a great indian leader essay

15 Great Leaders of Modern India Who Changed History

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India is an extremely diverse country which houses different communities and a rich history, and we have had some incredible leaders who have inspired us through the decades. They all have contributed to the foundation of the nation through their different roles, and continue to be sources of inspiration for many. Here are 15 of the great leaders of India we think you should always remember.

1. Dr B.R. Ambedkar

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, economist, social reformer, and political figure who served as the chairman of the committee that drafted the Constitution of India from the discussions in the Constituent Assembly. He also held the position of Law and Justice Minister in Jawaharlal Nehru’s first cabinet and, after renunciating Hinduism, served as an inspiration for the Dalit Buddhist movement. Ambedkar received the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in India, posthumously in 1990. Followers honour him with the salutation Jai Bhim. Additionally, he goes by the title Babasaheb. He is an unforgettable name when it comes to mentioning the great leaders of India.

2. APJ Abdul Kalam

Scientist in aerospace and statesman Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam led India as its 11th president from 2002 to 2007. He studied physics and aeronautical engineering and was nurtured in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. He worked as a scientist and science administrator for the following four decades, primarily at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). He was heavily involved in both India’s efforts to develop military missiles and its civilian space programme. As a result of his contributions to the advancement of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology, he earned the moniker “Missile Man of India.” He also had a significant organisational, technical, and political involvement in India’s 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests, which were the country’s first since its initial test in 1974.

3. Mahatma Gandhi

The victorious struggle for India’s independence from British control was led by Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who later served as an inspiration for movements for civil rights and freedom around the globe. In 1914, in South Africa, the title Mahtm (Sanskrit: “great-souled,” “venerable”) was first used to refer to him. Gandhi’s birthday, 2 October, is observed as an international day of nonviolence and as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday in India. Gandhi was known as Bapu and is regarded as the Father of the Nation in India, though not formally. It would be remiss to not mention Gandhi when compiling a list of the great leaders of India.

4. C. Rajagopalachari

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari was a statesman, author, lawyer, and champion for Indian independence. Rajagopalachari served as India’s final governor general before it became a republic in 1950. Additionally, he was the first governor-general who was born in India; all previous occupants of the position were British nationals. Aside from leading the Indian National Congress, he also held the positions of premier of the Madras Presidency, governor of West Bengal, minister of home affairs for the Indian Union, and chief minister of the state of Madras. Rajagopalachari was one of the first individuals to receive the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. He also created the Swatantra Party. He was a strong supporter of world peace and disarmament and fiercely opposed the use of nuclear weapons. Throughout his life, he also picked up the moniker “Mango of Salem.”

5. Sardar Vallabhai Patel

The first Deputy Prime Minister of India and the country’s first Home Minister, Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, also known as Sardar, was an Indian lawyer, prominent political figure, lawyer, and statesman who served from 1947 to 1950. He is sometimes referred to as “Unifying India.” At a cost of USD 420 million, the Indian government built the Statue of Unity, the tallest statue in the world, which was dedicated to him on October 31, 2018. Its height is roughly 182 metres (597 feet). He was a lawyer and a prominent member of the Indian National Congress who led the country’s independence movement and oversaw its fusion into a single, sovereign state.

6. Jawaharlal Nehru

A major personality in India throughout the middle of the 20th century, Jawaharlal Nehru was an anti-colonial patriot, secular humanist, social democrat, and author. In the 1930s and 1940s, Nehru was a key figure in the Indian nationalist movement. He presided over India for 16 years after the country gained its independence in 1947. Nehru greatly influenced India’s development into a modern nation in the 1950s by promoting parliamentary democracy, secularism, science, and technology. He kept India out of the Cold War’s two blocs in foreign affairs. He was a respected novelist who wrote several works while incarcerated, including The Discovery of India (1946), An Autobiography, and Letters from a Father to His Daughter (1929).

7. Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa, commonly referred to as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, and a foremost name among the great leaders of India, was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 and was a prominent member of the order. Despite having the name Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu on her passport, she was actually born Anjez Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in the North Macedonian city of Üsküb (now Skopje). She migrated to Ireland and subsequently India after spending eighteen years there in Skopje, where she spent the majority of her life.

8. Atal Bihari Vajpayee

As India’s 10th prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an Indian politician and diplomat who held office for three terms: for 13 days in 1996, for 13 months from 1998 to 1999, and then for a full term from 1999 to 2004. One of the Bharat Janata Party’s co-founders and a prominent figure, Vajpayee (BJP). He belonged to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a group of volunteers with Hindu nationalist views. He was the first Indian prime minister to hold office for the whole duration who was not a member of the Indian National Congress. He was also a well-known writer and poet.

9. R.K. Laxman

Indian cartoonist, artist, and humorist Rasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman created these works. His best-known works are The Common Man, which he created, and You Said It, a daily cartoon that he began publishing in The Times of India in 1951. R. K. Laxman began his career as a part-time cartoonist, primarily for regional publications and newspapers. He drew his older brother R. K. Narayan’s stories for The Hindu while still a college student. Political cartoonist for The Free Press Journal in Mumbai, that was his first full-time position. Later, he joined The Times of India, where he rose to fame as the fictional character known as The Common Man. This proved to be the turning point in Laxman’s life.

10. Baba Amte

Indian social worker and activist Murlidhar Devidas Amte, better known by his stage name Baba Amte, is well renowned for his work in the rehabilitation and empowerment of leprosy patients. He has won various honours and accolades, including the Padma Vibhushan, the Templeton Prize, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Gandhi Peace Prize, the Dr. Ambedkar International Award, and the Jamnalal Bajaj Award. He is frequently referred to be India’s contemporary Gandhi, and an unforgettable mention among the great leaders of India.

11. Homi J Bhabha

Homi Jehangir Bhabha, FRS, was an Indian nuclear physicist who founded the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and served as its founding director and professor of physics (TIFR). Bhabha was the founding director of the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET), which is now known as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in his honour. He is also known colloquially as the “Father of the Indian Nuclear Program.” The cornerstones of Indian nuclear weapon development, which Bhabha also oversaw as director, were TIFR and AEET. The Adams Prize (1942) and the Padma Bhushan were given to Homi Bhabha (1954). In 1951 and 1953–1956, he was again a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Physics.

12. Aruna Asaf Ali

Aruna Asaf Ali was a publisher, political activist, and educator from India. She was an ardent member of the fight for Indian independence, and she is well known for raising the Indian National flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay in 1942, during the Quit India Movement. She continued involved in politics after independence and was elected as Delhi’s first Mayor.

13. Asima Chatterjee

Asima Chatterjee was an Indian organic chemist known for her contributions to phytomedicine and organic chemistry. Her study on vinca alkaloids, invention of anti-epileptic medications, and creation of anti-malarial medications are some of her most well-known accomplishments. She also wrote a sizable amount of material about Indian subcontinental medicinal plants. She was the first female to be awarded a doctorate in science by a university in India.

14. Mahashweta Devi

An activist and Bengali writer from India, Mahasweta Devi. Rudali, Aranyer Adhikar, and Hajar Churashir Maa are some of her best-known literary works. She was a socialist who fought for the liberation and empowerment of the Lodha and Shabar tribespeople in the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. She received numerous literary honours, including the Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan, India’s civilian honours, the Jnanpith Award, and the Sahitya Akademi Award (in Bengali). She has been hailed among the great leaders of India for decades.

15. Ela Bhatt

Ela Ramesh Bhatt founded the Self-Employed Women’s Association of India (SEWA) in 1972 and held the position of general secretary for the organisation from 1972 until 1996. She is an Indian cooperative organiser, activist, and supporter of Gandhi. She is the Gujarat Vidyapith’s current chancellor. Bhatt, a lawyer by profession, has received numerous national and international honours, including the Padma Bhushan, the Right Livelihood Award, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, and the Right Livelihood Award for “assisting home-based producers to organise for their welfare and self-respect” (1986).

We hope we reminded you of these great names who have led our nation’s progress through their own journeys. They will continue to be extremely inspiring for all of us throughout the decades that have gone by and the decades to come.

Saptaparna likes movies and cats, and is socially awkward. She also likes giving random recommendations to uninterested people.

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What did Gandhi try to accomplish with his activism?

What were gandhi’s religious beliefs, what other social movements did gandhi’s activism inspire, what was gandhi’s personal life like, what were contemporary opinions of gandhi.

Mahatma Gandhi

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• Cultural India - History of India - Biography of Mahatma Gandhi
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• Bombay Sarvodaya Centre - Gandhi Book Centre - Mahatma Gandhi
• Stanford University - The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute - Mohandas K. Gandhi
• MapsofIndia.com - Mahatma Gandhi Biography
• UCLA Social Sciences - Mahatma Gandhi
• South African History Online - Biography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
• The Nobel Prize - Mahatma Gandhi, the missing laureate
• GlobalSecurity.org - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
• Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal / Gandhi Book Centre - Civil Disobedience in Political Theory and Social Practice
• Mahatma Gandhi - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
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Initially, Gandhi’s campaigns sought to combat the second-class status Indians received at the hands of the British regime. Eventually, however, they turned their focus to bucking the British regime altogether, a goal that was attained in the years directly after World War II. The victory was marred by the fact that sectarian violence within India between Hindus and Muslims necessitated the creation of two independent states—India and Pakistan—as opposed to a single unified India.

Gandhi’s family practiced a kind of Vaishnavism , one of the major traditions within Hinduism , that was inflected through the morally rigorous tenets of Jainism —an Indian faith for which concepts like asceticism and nonviolence are important. Many of the beliefs that characterized Gandhi’s spiritual outlook later in life may have originated in his upbringing. However, his understanding of faith was constantly evolving as he encountered new belief systems. Leo Tolstoy ’s analysis of Christian theology, for example, came to bear heavily on Gandhi’s conception of spirituality, as did texts such as the Bible and the Quʾrān , and he first read the Bhagavadgita —a Hindu epic—in its English translation while living in Britain.

Within India, Gandhi’s philosophy lived on in the messages of reformers such as social activist Vinoba Bhave . Abroad, activists such as Martin Luther King, Jr. , borrowed heavily from Gandhi’s practice of nonviolence and civil disobedience to achieve their own social equality aims. Perhaps most impactful of all, the freedom that Gandhi’s movement won for India sounded a death knell for Britain’s other colonial enterprises in Asia and Africa. Independence movements swept through them like wildfire, with Gandhi’s influence bolstering existing movements and igniting new ones.

Gandhi’s father was a local government official working under the suzerainty of the British Raj, and his mother was a religious devotee who—like the rest of the family—practiced in the Vaishnavist tradition of Hinduism . Gandhi married his wife, Kasturba , when he was 13, and together they had five children. His family stayed in India while Gandhi went to London in 1888 to study law and to South Africa in 1893 to practice it. He brought them to South Africa in 1897, where Kasturba would assist him in his activism, which she continued to do after the family moved back to India in 1915.

As lauded a figure as Gandhi has become, his actions and beliefs didn’t escape the criticism of his contemporaries. Liberal politicians thought he was proposing too much change too quickly, while young radicals lambasted him for not proposing enough. Muslim leaders suspected him of lacking evenhandedness when dealing with Muslims and his own Hindu religious community, and Dalits (formerly called untouchables) thought him disingenuous in his apparent intention to abolish the caste system . He cut a controversial figure outside India as well, although for different reasons. The English—as India’s colonizers—harboured some resentment toward him, as he toppled one of the first dominoes in their global imperial regime. But the image of Gandhi that has lasted is one that foregrounds his dogged fight against the oppressive forces of racism and colonialism and his commitment to nonviolence.

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Mahatma Gandhi (born October 2, 1869, Porbandar, India—died January 30, 1948, Delhi) was an Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer who became the leader of the Indian Independence Movement against British rule . As such, he came to be considered the father of his country . Gandhi is internationally esteemed for his doctrine of nonviolent protest ( satyagraha ) to achieve political and social progress.

In the eyes of millions of his fellow Indians, Gandhi was the Mahatma (“Great Soul”). The unthinking adoration of the huge crowds that gathered to see him all along the route of his tours made them a severe ordeal; he could hardly work during the day or rest at night. “The woes of the Mahatmas,” he wrote, “are known only to the Mahatmas.” His fame spread worldwide during his lifetime and only increased after his death. The name Mahatma Gandhi is now one of the most universally recognized on earth.

Gandhi was the youngest child of his father’s fourth wife. His father—Karamchand Gandhi, who was the dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar , the capital of a small principality in western India (in what is now Gujarat state) under British suzerainty—did not have much in the way of a formal education. He was, however, an able administrator who knew how to steer his way between the capricious princes, their long-suffering subjects, and the headstrong British political officers in power.

Gandhi’s mother, Putlibai, was completely absorbed in religion , did not care much for finery or jewelry, divided her time between her home and the temple, fasted frequently, and wore herself out in days and nights of nursing whenever there was sickness in the family. Mohandas grew up in a home steeped in Vaishnavism —worship of the Hindu god Vishnu —with a strong tinge of Jainism , a morally rigorous Indian religion whose chief tenets are nonviolence and the belief that everything in the universe is eternal. Thus, he took for granted ahimsa (noninjury to all living beings), vegetarianism , fasting for self-purification, and mutual tolerance between adherents of various creeds and sects.

