Character guide

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

major

Also known as Mr. Gandhi, Gandhi, Mahatma, Gandhibhai

The author and protagonist, whose experiments with truth form the narrative.

Kasturbai Gandhi

major

Also known as Kasturbai, Kasturba, Mrs. Gandhi

Gandhi's wife, a constant companion through his struggles and experiments.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale

major

Also known as the late Mr. Gokhale, Gokhale

Gandhi's political mentor and guide in Indian public life.

Raychandbhai

supporting

Also known as Raychandbhai

A Jain philosopher and spiritual mentor who deeply influenced Gandhi.

Narayan Hemchandra

supporting

Also known as Narayan Hemchandra

A poet and companion during Gandhi's early London days.

Parsi Rustomji

supporting

Also known as the late Parsi Rustomji, Rustomji, Parsi Rustomji, The good Parsi, the old Parsi

A generous Parsi merchant who supported Gandhi in South Africa.

Sir Pherozeshah Mehta

supporting

Also known as Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, Pherozeshah Mehta, Sir Pherozeshah

A prominent Indian lawyer and political leader in Bombay.

Hermann Kallenbach

supporting

Also known as Mr. Kallenbach, Kallenbach

A German Jewish architect and close friend of Gandhi in South Africa.

Albert West

supporting

Also known as Gilbert, Mr. Albert West, Mr. West, West

A devoted English coworker who managed Gandhi's Phoenix Settlement.

Henry Polak

supporting

Also known as Mr. Henry Polak, Mr. Polak, Polak

A Jewish English journalist and close associate of Gandhi in South Africa.

Maganlal Gandhi

supporting

Also known as Maganlal Gandhi, Gandhi, Maganlal

Gandhi's cousin and a key manager of the Phoenix and Tolstoy Farms.

Manilal Gandhi

supporting

Also known as Manilal

Gandhi's second son, who assisted in his father's work.

Dadabhai Naoroji

supporting

Also known as Dadabhai Naoroji, Dadabhai

An elder Indian statesman and mentor to Gandhi in London.

Lokamanya Tilak

supporting

Also known as Lokamanya Tilak, the Lokamanya, Tilak, Lokamanya, the late Lokamanya

A fiery Indian nationalist leader and contemporary of Gandhi.

Rajkumar Shukla

supporting

Also known as Rajkumar Shukla, The ubiquitous Rajkumar, Poor Rajkumar, Rajkumar

A determined indigo farmer who brought Gandhi to Champaran.

Kaba Gandhi

supporting

Also known as Kaba Gandhi

Gandhi's father, a principled Diwan of Porbandar and Rajkot.

Putlibai Gandhi

supporting

Gandhi's deeply religious mother, who influenced his early spirituality.

Dada Abdulla

supporting

Also known as Dada Abdulla, Messrs. Dada Abdulla, Dada Abdulla and Co.

A wealthy Indian merchant in South Africa who hired Gandhi for a case.

Abdulla Sheth

supporting

Also known as Abdulla Sheth, Sheth Abdulla, Financially Sheth Abdulla Haji Adam

A prominent Indian merchant in Pretoria who hosted Gandhi.

Mr. Coates

minor

Also known as Mr. Coates

A Christian friend who introduced Gandhi to the Bible in Pretoria.

Mr. A. W. Baker

minor

Also known as Mr. A. W. Baker, Mr. Baker

A Christian missionary who befriended Gandhi in Pretoria.

Balasundaram

minor

Also known as Balasundaram

An indentured Tamil clerk who became Gandhi's first client in Natal.

Sorabji Adajania

minor

Also known as Sorabji Adajania, Mr. Sorabji Adajania, Sorabji

A Parsi coworker and manager of the Indian Opinion press.

Mrs. Polak

minor

Also known as Mrs. Polak, Polak

Wife of Henry Polak, who supported the Phoenix community.

Mr. Pestonji Padshah

minor

Also known as Mr. Pestonji Padshah, Pestonji, Pestonji Padshah

A friend and fellow student from Gandhi's London days.

Mr. Chamberlain

minor

Also known as The late Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. Chamberlain, Chamberlain

British Colonial Secretary who met with Indian delegations.

Mr. Harry Escombe

minor

Also known as Mr. Escombe, Mr. Harry Escombe, the late Mr. Escombe

A Natal statesman and lawyer involved in Indian rights issues.

Pandit Malaviyaji

minor

Also known as Pandit Malaviyaji, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviyaji, Malaviyaji

A Hindu leader and educator who worked with Gandhi on national issues.

