Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was among India's most fervent nationalists, fighting for Indian independence from British rule. Gandhi started the non-violent method of protest, which was termed "Satyagraha." For his dedicated service to the Indian Independence movement, Gandhi is often called the "Father of the Nation." In 1893, Gandhi went to South Africa, then under British control, for legal work. Racial discrimination was freely practiced, and in an incident that would change his life, Gandhi was forcefully evicted from a first class train compartment. This incident in South Africa opened Gandhi's eyes to the rampant racial discrimination and humiliation faced by non-whites. For 21 years, Gandhi stayed in South Africa, working towards rights for Indians in South Africa. Gandhi began experimenting with non-violent methods of protest, promoting civil disobedience and strikes or "hartals." Gandhi was arrested several times, but his action prompted some reforms.
             Gandhi had many problems with British rule over India. When he tried to claim his rights as a British subject, he was abused and soon he saw that all Indians received the same kind of treatment. India was granted freedom from Britain in 1947. It was divided into India and Pakistan. After the declaration that India was independent people began to riot. Hindus and Muslims were fighting against one another. Gandhi was upset by the fighting because he wanted India and all of the people who lived there to be together in peace. On January 13, 1948, at age 78, he began a fast to stop the fighting. After five days leaders pledged to stop fighting and Gandhi broke the fast. In 1919, British General Reginald Edward Harry Dyer ordered his troops to open fire on a large group of peaceful native protestors. His soldiers killed almost 400 people and wounded thousands. This massacre, called the Amritsar Massacre, encouraged Gandhi to work even harder to fight for independence from British r...