The educational facilities at Porbandar were rudimentary; in the primary school that Mohandas attended, the children wrote the alphabet in the dust with their fingers. Luckily for him, his father became dewan of Rajkot , another princely state. Though Mohandas occasionally won prizes and scholarships at the local schools, his record was on the whole mediocre . One of the terminal reports rated him as “good at English, fair in Arithmetic and weak in Geography; conduct very good, bad handwriting.” He was married at the age of 13 and thus lost a year at school. A diffident child, he shone neither in the classroom nor on the playing field. He loved to go out on long solitary walks when he was not nursing his by then ailing father (who died soon thereafter) or helping his mother with her household chores.

He had learned, in his words, “to carry out the orders of the elders, not to scan them.” With such extreme passivity, it is not surprising that he should have gone through a phase of adolescent rebellion, marked by secret atheism , petty thefts, furtive smoking, and—most shocking of all for a boy born in a Vaishnava family—meat eating. His adolescence was probably no stormier than that of most children of his age and class. What was extraordinary was the way his youthful transgressions ended.

“Never again” was his promise to himself after each escapade. And he kept his promise. Beneath an unprepossessing exterior, he concealed a burning passion for self-improvement that led him to take even the heroes of Hindu mythology, such as Prahlada and Harishcandra—legendary embodiments of truthfulness and sacrifice—as living models.

In 1887 Mohandas scraped through the matriculation examination of the University of Bombay (now University of Mumbai ) and joined Samaldas College in Bhavnagar (Bhaunagar). As he had to suddenly switch from his native language— Gujarati —to English, he found it rather difficult to follow the lectures.

Meanwhile, his family was debating his future. Left to himself, he would have liked to have been a doctor. But, besides the Vaishnava prejudice against vivisection , it was clear that, if he was to keep up the family tradition of holding high office in one of the states in Gujarat, he would have to qualify as a barrister . That meant a visit to England , and Mohandas, who was not too happy at Samaldas College, jumped at the proposal. His youthful imagination conceived England as “a land of philosophers and poets, the very centre of civilization.” But there were several hurdles to be crossed before the visit to England could be realized. His father had left the family little property; moreover, his mother was reluctant to expose her youngest child to unknown temptations and dangers in a distant land. But Mohandas was determined to visit England. One of his brothers raised the necessary money, and his mother’s doubts were allayed when he took a vow that, while away from home, he would not touch wine, women, or meat. Mohandas disregarded the last obstacle—the decree of the leaders of the Modh Bania subcaste ( Vaishya caste), to which the Gandhis belonged, who forbade his trip to England as a violation of the Hindu religion—and sailed in September 1888. Ten days after his arrival, he joined the Inner Temple , one of the four London law colleges ( The Temple ).

India is a land of great political leaders who ruled the country effectively and also by protecting its national interest. It was not an easy task to accomplish, keeping in view the changes taking place in the world political scenario. Leaders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi Bose played an indispensable role in changing the perspective of world towards India. The manner, in which issues like border disputes, Kashmir and growing shortage of food grains were handled, they really deserve an honor. The far-sightedness and pragmatic characteristics of the leaders can be assumed from the fact that they framed the Constitution of India by inducting the best possible clauses of the world. They led the country from the front, without being showing any inclination to either of the power blocs. To know more about the political leaders of India, read the brief biography of the Indian political leaders.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a social reformer and freedom fighter. He was one of the prime architects of modern India and strongest advocates of Swaraj (Self Rule). He was universally recognized as the "Father of Indian Movement". 

Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh was among the prominent revolutionaries who shaped the base of a grand national movement. Following his execution, on March 23, 1931, the supporters and followers of Bhagat Singh regarded him as a "Shaheed", "martyr". 

Chandrasekhar Azad

A contemporary of Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad was a born firebrand revolutionary. He engaged in a heroic battle against the British. His role was crucial in inspiring the others of his generation to participate in the national movement for freedom. 

Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was one of the pioneers of the Indian Independence Movement. Gokhale was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress. He was one of the most learned men in the country, a leader of social and political reformists and one of the earliest and founding leaders of the Indian Independence Movement.

Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was, undoubtedly, one of the greatest political leaders of India. She was the first and only woman to be elected as the Prime Minister. She is also regarded as the most controversial political leader of the country for her unprecedented decision of imposing "a state of emergency". 

Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of independent India. He was a member the Congress Party that led the freedom movement against British Empire. Nehru was one of the architects who had the opportunity to steer the newly freed-nation. He was also the chief framer of domestic and international policies between 1947 and 1964.

Lala Lajpat Rai

Lala Lajpat Rai immensely contributed in attaining independence the nation. He helped in establishing few schools in the country. He also initiated the foundation of Punjab National Bank. In 1897, he founded the Hindu Orphan Relief Movement to keep the Christian missions from securing custody of these children.

Lal Bahadur Shastri

He devoted his life for the pride and honor of the country. Shastri was regarded as man of principles. Lal Bahadur Shastri offered his resignation as Union Railway Minister; hours after he was made aware of a train accident that killed around 150 people.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a renowned journalist of his time. Disturbed by his provocative articles, the British Government decided to deport him off Calcutta. Despite of his house-arrest and imprisonment, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad continued to write against the anti-people policies of the British Government.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was a freedom fighter of India. He was the founder of the Indian National Army. During pre-independence period Netaji had visited London to discuss the future of India, with the members of the Labor party.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Rajendra Prasad was a great leader of the Indian Nationalist Movement and also one of the architects of the Indian Constitution. He was elected as the first President of Republic of India. Rajendra Prasad was a crucial leader of the Indian Independence Movement, who left his lucrative profession to participate in the nationalist movement of India.

Rajiv Gandhi

Rajiv Gandhi was one of the popular Prime Ministers of India. The developmental projects launched by him include the national education policy and expansion of telecom sector. Besides his achievement and subsequent popularity, Rajiv Gandhi also emerged as one of India's controversial Prime Ministers. 

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the great social leaders of India. He played a crucial role during the freedom struggle of India and was instrumental in the integration of over 500 princely states into the Indian Union. Despite the choice of the people, on the request of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel stepped down from the candidacy of Congress president.

Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu was truly one of the gems of the 20th century India. She was known by the sobriquet "The Nightingale of India". Her contribution was not confined to the fields of politics only but she was also a renowned poet. The play "Maher Muneer", written by Naidu at an early age, fetched a scholarship to study abroad.

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Mahatma Gandhi

By: History.com Editors

Updated: June 6, 2019 | Original: July 30, 2010

Revered the world over for his nonviolent philosophy of passive resistance, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was known to his many followers as Mahatma, or “the great-souled one.” He began his activism as an Indian immigrant in South Africa in the early 1900s, and in the years following World War I became the leading figure in India’s struggle to gain independence from Great Britain. Known for his ascetic lifestyle–he often dressed only in a loincloth and shawl–and devout Hindu faith, Gandhi was imprisoned several times during his pursuit of non-cooperation, and undertook a number of hunger strikes to protest the oppression of India’s poorest classes, among other injustices. After Partition in 1947, he continued to work toward peace between Hindus and Muslims. Gandhi was shot to death in Delhi in January 1948 by a Hindu fundamentalist.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, in the present-day Indian state of Gujarat. His father was the dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar; his deeply religious mother was a devoted practitioner of Vaishnavism (worship of the Hindu god Vishnu), influenced by Jainism, an ascetic religion governed by tenets of self-discipline and nonviolence. At the age of 19, Mohandas left home to study law in London at the Inner Temple, one of the city’s four law colleges. Upon returning to India in mid-1891, he set up a law practice in Bombay, but met with little success. He soon accepted a position with an Indian firm that sent him to its office in South Africa. Along with his wife, Kasturbai, and their children, Gandhi remained in South Africa for nearly 20 years.

Did you know? In the famous Salt March of April-May 1930, thousands of Indians followed Gandhi from Ahmadabad to the Arabian Sea. The march resulted in the arrest of nearly 60,000 people, including Gandhi himself.

Gandhi was appalled by the discrimination he experienced as an Indian immigrant in South Africa. When a European magistrate in Durban asked him to take off his turban, he refused and left the courtroom. On a train voyage to Pretoria, he was thrown out of a first-class railway compartment and beaten up by a white stagecoach driver after refusing to give up his seat for a European passenger. That train journey served as a turning point for Gandhi, and he soon began developing and teaching the concept of satyagraha (“truth and firmness”), or passive resistance, as a way of non-cooperation with authorities.

The Birth of Passive Resistance

In 1906, after the Transvaal government passed an ordinance regarding the registration of its Indian population, Gandhi led a campaign of civil disobedience that would last for the next eight years. During its final phase in 1913, hundreds of Indians living in South Africa, including women, went to jail, and thousands of striking Indian miners were imprisoned, flogged and even shot. Finally, under pressure from the British and Indian governments, the government of South Africa accepted a compromise negotiated by Gandhi and General Jan Christian Smuts, which included important concessions such as the recognition of Indian marriages and the abolition of the existing poll tax for Indians.

In July 1914, Gandhi left South Africa to return to India. He supported the British war effort in World War I but remained critical of colonial authorities for measures he felt were unjust. In 1919, Gandhi launched an organized campaign of passive resistance in response to Parliament’s passage of the Rowlatt Acts, which gave colonial authorities emergency powers to suppress subversive activities. He backed off after violence broke out–including the massacre by British-led soldiers of some 400 Indians attending a meeting at Amritsar–but only temporarily, and by 1920 he was the most visible figure in the movement for Indian independence.

6 Things You Might Not Know About Gandhi

The iconic Indian activist, known for his principle of nonviolent resistance, had humble beginnings and left an outsized legacy.

When Gandhi’s Salt March Rattled British Colonial Rule

In March 1930, Mahatma Gandhi and his followers set off on a brisk 241‑mile march to the Arabian Sea town of Dandi to lay Indian claim to the nation's own salt.

Assassination of Gandhi

Passive Resistance For some 50 years, Gandhi, born on October 2, 1869, and called “Mahatma” (“great‑souled” in Sanskrit), fought for India’s independence from Britain, practicing civil disobedience and peaceful protests that included fasting, boycotts and marches. He was an adherent of satyagraha (“truth‑force”), a passive political resistance he defined as “a weapon of the strongest […]

Leader of a Movement

As part of his nonviolent non-cooperation campaign for home rule, Gandhi stressed the importance of economic independence for India. He particularly advocated the manufacture of khaddar, or homespun cloth, in order to replace imported textiles from Britain. Gandhi’s eloquence and embrace of an ascetic lifestyle based on prayer, fasting and meditation earned him the reverence of his followers, who called him Mahatma (Sanskrit for “the great-souled one”). Invested with all the authority of the Indian National Congress (INC or Congress Party), Gandhi turned the independence movement into a massive organization, leading boycotts of British manufacturers and institutions representing British influence in India, including legislatures and schools.

After sporadic violence broke out, Gandhi announced the end of the resistance movement, to the dismay of his followers. British authorities arrested Gandhi in March 1922 and tried him for sedition; he was sentenced to six years in prison but was released in 1924 after undergoing an operation for appendicitis. He refrained from active participation in politics for the next several years, but in 1930 launched a new civil disobedience campaign against the colonial government’s tax on salt, which greatly affected Indian’s poorest citizens.

A Divided Movement

In 1931, after British authorities made some concessions, Gandhi again called off the resistance movement and agreed to represent the Congress Party at the Round Table Conference in London. Meanwhile, some of his party colleagues–particularly Mohammed Ali Jinnah, a leading voice for India’s Muslim minority–grew frustrated with Gandhi’s methods, and what they saw as a lack of concrete gains. Arrested upon his return by a newly aggressive colonial government, Gandhi began a series of hunger strikes in protest of the treatment of India’s so-called “untouchables” (the poorer classes), whom he renamed Harijans, or “children of God.” The fasting caused an uproar among his followers and resulted in swift reforms by the Hindu community and the government.

In 1934, Gandhi announced his retirement from politics in, as well as his resignation from the Congress Party, in order to concentrate his efforts on working within rural communities. Drawn back into the political fray by the outbreak of World War II , Gandhi again took control of the INC, demanding a British withdrawal from India in return for Indian cooperation with the war effort. Instead, British forces imprisoned the entire Congress leadership, bringing Anglo-Indian relations to a new low point.

Partition and Death of Gandhi

After the Labor Party took power in Britain in 1947, negotiations over Indian home rule began between the British, the Congress Party and the Muslim League (now led by Jinnah). Later that year, Britain granted India its independence but split the country into two dominions: India and Pakistan. Gandhi strongly opposed Partition, but he agreed to it in hopes that after independence Hindus and Muslims could achieve peace internally. Amid the massive riots that followed Partition, Gandhi urged Hindus and Muslims to live peacefully together, and undertook a hunger strike until riots in Calcutta ceased.

In January 1948, Gandhi carried out yet another fast, this time to bring about peace in the city of Delhi. On January 30, 12 days after that fast ended, Gandhi was on his way to an evening prayer meeting in Delhi when he was shot to death by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu fanatic enraged by Mahatma’s efforts to negotiate with Jinnah and other Muslims. The next day, roughly 1 million people followed the procession as Gandhi’s body was carried in state through the streets of the city and cremated on the banks of the holy Jumna River.

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Essay on Mahatma Gandhi [100, 150, 200, 300, 500 Words]

Essay on Mahatma Gandhi in English: In this article, you are going to read short and long essays on Mahatma Gandhi in English (100, 150, 200-250, 300, and 500 words). This article will be also helpful for you If you are looking for a speech on Mahatma Gandhi or Paragraph on Mahatma Gandhi in English. We’ve written this article for students of all classes (nursery to class 12). So, let’s get started.

