Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an Indian nationalist leader, who established his country's freedom through a nonviolent revolution. Gandhi is also known as Mahatma a nickname given to him meaning great soul. This name was given to him by his followers who felt he was God's messenger on Earth. Gandhi was born in Porbandar in the present state of Gujarat on October 2, 1869. He was educated in law at a University College. In 1891, after having been admitted to the British bar, Gandhi returned to India and attempted to establish a law practice in Bombay, with little success. Two years later an Indian firm with interests in South Africa retained him as legal adviser in its office in Durban. Arriving in Durban, Gandhi found himself treated as a member of an inferior race. He was appalled at the widespread denial of civil liberties and political rights to Indian immigrants to South Africa. He threw himself into the struggle for elementary rights for Indians