Chapter 19
Mahatma Gandhi
1. When and where was Gandhiji born?
Answer: Gandhiji was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar in Kathiawad.
2. Why was Gandhiji restless? What did he want to do?
Answer: Gandhiji was restless to see his countrymen suffer under the foreign rule. He devoted his entire life for the upliftment of the poor and to get his country free from the clutches of the British.
3. How did Gandhiji live in his early days?
Answer: In the early days of his life, Gandhiji tried to live in style and wore English dresses to make himself look exactly like an English gentleman. He went to England to obtain a degree of Law and danced in parties.
4. What change took place in Gandhiji’s personality?
Answer: Gandhiji underwent a tremendous change. He began to believe in simple living and high thinking. He gave up luxuries and decided to live like a common man. This is how the most uncommon of all commoners, the ‘Mahatma’, was born.
5. What did Gandhiji think about luxuries?
Answer: Gandhiji thought that luxuries were not at all necessary to lead a happy life. He kept himself away from all luxuries.
6. What is the full name of Gandhiji?
Answer: The full name of Gandhiji is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
7. What title is Gandhiji popularly known by?
Answer: Gandhiji is popularly known as Bapu. He is also called the father of our nation.
8. What was the condition of trains in Gandhiji’s early life?
Answer: Long ago there were three classes in the trains in India – first, second, and third. Gandhiji always travelled third class.
9. Why did Gandhiji always travel third class?
Answer: Gandhiji always travelled third class because he wanted to live like a common man and did not believe in unnecessary luxuries.
10. What happened when Gandhiji got off the train at Mumbai?
Answer: When Gandhiji got off the train at Mumbai from a third class compartment, many people greeted him at the platform, including some American men and women.
11. How did the American woman react to Gandhiji’s compartment?
Answer: The American woman saw the simplicity of the compartment and remarked, “How uncomfortable! Why doesn't he travel first class?”
12. What did the other Americans decide to do after hearing her question?
Answer: The other men and women who heard her question did not know the answer, so one of them said that they should go to Gandhiji and ask him why he travelled third class.
13. What question did one of the men ask Gandhiji?
Answer: One of the men asked, “Mr. Gandhi, you’re the leader of the Indian people. Why do you travel third class?”
14. How did Gandhiji reply to the American man’s question?
Answer: Gandhiji replied, “The answer is very simple. I travel third class because there is no fourth class.”
15. What does Gandhiji’s answer tell us about his character?
Answer: Gandhiji’s answer shows that he was humble, simple, and always connected with the common people. He believed in equality and simplicity.
16. Why is Gandhiji called the father of our nation?
Answer: Gandhiji is called the father of our nation because he fought for India’s freedom from the British with truth, non-violence, and dedication.
17. What kind of life did Gandhiji lead?
Answer: Gandhiji lived the life of a common man. He kept himself away from luxuries, wore simple clothes, and devoted his life to the service of the poor and the country.
18. What was Gandhiji’s aim in life?
Answer: Gandhiji’s aim in life was to uplift the poor, help his countrymen, and achieve India’s freedom from British rule.
19. How did Gandhiji try to change his early style of living?
Answer: Initially, Gandhiji tried to live in style and wore English dresses. But soon he realized that happiness lies in simple living and high thinking, so he changed his style completely.
20. Why did Gandhiji go to England?
Answer: Gandhiji went to England to obtain a degree of Law so that he could become a pleader.
21. How did Gandhiji behave at parties in England?
Answer: In England, Gandhiji wore English dresses and danced at parties to blend in and appear as an English gentleman.
22. What made Gandhiji the ‘Mahatma’?
Answer: The transformation from a young man who sought luxury to a man who believed in simple living, high thinking, and serving the nation made Gandhiji the ‘Mahatma’.
23. How did Gandhiji view the suffering of his countrymen?
Answer: Gandhiji was restless to see his countrymen suffer under the British rule. He devoted his entire life to ending their suffering.
24. What lesson do we learn from Gandhiji’s habit of travelling third class?
Answer: We learn humility, simplicity, and the importance of living among common people from Gandhiji’s habit of travelling third class.
25. How did Americans react to Gandhiji’s simplicity?
Answer: The Americans were surprised by the simplicity of Gandhiji’s compartment and asked why he did not travel first class.
26. What does Gandhiji’s life teach about luxuries?
Answer: Gandhiji’s life teaches that luxuries are not necessary for happiness and that simple living and helping others are more important.
27. What is the significance of Gandhiji being called Bapu?
Answer: Being called Bapu shows that Gandhiji was loved by the people as a fatherly figure who cared for the welfare of every Indian.
28. How did Gandhiji treat the British and foreigners in his personal conduct?
Answer: Gandhiji maintained humility and simplicity even in front of foreigners. He answered questions politely and stood by his principles.
29. Why did the men and women follow Gandhiji to ask a question?
Answer: They followed Gandhiji because they wanted to know the reason why the leader of India travelled in third class instead of first class.
30. How did Gandhiji answer promptly?
Answer: Gandhiji did not ponder even for a minute. He promptly replied, “I travel third class because there is no fourth class,” showing his wit and clarity of thought.
31. What was Gandhiji’s early impression of English style life?
Answer: In his early days, Gandhiji tried to adopt English style living, wore English dresses, and danced at parties to appear like an English gentleman.
32. How did Gandhiji’s thoughts about life change?
Answer: Gandhiji realized that true happiness is in simple living and high thinking. He gave up luxuries and devoted himself to the service of others and the nation.
33. What was Gandhiji’s profession after getting a law degree?
Answer: Gandhiji became a pleader after obtaining his law degree, but he later devoted his life to social service and freedom struggle.
34. How did Gandhiji inspire others with his lifestyle?
Answer: Gandhiji inspired others by living a simple life, rejecting luxuries, wearing simple clothes, and staying connected with common people.
35. What is the moral of the story about Gandhiji travelling third class?
Answer: The moral is that true leaders live among their people, stay humble, and do not seek personal comforts while serving society.
36. How did Gandhiji respond to foreign curiosity politely?
Answer: Gandhiji responded politely and humorously by saying that he travelled third class because there is no fourth class.
37. What does the story about the American woman tell us about Gandhiji’s simplicity?
Answer: It shows that Gandhiji’s simplicity was noticeable and unusual for foreigners, yet he practiced it without hesitation.
38. Why did Gandhiji give up English dresses and style?
Answer: He gave up English dresses and style because he realized that they were unnecessary and that he should focus on simple living and high thinking.
39. How is Gandhiji an example for future generations?
Answer: Gandhiji is an example for future generations because of his humility, simplicity, honesty, dedication to service, and love for his country.
40. Summarize Gandhiji’s life in a few lines.
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi, born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, lived a life of simplicity, devoted himself to the upliftment of the poor, fought for India’s freedom, travelled third class to remain connected with common people, and became the father of the nation, popularly called Bapu.
Answer by Mrinmoee
