Gandhi S Role in Indian Freedom Struggle A Critical Understanding

GlobalResearchMethodologyJournal,V0lII,7thissue,NovDecJan,201213 www.grmgrlaranya.
com ISSN2249300X
GandhisRoleinIndianFreedomStruggle:ACritical
Understanding
PankajBorah
Asst.Professor,Deptt.ofPoliticalScience
AryaVidyapeethCollege,Ghy16
Emailpborah6@gmail.co
Ph.9706970256
Abstract:
Gandhihadanunflinchingandunshakablefaithinthetheoryofnonviolence.Heplayed
a pivotal role in the Indias struggle for freedom which was the worlds largest democratic
movement.IndiannationalismachieveditshighestpeakunderGandhisleadership.Nodoubtit
washe,whoorganizedthemovementonmassbasisandtriedhisbesttounitebothHindusand
Muslims,uplifttheeconomicandsocialstatusoftheuntouchables.Gandhievolvedanddeveloped
apowerfulnonviolentmethod,givingitthenameSatyagraha.Thoughincontemporaryperiod
there are various criticisms on him but we must observe him from that particular period of
freedomstruggle.
Introduction:
The Indian Freedom Struggle was one of the largest democratic movements against
imperialism and colonialism. The Indian Freedom Struggle provides the best examples of
nationalism and patriotism which may be adopted and pursued in order to root out the
undemocratic institutions of colonialism. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as
MahatmaGandhiorBapuwasamoralreformist.ItiswidelyacceptedthatGandhiwastheback
boneofthenonviolentstruggleforfreedomofIndia.
GandhiwasinfluencedbythepoliticalideasofGopalKrishnaandconsideredhimashis
PoliticalGuru.GandhilearnthisfaithinnonviolencefromJainism.TheBiblegavehimthe
sermonnottohurtanybodysheart.Italsotaughthimtoloveandtodowelltotheothers. Gita
taught him to render selfless service. From David Thoreau, he borrowed the idea of civil
disobedienceandfromLeoTolstoytheideaofsolvingproblemswithlove.
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PublishedbyAranyaSurakshaSamiti&BilasiparaCollegeLibraryStudyCircle;EditedbyDr.HariCharanDasEmail:grmjournaleditor@sify.com
GlobalResearchMethodologyJournal,V0lII,7thissue,NovDecJan,201213 www.grmgrlaranya.com ISSN2249300X
FirstPhraseofGandhisLeadershipinIndianFreedomStruggle:19141919
GandhiplayedapivotalroleintheIndiasstruggleforfreedom.Gandhisemergenceas
theundisputedleaderoftheIndianNationalCongressisaninterestingstorybyitself.Aftertwenty
yearsstayinAfrica,GandhireturnedtoIndiain1914.HedecidedtoguideIndiaspolitical
scenario.Soonafterhisarrival,andinpursuanceofapromisemadetoGopalKrishnaGokhale,
GandhijibeganayearstourofhisMotherland.Hespentnextfouryears(191418)instudyingthe
Indiansituationandpreparedhimselfandthosewhowantedtofollowhispathforsatyagrahaor
the application of the soul force based on truth for the removal of the social and political
inequalitiesfromwhichthenIndiasuffered.Buthewasnotsimplyaninactiveobserverduringthis
period.In1915,heestablished,theSatyagraha AshramnearAhmedabadwherealittlegroupof
manwhohadacceptedhisgeneralprinciplessettled.
GandhisLocalExperiments:
(I)ChamparanSatyagraha:In1917A.D.GandhistartedSatyagrahaintheChamparandistrictof
Bihar to ameliorate the condition of the peasants who cultivated indigo. Under the Tinkathia
systemtheywereboundtogrowindigointheirland.Theywereliabletounlawfulextractionand
oppressionbytheplaners.Gandhimadeasystematicenquiryoftheirgrievances.He,alongwitha
batchofcongressworkerswenttoChanmparanbuttheBritishofficersorderedthemtogoback.
Gandhiopposeditandstartedsatyagraha.UltimatelytheGovernmentofficerswerecompelledto
withdrawtheirorders.Gandhijiformedacommitteetolookintothegrievancesofthepeasants.It
wasGandhisfirstattemptofCivilDisobedienceanditwassuccessful.
(II)SupportedMillWorkersofAhmedabad:In1919A.D.thetextilemillownersreducedthe
wageoftheirworkers.Itresultedinadisputebetweenthemillownersandtheworkers.The
workersorganizedaHartal.GandhijiwenttoAhmedabadandstartedhungerstriketogetthe
demandsoftheworkersaccepted.Themillownershadtosubmittotheworkerstoincreasetheir
wagesby35%.
(III)KhedaStruggle:NosoonerwastheAhmedabadmillstrikeoverthenanewstrugglebegan
whichputintooperationSatyagraha.InKhedadistrictofGujrat,thecropfailed,andfamine
2
conditionsthreatened.Manycultivatorswereunabletopaythetax.Hedraftedapetitionandasked
forthesuspensionofrevenuecollection.ButtheGovernmentrejectedthepetition.
The GujratSabha, ofwhichGandhiwasthepresident,playedaleadingroleintheagitation.

