Why in News?

On 2nd October 2026, India paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries. The day also marks the death anniversary of K. Kamaraj (1903–1975), former Chief Minister of Madras State.

Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948)

Early Life & Formative Years

  • Born on 2nd October 1869 at Porbandar, Gujarat.
  • Studied law in England (1888–91).
  • His political and moral awakening was catalysed in 1893 by an incident of racial humiliation at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

South African Phase (1893–1914)

  • Founded the Natal Indian Congress (1894) to fight discrimination against Indians.
  • Published the newspaper Indian Opinion.
  • Established the Phoenix Settlement (1904) and Tolstoy Farm (1910) — which served as foundational grounds for developing Satyagraha (non-violent resistance).

Return to India

  • Returned to India on 9th January 1915 — a date now commemorated as Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas.
  • Established the Sabarmati Ashram (1917) to institutionalise his principles of truth and self-reliance.

Core Ideology

  • Satyagraha (truth-force) and Ahimsa (non-violence) formed the core of his philosophy.
  • He believed that means must justify the ends — a key theme for GS Paper 4 (Ethics).

Major Political Movements

  • Champaran Satyagraha (1917) — his first major movement in India, against exploitation of indigo cultivators.
  • Kheda Satyagraha (1918) — for peasants affected by crop failure.
  • Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919) — against the repressive Rowlatt Act.
  • Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) — first mass nationalist campaign.
  • Civil Disobedience Movement via the Dandi March (1930) — defiance of the Salt Law.
  • Quit India Movement (1942) — final mass push for independence.

Socio-Economic Reforms

  • Championed the Charkha and Khadi as symbols of the dignity of labour and economic self-reliance.
  • Founded the All India Spinners' Association (1925).
  • Founded the Harijan Sevak Sangh (1932) to eradicate untouchability and foster communal harmony.
  • Advocated Hindu-Muslim unity and village self-reliance (Gram Swaraj) through Khadi and cottage industries.

Literary Contributions

  • Hind Swaraj — critique of modern civilisation and his political vision.
  • An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth — his moral journey.
  • 'Songs from Prison' — a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics into English (asked in UPSC Prelims 2021).

Global Recognition

  • Assassinated on 30th January 1948.
  • The United Nations declared 2nd October as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Lal Bahadur Shastri (1904–1966)

Early Life

  • Born on 2nd October 1904 in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh.
  • Opposed the caste system — dropped the surname "Srivastava"; earned the title "Shastri" from Kashi Vidyapeeth in 1926.
  • Inspired by Gandhi, joined the Non-Cooperation Movement at age 16.
  • Rejected dowry, accepting only a charkha and Khadi.
  • Participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement; spent over seven years in British prisons.

Political Career & Integrity

  • Became Parliamentary Secretary (1946) and later Home Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
  • Held key Union portfolios: Railways, Transport & Communications, Commerce & Industry, and Home Affairs.
  • Resigned as Railway Minister in 1956, accepting moral responsibility for a train accident — a classic example of integrity and accountability (GS Paper 4).
  • Described as a "little dynamo of a man" — known for humility and efficiency.

Prime Ministership (1964–1966)

  • Succeeded Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister.
  • Laid the groundwork for the Green Revolution to boost foodgrain production.
  • Promoted the White Revolution (Operation Flood) by supporting the Amul milk co-operative in Gujarat and establishing the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
  • Led India during the 1965 Indo-Pak War and gave the slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" — highlighting national security and food security.
  • Died in Tashkent on 11th January 1966, shortly after signing the Tashkent Declaration.

K. Kamaraj (1903–1975)

Early Life & Freedom Struggle

  • Born in 1903 in Tamil Nadu; participated in the Salt Satyagraha (1930) and was jailed during the Quit India Movement (1942).
  • Elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1946.

Role in National Politics

  • Known as the "Kingmaker" in Indian politics.
  • Chief Minister of Madras State (1954–1963); later Congress President (1963).
  • The Kamaraj Plan (1963) encouraged senior leaders to leave ministerial posts and strengthen party organisation.

Education Reform & Legacy

  • Pioneered the Mid-Day Meal Scheme to improve school enrolment and reduce rural illiteracy.
  • His birth anniversary is observed as Education Development Day in Tamil Nadu.
  • Died in 1975; posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1976.

Significance for UPSC

  • Prelims: Dates, organisations (Natal Indian Congress, Harijan Sevak Sangh, NDDB), books (Hind Swaraj, Songs from Prison), slogans and movements are repeatedly asked.
  • Mains GS Paper 1: Contributions of personalities in the freedom struggle and post-independence nation-building.
  • Mains GS Paper 4 (Ethics): Gandhi's means-ends ethics and Shastri's moral accountability (1956 resignation) serve as case-study material.

Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims 2021: Who among the following is associated with 'Songs from Prison', a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English? — Answer: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Prelims 2019: With reference to British colonial rule:

  1. Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of 'indentured labour' — Correct
  2. In Lord Chelmsford's 'War Conference', Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War I — Incorrect (he supported it)
  3. After the breaking of the Salt Law, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal — Correct

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only