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Mohandas Gandhi was leader in the Indian nationalist movement against British rule. Many people consider him to be the father of his country, though he never held office. Gandhi is remembered for using nonviolent protest to achieve justice. As a young man, Gandhi traveled to London to study law. He returned to India upon graduation, but was unable to find work. He accepted a job in South Africa, where many Indian people had gone to live. While on a train in South Africa, Gandhi was told to get off to make room for a European. He refused and was beaten. Gandhi considered that incident his moment of truth. He decided he would not accept injustice. He would defend his dignity as an Indian and as a man. Gandhi decided to use his knowledge of law to help the Indian people. He spoke to groups of Indians living in South Africa about human rights. He urged them to change laws that were unfair. Once he returned to India, Gandhi took the sides of the untouchables. Gandhi called them harijans, which means "children of god." Gandhi said that harijans had been blessed by their suffering. |
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