Appealsandpetitionshavingfailed,Gandhiadvisedthewithholdingofrevenue,andaskedthe
peasantstofightintodeathagainstsuchaspiritofvindictivenessandtyrannyandshowthatitis
1
impossibletogovernmenwithouttheirconsent NewsofthestrugglespreadalloverIndia
peoplefromdifferentsectionsofIndiasentmoneytoGandhitohelpthefight.Timepassedand
thepeasantsbegantolosenerveunderthethreatoftheofficialsandtheircattleandgoodbeing
seizedandsold.Insomecasesgovernmentalsoattackedthestandingcrops.Peoplewerelosing
their hope. Gandhi felt that something urgent had to be done. He suggested to some of his
followersthattheyshouldremovethecropsthemselvesfromafieldthathadbeenattackedbythe
government. He knew that it would be followed by arrests, but all were ready to face the
consequences.Theywerearrestedandgivenshorttermsofimprisonment,fortunatelythestruggle
endedsoonbyonagreedcompromise.Gandhilaterrecalledthatbythistimethepeoplewere
exhausted and he was actually casting about for some graceful way of terminating the
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struggle. TheKhedastrugglewasagreatstepintheawakeningofthemassesofIndiatoa
senseoftheirrightsandtheirownabilitytogettheirdemandsacceptedbytheGovernment.
Champaran,AhmedabadandKhedaservedasdemonstrationsofGandhijisstyleandmethodof
politicstothecountryatlarge.TheyalsohelpedhimfindhisfeetamongthepeopleofIndiaand
studytheirproblemsatclosequarters.Hecametopossess,asaresultofthesestruggles,asurer
understandingofthestrengthsandweaknessofthemasses,aswellasoftheviabilityofhisown
3
politicalstyle.
SecondPhraseofGandhisLeadershipinIndianFreedomStruggle:19191930
AgitationagainstRowlattAct.:DuringtheWorldWarI,theDefenceofIndiaruleswerein
operationwhichgavearbitrarypowerstotheGovernment.Whenthewarcametoanendin1919,
the government again wanted to arm itself with such powers to suppress the revolutionary
movementinthecountry.In1919,acommitteeheadedbyMr.JusticeRowlattwasappointedto
investigatethealarminggrowthofrevolutionaryactivitiesandtomakerecommendationfortheir
3
efficient suppression. On the recommendation of the committee, the Government passed the
Rowlatt Bills which empowered the government to arrest and try political leaders by special
tribunalssetupunderthisact.Itcouldarrestanypersonwithoutgivinganyreason,searchany
placewithoutawarrantandimprisonanyonewithouttrial.Thejudgeswereempoweredtotry
politicalcaseswithoutjury.Theactinrealityaimedatseverelycurtailingthecivillibertiesof
4
Indiansinthenameofcurbingterroristviolence,wereintroducedintheLegislativeCouncil .
MahatmaGandhisaid,Theyarestrikingdemonstrationofthecivilservicestoretainitsgripon
ournecks.Itconsidersthebillstobeanopenchallengetous.Pandit MotilalNehrusaidthe
essenceofbillswereno vakil, no dalil, noappeal.NoneoftheofficialmemberoftheCentral
LegislativeCouncilsupportedtheBill.
TheRowlattActswerereceivedwithgreatdiscontentbyeverysectionofIndianpublic
opinion.Consequently,thenationalleadersstartedanintenseagitationthroughoutthecountry
againsttheact.
th
MahatmaGandhideclared6 April1919asSatyagrahaday,adayofHartalsandprotests
againsttheRowlattBill.Itwasauniquesuccess.SomeincidentsofviolencetookplaceinDelhi
andAhmedabad.Punjab,whichwassufferingfromtheaftereffectsofseverewartimerepression,
forciblerecruitment,andtheravagesofdisease,reactedparticularlystronglyandbothinAmritsar
and Lahore thesituationbecame verydangerousfor the Government. Gandhijitried togo to
Punjabtohelpandtoquitenthepeople,buttheGovernmentdeportedhimtoBombay.
th
JallianwallaBaghTragedy:13 April,1919:Themostseriousdisturbance,however,tookplace
atAmritsar,wherethereprominentEnglishmenwerekilled.MichaelODyer,thegovernorof
Punjab,apprehendingageneralrevoltissuedaproclamationonApril11,whichforbademeetings
andprocessions.TheGovernmentalsoarrestedtwoprominentcongressleadersDr.Saifuddin
Kitchlu and Dr. Satya Pal. On April 13, BaisakhiDay,about 20,000 people assembled for a
peacefulgeneralmeetingattheJallianwallaBagh,toprotestagainstthearrestoftheirleaders.A
largenumberofpeoplewhohadcometovisitHarimandaralsojoinedthemeeting.Brigadier
GeneralDyerwasseekingopportunitytoteachthepeoplealessonforfloutingthegovernment
orders.HearrivedatJallianwalaBaghwith500troops,whowere
4
orderedtoopenthefirewithoutgivingthepeopleawarmingtodisperse.About400peopleswere
killed and nearly 1200 were wounded. This tragedy is known as JallianwalaBagh Tragedy.
GeneralDyerhadhopedthathisactionwouldcooldowndisturbancesnotonlyinthePunjabbut
alsointhewholeofIndia.
Thegreatpoet,RabindranathTagoresurrenderedhistitlesirasameasureofprotest.
Gandhi lost his faith in the professions of goodwill of the British government. After
JallianwallaBaghTragedy,MartialLawwasimposedinthewholeofthePunjab.Publicfloggings
were not infrequent and excesses were perpetrated against the people. The JalianwallaBagh
TragedyandthedeclarationofmartialLawthereafterwidenedthegulfbetweenthegovernment
andthenationalleaders.Thepeoplewerenotfrightenedintosubmission.Onthecontrary,their
determinationtofightagainstthealienrulebecomesstronger.
