It was Nagar sheth of Jetpur Shri Nautamlal B. Mehta (Kamdar) who was the first to use and bestow "Mahatma" for Shri Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on January 21, 1915 at Kamri Bai School, Jetpur, India. From then on, Gandhiji was known as Mahatma Gandhi. It is commonly believed that Rabindranath Tagore first bestowed the name. However, this is incorrect. Read the original documents about the day Gandhi became Mahatma (Manpatra) by clicking here! Also you will read similar Manpatra was given to Smt Kasturba Gandhi too.