Category: Mahatma Gandhi

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Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi and the Struggle for Indian Independence (1915 –1947)

Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915 and quickly became the leader of the Indian freedom struggle. His philosophy of Satyagraha (truth-force) and Ahimsa (nonviolence) became the foundation of India’s fight against British colonial rule. Through mass movements, he united people from different regions, religions, and social backgrounds in the pursuit of Swaraj (self-rule).

Early Struggles (1915–1919)

1. Champaran and Kheda Satyagraha (1917–1918)

Gandhi’s first major movements in India were focused on helping farmers and peasants suffering under British exploitation:

  • Champaran Satyagraha (Bihar, 1917): Farmers were forced to grow indigo instead of food crops and sell it at low prices to British planters. Gandhi led peaceful protests, forcing the British to abolish oppressive plantation policies.
  • Kheda Satyagraha (Gujarat, 1918): A tax boycott movement where peasants refused to pay taxes due to famine and crop failures. The British were forced to provide relief.

These successful nonviolent protests marked the beginning of Gandhi’s leadership in India’s independence movement.

Mass Movements for Freedom

2. Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922)

  • First nationwide movement against British rule.
  • Encouraged Indians to boycott British schools, courts, clothes, and goods.
  • People resigned from government jobs and gave up British titles.
  • Led to massive protests, but was called off after the Chauri Chaura incident (1922), where protesters set a police station on fire.

Though the movement ended, it awakened national consciousness and united Indians in resistance.

3. Civil Disobedience Movement & Dandi Salt March (1930–1934)

  • In 1930, Gandhi led the famous Dandi Salt March, walking 240 miles to the Arabian Sea in protest against British salt laws.
  • Thousands joined the movement, breaking the salt laws by making salt from seawater.
  • The movement spread across India, with protests, strikes, and boycotts.
  • Resulted in Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931), leading to temporary concessions but no full independence.

This movement intensified the demand for Swaraj and made Gandhi an international symbol of resistance.

4. Quit India Movement (1942) – “Do or Die”

  • Launched on August 8, 1942, demanding immediate British withdrawal from India.
  • Gandhi gave the call for “Do or Die”, urging Indians to fight for total independence.
  • The British arrested Gandhi and thousands of leaders, leading to violent protests across the country.
  • Despite repression, the movement weakened British control, making it clear that they could no longer rule India.

Road to Independence (1945–1947)

After World War II, the British were economically weak and faced increasing pressure to leave India.

  • 1946: Direct negotiations for independence began.
  • August 15, 1947: India finally achieved independence, but was divided into India and Pakistan.
  • Gandhi, deeply hurt by partition violence, worked to restore peace, even fasting to stop communal riots.

On January 30, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist, who blamed him for favoring Muslims and Pakistan.

Legacy

Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance influenced global leaders like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. His methods of peaceful protest remain a powerful tool for human rights and justice worldwide.

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Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi’s Impact on Indians, Africans, and Europeans

Mahatma Gandhi’s life and work had significant interactions with Europeans, Indians, and Africans across different phases of his journey.

In Africa (1893–1914):

Gandhi lived in South Africa for 21 years, where he first developed his philosophy of Satyagraha (nonviolent resistance). He fought against the racial discrimination faced by Indians under British and Dutch rule. His activism brought him into contact with Africans who were also struggling against colonial oppression. However, some of his early writings reflected the biases of his time, which he later evolved from. Over time, his movement in South Africa influenced anti-colonial struggles across Africa.

In India (1915–1948):

After returning to India, Gandhi became the leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule. He mobilized Indians of all backgrounds—peasants, workers, industrialists, and intellectuals—against colonial policies through nonviolent protests like the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement.

Relations with Europeans:

Gandhi interacted with many Europeans, including British rulers, Christian missionaries, and sympathizers of Indian independence. Some British officials opposed him, but others, such as Lord Irwin (later Lord Halifax), negotiated with him. European thinkers like Tolstoy and Ruskin influenced his ideology, while some British individuals, such as C.F. Andrews and Madeleine Slade (Mirabehn), became his followers.