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Short Essay on Mahatma Gandhi 100 Words

Mahatma Gandhi was one of the greatest leaders of our country. He was born in Porbandar, India, on October 2, 1869. His father Karamchand Gandhi was the Dewan and his mother Putlibai was a pious lady. Gandhiji went to England to become a barrister. In 1893 he went to South Africa and worked for the rights of our people.

He returned to India in 1915 and joined the freedom struggle. He started many political movements like Non-cooperation movement, Salt Satyagraha, Quit India Movement to fight against the British. Gandhiji worked for the ending of the caste system and the establishment of Hindu-Muslim unity. He was killed by Nathuram Godse On January 30, 1948.

Mahatma Gandhi Essay in English 150 Words

Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader. His full name was Mohandas and Gandhi. He was born on October 2, 1869 at Porbandar. His father was a Diwan. He was an average student. He went to England and returned as a barrister.

In South Africa, Gandhiji saw the bad condition of the Indians. There he raised his voice against it and organised a movement.

In India, he started the non-cooperation and Satyagraha movements to fight against the British Government. He went to jail many times. He wanted Hindu-Muslim unity. In 1947, he got freedom for us.

Gandhiji was a great social reformer. He worked for Dalits and lower-class people. He lived a very simple life. He wanted peace. He believed in Ahimsa.

On January 30, 1948, he was shot dead. We call him ‘Bapu’ out of love and respect. He is the Father of the Nation.

Also Read: 10 Lines on Mahatma Gandhi

Essay on Mahatma Gandhi 200-250 Words

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian lawyer, freedom activist, and politician. Gandhiji was born on October 2, 1869 at Porbandar, Gujarat. His father Karamchand Gandhi was the Chief Minister (diwan) of Porbandar state. His mother Putlibai was a religious woman.

He went to England to study law at the age of 18 years. After his return to India, he started a practice as a lawyer in the Bombay High Court. He went to South Africa and started practicing law. There he protested against the injustice and harsh treatment of the white people towards the native Africans and Indians.

He returned to India in 1915 and started to take interest in politics. Mahatma Gandhi used the ideals of truth and non-violence as weapons to fight against British colonial rule. He worked for the upliftment of Harijans. He fought against untouchability and worked for Hindu-Muslim unity.

Through his freedom movements like Non-cooperation movement, Khilafat movement, and civil disobedience movement he fought for freedom against the British imperialists. 1942, he launched the Quit India movement to end the British rule. At last, India got freedom in 1947 at his initiative.

People affectionately call him ‘Bapu’ and the ‘Father of the Nation’. He was shot dead in 1948 by the Hindu fanatic Nathuram Godse.  Gandhiji’s life is a true inspiration for all of us.

Mahatma Gandhi Essay in English 300 Words

Mahatma Gandhi was born at Porbandar in Gujarat on 2nd October, 1869. His father was the Diwan of the State. His name was Karam Chand Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi’s full name was Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi. His mother’s name was Putali Bai. Mahatma Gandhi went to school first at Porbandar then at Rajkot. Even as a child, Mahatma never told a lie. He passed his Matric examination at the age of 18.

Mohan Das was married to Kasturba at the age of thirteen. Mahatma Gandhi was sent to England to study law and became a Barrister. He lived a very simple life even in England. After getting his law degree, he returned to India.

Mr. Gandhi started his law practice. He went to South Africa in the course of a law suit. He saw the condition of the Indians living there. They were treated very badly by the white men. They were not allowed to travel in 1st class on the trains, also not allowed to enter certain localities, clubs, and so on. Once when Gandhiji was travelling in the 1st class compartment of the train, he was beaten and thrown out of the train. Then Mahatma decided to unite all Indians and started the Non-violence and Satyagrah Movement. In no time, the Movement picked up.

Mahatma Gandhi returned to India and joined Indian National Congress. He started the Non-violence, Non-cooperation Movements here also. He travelled all over India, especially the rural India to see the conditions of the poor.

Mahatma Gandhi started Satyagrah Movement to oppose the Rowlatt Act and there was the shoot-out at Jalian-Wala-Bagh. The Act was drawn after many people were killed. He then started the Salt Satyagraha and Quit India Movements. And finally, Gandhiji won freedom for us. India became free on 15th August, 1947. He is called as “Father of the Nation”. Unfortunately, Gandhiji was shot on 30 January 1948 by a Hindu extremist Nathuram Godse.

Also Read: Gandhi Jayanti Speech 10 Lines

Mahatma Gandhi Essay in English 500 Words

Introduction:.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi was a politician, social activist, writer, and leader of the Indian national movement. He is a figure known all over the world. His name is a household word in India, rather, in all the world round. His creed of non-violence has placed him on the same par with Buddha, Sri Chaitanya, and Jesus Christ.

Family & Education:

Mahatma Gandhi was born in the small town of Porbandar in the Kathiwad state on October 2, 1869. His father Karamchand Gandhi was the prime minister of Rajkot State and his mother Putlibai was a pious lady. Her influence shaped the future life of Mahatma Gandhi.

He was sent to school at a very early age, but he was not a very bright student. After his Matriculation Examination, he went to England to study law and returned home as a barrister. He began to practice law in Bombay but he was not very successful.

Life in South Africa:

In 1893 Gandhiji went to South Africa in connection with a case. He found his own countrymen treated with contempt by the whites. Gandhiji started satyagraha against this color hated. It was a non-violent protest, yet hundreds were beaten up and thousands were sent to jail. But Gandhiji did not buzz an inch from his faith in truth and non-violence and at last, he succeeded in his mission. He was awarded the title of Mahatma.

Fight for India’s Independence:

In 1915 Gandhiji came back to India after twenty long years in South Africa. He joined the Indian National congress and championed the cause of India’s freedom movement. He asked people to unite for the cause of freedom. He used the weapons of truth and non-violence to fight against the mighty British.

The horrible massacre at Jalianwalabag in Punjab touched him and he resolved to face the brute force of the British Government with moral force. In 1920 he launched the Non-cooperation movement to oppose British rule in India.

He led the famous Dandi March on 12th March 1930. This march was meant to break the salt law. And as a result of this, the British rule in India had already started shaking and he had to go to London for a Round Table Conference in 1931. But this Conference proved abortive and the country was about to give a death blow to the foreign rule.

In 1942 Gandhiji launched his final bout for freedom. He started the ‘Quit India’ movement. At last, the British Government had to quit India in 1947, and India was declared a free country on August 15, 1947.

Social Works:

Mahatma Gandhi was a social activist who fought against the evils of society. He found the Satyagraha Ashram on the banks of the Sabarmati river in Gujarat. He preached against untouchability and worked for Hindu-Muslim unity. He fought tirelessly for the rights of Harijans.

Conclusion:

Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation was a generous, god-loving, and peace-loving person. But unfortunately, he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse on 30th January 1948 at the age of 78. To commemorate Gandhiji’s birth anniversary Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated every year on October 2. Gandhiji’s teachings and ideologies will continue to enlighten and encourage us in the future.

Read More: 1. Essay on Swami Vivekananda 2. Essay on Subhash Chandra Bose 3. Essay on Mother Teresa 4. Essay on APJ Abdul Kalam 5. Essay on Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

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Mahatma gandhi at 150: lessons on leadership.

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Today, October 2, marks the 150 th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.  Around the world, Gandhi’s legacy of non-violence and as the father of India’s Independence Movement is being commemorated and analyzed for relevance in our increasingly turbulent times.  Gandhi became the role model for the most successful political movement leaders of the 20th century – from Martin Luther King to Lech Walesa, Cesar Chavez and Nelson Mandela.

Had he come of age today, Gandhi might have branded himself as a “social entrepreneur”.  In reality, few social entrepreneurs have achieved anywhere near the scale of impact that Gandhi was able to.  But the comparison is apt, as Gandhi was never a head of state or government, but instead, the head of a private organization - the Indian National Congress, that, along with its many partners, mobilized an incredibly diverse and complex peoples into a united movement against British imperialism.  He led first and foremost by understanding the diversity of India and its people – economically, culturally, religiously, and deeply integrating that diversity into the Independence movement.  He further integrated himself into the movement by dedicating his life to the cause, living as much among the people as possible, and actually risking death many times for the cause.  While there may never be another Gandhi, there is no reason that today’s committed social entrepreneurs can’t embrace their own version of Gandhi’s personal and political leadership commitment.

Arguably, Gandhi’s greatest leadership trait was his ability to visualize the qualities of a successful, post-Independence Indian nation, and maintain a life-long focus on the four intertwined challenges that he believed must be collectively addressed for India to achieve success as a nation.  The four challenges, or goals, as articulated by Ramchandra Guha in his book,  “ Gandhi, The Years That Changed The World ”; were: to free India from British occupation, to end untouchability, to improve relations between Hindus and Muslims, and to make India into a self-reliant nation – economically and socially.   Gandhi aligned most of the social movements he led around these four goals - starting with his work in South Africa and continuing until his death.  He believed firmly that without addressing all four challenges simultaneously, India could not acquire independence and become a successful nation.   Without communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims, or between upper caste and lower caste Hindu’s, for example, Gandhi did not believe India would ever achieve its potential.

A second element of Gandhi’s leadership was his lifelong commitment to achieving that intertwined vision of a successful Indian nation.  Starting in the 1890’s with his work in South Africa until his death in 1948, Gandhi wrote, mobilized and preached about the same goals of freedom, inclusion, harmony, diversity and empowerment.  Today, few of the most committed social entrepreneurs have the energy to stay engaged on the same set of issues for 50-60 years.  Dr. Muhammad Yunus of the Grameen Bank has been one, very notable exception.

Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi’s most well-known, and most-studied, leadership trait was his willingness to live like the majority of Indians that he sought to help, and his exhortation that all Indians “be the change they wish to see in this world”.    It seems obvious, but in a day and age when NGO leaders are in Davos, London and New York as much as they are in the villages, and when NGO salaries remain a hot topic, Gandhi’s ability to live comfortably among villagers and the urban poor – to be the change he wished to see, brought him the credibility, trust and intellectual understanding needed to lead India’s independence movement.  While today’s social entrepreneurs also have compelling visions for change, they are often unable to separate themselves from the global elite to which they have historically belonged.  And fairly or unfairly, many for-profit entrepreneurs and social enterprises are perceived as seeking to profit off the backs of the world’s poor, and never gain credibility, even when their primary objective and motivation is to improve the human condition.

Gandhi’s least studied leadership trait was his ability to use the fast as a social and political weapon.  Over the course of his life time, Gandhi fasted 14 times for social, religious or political purposes – a skill he mastered through personal practice.  He would fast for personal penance and to build his own capacity for sacrifice, ahimsa and brahmacharya.

Today in business and entrepreneurship, we often talk about core competency and disruptive innovation.  Entrepreneurs are told to develop a product or service that is difficult to compete against - technically complex, different from the past and very difficult to replicate by others.

Gandhi’s ability to fast for social change was his core competency.  It took him many years to train his body and mind to function without food, and only later did he use the fast as a political weapon.  No one else could do it and there was no answer for it – from anyone.  The British never had an effective response, nor did angry Indian communal rioters.  In each case, Gandhi’s fasts brought capitulation to his wishes, because anything was a more acceptable solution than to allow Gandhi’s death.   It was a great innovation in social movements that, except for Cesar Chavez’s fasts for farm workers in California, has never been remotely replicated.

The elements of Gandhi’s leadership model remain relevant today.  Whether a leader is seeking to end sexual discrimination, eradicate HIV/AIDS or legislate a jobs program, they will need their own version of Gandhi’s leadership model - re-imagined in their own vision.   In the age of the #MeToo movement, for example, leaders for gender equality and an end to sexual harassment must attack the intertwined issues of religion, family structure, sexism, and the transformation of labor markets.  Similarly, to eradicate the HIV virus will require new drugs and vaccines, but will also transformation in the health care system, cultural norms around sexuality, building rural health delivery programs and many other things.  These will take a life time to achieve and require leaders with great credibility and trust amongst the communities they are seeking to help and change.  Gandhi was able to maintain the support of India’s upper caste Hindu’s and industrialists while maintaining the trust of the rural and poor.

What’s missing today is the 2019 version of the fast.  We have major global crises in areas like climate change and forced migration, but no leaders who have yet found tools, like Gandhi’s fast-till-death, to push public opinion and government leaders to action.  Our greatest commemoration of Gandhi’s life may be to find the tools that lead to large-scale change non-violently, but forcibly in the same manner that he did so effectively.

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Mahatma Gandhi’s Leadership Report

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Executive summary

Introduction, gandhi’s leadership style and behaviour, gandhi’s transformative and transactional leadership, gandhi’s use of power, reference list.

Mahatma Gandhi is perhaps the greatest leader of the millennium. His leadership pioneered peaceful and non-violent civil disobedience and set the stage for the development of human rights. Ghandi used transformative, people-centred, charismatic and servant leadership to lobby for India’s independence from the British. He was particularly a good power manager and never rose above his followers.

He voluntarily decided to be poor, fasted for days as a way of passing his disapproval and even dressed in the same way as his followers. Gandhi set a legacy that has been instrumental in the fight for freedom. This report discusses Gandhi’s leadership style and behaviour, and his power management skills.

Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader. When one reads his many famous quotes, there is no doubt that they were informed by an in-depth understanding of leadership (Nath 2010). Gandhi is no doubt among the greatest political personalities who lived during the twentieth century. His influence is far-reaching and he is credited to be the inspiration behind the leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement.