ThebrutalityatJallianwalaBaghstunnedtheentirenation.Theresponsewouldcome,not
immediately,butalittlelater.Forthemoment,repressionwasintensified.Gandhi,overwhelmed
bythetotalatmosphereofviolence,withdrewthemovementon18April.Thatdidnotmean,
however,thatGandhihadlostfaitheitherinhisnonviolentSatyagrahaorinthecapacityofthe
Indianpeople,toadoptitasamethodofstruggle.Ayearlater,helaunchedanothernationwide
struggle,onascalelargerthanthatoftheRowlattSatyagraha.ThewronginflictedonPunjabwas
5
oneofthemajorreasonsforlaunchingit.TheMahatmasIndianExperimenthadbegun .
KhilafatAgitationandGandhi: Amongthesehappeningsofnationalresentment,anewissue
stirredtheemotionsofIndianMuslims.ItwasconcernedwithKhilafat,thehighestreligiousoffice
intheIslamicworld.AfterthefirstGreatWarwasover,theAlliesdecidedtodisbandtheofficeof
theCaliph(Khalifat).ThisenragedtheMuslimswhoconsideritasaninsulttotheirreligious
beliefs.TheMuslimsofIndiastartedapowerfulpoliticoreligiousmovementknownasKhilafat
Movement.Itsleaders,AliBrothers(MuhammadAliandShaukatAli)plungedthemselvesheart
andsoulintothemovement.Muslimtheologiesalsolenttheirsupporttothem.Itspurposewasto
organizeacountrywideagitationifthepositionofKhalifawasundermined.
GandhiviewedtheKhilafatmovementasagoldenopportunityforbringingMuslimsand
Hindustogetheronthenationalfront.HehadbeeninterestedinHinduMuslimunitysincehis
daysinSouthAfrica.TheLacknowpact,accordingtohim,didnotformanadequatebasisfor
5
unity.HehadestablishedcontactwithAliBrothersandfeltthattheirKhilafatdemandwasjust.
He protested against their arrest. The Versailles Treaty sharpened the enlargement of the
movement by dismembering the Turkish Empire. The Khilafat agitation was to him an
opportunityofunitingHindusandMuslims.Gandhijivieweditrathertoosimplyasaunityof
hearts.IfIdeemtheMohamedantobemybrother,hewroteinyoungIndia,itismydutyto
6
helphiminhishourofperiltothebestofmyability,ifhiscausecommandsitselftomeasjust.
TheKhilafatcommitteelaunchedanoncooperationmovementon31August,1920andGandhi
wasthefirst to joinit.Thecongress met ina specialsessionin September 1920at Calcutta
(Kolkata)andagreedtostarttheNoncooperationmovement.Thedecisionwasfurtherendorsedat
itsNagpursessionheldinDecember1920.
NonCooperation: InspiteofthesincereappealmadebyGandhitotheViceroytorevisethe
peacetermsmadewithTurkeythroughwhichtheTurkeyEmpirewasdeprivedtobeproceededby
st st
fastingandprayersonJuly31 .Themovementwaslaunchedformallyon1 August1920,after
theexpiryofthenoticethatGandhihadgiventotheViceroyinhisletterof22June,inwhichhe
hadassertedtherightrecognizedfromtimeimmemorialofthesubjecttorefusetoassistaruler
7
whomisrules
TheleadersoftheKhilafatmovementalsoendorsedtheNoncooperationmovementled
byGandhi.ThusthedemandoftheKhilafatcommitteeandthecongressweremergedintoone.
TheNoncooperationmovementledbyGandhiwastofulfillthefollowingdemands.
1 TheBritishGovernmentshouldofferbetterpeacetermstoTurkey,andshouldnottouch
theKhalifatitleoftheSultan.
2 NewschemeofreformsshouldbeplacedbeforetheIndianpeoplewhoshouldtakeIndia
nearertotheattainmentofSwaraj.
Thepeoplewereaskedto
1) Refusetoattendgovernmentorsemigovernmentfunctions.
2) Havegradualwithdrawalofchildrenfromschoolsandcollegeswhichwerecontrolledby
thegovernment.
6
3) Refuseonthepastofmilitary,labourclassandclericalclasstoofferthemselvesasrecruits
inMesopotamia.
4) BoycottofBritishcourtbythelawyersandlitigants.
5) Boycottofforeigngoods.
6) BoycottoftheelectionstobeheldbythecouncilsaccordingtoIndiangovernmentActof
1919.
7) Surrenderofalltitlesandresignationfromnominatedseatsinlocalbodies.
8) People should establish schools, colleges and private arbitration courts all over India.
DevelopharmonybetweenHindusandMuslimsandattemptforemancipationofwomen
andtheremovaloftheuntouchablity.
9) TorevivehandweavingandhandspinningandpopularizeSwadeshi.
Thenoncooperationmovementwasbasedonperfectnonviolence.Gandhiregardeditnot
merelyapoliticalprogrammebutalsoasareligiousmovementtoclearIndianpoliticallifeof
corruption,terrorismandthefearofwhiterace.
