Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement

Civil Disobedience and Beyond

This chapter examines Mahatma Gandhi’s political career in India from 1915-1948, focusing on his interactions with various sections of society and the popular struggles he inspired and led. It highlights the importance of understanding the sources used by historians to reconstruct a leader’s career and the social movements he was associated with. Gandhiji’s influence and reverence as the ‘Father’ of the Indian nation are not misplaced, as his political career was influenced and constrained by the society in which he lived....

A Leader Announces Himself

In 1915, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi returned to India after two decades abroad, spending most of his time in South Africa as a lawyer and eventually becoming a leader of the Indian community. In South Africa, Gandhi forged the techniques of non-violent protest known as satyagraha, promoted harmony between religions, and alerted upper-caste Indians to discriminatory treatment of low castes and women....

The Making and Unmaking of Non-cooperation

In 1917, Mahatma Gandhi spent time in Champaran, focusing on obtaining peasants’ security of tenure and freedom to cultivate their crops. In 1918, he intervened in a labor dispute in Ahmedabad and joined peasants in Keda in demanding better working conditions. These initiatives marked Gandhiji as a nationalist with sympathy for the poor. In 1919, the colonial rulers introduced the “Rowlatt Act” to counter British censorship and detention without trial. This led to a nationwide campaign against the Act, leading to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar. This event made Gandhiji a national leader, leading him to call for a campaign of “non-cooperation” with British rule, urging Indians to stop attending schools, colleges, and law courts and not pay taxes....

The Salt Satyagraha – A Case Study

Mahatma Gandhi focused on social reform after the Non-cooperation Movement ended. In 1928, he re-entered politics, leading to an all-India campaign against the all-White Simon Commission. Gandhi did not participate in this movement but gave blessings to a peasant satyagraha in Bardoli. In December 1929, the Congress held its annual session in Lahore, electing Jawaharlal Nehru as President and committing to “Purna Swaraj” or complete independence. On January 26, 1930, “Independence Day” was observed, with the national flag hoisted and patriotic songs sung. Gandhi instructed that the day should be celebrated by all villages and cities, with participants taking a pledge affirming their inalienable right to freedom and enjoy the fruits of their labor....

Quit India

Mahatma Gandhi launched the “Quit India” campaign in 1942, a mass movement against British rule. Young activists, including socialist members of the Congress, organized strikes and sabotage across India. The movement was fueled by the young, who left their colleges to go to jail. Jinnah and his Muslim League expanded their influence, making a mark in Punjab and Sind. In 1944, Gandhi was released from prison and held meetings with Jinnah to bridge the gap between the Congress and the League. In 1945, a Labour government came to power in Britain, granting India independence. In 1946, the Congress won the “General” category, but the League won seats reserved for Muslims. Political polarization continued, leading to bloody riots in Calcutta and across India. In 1947, Lord Mountbatten announced that British India would be freed but also divided, with the formal transfer of power scheduled for 15 August....

The Last Heroic Days

Mahatma Gandhi was absent from the festivities in the capital on 15 August 1947, marking the day with a 24-hour fast. The nation was divided, and Hindus and Muslims were at each other’s throats. Gandhiji went around hospitals and refugee camps, offering consolation to the distressed people and encouraging them to live in peace. The Congress passed a resolution on the rights of minorities, stating that India would be a democratic secular State where all citizens enjoy full rights and are equally entitled to the protection of the State, regardless of their religion....

Knowing Gandhi

The political career of Gandhiji and the history of the nationalist movement can be reconstructed from various sources....

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mahatma Gandhi made huge contributions to India’s freedom struggle. His concept of nonviolence and civil disobedience, his techniques of non-cooperation and civil disobedience, and his leadership brought the Indian masses together and forced the British to meet the Indians’ demands. Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership in India’s independence movement was distinguished by his constant support for peaceful resistance and civil disobedience. Gandhi inspired millions of Indians to fight British colonialism by following the principles of truth and nonviolence. His vision for an independent India was based on communal peace, social fairness, and self-reliance, inspiring future generations and leaving a lasting mark on the world’s largest democracy....

Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement- FAQs

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