Dr. P. J. Mehta

minor

Also known as Dr. P. J. Mehta, Dr. Mehta

A physician and early associate of Gandhi in South Africa.

Sjt. Ghosal

minor

Also known as Ghosal, Sjt . Ghosal, Sjt

A fellow lawyer and friend from Gandhi's early legal practice.

Brajkishore Prasad

minor

Also known as Brajkishorebabu, XVII Companions Brajkishorebabu, Brajkishore Babu, Babu Brajkishore Prasad

A Bihari lawyer who assisted Gandhi during the Champaran campaign.

Dr. Talvalkar

minor

Also known as Dr. Talvalkar

A friend and fellow experimenter in dietetics in South Africa.

Mavji Dave

minor

Also known as Mavji Dave, Kevalram, old Mavji, Kevalram Mavji Dave, Kevalram Dave

A Brahmin friend who advised Gandhi on religious matters.

Swami Shraddhanandji

minor

Also known as Swami Shraddhanandji, Shraddhanandji, Swami, the Swami, the late Swami Shraddhanandji

A Hindu monk and educationalist who collaborated with Gandhi.

Gangabehn Majmundar

minor

Also known as Gangabehn Majmundar, Gangabehn

A woman who joined Gandhi's ashram and became a devoted follower.

Ramdas Gandhi

minor

Also known as Ramdas

Gandhi's third son, who participated in his father's movements.

Ladha Maharaj

minor

Also known as Ladha Maharaj, Maharaj, the Maharaj, Rama—Ladha Maharaj of Bileshvar

A religious figure who influenced Gandhi's spiritual thinking.

Tryambakrai Mazmudar

minor

Also known as Tryambakrai Mazmudar, Mazmudar

A fellow lawyer and friend from Gandhi's early career in India.

Mahadev Desai

minor

Also known as Mahadev, Mahadev Desai

Gandhi's devoted secretary and chronicler for many years.

Vallabhbhai Patel

minor

Also known as Patel, Vallabhbhai Patel, Vallabhbhai

A future Indian leader who worked with Gandhi in the Kheda Satyagraha.

Sjt. Madanjit

minor

Also known as Sjt, Madanjit, Sjt . Madanjit

A coworker who helped run the Indian Opinion press in Durban.

Mrs. Besant

minor

Also known as Mrs. Besant

A prominent theosophist and Indian independence activist.

Dr. Booth

minor

Also known as Dr. Booth, Dr.

A missionary doctor who treated Gandhi during his illness in South Africa.

Mr. D. E. Wacha

minor

Also known as Mr. D. E. Wacha, Mr. Wacha

A Bombay politician and member of the Indian National Congress.

Mahadeo Govind Ranade

minor

Also known as Mahadeo Govind Ranade, Ranade

A judge and social reformer who influenced Gandhi's early political views.

Dr. Jivraj Mehta

minor

Also known as Dr. Jivraj Mehta, Dr. Mehta, Dr. Jivray Mehta

A physician and later a political leader who treated Gandhi.

Mohanlal Pandya

minor

Also known as Mohanlal Pandya, Mohanlal, Pandya

A coworker in the Kheda Satyagraha and ashram member.

Mansukhlal Naazar

minor

Also known as the late Sjt . Mansukhlal Naazar, Mansukhlal Naazar, Sjt . Mansukhlal

A coworker who managed the Indian Opinion in South Africa.

Dr. Dev

minor

Also known as the late Dr. Dev, Dr. Dev

A physician who treated Gandhi during his pleurisy in 1918.

Maulana Hasrat Mohani

minor

Also known as Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Hasrat Mohani, the Maulana

A Muslim poet and political activist in the Congress.

Virchand Gandhi

minor

Also known as Virchand Gandhi, Gandhi

A relative who accompanied Gandhi to London and later fell out.

Adamji Miyakhan

minor

Also known as the late Adamji Miyakhan, the Sheth, Adamji Miyakhan, Miyakhan, Sheth Adamji Miyakhan

A Muslim merchant who supported Gandhi's work in South Africa.

C. F. Andrews

minor

Also known as Mr. Andrews, Andrews, Mr. C. F. Andrews, Dinabandhu Andrews

An Anglican missionary and close friend who supported Indian causes.

Hakim Ajmal Khan

minor

Also known as Hakim Saheb, Hakim Ajmal Khan Saheb, the late Hakim Ajmal Khan Saheb, the late Hakim Saheb

A Muslim physician and political leader in the Khilafat movement.