“Gandhi was born in Gujarat on October 2 nd 1869, and was assassinated on January 30 th 1948” (Yates 2013, p. 1). Mahatma was a charismatic leader, who was analytical and deliberate in his behaviour. A product of the colonial era Gandhi was interestingly inspired by the Bhagavad-Gita, which had been written many years before he was born. He was an orator, a politician, an intellectual and a writer.

He was indubitably a quite complex human being, one who believed in voluntary subordination and simplicity and yet had a strong stand about his vision for a free society. This report is an analysis of the behaviour and leadership style of Ghandi, the transactional and transformative aspects of his leadership and the way he used the power he had to help India gain Independence.

According to Dalglish and Miller (2010, p. 94), “A people-centred leader stresses concern for people”. Gandhi was such a leader. His people-minded leadership is confirmed by his ahimsa principle. Gandhi used this principle to urge his followers to love all humans regardless of whether they are their friends or enemies. The ahimsa principle was informed by his belief in non-violence ( Gandhis Non-violence n.d.).

Gandhi not only urged his followers to refrain from physically harming their opponents (the British) but he also urged them to avoid developing ill-will and hatred towards them. Therefore, non-violence was not all about avoiding physically harming the British. Mahatma believed that the colonialists in India needed to be convinced of their injustice and not to be punished ( Gandhis Non-violence n.d.).

It can therefore be argued that Gandhi was focussed on having a virtuous following while protesting against the injustices of the British colonialists. This proves the fact that he was a people-centred leader.

The Satyagraha principle, that was basically an extension of ahimsa principle, was also instrumental in the fight against colonialism by the British. It means ‘soul-force’ and it advocated for a firm stand on the ideals that the Indian populace held, but without ill-will and hatred. Its form in the public domain was civil disobedience as well as failure to cooperate with evil.

The former involved breaking unjust laws while the latter involved non-compliance with unjust systems. “The Salt March of 1930 was one of Gandhi’s greatest successes in civil disobedience. Salt was necessary to the life of Indian farmers’ cattle, and the British monopoly on salt production had led to massive taxes on the vital substance” ( Gandhis Non-violence n.d., p. 1).

After Gandhi broke the British Salt Law, a myriad of Indians followed his example and broke the law too. It also encouraged them to break other oppressive laws. This is proof of people centred leadership because Gandhi empowered the masses to reject oppression through civil disobedience. The second element of Satyagraha did not involve breaking laws.

They accomplished it by avoiding British products, getting out of schools established by the British and so forth. This led to halting of production systems that were set up by the British ( Gandhis Non-violence n.d.).

“Research showed that people centred leadership is not consistently related to productivity but does tend to enhance group satisfaction and cohesiveness” (Dalglish & Miller 2010, p. 94). Gandhi had the potential to move and inspire masses in India. He was particularly good at empowering people, making common Indians engage in the struggle for independence and making them realize the progress they had made after each protest.

He toured the whole of India and personally led all major movements in the country, repeatedly holding public meetings with his supporters (Gupta 2008). He was always accessible to others and thus they became connected to him and shared his vision, making the whole of India resistant to British oppression.

Transformative leadership

Transformative leadership theory has evolved with time but is remains an invaluable part of contemporary leadership literature. Dalglish and Miller (2010) describe transformational leadership as a style of leadership that seeks to change the current state of affairs by accomplishing three main tasks. Firstly, the leader connects with his followers and instils in them a sense of a greater purpose.

Secondly, the leader frames the issues at hand such that they relate with both the followers’ and leader’s values and vision (Pillai 2011). Lastly, the leader ensures that he/she upholds the morals necessary for the achievement of the vision, often at a level much higher than that of his/her followers.

This way, the followers strive to emulate the leader and this leads to change of status quo (Dalglish & Miller 2010). Gandhi has been cited in various literatures as the embodiment of transformative leadership (McDowelle 2009). This section investigates the transformative aspects of Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership.

Gandhi was imprisoned for a long period, and fasted for so long that his health was threatened. He intended to use this as a way of sending a message to the Indian populace and the colonialists. He created a moral vision that was transformative in nature and “based on what he called truth” (McDowelle 2009, p. 1).

His way of protesting therefore made him win the feelings and emotions of his followers, a key component of transformational leadership (Lowe, Kroeck & Sivasubramaniam 1996).

Aluya (2009) describes Mahatma as a transformational and a spiritual leader. “His leadership style transcended the polarization of ethnic or religious boundaries and was regarded as the father of the Indian Nation” (Aluya 2009, p. 4).

Mahatma’s leadership style that advocated for non-violence was recently recognized by the declaration of October second, his “birthday, as the International Day of Non-Violence” (Aluya, 2009, p. 4) by the UN (United Nations). It is important to note that transformative leaders share many attributes with charismatic leaders (Harith 2012), and thus Mahatma was a charismatic leader as well.

Transactional leadership

Dalglish and Miller (2010, p. 139) define transactional leadership as the form of leadership that “is characterized by leaders and followers being in an exchange relationship”. Transactional leadership is transitory in nature and thus the parties may part ways after the completion of the transaction.

This is the main downside of transactional leadership (Dalglish & Miller 2010). Gandhi’s leadership can be viewed to have a transaction that is not so obvious to discern. Indian masses needed independence from the British (Palshikar 2008) and Gandhi was in the process of self discovery and self development.

After being an non-practicing lawyer for some time, Gandhi had made a resolution to follow a higher calling; ensuring that people get justice through his leadership. It is therefore arguable that he needed the support of the Indian populace, after coming back from South Africa, if he was to fulfil his dream of a just society.

Mahatma achieved transactional leadership after winning the hearts of the populace and the attention of the British through imprisonment and fasting. He however delivered his part of the exchange much later; after India gained independence from Britain (Aarons 2007).

Transformational leaders get their power from influencing and inspiring the masses to believe in the same things they believe in, and their ability to stimulate the populace to act in a certain way in order to realize a common goal (Lai 2011).

Gandhi was a transformational leader and therefore he gained his power by empowering the people to resist oppressive laws and share a common vision of an India independent from British colonialism.

While the majority of leaders elevate themselves with symbols of power, Gandhi was a symbol of the people he served (Barnabas & Clifford 2012). Gandhi dressed in loin cloth like his followers and voluntarily accepted to be poor in order to serve people better.

Although he had power in the way he could control Indian masses, Gandhi was more of a people’s servant than a power-bearer. Gandhi can therefore be described as a servant leader who understood the need for voluntary subordination in service (Barnabas & Clifford 2012).

Gandhi used the power of his vision as the guiding principle of his protests. “He could write the most complex intellectual work to be sure his point was understood. Yet, he could express the feelings of his followers in the most simple and eloquent ways” (Yates 2013, p. 3). He indubitably had great intellectual power, which he did not show off to the British.

He instead used his intellectual power to influence people in order to rally support for rejection of oppression and colonialism. An example of how he appropriately used his intellectual power is when he collected a handful of salt from the beach, an action that was against the Salt Law and an expression of freedom from oppressive laws, and that was meant to show his disapproval of the aforementioned law.

This act was copies by many Indians and led to imprisonment of many. The protest against the Salt Law is however credited as a major step towards the independence of India (Yates 2013).

Gandhi also drew power from his disregard for himself and fearlessness. He singlehandedly halted slaughter in Bengal by meeting combatants without fearing for his life. This meeting was preceded by a fearless fasting period. It is important to note that his use of non-violence and disregard for himself were his greatest weapons. Gandhi also drew power from the aspects of transformative leadership that he exhibited.

This power is described by Shields (2010, p. 567) as “the ability of the leader to reach the souls of others in a fashion which raises human consciousness, builds meanings, and inspires human intent that is the source of power”. After gaining such power, Gandhi used servant leadership to lead his followers and thus he never acted in a way suggesting that he took credit for beginning the revolution.

His way of disobedience had a great influence on leaders all over the world. Some of the leaders who got their inspiration from Gandhi include Martin Luther King and his counterpart in American Civil Rights Movement, Malcolm X (Yates 2013).

From the above discussion, it is apparent that Mahatma’s leadership style can be summarized into four leadership styles. These are transformational leadership, people-oriented leadership, servant leadership and charismatic leadership. Gandhi was a special and remarkable individual and thus his leadership was more or less a legacy.

His disregard for himself in the fight for freedom and use of non-violence transformed civil disobedience and influenced civil movements throughout the world. He was commendably the inspiration behind Martin Luther King’s advocacy for dialogue and peaceful protests during the American Civil Rights Movement that took place in the mid-twentieth century.

Among the most interesting things about Gandhi was the way he used the power that had been bestowed upon him by his followers. Gandhi lived like one of them and interacted with them freely.

He never misused the power he had over the masses and only used it to stage civil disobedience against oppressive laws and colonization. Gandhi frequently fasted for days as a way of showing disapproval of British laws and behaviour. He was ready to die for his country that at one time he faced a battalion alone. He died by assassination and became an inspiration to many people around the world.

Aarons, G. 2007, ‘Transformational and Transactional Leadership: Association With Attitudes Towards Evidence-Based Practice’, Psychiatric Services , vol. 57, no. 8, pp. 1162-1169, National Centre for Biotechnology Information. Web.

Aluya, D. 2009, Complexity of Leadership, Organizations and the Real Estate Industry , Author House, Bloomington, IN.

Barnabas, A., Clifford, P. 2012, ‘ Mahatma Gandhi – An Indian Model of Servant Leadership ’, International Journal of Leadership Studies , vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 133-154. Web.

Dalglish, C. & Miller, P. 2010, Leadership: Understanding its Global Impact , Tilde University Press, Australia. Gandhi’s Non-Violence . Web.

Gupta, A. 2008, Gandhi: An Exemplary Leader. Web.

Harith, S. 2012, Different Styles of Leadership . Web.

Lai, A. 2011, ‘Transformational-Transactional Leadership Theory’, AHS Capstone. Projects , Paper 17. Web.

Lowe, K., Kroeck, K. & Sivasubramaniam, N. 1996. ‘ Effectiveness correlates of transformational and transactional leadership: A meta-analytic review of the MLQ literature ’, The Leadership Quarterly , vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 385-415. Web.

McDowelle, J. 2009, ‘A Contemporary Consideration of Transformative Leadership’, Journal of Curriculum and Instruction , vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 1-5, East Carolina University. Web.

Nath, S. 2010, Mahatma Gandhi’s Leadership Styles in Management . Web.

Palshikar, K. 2008, Charismatic Leadership . Web.

Pillai, M. 2011, 5 Effective leadership styles . Web.

Shields, C. 2010, ‘Transformative Leadership: Working for Equity in Diverse Contexts’, Educational Administration Quarterly , vol. 46, no. 4, pp. 558-589, Sage Journals. Web.

Yates, M. 2013, Gandhi . Web.

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Home — Essay Samples — History — Mahatma Gandhi — Mahatma Gandhi And His Leadership Style

Mahatma Gandhi and His Leadership Style

• Categories: Leadership Styles Mahatma Gandhi

About this sample

Words: 794 |

Published: Mar 18, 2021

Words: 794 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

• C.Maxwell, J. (n.d.). 10 Leadership Quotes. Retrieved May 8, 2019, from www.success.com: https://www.success.com/10-powerful-quotes-on-leadership/
• History.com.Editors. (2010, July 30). Mahatma Gandhi. Retrieved May 8, 2019, from HISTORY: https://www.history.com/topics/india/mahatma-gandhi
• Mishra, P. (2017, September 22). Gandhi Jayanti.Retrieved May 8, 2019, from www.mapsofindia.com: https://www-mapsofindia-com.cdn.ampproject.com
• Winning essays of the Mahatma Gandhi competition. (2010, January 11). Retrieved May 8, 2019, from spectator.sme.sk: https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20034950/winning-essays-of-the-mahatma-gandhi-competition.html

Should follow an “upside down” triangle format, meaning, the writer should start off broad and introduce the text and author or topic being discussed, and then get more specific to the thesis statement.

Provides a foundational overview, outlining the historical context and introducing key information that will be further explored in the essay, setting the stage for the argument to follow.

Cornerstone of the essay, presenting the central argument that will be elaborated upon and supported with evidence and analysis throughout the rest of the paper.

The topic sentence serves as the main point or focus of a paragraph in an essay, summarizing the key idea that will be discussed in that paragraph.

The body of each paragraph builds an argument in support of the topic sentence, citing information from sources as evidence.

After each piece of evidence is provided, the author should explain HOW and WHY the evidence supports the claim.

Should follow a right side up triangle format, meaning, specifics should be mentioned first such as restating the thesis, and then get more broad about the topic at hand. Lastly, leave the reader with something to think about and ponder once they are done reading.

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Essay On Great Leader | Great Leader Essay for Students and Children in English

Essay On Great Leader: When we are to think of ‘a great leader’, our mind naturally turns towards a great leader — one of the greatest of the modern world — Mahatma Gandhi. for a political or a national leader who have the turn ‘Mahatma’ added to it, by itself determines and decides his greatness. No other leader of the modern age has achieved this distinction of being called a ‘Mahatma’:— one who is ‘great’ in ‘Soul’ — ‘Mahaan’ in ‘Atma’.

Long Essay on Great Leader 500+ Words in English

Short essay on great leader 200+ words in english, 10 lines on great leader.

• What are the qualities of a Great Leader?
• What makes you a Great Leader?
• What does a good leader look like?

Long and Short Essays on Great Leader Kids and Students in English

Given below are two essays in English for students and children about the topic of ‘Great Leader’ in both long and short form. The first essay is a long essay on the Great Leader of 400-500 words. This long essay about Great Leader is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay on Great Leader of 150-200 words. These are suitable for students and children in class 6 and below.

