There are many known facts about Mahatma Gandhi – The father of our Nation. He led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
We bring you 15 interesting facts about Gandhiji, which were little known until now.
1. Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times.
2. He was responsible for the Civil Rights Movement in four continents and 12 countries.
3. The funeral procession of Mahatma Gandhi was 8-km long.
4. Great Britain, the country against whom he fought for independence, released a stamp honouring him, 21 years after his death.
5. Mahatma Gandhi walked/travelled almost 18 km a day throughout his lifetime which is enough to walk around the world twice over.
6. He served in the British Army during the Boer War – Gandhi crusaded against violence since the time he realised the horrors of war
7. Mahatma Gandhi was in correspondence with the leading personalities of his time – Tolstoy, Einstein and Hitler and the likes.
8. Gandhiji was not present during Nehru’s Tryst with Destiny speech to celebrate Independence.
9. Most relics of Gandhiji, including the clothes he wore when he was assassinated, are still preserved in the Gandhi Museum, Madurai.
10. He held no official position during the final years of his life.
11. He was thinking of dissolving Congress a day before he died.
12. Steve Jobs was a fan of Mahatma Gandhi – his round glasses are not only similar but also a tribute.
13. Gandhiji had a set of false teeth, which he carried in a fold of his loin cloth.
14. Mahatma Gandhi spoke English with an Irish accent, for one of his first teachers was an Irishman.
15. There are 53 major roads (excluding the smaller ones) in India, and 48 roads outside India that are named after him.
(Courtesy: StoryPick)