Mahatma Gandhi is revered in India as "The Father of the Nation" and his name is recognized around the world as a non-violent political resistance icon. He was born in India, but studied law in London, and later spent 20 years protecting the rights of immigrants in South Africa. Upon returning to India in 1914, he became leader of the Indian national Congress. As a means towards independance, he advocated civil disobedience. He went to jail many times in both South Africa and India and, in 1947, he participated in negociations that led India to independance. Beginning what would prove to be his last fast, the Mahatma said: 'Death for me would be a glorious deliverance rather than that I should be a helpless witness of the destruction of India, Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam', and explained that his dream was for the Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians and Muslims of all India to live together in amity. On the 20th a group of Hindu fanatics, who detested Gandhi's calls for tolerance and peace, set off a bomb some yards from him, which did no harm. It was not the first attempt on Gandhi's life, but he said: 'If I am to die by the bullet of a madman, I must do so smiling. There must be no anger within me. God must be in my heart and on my lips.' Two weeks later, he was shot to death by a Hindu fanatic.

Closeup of "Great Soul"