Below we have given a long essay on Great Leader of 500+ words that is helpful for classes 7, 8, 9, and 10 and Competitive Exam Aspirants. This long essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 7 to class 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants.

Let us first know something about his life and how from an ordinary lawyer he grew into a great soul.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born is 1869 in Porbandar, Kathiawar in Gujarat. At the age of eighteen, he passed the University examination and went to England to study law. There, in England, he found himself very much out of place as the society there was quite different from the one in which Gandhi was born. He tried to adapt himself to that society — he studied law, put on the best English dress, even joined classes to learn dancing as the English men and women dance, even broke his vow given to his mother and ate meat. But in none of these ways did he achieve any success and he remained what he was. Only that he passed out the law examination and returned to his country — India — settled in Bombay as a lawyer.

Gandhi had been married, as per the normal social customs, at the early age of 13 years. He wrote in his autobiography how he was deeply attached to his wife. That is what it was but then life as a lawyer in Bombay started well. Gandhi was a very shy sort of a young man and that was a handicap for him as a lawyer. But then, as luck would have it, he got a chance to go to South Africa as a lawyer to one of his clients. This was a turning point in his life.

In South Africa — under the British rale then, he found that the native ‘blacks’ were treated by the ‘whites’ with great disgrace and humiliation. Even he, as an Indian, with a brown complexion, had to suffer this disgrace. He was thrown out of a first-class railway compartment by the ‘white’ Co-travellers as ‘blacks’ were not allowed to travel by a first-class. Having been physically assaulted and thrown out of the compartment, Gandhi at once struck upon an idea which flashed in his mind — passive-resistance — Satyagraha.

From then onwards, Gandhi started into a new role — an agitator against racial discrimination on behalf of the Indian Community in South Africa. He made Johannesburg and Praetoria as the centers of his agitation and established a center for the Indian Community at Phoenix. His tireless zeal in this matter earned him a great name and the Indian Community got great moral courage under his leadership. He addressed assemblies, was prosecuted and jailed, and suffered but would not give up. This strong-willed resistance won him the title of ‘Mahatma’.

Gandhi returned to India in January 1915 and soon got out organizing the labor class. The gruesome Jalianwala Bagh massacre of unarmed, peaceful assembly at Amritsar turned him to direct political protest against the British government. He became a dominant figure in the Indian National Congress. He launched his non¬cooperation movement against the British government in 1920-22, organized protest marches like the Dandi Salt March against the salt-tax.

Below we have given a short essay on Great Leader is for Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This short essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 6 and below.

Gandhi was repeatedly imprisoned for civil disobedience and his final imprisonment came in 1942-44 as a result of his call, to the British to ‘Quit India’. So much honor had he won for himself by his selfless struggle that he was invited by the Emperor of Great Britain, King George V to meet him and he met him as he was, in a loincloth and a shawl over the shoulders. It was in this manner that he lastly met Lord Mountbatten and Lady Mountbatten to negotiate on Indian independence.

He had always fought for the rights of the downtrodden and called the untouchables of the Hindu Society as ‘Harijans’ and stayed with them in their colonies. He always fought for Hindu-Muslim unity.

A man of great moral courage, he fasted so many times, the last being the most dangerous for his life. He was against the creation of Pakistan but then that was done. He still fought for the sake of giving Pakistan its due and this led to a great Hindu backlash. On January 30, 1948, he was killed by a Zealot, Godse for his pro-Muslim and pro-Pakistan attitude.

But Gandhi remained an undisputed leader of the masses. His moral courage and his godliness rightly gave him the title of ‘Mahatma’ and he shall ever be remembered as the greatest leaders of the 20th century.

• When we think of a great leader, one thinks of Mahatma Gandhi.
• Born at Porbander, Kathiawar, Gujarat in 1869; married at the age of 13 and left for England at the age of 18 to study law.
• I wanted to become an Englishman while in England, tried to learn dancing, and even ate meat.
• On his return to India, he started practice at Bombay. I had the chance to go to South Africa to plead a case.
• This was the turning point in his life. In South Africa experienced racial discrimination practiced by the ‘White’ rulers against native ‘blacks’ Himself became its victim.
• Started agitation against this discrimination and launched ‘Satyagraha’ — passive resistance.
• Organized the Indian Community in this passive resistance, suffered persecution but did not give up. Became a leader with a great soul-force, a Mahatma.
• On arrival back to India organized laborers. The brutal massacre of innocent, unarmed people in Amritsar (Jalianwala Bagh) by the British Soldiers, shifted Gandhi’s field of activity to the political scene.
• Non-cooperation movements, passive resistance, Gandhi became the national leader with the Indian National Congress — suffered jail terms several times, undertook fasts.
• Remained committed to fighting against untouchability and for Hindu-Muslim unity. Lived a poor-mans life to be an example. Did not want a partition of the country, favored Muslims, and at last became the victim of a bullet on Jan. 30, 1948.

Students can find more English Essay Writing Topics, Ideas, Easy Tips to Write Essay Writing, and many more also visit Mahatma Gandhi Essay

FAQs on Essay on Great Leader

1. What are the qualities of a Great Leader?

Below is the list of some of the qualities of a Great Leader.

Integrity. Ability to delegate. Communication. Self-awareness. Gratitude. Learning ability. Influence. Empathy.

2. What makes you a Great Leader?

A great leader posses a clear vision, is courageous, has integrity, honesty, humility, and clear focus. Great leaders help people reach their goals, are not afraid to hire people that might be better than them, and take pride in the accomplishments of those they help along the way.

3. What does a good leader look like?

Great leaders are people in which others have confidence and respect. They have clear goals but are very open to alternative perspectives. They care about the people who work with them but are capable of making hard decisions when necessary. They are self-confident without being loud, aggressive, or dominating.

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• Mahatma Gandhi Essay

Important Essay on Mahatma Gandhi for Students in English

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, often called the 'Father of the Nation' , was a leader who fought for India's freedom from British rule. He believed in non-violence. Every year on October 2nd, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti to honor his efforts in freeing India.

English Essay on Mahatma Gandhi

Rabindranath Tagore was the first to call Gandhiji 'Mahatma,' which means 'Great Soul' in Sanskrit. His wise ideas and beliefs led people to respect and call him 'Mahatma Gandhi.' His dedication to the country and efforts to turn his ideas into reality make Indians around the world very proud of him .

According to Mahatma Gandhi’s biography, he was born on October 2, 1869 , in Porbandar, a coastal town in the present-day Indian state of Gujarat. He grew up in a Hindu family and ate basic vegetarian meals. His dad, Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi, was an important leader in Porbandar State. In South Africa, he was the first to lead a peaceful protest movement, setting him apart from other demonstrators. Mahatma Gandhi also introduced the idea of Satyagraha, a nonviolent approach to opposing unfairness. He devoted 20 years of his life to battling discrimination in South Africa.

His idea of 'Ahimsa,' which means not hurting anyone, was widely admired and followed by many influential people worldwide. He became an indomitable figure who couldn't be defeated in any situation. Mahatma Gandhi initiated the 'Khadi Movement' to encourage the use of fabrics like khadi or jute. This movement was a crucial part of the larger 'Non-co-operation Movement,' which advocated for Indian goods and discouraged foreign ones. Gandhi strongly supported agriculture and encouraged people to engage in farming. He inspired Indians to embrace manual labor and emphasized self-reliance, urging them to provide for their needs and lead simple lives. He began weaving cotton clothes using the Charkha to reduce dependence on foreign goods and promote Swadeshi products among Indians.

During the fight for India's freedom, Gandhiji faced imprisonment several times along with his followers, but his main goal was always the freedom of his motherland. Even when he was in prison, he never chose the path of violence.

Mahatma Gandhi made significant contributions to various social issues. His efforts against 'untouchability' while he was in Yerwada Jail, where he went on a hunger strike against this ancient social evil, greatly helped uplift the oppressed community in modern times. He also emphasized the importance of education, cleanliness, health, and equality in society.

These qualities defined him as a person with a great soul and justified his transformation from Gandhi to Mahatma. He led many freedom movements, including the "Quit India Movement," which was highly successful. His death was a huge loss to the forces of peace and democracy, leaving a significant void in the nation's life.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a prominent Indian nationalist leader, significantly influenced Mahatma Gandhi's political ideology and leadership approach. Gandhi considered him his political teacher.

Mahatma Gandhi played a crucial role in India's fight for freedom from British rule. His life was dedicated to serving his country and its people, and he became an international symbol of Indian leadership. Even today, he continues to inspire and motivate young people worldwide with his values and principles.

Gandhi Ji was known for his strong sense of discipline. He emphasized the importance of self-discipline in achieving significant goals, a principle he applied in promoting his philosophy of Ahimsa (non-violence). Through his own life, he demonstrated that rigorous discipline can lead to the realization of any objective, provided we remain committed and dedicated. These qualities established him as a revered and respected leader whose influence extends far beyond his lifetime. His ideals continue to resonate not only in India but also around the world.

FAQs on Mahatma Gandhi Essay

1. What were the different movements that Gandhi started in order to bring Independence to India?

In order to bring freedom, Gandhi started the Satyagraha movement in 1919, the non-cooperation movement in 1921, and Civil Disobedience movement in 1930 and Quit India movement in 1942.

2. Who killed Mahatma Gandhi?

A young man named Nathuram Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi when he was going to attend an evening prayer meeting.

3. Why is Gandhi known as the ‘Father of the Nation’?

Mahatma Gandhi is known as the ‘Father of the Nation’ because he laid the true foundation of independent India with his noble ideals and supreme sacrifice.

4. How do we commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s contribution for our Nation?

His birthday on 2 nd October is celebrated as a National Holiday across the nation in order to commemorate his great contributions and sacrifices for the country’s independence.

5. What are the things we should learn from Mahatma Gandhi? 

There are various things one can learn from Gandhiji. The principles that he followed and preached his entire generation and for generations to come are commendable. He believed in ‘Ahimsa’ and taught people how any war in the world can be won through non-violence. To simply state one can learn the following principles from Gandhiji - 

Nonviolence, 

Respect for elders,

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• Famous Personalities /

Indian Freedom Fighters

• Updated on  
• Aug 13, 2024

Around 75 years ago, on the historic date of 15th August 1947,  India became free from British domination. It was the culmination of numerous movements and struggles that were rife throughout the time of British rule including the historic revolt of 1857 . This independence was achieved through the efforts of many revolutionary Indian freedom fighters, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi , and more, who took the lead in organizing the struggle which led to India’s independence. This blog brings you the Indian freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to ensure India’s independence.

This Blog Includes:

Most popular male indian freedom fighters, most famous women indian freedom fighters, important indian freedom fighters and their journeys, mahatma gandhi, subhash chandra bose, sardar vallabhbhai patel, jawaharlal nehru, lal bahadur shastri, bhagat singh, dadabhai naoroji , tantia tope, bipin chandra pal, lala lajpat rai,  bal gangadhar tilak , ashfaqulla khan , kunwar singh, mangal pandey, vinayak damodar savarkar, c. rajagopalachari, ram prasad bismil, chandra shekhar azad , rani lakshmi bai, begum hazrat mahal , famous quotes by indian freedom fighters.

Below is a list of some of the most popular male Indian freedom fighters of India:

• Dadabhai Naoroji
• K. M. Munshi
• Ashfaqulla Khan
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak
• Chittaranjan Das
• Begum Hazrat Mahal
• Chandra Shekhar Azad
• Abdul Hafiz Mohamed Barakatullah

Must Read: Essay on Mahatma Gandhi

Additionally, we share a list of the most famous women Indian Freedom Fighters of the country.

• Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi
• Annie Besant
• Madam Bhikaji Cama
• Kasturba Gandhi
• Aruna Asaf Ali
• Sarojini Naidu
• Kamala Nehru
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
• Jhalkari Bai
• Savitri Bai Phule
• Ammu Swaminathan
• Kittu Rani Chennamma

Must Read: Essay on Indian Freedom Struggle

Must Read: 1857 to 1947 History of India

Born on 2nd October 1869, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is revered as the Father of the Nation for his immense sacrifices for India. He not only ushered India towards freedom, but he also became an inspiring figure for many independence struggles and rights movements across the world. Popularly called Bapu, Gandhi introduced the doctrine of non-violence in India. According to him, independence was to be achieved through a combination of non-violent movement and non-cooperation with the British. The historic Non-Cooperation movement, the Dandi March, and the Quit India movement were all started under his leadership.

• Born: 2 October 1869, Porbandar
• Full name: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
• Assassinated: 30 January 1948, New Delhi
• Famously Known As Bapu

Want to know about the struggles of Indian Freedom Fighters? Refer to our blog – Best Books for Indian History !

One of the greatest Indian freedom fighters that history witnessed was none other than Subhas Chandra Bose. He was born on 23rd January 1897. He was a radical nationalist and his ultimate patriotism carved a hero out of him. Bose disagreed with the ideals of non-violence promoted by Gandhi, instead of believing that only armed revolt could oust the British from India. The founder of the Forward Bloc, he escaped the eyes of the British to reach Germany during the Second World War ultimately. He raised the Indian National Army (INA) and with Japanese help, was able to free a portion of Indian territory from the British in Manipur, but was ultimately defeated due to Japanese surrender to the British. Although he is believed to have died in a plane crash in 1945, his death remains shrouded in mystery to date.

