Mahatma Gandhi : Indian leader who fought
against the British rule. He believed in nonviolence
and led India to achieve
independence. He is called the `Father of Indian
Nation’. Gandhiji founded the Sabarmati Ashram at
Ahmedabad. Gandhiji made his first experiment of
Satyagraha in Champaran. In 1919 Gandhiji led an
agitation against the Rowlatt Act and made Satyagraha
his instrument of struggle. Gandhiji gave to the
country the slogan, “Do or Die”. On January 30, 1948
he was assassinated at the prayer meeting. Jawaharlal
Nehru declared “The light has gone out of our lives”.
The world dignitaries visit his Samadhi at Rajghat
whenever they visit India.
Mahavira : Vardhaman Mahavira is considered to be
the founder of Jainism. He was born as Kundagram
near Vaisali. He was called Mahavira or the Great
Hero and Jina or the Conqueror. He first preached in
Maghada. His teachings were Karma and
Transmigration and Nirvana. The object of life is to
attain Nirvana, which can be achieved by following the
three fold path namely (1) Right Faith, (2) Right
Knowledge and (3) Right Conduct. These three
principles are called “Three Jewels” or “Tri Ratna”.
The Jains worship Tirthankaras. Mahavira died at the
age of 72 at Pawa. (Patna district).