1908day.year
Indian pacifist and leader Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is released from prison by Jan C. Smuts after being tried and sentenced to two months in jail earlier in the month.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was released from prison in South Africa in 1908 after serving two months for leading passive resistance campaigns.
In January 1908, Indian lawyer and activist Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was freed from Pretoria's Marshall Square Prison after completing a two-month sentence.
Gandhi had been arrested for organizing nonviolent protests against discriminatory laws targeting the Indian community in South Africa.
His imprisonment only strengthened his commitment to Satyagraha, the philosophy of nonviolent resistance.
British statesman Jan C. Smuts authorized his release, recognizing Gandhi's moral authority and leadership potential.
This period marked a crucial turning point in Gandhi's transformation into a global icon of civil disobedience.
His experiences in South Africa laid the foundation for the mass movements he would later lead in India's struggle for independence.
1908
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Jan C. Smuts
1948day.year
Following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in his home compound, India's prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, broadcasts to the nation, saying "The light has gone out of our lives". The date of the assassination becomes observed as "Martyrs' Day" in India.
On January 30, 1948, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru announced the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and declared January 30 as Martyrs’ Day in India.
On the evening of January 30, 1948, news of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination rocked a newly independent India. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru addressed a stunned nation, poignantly stating, “The light has gone out of our lives.” Six hours earlier, Gandhi had been shot at point-blank range during a prayer meeting in New Delhi by a Hindu nationalist opposed to his vision of religious harmony. Nehru’s broadcast called for unity and peace in the aftermath of the tragedy. The Indian government proclaimed January 30 as Martyrs’ Day to honor Gandhi and other freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives. Annual commemorations include quiet observances and community service as a tribute to Gandhi’s enduring legacy. The assassination underscored the challenges facing the young republic and cemented Gandhi’s place as the “Father of the Nation.” Martyrs’ Day remains a solemn reminder of India’s struggle for independence and the power of nonviolent resistance.
assassination of Mahatma Gandhi
India
Jawaharlal Nehru
The light has gone out of our lives
Martyrs' Day
1956day.year
In the United States, Civil Rights Movement leader Martin Luther King Jr.'s home is bombed in retaliation for the Montgomery bus boycott.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s home in Montgomery, Alabama, is bombed in retaliation for the bus boycott, highlighting the violent opposition to the Civil Rights Movement.
On January 30, 1956, opponents of racial integration detonated a bomb at Martin Luther King Jr.'s residence in Montgomery.
The attack came weeks after the successful Montgomery bus boycott, a pivotal protest against segregation.
King's home suffered significant damage, but thankfully no one was harmed in the explosion.
This act of domestic terrorism underscored the intense hostility faced by civil rights activists.
The incident galvanized public opinion and strengthened resolve among protesters.
It also prompted federal authorities to increase protection for demonstration leaders.
The bombing remains a stark reminder of the perilous struggle for racial equality in America.
1956
Civil Rights Movement
Martin Luther King Jr.
Montgomery bus boycott