Many distinguished persons like Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das, Lala Lajpat Rai, Rajendra
PrasadandNehrulefttheirpracticesandjoinedthemovement.Manystudentsgaveupthenational
institutionsandgovernmentcontrolledschoolsandcolleges.The swadeshi becomepopularand
Khadibecomeasymboloffreedom.Hugebonefiresofforeignclothswereorganizedalloverthe
country.TheTilakSwarajFundwasstartedtofinancethemovementandwithashorttimeover
acorerupeesweresubscribed.EventhevisitofthePrinceofWaleswasboycottedandacomplete
hartalwasobservedon17November,1921inBombaytoprotesthisarrival.
But,perhaps,themostsuccessfulitemoftheprogrammewastheboycottofforeign
cloth.Volunteerswouldgofromhousetohousecollectingclothesmadeofforeigncloth,andthe
8
entirecommunitywouldcollecttolightabonfireofthegoods
InthisconnectionGandhijimadehisstandclearbypointingout,InburningmyforeignclothesI
burnmyshame...mymodestyhaspreventedmefromdeclaringfromthehousetopthatthe
messageofnoncooperation,nonviolenceandSwadeshiisamassagetotheworldournon
7
cooperationiswiththesystemtheEnglishnorwiththewest.Ournoncooperationiswiththe
systemtheEnglishhaveestablished,withthematerialcivilizationanditsattendantgreedand
exploitation of the weak. Our noncooperation is a retirement within ourselves. Thus by
discardingandburningforeignclothes,Ganhijiwasattemptingtotransferthehatred,resentment,
animosity and illwill of the Indians against the British from man to things. As a substitute
Gandhijiemphasizedtowearonlyhandspunclothesandforthisthepeoplewereadvisedtospin
andwaves.LouisFischerwrites,Astheflamesatetheirwaythroughtheimportedfoods,Gandhi
would tell his audiences that they must not substitute Indian will products for foreign
manufactures,theymustlearntospinandweave.Gandhitooktospinninghalfanhouraday,
9
usuallybeforethemiddaymeal,andrequiredallhisassociatestodolikewise.
Eventsthathavehappenedduringthepastmonthhaveconfirmedmeintheopinionthatthe
imperialGovernmenthaveactedintheKhalifatmatterinanunscrupulous,immoral,andunjust
mannerandhavebeenmovingfromwrongtowronginordertodefendtheirimmorality.Ican
retainneitherrespectnoraffectionforsuchagovernment.
YourExcellencyslightheartedtreatmentofofficialcrime,yourexonerationofSirMichaelO
Dwyer,Mr.Montagusdispatch,andabovealltheshamefulignoranceofthePunjabeventsand
callousdisregardofthefeelingsofIndian,betrayedbytheHouseofLordshavefilledmewiththe
gravestmisgivingsregardingthefutureoftheEmpire,haveestrangedmecompletelyfromthe
present government and have disabled me from rendering as I have hithertowhole heartedly
tenderedmyloyalcooperation.
Inmyhumbleopiniontheordinarymethodofagitationbywayofpetitions,deputations,
andthelikeisnoremedyformovingtorepentanceaGovernmentsohopelesslyindifferenttothe
welfareofitsasthegovernmentofIndiahasprovedtobe.Incountriescondemnationofsuch
graciouswrongsasthePunjabwouldresultinabloodyrevolutionbythepeople.Theywouldhave
resisted,atallcosts,nationalemasculation.HalfofIndiaistooweaktoofferviolentresistance,
andtheotherhalfisunwillingtodoso.Ihave,thereforeventuredtosuggesttheremedyofnon
10
cooperation,whichenablesthosewhowishtodissociatethemselvesfromgovernment
8
However,inspiteofGandhisbestefforttokeepthemovementnonviolent,themovement
degeneratedintoviolenceatChauriChaurawhichforcedGandhitowithdrawthemovement.His
decisionwashighlycriticizedatthenationallevel.MatilalNehru,C.R.Das,JawaharlalNehru,
SubhasBoseandmanyothersrecordedtheirutterbewildermentonhearingthenews.Theycould
notunderstandwhythewholecountryhadtopaythepriceforthemisbehaviorofhandfulof
peopleinaremotevillage.ManypeopleinthecountrylostfaithonGandhisleadership.Marxist
historiographer Bipan Chandra observes the action of ChauriChaura was a symbol and an
indicationofthegrowingradicalization,oftheirwillingnesstolaunchanattackonthestatusquo
ofpropertyrelations.Frightenedbythisradicalpossibilityandbytheprospectofthemovement
goingoutofhishandsandintothehandsofradicalforces,andinordertoprotecttheinterestsof
the landlords and capitalists who would inevitably be at the receiving end of this violence,
11
Gandhijicriedhalttothemovement
ThirdPhraseofGandhisLeadershipinIndianFreedomStruggle:19301947
Thefreedomstruggleinthenineteenthirtiestookmanystepsforward.Thedecadestarted
withtheSecondnoncooperationmovementunderGandhisleadership.Theterroristactivities
gavegreatimpetustothefreedomstruggle.TheGovernmentfelttheneedofafreshreviewofthe
politicalsituationinIndia.In1927A.D.,itappointedacommissionunderthechairmanshipofSir
SimontoreviewtheprogressmadebytheIndiansaftertheimplementationofthereformsof1919
A.D.andtorecommendmeasuresforfurtherconstitutionalchangesinthecountry.TheCongress
decidedtoboycottcommission.Demonstrations,blackflagsandloudslogansofGoBackSimon
greetedthecommissionwheneveritwent.