• Born: 23 January 1897, Cuttack
• Famously Known As Netaji
• Died: 18 August 1945, Taipei, Taiwan
• Education: Scottish Church College (1918), Presidency University

The contribution of Subhas Chandra Bose to the Independence of India is significant. Just like these Indian Freedom Fighters, there are several other global heroes who laid their lives for their nations. To know more read our blog Popular Struggles and Movements !

Indian National Movement

Vallabhbhai Patel was born on 31st October 1875. A senior leader of the Indian National Congress, he made an immense contribution to the Indian freedom struggle as one of the most influential and strong-minded Indian freedom fighters. He was one of the most influential leaders of Gujarat, who organized peasant movements against the British based on Gandhi’s ideals of non-violence. One of the first congress leaders to have accepted the British plan of partition for India, he is remembered for his role in integrating the princely states into the dominion of India. His efforts led to the integration of around 562 princely states. After independence, he served as the first home minister and deputy prime minister of India.

• Born: 31 October 1875, Nadia
• Died: 15 December 1950, Mumbai
• Full name: Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel
• Famously Known As Sardar, Iron Man Of India

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was born on 14th November 1889. He was the single child of Motilal Nehru and Swarup Rani Nehru. Nehru was one of the most renowned barristers and was known for his intellectual capabilities which soon made him one of the greatest politicians India had ever seen. Nehru, under the approval of Gandhi, his mentor, rose to become one of the most dominant figures in Indian politics from the 1930s onwards. Nehru, after much deliberations, accepted the partition proposal for India in 1947 and took oath as the First Prime Minister of India after attaining independence. His birthday on 14 November is widely celebrated in India as Children’s day.

• Born: 14 November 1889, Prayagraj
• Died: 27 May 1964, New Delhi
• Spouse: Kamala Nehru (m. 1916–1936)
• Parents: Motilal Nehru
• Famously Known As Chacha Nehru, Pandit Nehru

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Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on 2nd October 1904 in the state of Uttar Pradesh. He was conferred with the title of Shastri which in English is termed a Scholar. At the age of only sixteen, he left his studies to join the non-cooperation movement at the call of Gandhi. Later, he graduated with a first-class degree from Kashi Vidyapeeth, a national institution of higher education inaugurated by Gandhi. He was one of the most proactive Indian freedom fighters who participated in various movements such as the Quit India movement, the Civil Disobedience movement, and other satyagrahas led by Mahatma Gandhi. Lal Bahadur Shastri was incarcerated by the British for considerable periods during his lifetime. After attaining independence, he first became the Home Minister and later was made the Prime Minister of India in the year 1964.

• Born: 2 October 1904, Mughalsarai
• Died: 11 January 1966, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• Party: Indian National Congress
• Famously Known As: Man of Peace

Born in 1907, Bhagat Singh was among the extreme revolutionary Indian freedom fighters. He was a largely controversial, though respected figure in the freedom struggle of India. This revolutionary hero was born into a Sikh family in the undivided state of Punjab and carried the legacy of his family and clinched to his patriotism till his death. He was involved in a plot in 1928 to assassinate James Scott, a British police superintendent to exact revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. The plot failed when they mistakenly killed another young police officer and Singh fled to Lahore to escape from punishment. The following year, he, along with his associates hurled a bomb at the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi in protest against the implementation of the Defence of India Act and surrendered to the police. This great Indian freedom fighter was sentenced to death by hanging by the British and executed at the age of only 23. 

• Born: 28 September 1907, Banga, Pakistan
• Died: 23 March 1931, Lahore Central Jail, Lahore, Pakistan
• Education: National College, Lahore, National College of Arts, Dayanand Anglo-Vedic Schools System
• Famously Known As: Shaheed Bhagat Singh

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Born on 4th September 1825, was a Mathematics and Natural Philosophy professor. He was educated at the Elphinstone College in Bombay. He turned towards politics later in life and became very active in the field. His opinion was unfavourable and he felt that the British rule would leave and cause irreparable damage to the Indian economy. In the years 1886, 1893, and 1906, Dadabhai Naoroji had the privilege of presiding over the annual sessions of the Indian National Congress. This later led to the nationalist movement in India. His popular writings include the article named Poverty and Un-British Rule in India (1901). In this article, he was of the strong belief and opinion that India was taxed at a very high rate and all of India’s wealth was being drained to England.

• Born: 4 September 1825, Navsari
• Died: 30 June 1917, Mumbai
• Organizations founded: Indian National Congress, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, National Congress, London Indian Society
• Famously Known As: ’Grand Old Man of India’ and ‘Unofficial Ambassador of India’

Tantia Tope was one of the famous revolutionaries of the Rebellion of 1857. Born in 1814, he led his soldiers to fight against the dominance of British rule. He made General Windham leave Kanpur and helped Rani Lakshmi Bai reinstate Gwalior.

• Born: 1814, Yeola
• Died: 18 April 1859, Shivpuri
• Full name: Ramachandra Pandurang Tope

Bipin Chandra Pal was a revolutionary born in 1858 during the Biggest revolution against the British Army. He was a significant part of the Indian National Congress and encouraged the abandonment of foreign goods. He formed a trio with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak to be known as Lal-Bal-Pal where they executed several revolutionary activities.

• Born: 7 November 1858, Habiganj District, Bangladesh
• Died: 20 May 1932, Kolkata
• Education: St. Paul’s Cathedral Mission College, Presidency University
• Famously Known As: Father of Revolutionary Thoughts

Famously known as Punjab Kesari, he was one of the extremist members of the Indian National Congress. He formed a trio with Bipin Chandra Pal and Bal Gangadhar Tilak to be known as Lal-Bal-Pal where they executed several revolutionary activities. He led the Punjab Protest against the Jallianwala Incident and Non-Cooperation Movement. He fought against the Simon Commission Protest and lost his life because of a lathi charge by the Britishers 

• Born: 28 January 1865, Dhudike
• Died: 17 November 1928, Lahore, Pakistan
• Famously Known As: Punjab Kesari

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Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a remarkable freedom fighter born in 1856. Famously known for his quote, ‘Swaraj is my Birthright.  He published several rebellious newspapers and built schools to defy British Rule. He was the third member of the Lal-Bal-Pal along with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal.

• Born: 23 July 1856, Chikhali
• Died: 1 August 1920, Mumbai
• Famously Known As Lokmanya Tilak

Born on 22nd October 1900, in the district of Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Ashfaqulla Khan grew up with the non-cooperation movement going on at the forefront, led by Mahatma Gandhi. Just when he was a young gentleman, Ashfaqulla Khan became acquainted with Ram Prasad Bismil. He was one of the main conspirators in the Chauri Chaura incident, which took place in Gorakhpur. He was a strong advocate of independence and wanted the British to leave India at any cost. Ashfaqulla Khan, a popular freedom fighter known for his true friendship with Bismil, was sentenced to death for the Kakori train robbery. It was popularly known as the Kakori Conspiracy of 1925.

• Born: 22 October 1900, Shahjahanpur
• Died: 19 December 1927, Faizabad
• Organization: Hindustan Socialist Republican Association
• Famously Known As:Ashfaq Ulla Khan

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Balajirao Bhat, commonly known as Nana Sahib, was born in Bithoor (Kanpur District), Uttar Pradesh in May 1824. He was the eighth Peshwa of India’s Maratha Empire. Balaji Bajirao was another name for him. When Chattrapati Shahu died in 1749, he left the Maratha Empire to the Peshwas. He did not have an heir to his realm, therefore he nominated the valiant Peshwas as his heir. Nana Sahib, as king of the Maratha Empire, made significant contributions to the development of Pune. During his rule, Poona was transformed from a small village to a metropolis. He redesigned the city by constructing new districts, temples, and bridges. Having said that, Sahib was a key contributor to the 1857 revolt, leading a group of enthusiastic rebels. He overran the British soldiers in Kanpur and endangered the British camp by murdering the survivors. However, after defeating Nana Saheb and his men, the British were able to retake Kanpur.

• Born: 19 May 1824, Bithoor
• Full name: Dhondu Pant
• Died: 1859, Naimisha Forest
• Disappeared: July 1857 in Cawnpore (now Kanpur), British India
• Famously known as Nana Sahib

Sukhdev, who was born in 1907, was a brave revolutionary and a key member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. Without a doubt, he was one of the most revered figures of the Indian freedom struggle. He collaborated closely with his colleagues Bhagat Singh and Shivram Rajguru. He was accused of being involved in the assassination of British officer John Saunders. Unfortunately, at the age of 24, he was caught and hanged with Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru on March 23, 1931, in Punjab’s Hussainwala (now in Pakistan).

• Born: 15 May 1907, Ludhiana
• Died: 23 March 1931, Lahore, Pakistan
• Education: National College of Arts, National College, Lahore
• Member of: Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)

Kunwar Singh was born in April 1777 to the Maharaja and Maharani of Jagdispur (now in Bhojpur District, Bihar) to the Maharaja and Maharani of Jagdispur. His name is often lost amid the other more renowned names of the Revolt. Nonetheless, his contribution to the First War of Independence was enormous. Kunwar Singh led the uprising in Bihar. On July 25, 1857, he gained command of the sepoys stationed at Danapur at the age of nearly 80. Kunwar Singh took over Azamgarh in March 1858. (now in UP). He then went home and commanded a successful fight near Jagdispur on July 23rd. The British, headed by Captain Le Grand, were beaten in this fight despite Kunwar Singh being the fact that Kunwar Singh was severely hurt.

• Born: November 1777, Jagdishpur
• Died: 26 April 1858, Jagdishpur
• Full name: Babu Veer Kunwar Singh
• Famously Known as Veer Kunwar Singh

Mangal Pandey, a well-known Indian freedom fighter, is usually recognized as the forerunner of the 1857 revolt against the British, which is regarded as India’s first battle of independence. As a soldier in the East India Company’s army’s 34th Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) regiment, he led the sepoy mutiny, which eventually led to the 1857 uprising. When a new Enfield rifle was launched in India in the mid-1850s, his biggest dispute with the business began. The rifle’s cartridges were rumoured to be lubricated with animal fat, specifically cow and pig fat. As a result of the cartridges’ use, the Indian troops rebelled against the corporation since it violated their religious beliefs. Pandey and his fellow sepoys rose up in revolt against the British commanders on March 29, 1857, and even attempted to kill them. He was arrested and sentenced to death on April 18. However, anticipating a sepoy uprising, British officials executed him 10 days prematurely on April 8.

• Born: 19 July 1827, Nagwa
• Died: 8 April 1857, Barrackpore
• Occupation: Sepoy (soldier)
• Cause of death: Execution by hanging
• Known for: Indian independence fighter

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born in 1883 and spent the rest of his life as a dedicated activist and Indian revolutionary. He established the Abhinav Bharat Society and the Free India Society. Swatantryaveer Savarkar was his given name. As a writer, he also penned a piece named ‘ The Indian War of Independence ,’ which provided wonderful information about the 1857 Indian revolt.

• Born: 28 May 1883, Bhagur
• Died: 26 February 1966, Mumbai
• Party: Hindu Mahasabha
• Education: City Law School (1909), Fergusson College (1902–1905), Wilson College, Mumbai, Mumbai University 

C Rajagopalachari, born in 1878, was a lawyer by profession before joining the Indian National Congress in 1906 and rising through the ranks to become a recognised Congress legislator. Rajagopalachari was a towering figure in contemporary Indian politics. He was a member of the Indian National Congress during the pre-independence era and a staunch supporter of Mahatma Gandhi. He was a fervent devotee. He also actively engaged in Lajpat Rai’s Non-Cooperation Movement.

• Born: 10 December 1878, Thorapalli
• Died: 25 December 1972, Chennai
• Education: Presidency College, Bangalore Central University (1894), Bangalore University
• Famously known as CR, Mango of Krishnagiri, Rajaji
• Awards: Bharat Ratna

Must Read: Revolutions in India You Must Know About

“Desh hit paida huye hai

Desh par marr jayenge

Marte marte desh ko

zinda magar kar jayenge”

Ram Prasad Bismil was one of the most notable Indian revolutionaries who fought British colonialism and made it possible for the nation to breathe the air of freedom after eons of struggle against the imperial forces, with a desire for freedom and revolutionary spirit reverberating in every inch of his body and poetry. Bismil, who was born in 1897, was a respected member of the Hindustan Republican Association alongside Sukhdev. He was also a participant in the infamous Kakori train heist, for which the British government condemned him to death.

• Born: 11 June 1897, Shahjahanpur
• Died: 19 December 1927, Gorakhpur Jail, Gorakhpur

Chandra Shekhar Azad, born in 1906, was a close companion of Bhagat Singh in the independence movement. He was also a member of the Hindustan Republican Association and the bravest and daring Indian freedom fighters against the British authorities. After murdering several opponents during a battle with British forces, he shot himself with his Colt pistol. He promised he’d never be caught alive by the British.

• Born: 23 July 1906, Bhavra
• Died: 27 February 1931, Chandrashekhar Azad Park
• Full name: Chandrashekhar Tiwari
• Education: Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith

The Queen of Jhansi was born in the year 1828. She was one of the most fierce members of the Revolution of 1857. She inspired many women across the country to fight for the freedom of India and to date inspires several women to fight for their rights. She defended her palace with her newborn child in the year 1858 which was invaded by the British Forces.

