The Father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the freedom struggle and independence movement in India. He was the embodiment of non-violence, humility, and truthfulness. He was known to travel across the nation, teaching his principles to the future citizens of India. While Gandhiji himself did not own a car to travel in, he did travel in a few cars, even in pre-Independence India. On the occasion of the 153rd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, let’s take a look back at the cars that he used on his travels across India.
Note: Images used are for representation only. Original image copyright lies with respective rights holders.
Ford Model T
The Ford Model T was the first mass-produced car in the world and a few of these cars made it to India. Gandhiji is known to have used one of these cars to travel on many occasions. Once such instance was when he travelled to a rally in UP after being released from Bareilly Central Jail in 1927. Mahatma Gandhi and the Model T were both important figures in history and it truly is a wonder that both would come together in such a way.
Packard 120
Gandhiji had supporters from all walks of life. Freedom fighter and industrialist Ghanshyam Das Birla and Delhi Cloth & General Mills founder Lala Shri Ram were two prominent individuals who lent their own Packard 120 saloons in the 1940s to help Gandhiji travel while in Delhi.
Studebaker President
The Studebaker President was the flagship of American carmaker Studebaker. One of the first-generation Presidents, built from 1926 to 1942, came to find its home in Karnataka. It was here that it served Gandhiji on one of his visits to the southern state in the pre-independence period.