Abstract

The literal translation of Mahatma the name which the people of India gave to Gandhiji is the Great Soul maha great atma soul The word goes back to the Upanishads where it is used in speaking of the Supreme Being and through communion of Knowledge and Love of those who become One with Him He is the One Luminous Creator of All Mahatma Always in the heart of the people enshrined Revealed through Love Intuition and Though Whoever knows Him Immortal becomes The Poet Rabindranath Tagore on a visit to the Ashram quoted the above stanza referring to the Apostle Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi byname Mahatma Gandhi born October 2 1869 Porbandar India died January 30 1948 Delhi Indian lawyer politician social activist and writer who became the leader of the nationalist movement against the British rule of India 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