• Born: 19 November 1828, Varanasi
• Died: 18 June 1858, Gwalior
• Full name: Manikarnika Tambe
• Famously Known As: Manu

A woman of many roles – a mother, a queen, and most importantly, a symbol of resistance. Born to a family with a very weak economic background, her maiden name was Muhammadi Begum. Sold at a very young age to the royal harem as an attendant, Begum Hazrat Mahal got a proper training meilleur casino en ligne in etiquettes. She was given the new name of ‘Mahak Pari’ in the Pari Khana and later became one of the wives under a contract of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. One of her biggest contributions to the freedom struggle was uniting Hindus and Muslims to come together as one force to fight the British. She proved her mettle as a leader. She even played an important role in encouraging and motivating women to step out of their homes and join the struggle for independence. She believed that women could do anything in the world, fight any battle, and come out as winners. 

• Born: 1820, Faizabad
• Died: 7 April 1879, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Famously Known As: Begum of Awadh

Mahatma Gandhi Kunwar Singh Vinayak Damodar Savarkar Dadabhai Naoroji Tantia Tope

Mahatma Gandhi is called the Father of the Nation.

Rani Lakshmi Bai was one of the most fierce members of the Revolution of 1857.

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This was everything about the famous Indian freedom fighters. We hope this blog on Indian freedom fighters made you realize the struggle we went through to get Independence. Which one is your personal favourite freedom fighter? If you want to know more about other Famous Personalities then visit our General Knowledge page!

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15 comments

Super 🙂👌👌 it helped me so much tq for this

Thank you, Rakesh!

There are many freedom fighters names.

Thanks for the suggestion.

It was a very good information .

Nyc to get information about Indian freedom fighters

Thank you for the comment, Dhana!

It’s good and usefull

Hi, Sharanya! Thanks for reading. You can also learn more about: Best Books on Indian History Revolutions in India You Must Know About Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the Father of Indian Unrest! Let’s Celebrate 72 Historic Years of India on This Republic Day 2021! A Long Walk to Freedom Class 10

I salute for all the Indian freedom fighters.jay hind Jay Bharat.Bande mataram

It was very helpful for me to write some paragraphs on republic day.

Hi Aastha! Glad to know that we could help. We have few other interesting blogs on Republic day such as Essay on Republic Day Check them out!

Hi Aastha! Glad to know that we could help. We have a few other interesting blogs on Republic day such as Essay on Republic Day Check them out!

Hi Aastha! Happy to know that we could help. 🙂

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Essay on Freedom Fighters | Freedom Fighters Essay in English for Students and Children

February 12, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay on Freedom Fighters of India in English: Freedom Fighters were those great leaders who sacrificed their lives with fearless courage to bring freedom to the Nation. They faced pains, exploitation, immense torture, and hardships to bring freedom. So, people considered them the epitome of patriotic people. British ruled over India for more than 200 years. Many Freedom Fighters adopted various ways of fighting against Britishers to attain freedom. Their unimaginable sacrifice, hardships, pains, and hard work gets an eternal salute from people.

They struggled a lot to make India free from Britishers and an independent country. The list of Freedom Fighters is endless. Some of them are known while others quietly sacrificed their life for the protection of their motherland. At present, whatever convenience and freedom we got in our life is just because of these freedom fighters. Some of the famous freedom fighters are Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmi Bai, Subash Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lokamanya Tilak, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Chandra Sekhar, Rajguru, and Sukhdev who sacrificed their lives fighting for their country.

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200 Words, 150 Words, 100 Words Essay on Freedom Fighters

Freedom Fighters fought for the freedom of the country. Because of them, we are celebrating Independence Day. They are revolutionary and some of them use non-violence as a weapon against the Britishers. India got independence on 15th August 1947 due to the struggle of our freedom fighters to make it independent. They devoted everything to the progress of their nation.

They brought freedom to India after a century of revolution, blood-shedding, and battles. Due to these great leaders only we are living in a democratic and independent country. Many freedom fighters fought for the protection of people from the injustice, exploitation, and cruelty of Britishers. Even though they had no training, they still did it for the freedom of their country.

Many of them lost their lives during the battle. So, we can realize their sacrifice and courage in every situation to make us free citizens. However, they motivated other people to fight for acquiring their freedom. They made awareness among people of their basic rights and power through many freedom movements. It is all because of them we are free from any kind of colonizers. So, they are the cause of our supremacy and freedom. We will update soonly essay on freedom fighters in Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, and English.

Introduction of Famous Freedom Fighters

There are many famous freedom fighters who fought for their motherland. But, let’s know about some of the famous freedom fighters who inspired and encouraged people to work for their country due to their patriotism.

Mahatma Gandhi: The Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was the great leader of the freedom movement. He was saying ‘work is worship’. Truth and non-violence were his weapons to fight against the Britishers. He contributed a lot to the Indian freedom movement. He joined the Non-cooperative Movement to curb the policies implemented by the Britishers. He made unity among Indians and generated the spirit of patriotism. He joined the Civil Disobedience movement to curb the tax on salt brutal rules of Britishers. He joined actively in the Quit India movement against the Britishers. He utilized his time, efforts, energy, and spirit to achieve freedom in India instead of expecting anything for his contribution.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the great leaders who gave up everything and fought for the freedom of India. He was the first Prime Minister of India after India got Independence. He joined Mahatma Gandhi against discarding the legislations produced by the Britishers. He was imprisoned with Gandhiji for standing against the salt act. When released from prison both of them reunited their congress party and fought together against Britishers. He was imprisoned a number of times in spite of stopping himself to fight against the injustice of Britishers.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was a great and courageous leader who fought for India’s freedom. He was not following peace and non-violence to fight against the Britishers. His campaign for freedom was ‘Give me your blood and I will give you freedom’. He took Hitler’s help for raising the Indian National Army to show the power of Indians to Britishers.

Lal Bahadur Shastri: Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of India after India got Independence. He was living a simple life and contributed a lot to the freedom movement. He actively joined the Non-cooperative Movement with Gandhiji for abolishing salt rules. He also participated in the Satyagraha Movement and was imprisoned for six years. He also joined the Green Revolution Act to promote the nation’s food production.

Rani Laxmi Bai: Rani Laxmi Bai was also a great freedom fighter. She is the epitome of women’s empowerment for the future generation. She fought for the freedom of the nation in spite of many struggles and hardships. She never gave up her nation because of her child. Instead, she took him to fight against injustice in the war. Her story to achieve freedom is more inspiring and vigorous.

Conclusion on Freedom Fighters Essay

Today’s Independent India was the aim of every Freedom Fighter. They will always be memorable for their patriotism and love for the country. Every year people celebrate Republic and Independence Day to give a tribute to their victory. However, communal hatred rises day by day among people which is the disrespect of making freedom in India. So, we should not stand against each other and try to bring peace in life. Then only we can respect their struggles and sacrifices and make a developed and prosperous country.

FAQ’s on Freedom Fighters Essay

Question 1. What does Freedom Fighters of India mean?

Answer: Freedom Fighters were those great leaders who sacrificed their lives with fearless courage to bring freedom to the Nation.

Question 2. Why are the freedom fighters considered as the epitome of patriotic people?

Answer: The freedom fighters faced pains, exploitation, immense torture, and hardships to bring freedom. So, people considered them the epitome of patriotic people.

Question 3. What is the significance of freedom fighters?

Answer: Freedom Fighters fought for the freedom of the country. Because of them, we are celebrating Independence Day. They brought freedom in India after a century of revolution, blood-shedding, and battles. Due to these great leaders only we are living in a democratic and independent country. Many of them lost their lives during the battle. So, we can realize their sacrifice and courage in every situation to make us a free citizen. They are the cause of our supremacy and freedom.

Question 4. What are the names of famous freedom fighters of India?

Answer: There are many famous freedom fighters who fought for their motherland. Some of the famous freedom fighters are Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmi Bai, Subash Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lokamanya Tilak, and Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Question 5. What was the weapon of Mahatma Gandhi to fight against Britishers?

Answer: Non-violence was the weapon of Mahatma Gandhi to fight against the Britishers.

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Subhash Chandra Bose Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on subhash chandra bose.

Subhash Chandra Bose was a great Indian nationalist. People even today know him by love for his country. This true Indian man was born on the 23rd of January in 1897. Most noteworthy, he fought with bravery against the British rule . Subhash Chandra Bose was certainly a revolutionary freedom fighter .

Contribution of Subhash Chandra Bose in the Indian Independence

The participation of Subhash Chandra Bose took place with the Civil Disobedience Movement. This is how Subhash Chandra Bose became part of the Indian Independence movement. He became a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) . Also, in 1939 he became the party president. However, this was for a short time only because of his resignation from this post.

The British put Subhash Chandra Bose under house arrest. This was because of his opposition to British rule. However, due to his cleverness, he secretly left the country in 1941. He then went to Europe to seek help against the British. Most noteworthy, he sought the help of Russians and Germans against the British.

Subhash Chandra Bose went to Japan in 1943. This was because the Japanese gave their agreement to his appeal for help. In Japan Subhash Chandra Bose began the formation of the Indian National Army . Most noteworthy, he did the formation of a provisional government. The axis powers during the Second World War certainly recognized this provisional government.

The Indian National Army attacked the North-eastern parts of India. Furthermore, this attack took place under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose. Also, the INA was successful in capturing a few portions. Unfortunately, there was the surrender of INA due to weather and Japanese policies. However, Bose made his Refusal to surrender clear. He escaped on a plane but this plane most probably crashed. Due to this, Subhash Chandra Bose died on 18 August 1945.

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Ideology of Subhash Chandra Bose

Subhash Chandra Bose saw 2nd World War as a great opportunity. He saw this as an opportunity to take advantage of British weakness. Also, he went to USSR, Germany, and Japan to seek help. He led the INA to the fight against the British. Subhash Chandra Bose was a strong believer in Bhagwat Gita. It was his belief that Bhagwat Gita was a great source of inspiration for the fight against the British. He also held Swami Vivekananda’s teachings in high-esteem.

In conclusion, Subhash Chandra Bose is an unforgettable national hero. He had tremendous love for his country. Furthermore, this great personality sacrificed his whole life for the country.

Essay Topics on Famous Leaders

• Mahatma Gandhi
• APJ Abdul Kalam
• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Swami Vivekananda
• Mother Teresa
• Rabindranath Tagore
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
• Subhash Chandra Bose
• Abraham Lincoln
• Martin Luther King

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• Varun Sood praised Ananya's professionalism and team leadership
• Varun enjoyed working with Ananya and found her warm and fun

Model-actor Varun Sood, who shares screen space with Ananya Panday in her upcoming OTT show ‘Call Me Bae’, spoke to IndiaToday.in about his admiration for the latter. He also called her, a “great team leader” who brings an infectious energy to every project.

Ananya Panday will make her OTT debut with ‘Call Me Bae’. Varun, who will share screen space with her for the first time, was all praise for the actor. Varun said that Ananya strikes a perfect balance between maintaining professionalism and keeping the atmosphere light, making even the most demanding shoots enjoyable.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Varun Sood (@varunsood12)

Recalling his first meeting with Ananya, Varun said, "We have met at parties, but the first proper meet I had with Ananya was at the reading of ‘Call Me Bae’. She was very warm to everybody and because she was very warm to me also, I could crack jokes, make fun of things, and laugh around. It was just the vibe that broke the ice. She didn't have to say anything much. It's just how she treated everybody and how she treated me was what broke the ice. It wasn't awkward at all, we just had too much fun on the sets.”

Further talking about his character, Varun shared, "In the series, I just went all out with the character that I am playing. I had experimented so much and it's probably one of the most fun characters that I've played."

IN THIS STORY

‘Jamaica to the world’

A small town on a small island celebrates kamala harris’ meteoric rise.

By Fredreka Schouten, Zoë Todd, Curt Merrill and Byron Manley, CNN

Published August 17, 2024

BROWN’S TOWN, Jamaica — Three and a half years ago, Sherman Harris gathered together a clutch of family and friends at his home on a hilltop here in rural Jamaica to watch his cousin step into history.

As Kamala Harris took the oath of office as vice president of the United States, the room erupted in screams and tears, he recalled.

“Even talking to you now, I feel some sort of tears from my eyes too, you know,” Sherman Harris, 59, said in an interview with CNN. “It's like tears of joy.”

Next week, they will gather again before his widescreen television to watch Harris make history once more, when she formally accepts the Democratic presidential nomination — becoming the first Black woman, the first Jamaican American and the first Asian American to become a major party’s White House standard-bearer.

Although the milestone will be celebrated by her relatives in this town of some 12,000 people on the island’s northern coast, Harris’ Caribbean roots still are coming into focus for the millions of Americans getting acquainted with her after she was suddenly thrust to the top of the Democratic ticket a month ago when President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed his vice president.

Already, her Republican rival, Donald Trump, has sought to question her Black identity as the two vie for support among African American voters in states such as Michigan and Georgia who could determine the outcome of this fall’s race. At a gathering of Black journalists last month, Trump falsely claimed that Harris had only recently opted to identify as Black out of political opportunism.

“I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” Trump asked in widely derided comments.

Harris is both. She’s the daughter of an Indian-born mother, Shyamala Gopalan, a breast cancer researcher who died in 2009, and a Jamaican-born father, Donald Harris, an 85-year-old retired Stanford University economist, who has largely remained in the background of his daughter’s public life.

He hails from a family that stretches back for generations in Brown’s Town, a market town in St. Ann Parish, where vendors clustered along the main drag on a recent Sunday morning to sell glossy green avocados, yams and bundles of fragrant thyme.

It's a place Kamala Harris knows from childhood visits and readily claims.

