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Appendix 1 Gandhi: A Biographical Sketch
The aim of this appendix is to provide a brief overview of Gandhi's life, experiences, and some of the underpinnings of his thought to help the reader better understand Gandhj as the man and his message. The information in this appendix will show how an ordinary boy raised in a traditional Indian family rose to the heights of a world renown figure through his honesty, self-discipline, hard work, and experiments with Truth, nonviolence, simplicity, and love. Gandhi challenged all unjust institutions and practices to help establish a social order of justice and peace in the world and to see that downtrodden and weak were uplifted everywhere. The reader will find information on Gandhi's childhood in India, his stay and studies in England, his return to India and move to South Africa, the Satyagraha struggles in South Africa and India, and his final days. The appendix also includes reflections on Gandhi as the man, his message to the world, and some of the underpinnings of his thought.
Gandhi's Early Life in India
Gandhi's full name was Mohandas K. Gandhi and he was born on October 2, 1869 in Sudamapuri (also known as Porbandar) in the Gujarat State of India. Gandhi's ancestors were well-to-do Modh-Banias whose traditional occupation according to the caste code was running grocery stores and doing petty business. But for the past three generations Gandhi's ancestors were prime ministers of the Kathiawad States and thus Gandhi's family was better-off and wellrespected. His father, though without formal education,
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