Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Gandhi was born to an influential family in a small coastal town that was part of British-ruled India. He was married at age 13 in an arranged marriage per local custom. The couple would bear five children, though their first child only survived a few days. Gandhi left India in 1888 to study law in London, England, and from age 24 to 45, Gandhi became involved in the civil rights movement in South Africa, combating injustice against Indians in the country. He returned to India in 1915 and became the leader of the Indian National Congress and of the struggle for Indian independence from Britain. In 1947, India was finally released from British rule. Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse in 1948.