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Gandhi began a programme of hand spinning and weaving about 1920. He believed that the programme helped the fight for independence in three ways: (1) it aided economic freedom by making India self-sufficient in cloth; (2) it promoted social freedom through the dignity of labour; (3) it advanced political freedom by challenging the British textile industry and by encouraging mass participation in the Indian movement for self-government. In 1930, Gandhi led hundreds of followers on a 300-kilometre march to the sea, where they made salt from seawater. This was a protest against the Salt Acts, which made it a crime to possess salt not bought from the government. During World War II, Gandhi continued his struggle for India's freedom through nonviolent disobedience to British rule. He was jailed for the last time in 1942. Altogether, he spent seven years in prison for political activity. He believed that it is honourable to go to jail for a good cause. The United Kingdom granted India freedom in 1947. But Gandhi did not take part in the Independence Day celebrations. The partition of India into the two nations of India and Pakistan grieved Gandhi. He was saddened also by the violent rioting between Hindus and Muslims that accompanied the partition. He had worked for a united country and had urged that Hindus and Muslims should live together in peace. On Jan. 13, 1948, at the age of 78, Gandhi began his last fast. His purpose was to end the bloodshed among Hindu, Muslim, and other groups. On January 18, their leaders pledged to stop fighting and Gandhi broke his fast. Twelve days later, in New Delhi, while on his way to a prayer meeting, Gandhi was assassinated. Nathuram Godse, who was dead opposed to Gandhi's plan of giving Pakistan 550 Million Rupees in compensation, shot him three times. A shocked India and a saddened world mourned Gandhi's death. Gandhi was loved and admired by millions throughout the world because he lived his ideals in an age of cynicism. He insisted on honourable means instead of the principle of the end justifying the means, lived a simple life in a world of mounting complexity, and practised nonviolence in a world of escalating violence.
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