WhiletheSimonCommissionwascarryingonitsworkwithoutanyregardfortheIndian
publicopinion,theleadingIndianpoliticalpartiesweretryingtolaydownacommonpolitical
programme.InFebruary1928A.DanallpartiesConferenceappointedaCommitteeunderthe
chairmanshipofMotilalNehrutodecidethequestionofframingaConstitutionforIndia.The
CommitteepreparedareportwhichlaiddowndominionstatusasIndiaspoliticalobjective.
OnDecember25,1929,the44thsessionofIndianNationalCongresswasheldatLahore
underthepresidentshipofJawaharlalNehru.BythistimealltheCongressleaderswereconvinced
thattheBritishgovernmentwouldnotgrantSwarajtoIndiatillitwasforcedtodoso.
9
ItwasduringthissessionthataresolutionforcompleteindependencewaspassedonDecember
31,1929andthenewlyadoptedtricolourflagofindependencewashosted.OnJanuary26,1930,
thefirstIndependenceDaycelebrationswereheldatdifferentplaces.TheLahoresessiongavethe
wholecountryanewhope.TheLahoreCongressof1929hadauthorizedtheworkingcommittee
tolaunchaprogrammeofcivildisobedienceincludingnonpaymentoftaxes.Ithadalsocalled
upon all members of legislatures to resign their seats. In midFebruary, 1930, the working
committeeentrustedGandhiwiththeresponsibilitytolaunchtheCivilDisobediencemovement.
GandhiwantedtogiveachancetotheGovernmentbeforeembarkingonsuchabigmovement.
However,beforetheactuallaunching,accordingtothetheoryofnonviolence,Gandhiintendedto
makeacompromisewiththeBritishaswellastotestthemtorelinquishthepower.Forthis
purpose he put forward eleven points demands to be fulfilled immediately by the British
Government,whichaccordingtoGandhiwerethesubstanceofindependence.Lettheviceroy
satisfytheseverysimplebutvirtualneedsofIndia.Hewillthenhearnotalkofcivildisobedience,
and the congress will hearty participate in any conference where there is perfect freedom of
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expressionanddemand .TheelevenpointsputforwardbyGandhiweredesignedtorootoutthe
majorevilsofthefoundationofstructuralviolenceestablishedandpracticedbytheBritishRaj.
These included, Reduction of land revenue to at least 50 per cent and making it subject to
legislativecontrol;Abolitionofthesalttax;reductionofsalariesofthehighergradeservicetoone
halforlesssoastosuitthereducedrevenue;protectivetariffonforeigncloth;Thepassageofthe
costalTrafficonforeigncloth,thepassageoftheCostaltrafficReservationBill;Dischargeofall
politicalprisoners,savethosecondemnedformurderoftheattemptthreatbytheordinaryJudicial
tribunal,withdrawalofallpoliticalprosecutions;abrogationofsection124A;theRegulationof
1818andthelikeandpermissiontoalltheIndianexilestoreturn;AbolitionofC.I.D.orits
13
popularcontrol;issueoflicensestousefirearmsforselfdefensesubjecttopopularcontrol.
Howeverthistime,havinglearntfromthepastexperiences,hemadeafewadjustmentsinhisnon
violenttheoryandactioninordertogainmaximumsupportfromIndianmasses.Gandhideclared,
Those,whoholdnonviolencefortheattainmentoffreedomasanarticleoffaith,areinnoway
superiortothosewithwhomitisamerepolicy,evenasthereisnosuchinequalitybetweenbrown
14
menandyellowmen
1
0
GandhiwasmoreconcernedwiththeinternalreformoftheIndiansocietythanwiththe
expulsion of the Britishers fromIndia. The colonial and imperial considerations and interests
forcedtheviceroyLordIrwintoignoretheElevenpointsputforwardedbyGandhi.Andthus
15
GandhiwasleftnoalternativeotherthanthelaunchingoftheCivilDisobedienceMovement.
Thepeoplewereaskedtodefythelawsandordersofthegovernmentwithoutresolvingtoviolent
means.MahatmaGandhiledthemovement.Headoptedaquitenewandeffectivemethodtofight
thegovernment.OnMarch11,1930A.D.afterpreviousnoticetotheviceroy,Gandhijialongwith
his79selectedandtrustedfollowersstartedfromSabarmatiAshram(Ahmedabad)toDandia
villageontheseacoastofGujrat,320kmsaway.Theobjectofhismarchwastodisobeythesalt
lawsbypicking,uplumpsofnaturalsaltontheDandicoast.Saltisthemostnecessaryarticleof
thecommonmansfood.Thegovernmenthaddoubledthedutyonthesaltandalsopreventedthe
makingofsaltfromseawater.Girlsandladiesformaristocraticfamiliesandfromfamilieswhere
16
purdahhadbeenobservedcameoutintothestreetstodemonstrate. Gandhiandhisfollowers
th
reachedDandionApril5.Onthemorningof6
April, he violated the salt laws which signaled the beginning of countrywide waves of civil
disobedience.Violationoflaws,nonpaymentoftaxes,boycottofforeignproducts,massstrikes
anddemonstrationsshookthewholecountry.Foreigngoodsandclothwereburntatpublicplaces.
