The name of Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948) is one of the most widely recognized in the world. His Autobiography has been translated into all the major languages. In the first half of his life, Gandhi suffered from a debilitating shyness. After practicing law in South Africa and India, in his middle and later years, Gandhi was recurrently in contact with the man who would inspire his assassination. Gandhi's life of peace thus always had a tragic dimension. His assassination occurred on January 30, 1948, virtually in conjunction with the declared independence of India and Pakistan.
