Being that South Africa is part of the British Empire, he is hoping that news of such in the British press will support his cause. Gandhi takes up the cause of fighting what he sees as racially discriminatory laws against colored people such as himself and other ethnic Indians. In the late 1800's South Africa, then Indian-British attorney Mohandas K. gavin last fifty years of the life of Mahatma Gandhi leading to his assassination in 1948 is portrayed. He thereby angers many dissidents on both sides, one of whom finally gets close enough to assassinate him. Gandhi spends his last days trying to bring about peace between both nations. Gandhi is opposed to the idea, and is even willing to allow Muhammad Ali Jinnah to become the first prime minister of India, but the Partition of India is carried out nevertheless. It is hoped that by encouraging the Muslims to live in a separate country, violence will abate. It is decided that the northwest area of India, and eastern part of India (current day Bangladesh), both places where Muslims are in the majority, will become a new country called Pakistan (West and East Pakistan respectively). The fighting does stop eventually, but the country is divided. Gandhi declares a hunger strike, saying he will not eat until the fighting stops. Religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims erupt into nation-wide violence. Indians celebrate this victory, but their troubles are far from over.

Too weak from World War II to continue enforcing its will in India, Britain finally grants India's independence. Nevertheless, the campaign generates great attention, and Britain faces intense public pressure. There are some setbacks, such as violence against the protesters and Gandhi's occasional imprisonment. Gandhi agrees, and mounts a non-violent non-cooperation campaign of unprecedented scale, coordinating millions of Indians nationwide. He is urged to take up the fight for India's independence from the British Empire. After this victory, Gandhi is invited back to India, where he is now considered something of a national hero. After numerous arrests and the unwanted attention of the world, the government finally relents by recognizing rights for Indians, though not for the native blacks of South Africa. Gandhi realizes that the laws are biased against Indians and decides to start a non-violent protest campaign for the rights of all Indians in South Africa.

Gandhi is thrown off a South African train for being an Indian and traveling in a first class compartment. The life of the lawyer who became the famed leader of the Indian revolts against the British rule through his philosophy of nonviolent protest.

Gandhi full movie in english