Thegovernment,asbefore,attemptedtocrushthemovementthroughruthlesssuppression,lathi
chargesandfiringonunarmedcrowdofmenandwomen.GandhicondemnedtheGovernments
barbarousandbrutalrepressionofthecivilresistersofthenonviolentstruggleanddescribedthe
GovernmentsrepressionasGondaRajandveiledfromofMartial
17
Law
InordertoshowfurthernonviolentstrengthinthefaceofgovernmentbrutalitiesGandhi
decidedtoorganizethepeacefulandnonviolentraidsonthesaltdepotsatDharasana,successful
inexposingtheviolenceoftheGovernmentandownthesympathyofthepeopleinalloverthe
world.ThebraveSatyagrahisbecamethesourceofinspirationfortherestofthepeopleofallover
India.ThecongressworkingcommitteemetandpassedanimportantresolutioninvestingGandhi
th
withthepowerstonegotiateasettlementinthenameofthecongress.Atlaston17
February1931,GandhiandLordIrwinstartedtalkswhichculminatedinthefamousGandhiIrwin
PactortheDelhiPactwhichresultedinthepostponementoftheCivilDisobedience
1
1
Movementforthetimebeing.Finally,inMarch1931A.D.LordIrwinandGandhireachedall
politicalprisonersexceptthoseconvictedofviolentcrimesreleased.Gandhionhissideagreedto
withdrawtheCivilDisobedienceMovementandstoodfortheparticipationoftheRoundTable
Conference.
GandhiwenttoEnglandinSeptember1931,toattendsecondRoundTableConferenceas
thesolerepresentativeoftheCongress.Gandhiemphaticallydemandedthegrantofdominion
statusatonce.Asregards,theMuslimdemandforseparateelectorates,MahatmaGandhimadeit
clearthatframingaConstitutionshouldhaveprecedenceoverthecommunalproblem.TheBritish
Governmentrefusedtoacceptthebasicdemandforfreedomonthebasisofimmediategrantof
Dominionstatus.TheConferencebrokedownandMahatmaGandhireturnedtoIndia.
SincetheIndiandelegatesattheSecondRoundTableConferencefailedtoarriveatasettlement
ontheCommunalissue,theBritishPrimeMinister,RamasayMacdonaldannouncedhisschemeof
minorityrepresentationknownastheCommunalAward.Accordingtothisscheme,besidesthe
Muslims,theschemegaveseparaterepresentationtotheIndianChristiansandEuropeans.
TheseparationofthescheduledcastefromtheHinduswasabombshellforMahatmaGandhi.To
protestagainstthecommunalAward,hebeganhisfastuntodeath.TheGovernmentdidnotcareto
savehislifeoraccepthisdemand.TheconditionofM.Gandhibegantodeteriorate.TheIndian
leaderscouldnotremainindifferenttotheproblemscreatedbytheAward.Ultimately,aftermuch
deliberation,theyreachedanargumentwhichiscalledthePoonapact.Accordingtoit,seatswere
reservedforthescheduledcastesbuttheirelectionwastobethroughthegeneralelectoratefroma
penalofnameschosenbytheminaprimaryelection.
The congress called upon the nation to resume the civil Disobedience Movement. The new
GovernorGeneral,LordWillingtonlauncheduponapolicyofunprecedentedrepressiontocrush
the congress. Gandhi and other prominent congress leader were arrested and the party was
declaredasillegalbody.Policeactionsurpassedevenitsownpastrecordsofshame.Itindulgedin
wakedterrorandcommittedinnumerableatrocitiesonthefreedomfighters.
Gradually, the civil Disobedience Movement began to show signs of decay. Gandhi
officiallyendedtheMovementinMay1931A.D.
1
2
rd th
TheBritishGovernmentheld3 RoundTableConferenceatLondonfrom17 Nov.to
th
24 December1932tosolvethisconstitutionalproblemofIndia.Thecongressdidnotparticipate
in this conference. On the basis of the decision taken at the three conferences the Br. Govt.
publishedawhitepaperinMarch1933.Ajointparliamentarycommitteeofboththehousesofthe
BritishParliamentdeliberatesonthewhitepaper.Onthebasisofreportofthiscommitteeabill
waspassedintheBritishParliamentwhichisknownandtheGovernmentofIndiaAct.1935.
In1940A.D.thepositionofBritaininthewarbegantodeteriorate.Itappealedtothepeopleof
st
India to help them in fighting the war. On 1 June, Mahatma Gandhi offered the help the
Governmentoftwoconditions:
1. IndependenceasthegoalofIndiawasdeclared.
2. AprovisionalGovernmentcomprisingvariouspartiessetupinthecountry.
In August 1940 A.D. Lord Linlithgow, the viceroy of India, after consultations with all the
politicalpartiesofIndia,onbehalfoftheBritishGovernment,issuedastatementknownasAugust
offer. The Congress rejected the August Offer, because it made mere promises of some
concessionsinthefuture.InordertomaketheBritishrealizethatIndianswerenotwillingto
cooperatewithitinitswareffort,GandhistartedindividualSatyagraha.
