Mohandas K. Gandhi was born in India in 1869. He attended law school in London. His early career took him to Southern Africa where he worked unceasingly to improve the rights of immigrant Indians. It was there that he developed his notion of non-violent resistance against injustice, and he was frequently jailed as a result of the protests he led.

Back in India, it was not long before he took the lead in the long struggle for independence from Britain. When Muslim and Hindu compatriots committed acts of violence, he fasted until the fighting ceased. In 1947, at the time of its independence, the country was partitioned into Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan, much to Gandhi’s despair. The last two months of his life were spent trying to end the violence which ensued, leading him to fast to the brink of death, an act which finally put an end to the riots.

In 1948, at the age of 79, he was killed as he walked through a crowded garden in New Delhi to take evening prayers. He died with the name of Râma on his lips.

His contributions can be found in the World Wisdom book, Pray without Ceasing .