Umar Sobani

minor

Also known as Umar Sobani, the late Mr. Umar Sobani, Mr. Umar Sobani, The late Umar Sobani, Mr. Sobani, Messrs. Umar Sobani, Messrs. Sobani

A Muslim businessman and supporter of Gandhi's movements.

C. Rajagopalachari

minor

Also known as Rajagopalachari

A future Indian statesman who worked with Gandhi in the Congress.

Sjt. Vijayaraghavachari

minor

Also known as Sjt . Vijayaraghavachari, Vijayaraghavachari

A Congress leader who presided over the Nagpur session.

Chittaranjan Das

minor

Also known as Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, the Deshbandhu, Deshbandhu, The Deshbandhu

A prominent Bengali lawyer and nationalist leader in the Congress.

Shrimati Avantikabai Gokhale

minor

Also known as Shrimati Avantikabai Gokhale, Shrimati Avantikabai, Avantikabai, Gokhale

A woman who joined Gandhi's ashram and became a follower.

Shankarlal Banker

minor

Also known as Shankarlal Banker

A coworker in the Ahmedabad textile labour movement.

Surendranath Banerji

minor

Also known as Surendranath Banerji, Surendranath

A veteran Indian nationalist leader and Congress veteran.

Kakasaheb Kalelkar

minor

Also known as Kakasaheb Kalelkar, Kalelkar, Kakasaheb

A teacher and follower who joined Gandhi's ashram.

Shrimati Sarojini Naidu

minor

Also known as Shrimati Sarojini Naidu

A poet and political leader who worked with Gandhi in the Congress.

Pandit Motilal Nehru

minor

Also known as Pandit Motilalji, Motilalji, Pandit Motilal Nehru

A prominent lawyer and Congress leader from Allahabad.

Mr. Jinnah

minor

Also known as Mr. Jinnah

A rising Muslim political leader who interacted with Gandhi.

Maulana Mazharul Haq

minor

Also known as Maulana Mazharul Haq

A Bihari Muslim leader who supported the Champaran movement.

Anasuyabehn

minor

Also known as Anasuyabehn, Shrimati Anasuyabehn, Shrimati Anasuyabai

A woman who joined Gandhi's ashram and became a follower.

Sheth Ambalal

minor

Also known as the Sheth, Sheth Ambalal

A mill owner in Ahmedabad involved in the labour dispute.

Mr. Laughton

minor

Also known as Mr. Laughton

A lawyer who assisted Gandhi in his early South African cases.

Bhupenbabu

minor

Also known as Bhupenbabu

A friend and fellow student from Gandhi's London days.

Mr. Lely

minor

Also known as Mr. Lely, Lely

A British official in Porbandar who Gandhi encountered as a youth.

Professor Kripalani

minor

Also known as Professor Kripalani, Kripalani, Principal Kripalani

A teacher who later became a follower and ashram member.

Mr. Saunders

minor

Also known as Mr. Saunders

A British official who dealt with Indian grievances in South Africa.

Mr. Ritch

minor

Also known as Mr. Ritch

A lawyer who assisted Gandhi in the Natal Indian Congress.

Tyeb Haji Khan Muhammad

minor

Also known as Tyeb Haji Khan Muhammad, the Sheth, Sheth Tyeb Haji Khan Muhammad, the late Sheth Tyeb Haji Khan Muhammad

A Muslim merchant who supported Gandhi in South Africa.

Babu Motilal Ghose

minor

Also known as the late Babu Motilal Ghose, Motilal

A journalist and editor of the Amrita Bazar Patrika.

Lady Cecilia Roberts

minor

Also known as Lady Cecilia Roberts, Lady Cecilia

A British woman who helped Gandhi during his London visit.

Dr. Allinson

minor

Also known as Dr. Allinson

A dietetic expert whose views influenced Gandhi's experiments.

Mr. Hills

minor

Also known as Mr. Hills

A British vegetarian activist who corresponded with Gandhi.

Shankarlal Parikh

minor

Also known as Shankarlal Parikh, Shankarlal Parikh of Kathlal

A coworker in the Kheda Satyagraha campaign.

Jairamdas

minor

Also known as Jairamdas

A Sindhi follower who worked with Gandhi in the Congress.

Kalyandas

minor

Also known as Kalyandas

A follower who joined Gandhi's ashram and worked for khadi.

Principal Sushil Rudra

minor

Also known as Principal Sushil Rudra, Sushil Rudra, Principal Rudra

A Christian educator who hosted Gandhi at Shantiniketan.