AfterthefailureoftheAugustoffer,1940,theCongressrealizedthatitwasnecessarytotake
someactionintheformofprotestagainsttheBritishattitudetowardsIndianproblem.Gandhidid
not approve, and being a true believer innonviolence he approved the ideaof launchingan
extensiveantiwarmovement.HedidnotliketoembarrasstheBritishwhowereengagedinalife
anddeathstruggle.However,toregisteramoralprotestagainsttheBritishattitude,hethought
Satyagrahaasthebestcourseofaction.Accordingtothisnewprogramme,themenandwomenof
IndiaweretoprotestindividuallyagainstdraggingIndiaintothewarandthegovernmentalattack
ontherightofspeech.Theyweretodisasociatethemselvesfromthewareffortpubliclyandcourt
arrest. Vinoba Bhave was given the single honour of being selected as the first individual
satyagrahi. The man so selected was to give a notice to the district authorities, stating their
intentiontoaskthepeoplenottohelpinthewarefforts.Thegovernmentrigidlycontrolledthe
movementanditwasnotallowedtotaketheshapeofamassmovement.ButonDecember7,
1941,JapanenteredthewaragainsttheAlliesandIndianwasnowinimmediate
1
3
danger.Itwasunderthesecircumstancesthattheworkingcommitteeofthecongressfeltagreat
concernoverthesafetyofIndiaanddecidedtosuspendtheindividualsatyagraha.
Bytheendoftheyear1941A.D.,thewaralsospreadtothesouthEastAsia.Butwhenthe
JapaneseinvadedBurmaandoccupiedRangoononMarch8,1942A.D.,theBritishGovernment
earnestlywantedcooperationofIndiansintheirwarefforts.TheGovernmentdeclaredIndiatobe
belligerent nation against the Axis Powers without consulting the Congress or the elected
18
membersofthecentralLegislature. InordertoeffectanamicablesettlementwiththeIndian
politicalleaders,theBritishGovernmentsenttoIndiainMarch1942A.D.,amissionunderSir
StaffordCripps.
The Cripps proposals constituted a serious attempt of the British Government to satisfy the
differentpoliticalpartiesofIndia.TheproposalsmarkedanappreciableadvanceupontheAugust
offerandweremoreconcreteandpreciseinnature.Butallthesechangerweretobeintroduced
aftertheterminationofthewar.TheCongressandtheotherpoliticalpartiesrejectedtheproposals
ononeontheotherground.TheproposalssowedtheseedsofthepartitionofIndia
ThefailureofCrippsMissionledtowidespreaddisappointmentandangerinthecountry.
ThecongressnowdecidedtointensifythestruggletocompeltheBritishtoacceptIndiandemand
forindependence.TheAllIndiaCongressCommitteemetonAugust1942A.D.andplanedthe
famousQuitIndiaResolutionanddecidedtolaunchamanstruggleonnonviolentlinestoachieve
independenceunderGandhisleadership.
TheGovernmentarrestedGandhionAugust1942.Atthetimeofhisarrest,Gandhijigavean
instructiontothecivilresistersLeteverynonviolentsoldiersoffreedomwriteoutDoorDie
onapieceofpaperorclothandstickitonhiscloths,sothatincasehediedinthecourseof
offeringSatyagraha,hemightbedistinguishedbythatsignfromotherelements.
The movement soon took the form of a violent outbreak, which included cutting of
telegraphwires,damagingrailwaylinesandburningofgovernmentbuildings.TheGovernment
madeadeterminedbidtocrushthemovementasquicklyaspossible.Besidesnormalrepressive
measures,theGovernmentrestoredtomachinegunsandaerialfiring.Themilitarytookovermany
townsandcities.Peopleweresubjectedtoinhumantreatmentandprisonersweretortured.Itis
estimatedthatover10,000peoplewerekilledinpoliceandmilitaryfirings.Inaboutthreemonths,
thegovernmentsucceededincrushingtheuprising.
1
4
After a long sacrifices committed by our national leaders as well as common masses, India
th
achievedherindependenceon15 ofAugust,1947,alonghistoryoffreedomstruggleofIndia
cometoasuccessfulending,butfreedomwithpartitionofHindusandMuslimsofIndiannation
intotwoseparatenations.WhataboutGandhijisreactiontowardsthisnewdevelopment,theman
whofoughtforHinduMuslimbrotherhoodalmostforhiswholeperiod.Gandhisunhappinessand
helplessnesshaveoftenisbeingpointedout.Hisinactionhavebeenexplainedintermsofhis
forcedisolationfromtheCongressdecisionmakingcouncilsandhisinabilitytocondemnhis
disciples,NehruandPatel,forhavingsuccumbedtothelustforpower,astheyhadfollowedhim
19
faithfullyformanyyears,atgreatpersonalsacrifice.
BipanChandraobserves,therootofGandhijishelplessnesswasneitherJinahsintransigencenor
hisdisciplesallegedlustforpower,butthecommunalizationofhispeople.Athisprayermeeting
th
on4 June1947heacceptedpartitionbecausethepeoplewantedit:thedemandhasbeengranted
becauseyouaskedforit.TheCongressneveraskedforitButtheCongresscanfeelthepulseof
20
thepeople.ItrealizedthattheKhalsaasalsotheHindusdesiredit.
CriticalunderstandingofGandhisleadership
IndiannationalismachieveditshighestpeakunderGandhisleadership.Nodoubtitwashe,who
organizedthemovementonmassbasis.ThetextureofGandhisconsciousnesswasessentially
bourgeoisand,therefore,hisnationalismwasgovernedbyabourgeoisclassoutlook.Whatdoes
thissignify?ItmeansthathisconceptionsofImperialism,ofstruggleagainstImperialism,ofthe
21
methodsofthatstruggleofnationalindependence,weredeterminedbythatclassoutlook.