“Half of my family is from St. Ann Parish in Jamaica,” she told the country’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, during a 2022 visit to the White House. “I know I share that history with millions of Americans.”

And it’s a town that proudly claims her.

“You have to recognize individuals who come from humble abodes and really excel,” said Michael Belnavis, the mayor of St. Ann Parish who is mulling ways to honor Harris should she prevail in November. “Coming from Brown’s Town is as humble as it gets.”

Deep roots and a powerful matriarch

The town was named after Hamilton Brown, a slave owner who came to the island from Ireland and, according to family lore, is believed to have been an ancestor of Kamala Harris’ great-grandmother, Christiana Brown, also a descendant of enslaved Jamaicans.

“Miss Chrishy,” as Christiana Brown was known, helped raise her grandson, Donald Harris, who described her in an essay first published in 2018 in the Jamaica Global Online as “reserved and stern in look, firm with ‘the strap’ but capable of the most endearing and genuine acts of love, affection, and care.”

Harris has said his interest in economics and politics was sparked, in part, by observing Miss Chrishy as she went about her daily routine of operating her dry goods store in Brown’s Town.

Although she died in 1951, Miss Chrishy looms large to this day among her descendants, who still talk of her elegant dresses, proper manners and the high standards she set for her children and grandchildren.

“She was the backbone,” said Latoya Harris-Ghartey, Sherman Harris’ 43-year-old daughter. Harris-Ghartey is executive director of Jamaica’s National Education Trust, a government-aligned organization focused on developing the island’s education infrastructure.

Her great-grandmother “believed in getting your books and having a solid education, those sorts of things,” Harris-Ghartey said. “I think that has passed on throughout the line. Everybody always pushes you to be better, to excel.”

Miss Chrishy had several children with Joseph Harris, who raised cattle and grew pimento berries — allspice in its dried form — on a farm perched high above Brown’s Town. He died in 1939, a year after Donald Harris was born, and is buried on the grounds of St. Mark’s Anglican Church — a sanctuary founded by Hamilton Brown and where Harrises have long worshipped.

Brown’s Town might be a small place, but the family has occupied a prominent position there as landowners and businesspeople.

Today, Sherman Harris — Donald Harris’ first cousin — still lives on and works the Harris land, in an area known as Orange Hill for a citrus grove that once stood there, he said. One of its dominant features is the Harris Quarry, started by Sherman Harris’ late father, Newton. Sherman runs it now, and it still produces crushed limestone and bricks.

It’s one of his ventures. On a tour with CNN journalists, he proudly pointed out the three-story commercial building he owns in the heart of Brown’s Town.

It’s to this landscape that Donald Harris would bring Kamala and her younger sister, Maya, on holidays, according to his 2018 essay — taking them through the town’s bustling marketplace, touring his primary school and other landmarks he found meaningful. He recounted the trio trekking through the cow pastures and overgrown paths on Orange Hill during one memorable visit in 1970, as they retraced his boyhood ramblings over the family property.

“Upon reaching the top of a little hill that opened much of that terrain to our full view, Kamala, ever the adventurous and assertive one, suddenly broke from the pack, leaving behind Maya the more cautious one, and took off like a gazelle in Serengeti, leaping over rocks and shrubs and fallen branches, in utter joy and unleashed curiosity, to explore that same enticing terrain,” he wrote. “I couldn’t help thinking there and then: What a moment of exciting rediscovery being handed over from one generation to another!”

Sherman Harris remembers all the cousins playing together during those jaunts to Jamaica in the 1970s, while the adults feasted and socialized. He and Kamala are the same age, born just days apart in October 1964.

What stands out most from those memories, he said, is how smart the girls were – just like their dad, who rose from a rural boyhood to earn a doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley and become the first Black economics professor granted tenure at Stanford .

“Brilliant girls,” Sherman Harris said of Kamala and Maya. Even as young children, they would quiz him on the island’s current affairs, and “I wasn’t able to answer them,” he recalled. “I had to ask Daddy.”

Sherman Harris views his cousin’s ascension as yet another example of “Jamaica to the world,” a reference to the island’s culture, reggae music and food catching fire across the globe. It’s also a sign to him of the Harris drive.

“We have never ventured in much failure, you know,” he said of the Harris clan, adding that the family members are “always successful in whatever we do.”

Out of the spotlight

Even as his daughter climbs to new heights, Donald Harris has remained largely out of the spotlight.

He and Shyamala Gopalan, who met in the 1960s as graduate students at Berkeley, fell in love fighting for civil rights, Kamala Harris wrote of her parents in her 2019 memoir, “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey.” But by the time she was 5, “they had stopped being kind to one another” and soon separated.

They divorced a few years later, and Gopalan became the parent who had the greatest influence in shaping her daughters’ lives, raising them, Kamala Harris wrote, to be “confident, proud black women” in a country that would see them, first and foremost, as African American. Kamala Harris would go on to attend one of the country’s most storied Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Howard University in Washington, DC, and pledge as an Alpha Kappa Alpha while there, joining the nation’s oldest Black sorority.

In her book, Harris “goes on for page after page about her mom,” said veteran California political reporter Dan Morain, who wrote a 2021 biography, “Kamala’s Way: An American Life,” that charted the Democrat’s rise through Golden State and national politics. “She’s really important in her life, and I believe her mother is still with her on a daily basis,” years after her death, he said.

“But she passes over her father,” Morain said.

Harris wrote that her father “remained a part of our lives” after the divorce, spending time with them on weekends and in the summer.

The senior Harris complained that his relationship with his daughters was subject to “arbitrary limits” after a contentious custody fight. The state of California, he wrote bitterly in the essay, operated on the “false assumption … that fathers cannot handle parenting (especially in the case of this father, ‘a neegroe from da eyelans’ was the Yankee stereotype, who might just end up eating his children for breakfast!)”

“Nevertheless, I persisted, never giving up on my love for my children or reneging on my responsibilities as their father,” he added.

Donald Harris did not respond to several interview requests from CNN and largely has shied away from publicity — even as his daughter stands on the cusp of another history-making milestone in his adopted country.

He did emerge publicly during Harris’ 2020 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination to publicly chastise her for joking that of course she had smoked marijuana , given her Jamaican background.

In a since-deleted statement posted on Jamaica Global Online, Donald Harris said his ancestors were “turning in their grave” to see their “family’s name, reputation and proud Jamaican identity” connected with a “fraudulent stereotype of a pot-smoking joy seeker.”

Damien King, a retired economics professor at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica who now runs a think tank on the island, first met the elder Harris in the mid-1980s and said he was not surprised by the public rebuke. “He is somebody who has always been unafraid to speak his mind,” King said.

And among the economists who know him, Harris is considered a free thinker, willing to challenge his field’s “orthodoxy,” King added.

Former Harris student Steven Fazzari, an economist who teaches at Washington University in St. Louis, described his former professor as someone who thinks “deeply about economic theory.”

“He’s not the kind of economist who’s going to talk to you about what the GDP is going to be and what inflation is going to be in the next quarter,” he said.

Harris, who served at Fazzari’s doctoral thesis adviser at Stanford, encouraged originality and was a friendly and supportive figure to his students, Fazzari added.

Fazzari had not seen Harris for years, until he and several other former students arranged a dinner with him last fall in Washington, where Harris maintains a residence.

“It was wonderful,” he said of the dinner. “Don Harris in his mid-80s is just like the Don Harris I knew at Stanford. He was articulate. He was gracious. He remembered all of us. He remembered all of our dissertation topics.”

‘That’s my cousin running’

Kamala Harris’ ancestry has already been thrust into the center of the presidential campaign, as Trump grapples with how to confront her last-minute candidacy and reaches for a strategy to blunt her momentum.

During a combative interview at the National Association of Black Journalists’ convention late last month, Trump went personal — falsely claiming that Harris had opted to “turn Black.” He later inexplicably called her “Kamabla” in series of posts on his Truth Social site.

Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, meanwhile, has questioned her authenticity — calling her a “phony” who “grew up in Canada,” a reference to the years she spent living in Montreal, where her mother had taken a teaching position at McGill University.

The mischaracterization of Harris’ racial identity “plays into these tropes of the tragic mulatto who’s doomed and sneaky and deceptive” and belongs nowhere, said Danielle Casarez Lemi, who studies race and ethnic politics as a Tower Center fellow at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She’s also the co-author, alongside Nadia Brown, of “Sister Style: The Politics of Appearance for Black Women Political Elites.”

“It’s a way to try to damage her credibility anyway that he can,” she said of Trump. “Whether it’s going to work, who knows?”

Dahlia Walker-Huntington, a Jamaican American lawyer and longtime Harris supporter, called Trump’s comments challenging the vice president’s racial identity “condescending.”

“It is also ignorant to think that we can only have one identity” in a society that is increasingly multiracial and multicultural, said Walker-Huntington, who divides her time between South Florida and Kingston. “The America of 2024 is the America that Kamala Harris represents.”

Walker-Huntington said she has followed Harris’ career for years, going back to her time as a local prosecutor and California attorney general. She first met Harris at a Florida fundraiser in 2018 for Florida Sen. Bill Nelson’s campaign and would go on to become an enthusiastic backer of Harris’ short-lived presidential bid.

Now, along with other Caribbean American supporters, Walker-Huntington is activating networks of friends, relatives and acquaintances in the hopes of getting Harris over the top this time.

“I support her because she’s a strong woman, and she stands up for her convictions,” Walker-Huntington said. “The fact that she’s Jamaican, that’s icing on the cake. It makes me feel like that’s my cousin running for the presidency of the United States.”

CNN has reached out to the Harris campaign.

Those who know her say she celebrates her ties to the island to this day. On the eve of her swearing-in as vice president, Harris told The Washington Post that her father instilled in her and her sister a deep pride in Jamaica and its history. Walker-Huntington and Winston Barnes — an elected official in Miramar, Florida, who also hails from Jamaica — said she was quick to banter with a group of them in a Jamaican accent when they first met her at the Nelson event a few years ago.

The vice president’s cousin, Sherman Harris, said he has not seen her for years, but Donald Harris still visits with the family.

Jamaica has formally recognized Donald Harris, bestowing on him an Order of Merit in 2021 for “outstanding contribution to National Development.” Over the years, he has served as an economic adviser to the Jamaican government and helped craft a 2012 strategy to encourage economic growth on the island.

Back in Brown’s Town, there’s been talk of adding Kamala Harris’ visage to the mural of prominent Jamaicans that encircles the grounds of St. Mark’s, her cousin said. It currently includes figures such as sprinter Usain Bolt and Black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey, who was born in the parish.

But Belnavis, the mayor of St. Ann, said he is thinking bigger — a statue, perhaps, in or near a municipal building if Harris wins the US presidency.

“The murals that you see on the walls eventually will wear away and so on,” he said. “We want something more permanent.”

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Guest Essay

Do Politicians Realize How Difficult and Rare Immigrating to the U.S. Legally Actually Is?

By Jorge Loweree

Mr. Loweree is the managing director of programs and strategy at the American Immigration Council.

During the Republican National Convention, speakers repeatedly tried to draw a contrast between asylum seekers who’ve crossed the southern border in recent years and immigrants who’ve entered the country through other channels. As Vivek Ramaswamy put it, legal immigrants like his parents “deserve the opportunity to secure a better life for your children in America.” Others deserve deportation, “because you broke the law.”

Elected leaders like to invoke this narrative that there’s an easy, “right” and a hard, “wrong” way to immigrate to the United States, because it makes the solution for fixing our broken immigration system seem simple. We just need more law-abiding people to get in the right line.

But the reality that is all too clear to immigrants navigating our byzantine system, and the lawyers and advocates who try to help them, is that there is no line to get into for a vast majority of people who wish to come to the United States. If the government is serious about securing the border, we have to make it easier for people to come through legal channels.

The U.S. admits a tiny fraction of people who want to immigrate

Number of people who said they want to immigrate or who legally applied, compared to those granted permanent residence

158 million people would like to immigrate to the U.S.

32 million people actually began the application process in 2021

family members

Only 900,000 people were allowed to enter legally

Sources: Gallup, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Note: Data was originally compiled in “ Why Legal Immigration Is Nearly Impossible ” by David Bier for the Cato Institute. The number of people who would like to immigrate is taken from a 2018 Gallup poll.

Our system of legal immigration isn’t set up to reward “good” choices. It is littered with arbitrary caps, bureaucratic delays and redundant processes that wring years of effort and money out of the precious few who qualify.

The current system is largely designed to favor those who have family ties here: namely, spouses, parents and adult children who are U.S. citizens and spouses and children of lawful permanent residents.

For some countries, the wait time to get a family-based visa stretches into centuries

Estimated wait time for family-sponsored visas in capped categories as of 2021

Visa for an unmarried adult child

Philippines

Married adult child

Sibling of adult citizens

YEARS TO PROCESS

All other countries

Sources: U.S. State Department, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Note: Data was originally compiled in “ Why Legal Immigration Is Nearly Impossible ” by David Bier for the Cato Institute. “All other countries” represents the average.

The green card approval rate is at a historic low point

Share of legal immigrants that were approved for permanent residency

GREEN CARD APPROVAL RATE

Until the 1920s, almost anyone could arrive in the U.S. and be granted permanent residency.

Rates rose during the 1960s when Congress added new visa categories and exceptions to allow more people to immigrate.

They fell in the 1980s after the creation of the green card lottery, as many more people began applying.

Sources: U.S. Department of State, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service

Note: Data was originally compiled in “ Why Legal Immigration Is Nearly Impossible ” by David Bier for the Cato Institute.

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