Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an revolutionary spiritual leader who used his influence for political and social reform. Although he held no governmental office, he was the prime mover in the struggle for India's independence. Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, a seacoast town north of Bombay. His wealthy family was of the Vaisya, or merchant, caste. He was the fourth child of Karamchand Gandhi, prime minister to the raja of three small city-states. Mohandas was married at thirteen by parental arrangement to a girl his own age, Kasturbai.

Leaving his wife, Gandhi went to England to study in 1888. In England he studied law but never completely adjusted to English lifestyle. He passed the bar on June 10, 1891, and sailed for Bombay. He attempted unsuccessfully to practice law in Rajkot and Bombay, then for a brief period served as lawyer for the prince of Porbandar.

In 1893 Gandhi represented a...