Gandhifeltconvincedthatahappyprosperousnationalexistencecouldbebuiltuponthebasisof
a capitalist social system. This was due to the class limitation of his world outlook. Indian
capitalismwasnotayoungcapitalismwithaprosperousfutureinfrontofit.Itwasafeeblepartof
thedecliningworldcapitalism.Gandhi,however,duetoclassinhibition,wasunabletotranscend
thebourgeoisoutlookandthereforewasunabletoseethesocialrootsofwars,exploitationand
oppressionandattributedthemtomansweakethicalnature.
ThoughGandhiwasananticommunalist parexcellence andthestruggledforachievingHindu

Muslimunity,butintragicreality,theHinduMuslimantagonism,insteadofdecreasing,became
1
5
accentuatedfromstagetostage.Thiswashisinabilitytotracethesociohistoricalgenesisofthat
antagonism.
ThenationalistmovementledbyGandhiandgovernedbyGandhianideologiesthusbecamea
peculiarblendofboldadvancesfollowedbysuddenandcapricioushalts,challengessucceededby
unwarrantedcompromises,resultinginuncertainties,confusionandbefoggingofperspectiveof
the masses. This, paradoxically, strengthened the very reactionary tendencies which Gandhi
wantedtoeliminate.
Conclusion: Gandhi was having an unflinching and unshakable faith in the theory of non
violence.Forhiswholelife,bothinSouthAfricaaswellasinIndia,hepreachedandpracticedthe
theoryofnonviolence,notasapolicybutasaprinciple,asaconvictionandcreed.Nonviolence
wasthefirstarticleofhisfaithanditwasalsothelastarticleofhiscreed.Thoughhewasnotthe
pioneerofthedoctrineofnonviolence,butheiscreditedwithredefiningthephilosophyofnon
violence. Gandhi evolved and developed a powerful nonviolent method, giving it the name
Satyagraha.GandhidefinedSatyagrahaasaNonviolentforceorTruthforceorLoveforceor
MoralforceorSpiritualforceandstrengthtoadoptandapplyitineveryfieldoflife.
ChamparanSatyagrahalaidthefoundationstoneofGandhisfutureleadershipatallIndialevel
whichwagedaconsistentandlongmoralandnonviolentwarfaretomakeIndiafreefromthe
Britishimperialismandcolonialism.LikeChamparanSatyagraha,thesuccessesofAhmedabad
SatyagrahaandKhedaSatyagrahafurtherstrengthenedthepeoplesconfidenceinGandhistheory
ofnonviolenceandhisnonviolentmethodofSatyagraha.Throughthesuccessfulapplicationof
thesethreeSatyagraha,Gandhisucceededinawakeningthepeopletouniteagainsttheinjustices,
evilsandexploitationscommittedeitherbytheIndianpeopleortheBritishers.Gandhienteredthe
Congressandassumedthenationalleadershipenjoyingthesupportandfulfillingtheaspirationsof
boththeMuslimsandHindusandthereby,buildingupastrongmoralpressureontheBritish
GovernmenttopaytothedemandsoftheIndianpeople.
ThepartitionofIndiaandtheattentionHinduMuslimcommunalriots,bothbeforeand
afterthedivisionoftheCountryprovidedaheavyblowtothenonviolenteffortsofGandhito
1
6
keepIndiaandtheHindusandMuslimsunited.Buteveninthedarkestperiodofcommunal
frenzy,Gandhididnotlosehisfaithandconfidenceinhistheoryandpracticeofnonviolence.He
foughtnonviolentlyandsucceededinunitingtheHindusandMuslimsandtherebyestablishing
communalharmonyandpeaceinachievingIndianindependence.
NotesandReferences:
1
Gandhi,CW,Vol.XIV.339
2
M.K.Gandhi,AnAutobiographyORtheStoryofMyExperimentswithTruth,
th
Ahmedabad,14 Reprint,firstpublishedin1927and1929,pp.3656
3
BipanChandraandOthers,Indiasstruggleforindependencep181
4
Ibid,p181
5
Ibid,p183
6
7BipanChandra,AmalesTripathi,BarunDe,FreedomStruggle,p126
Gandhi,CW,Vol.XVII.p.504
8
B.Chandraandothers,Indiasstruggleforindependence,PenguinBooks,Delhi,pp.185
86.
9
LouisFischer,ThelifeofMahatamGandhi,p192.
10
QuotedbyK.Gopalaswami,GandhiandBombay,pp.107108
11
B.Chandraandothers,IndiasstruggleforIndependence,p192
12
TheCWMG,Vol.42,1970,p434
13
Ibid,p434
14
Ibid,p481
15
Ibid
16
LouisFischer,ThelifeofMahatmaGandhi,HarperandBrothers,NewYork,pp26971
17
TheCWMG,Vol.43,p363/391
18
B.Chandraandothers,Indiasstruggleforindependence,PenguinBooks,Delhi,p448
19
BimalPrasad,Gandhi,NehruandJ.P.StudiesinLeadership,Delhi,1985;Sandhya
Chaudhuri,GandhiandPartitionofIndia,NewDelhi,1984,SumitSarkar,ModernIndia
20
Gandhi,CW,Vol.88,p.75.
21
A.R.Desai,SocialBackgroundofIndianNationalism,p346
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Gandhi S Role in Indian Freedom Struggle A Critical Understanding

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The GujratSabha, ofwhichGandhiwasthepresident,playedaleadingroleintheagitation.

ThoughGandhiwasananticommunalist parexcellence andthestruggledforachievingHindu

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