In 1920, Gandhiji joined the Congress as its president and founded the Navjivan Press to reproach the evils of society and anchor ideas for a non-cooperative movement against the English, He founded Gujarat Vidyapith, a learning institute focused on creating leaders to fight for India's independence and work for social development.

The year 1928 brought another opportunity to raise the sword of non-violent resistance. The British government decreed a 22 percent increase on taxes in Bardoli, despite the harsh drought farmers had suffered earlier in the year. With the leadership of Sardar Palel, tiie farmers of Bardoli fought this excessive levy and eventually reaped triumph.

Or March 12. 1930. Mahatma Gandhi walked from the Sabarmati A&hram with 7S dedicated sotyogrohfs in order to break the salt laws and catapult the country into widespread non-violent civil disobedrerce. The elderly activist and statesman, hardier and faster than most of hfs disciples, chose to oppose the sait lax because it affected the poorest of India's millions, the very masses to whom he had consciously dedicated his life. When he arrived in Dandi 24 days later, and raised a handful of salt, millions of his countrymen joined him in mass civil action, A new era in the struggle had been born. (A simple museum with large, poignant photographs marks the spot-a nearby high school run along Gandhian vaiues keeps the spirit alive.)

For    the    subsequent 18  years   the   GandhJji   worked   to emancipate the nation through non­violence and encouraged communal harmony. He also pursued deeper in his search for truth. Then on August 15, 1947.  the  British  handed  over the powers of the country back to its people. Independence had been won. Gandhiji spent the next month trying 10 maintain peace between the Hindus and Muslims and took on what would be his final fast. On January 30, 1948 the bullets of an assassin seized Gandhiji's last breath  and  left the nation in grief, without its apostle of psace.