Global Influence:

  • Inspired African leaders: His nonviolent methods influenced figures like Nelson Mandela and Kwame Nkrumah.
  • Influenced European pacifists: Leaders like Bertrand Russell and movements for civil rights in the West were inspired by his approach.
  • Impact on India and beyond: His ideas shaped India’s independence and inspired freedom struggles worldwide.
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Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi’s Civil Rights Struggle in South Africa (1893–1914)

  1. Arrival & Racial Discrimination (1893):
    • Gandhi went to South Africa as a legal representative for an Indian merchant.
    • Faced racial discrimination, including being thrown off a train in Pietermaritzburg for refusing to leave a first-class compartment.
    • This incident marked his political awakening.
  2. Formation of Satyagraha (1906):
    • Led protests against discriminatory laws like the Asiatic Registration Act (1906).
    • Developed Satyagraha (non-violent resistance), organizing mass civil disobedience campaigns.
  3. Indian Rights Movement:
    • Founded the Natal Indian Congress (1894) to fight for Indian rights.
    • Opposed the £3 tax on indentured Indian laborers.
    • Led the Great March (1913), mobilizing thousands of workers against unjust laws.
  4. Impact & Return to India (1914):
    • Successfully negotiated with the South African government for better treatment of Indians.
    • Returned to India in 1915, gaining international recognition as a leader of non-violent resistance.
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Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi’s Vegetarianism & Committee Work in London

  1. Influence of Vegetarianism:
    • Gandhi was raised in a vegetarian household but initially struggled to maintain it in London.
    • He discovered the Vegetarian Society and was inspired by Henry Salt’s writings on ethical vegetarianism.
    • Became a strict vegetarian, seeing it as both a moral and spiritual duty.
  2. Committee Work:
    • Became an active member of the Vegetarian Society and later joined its executive committee.
    • Wrote articles for the society’s journal, promoting vegetarianism from an Indian and ethical perspective.
    • His committee work helped him develop public speaking and leadership skills, which later shaped his activism.
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Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi’s Student Life in London (1888-1891)

  1. Arrival in London (1888):
    • At 18 years old, Gandhi traveled to London to study law at Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court.
    • He faced cultural shock but adapted by adopting an English lifestyle, wearing Western clothes, and learning etiquette.
  2. Academic Life:
    • Gandhi was a diligent but unremarkable student in law.
    • He studied Roman law, English law, and jurisprudence.
    • Passed his exams in 1891 and was called to the Bar as a qualified barrister.
  3. Personal Growth & Influences:
    • Became a strict vegetarian, influenced by the Vegetarian Society and Henry Salt.
    • Read Bhagavad Gita and religious scriptures, which shaped his moral and ethical views.
    • Developed public speaking skills, though he remained shy and introverted.
  4. Return to India (1891):
    • Returned to Bombay, but struggled to establish a successful law practice.
    • Later moved to South Africa in 1893, where his real political awakening began.
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Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi: Early Life & Background

Mahatma Gandhi, born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, came into the world on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, a coastal town in present-day Gujarat, India. He was born into a Hindu Baniya family and belonged to the Modh Baniya community.

Family Background

  • Father: Karamchand Gandhi – He was the Diwan (Chief Minister) of Porbandar, a small princely state under British suzerainty.
  • Mother: Putlibai – A deeply religious woman, she followed strict Vaishnavism and was influenced by Jainism, which emphasized non-violence and vegetarianism.
  • Wife: Kasturba Gandhi – Married at the age of 13 in a traditional child marriage, Kasturba played a crucial role in his later political and social movements.

Education and Early Influences

  • Gandhi did his early schooling in Porbandar and Rajkot. He was an average student but displayed a keen sense of morality, honesty, and discipline.
  • At the age of 18 (in 1888), he traveled to London to study law at Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court. This decision was met with resistance from his caste community, which opposed travel abroad.

Impact of Early Life on His Ideology

  • His mother’s religious teachings deeply influenced his commitment to truth (Satya) and non-violence (Ahimsa).
  • His experiences of racial discrimination in South Africa (1893–1914), where he worked as a lawyer, shaped his philosophy of Satyagraha (passive resistance).