shortly after Gandhi’s fast, taken in protest to violent disturbances in Calcutta. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Lawyer and Indian Nationalist Leader, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, with a group of cheering well-wishers on a visit to London, January 1948. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
30th January 1948: Indian nationals in India House, London read news of the assassination of Indian leader Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi), who was shot dead by a Hindu nationalist at a prayer meeting. (Photo by Chris Ware/Keystone/Getty Images)
February 1948: A crowd watching the funeral pyre of Indian statesman and advocate of non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi), who was assassinated in Delhi. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
February 1948: A crowd watching the funeral procession of Indian statesman and advocate of non-violence Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) who was assassinated in Delhi. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
February 1948: A Sikh priest reciting the scripts from the Gurugranth Saheb, while the body of Indian statesman and advocate of non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi), lies in state, covered with a Khadar sheet. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
Mourners after having paid tribute to the Indian statesman and advocate of non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi), at the Birla House in Delhi where he was assassinated. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
February 1948: Hindu and Muslim mourners following the funeral procession of the Indian statesman and advocate of non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi). (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
