Transcript Mohan Dass Karamchand Gandhi

Mohandas
Karamchand Gandhi
Childhood to Assassination
(1869-1948)
PREPARED BY-----BHUPINDER SAWHNEY
About Gandhi ji
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Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was undoubtedly one of the greatest spiritual and
political figures of all times. He entered the troubled scenario of the Indian Nationalist
movement against the British colonialist rule in the early 1900s and immediately shot
to fame with his non-violent modes of civilian resistance. His spiritual beliefs
revolutionized all aspects of the Indian life
Gandhi's ideologies made a deep impression on the minds of thinkers as well as the
common people across the globe and he soon became one of the most revered
personalities of the modern world. His countrymen graced him with the sobriquet
(title) of the 'Mahatma' or the great soul, a name by which he became known to his
millions of countrymen. He was also referred to as 'Bapu' or the 'father' by his
thousands of admirers who looked up to him for inspiration guidance. His life was a
living example of piety and simplicity. His works became an inspiration to millions,
and his mission became an ideal to follow.
Gandhi was the founder of satyagraha, a mode of non-violent resistance based on
ethical and moral strength, against aggressive and armed revolutions that
characterized political endeavors till then. It was the beginning of a new era, a new
guiding light in the world.
Gandhi at the age of seven
Childhood and Early Years
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M.K. Gandhi was born on 2nd October, 1869 at Porbandar in the state of Gujarat of
India. Right from his early years, his sensitive mind was often stormed by various
moral and ethical questions. In his autobiography, Gandhi has put down in detail the
various spiritual and moral questions that troubled his young mind. Committed
towards leading a meaningful life right from his early years, Gandhi was disturbed by
the condition of the poor and the deprived. His studies of various religious and
philosophical works also helped him to develop a unique and individualistic view of
the world, which although at its nascent stage, would finally reach maturity in later
years.
However, in the early years, there was nothing in Gandhi's life that would portend
the great things that would follow. Being married at a tender age of 13 to Kasturba
Bai, Gandhi sired four children. Gandhi left for his legal studies to London in 1891
and stayed there for two years. Soon after his return to India, Gandhi left for South
Africa for a one year contractual legal job. The incidents there changed his life for
ever, shaping and strengthening him for the great endeavors that he would
undertake in the later part of his life.
Gandhi in South Africa
(1893-1915)
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Experiences in South Africa changed Gandhi's life for ever. Gandhi in 1893, on his
arrival at South Africa, was already well versed in various theologies and
philosophies. Ruskin, Tolstoy and Thorough, with their theories of passive
resistance, were particularly strong influences on him. He was pained by the
treatment that was meted out to the Indians in South Africa by the British authorities.
However, history has shown us that it always takes the immediacy of some
momentous incident to finally bring into light what has been latent for a long time.
For Gandhi, it happened at Petermaritzberg. Gandhi where he was traveling on a
first class compartment with a valid ticket when he was asked by some British train
officials and passengers to move to the third class. On refusing to do so, he was
thrown out of the train. This changed Gandhi's life. He initiated an organized
resistance against the British rule with the Indians settled in South Africa .He was
instrumental in establishment of natal congress in 1894 & Transvaal British Indian
association in 1903. He pioneered a movement for acquiring voting rights for the
Indians living there. It was during this movement that Gandhi introduced the idea of
the satyagraha, a spiritual ideology based on non-violence and commitment to truth,
with clear political connotations - as the guiding principle of his political activism. This
non-violent mode of civilian resistance was hardly employed before, if not altogether
unheard of. Gandhi met with exemplary success with his satyagraha in South Africa.
Soon after that, his period of stay in South Africa came to a close and he returned to
India in 1915.
Gandhi as a barrister in South
Africa
Gandhi with the Indian Ambulance Corps during
the Boer War
Gandhi and the
Indian Struggle for
Freedom
(1915-1948)
Gandhi and Kasturba on their return to
India, January 1915
Return to India , Jan 1915
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When Gandhi returned to India in the year 1915, he did not directly enter
the political scenario, following the advice of his political mentor Gopal
Krishna Gokhle. However, in the period between 1917 and 18, he rendered
leadership to some local disputes and thus rose to prominence. He
supported the cause of the oppressed cultivators of Champaran district of
Bihar against the unbearable exploitation of the indigo farmers of the region
, associated himself with the campaign of the peasants of the Kheda district
in Gujarat and also backed the textile workers of Ahmedabad, who were
fighting for their wages.
During this phase, Gandhi was loyal to the colonial government and even
volunteered for the recruitment of soldiers to fight on behalf of the English,
during the First World War. However, the Gandhi's role as a co-operator of
the British government did not last long. The Rowlatt Act, followed by the
Jallianwallah Bagh massacre and the Khilafat issue embittered Gandhi's
feelings towards the British government. Gandhi stance changed to that of
a non-co-operator of the British government and he soon after launched
the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Major Movements Fought under
leadership of Gandhi ji
Three important milestones of India's pre independence history
The Non-Cooperation Movement
(1920)
Civil Disobedience Movement
(1930)
The Quit India Movement
(1942)
Satyagraha or passive civilian resistance and ahimsa or non violence
was the unique weapons of Indian National Movements.
Non-Cooperation
Movement
(Aug 1920-22)
Non-Cooperation Movement
Gandhi urged the Congress to launch a NonCooperation Movement on three issues
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Redressal of the wrongs committed in Punjab that
entailed the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the
atrocities related to the marital laws
Khilafat Issue.
Accomplishment of swaraj.
Non-Cooperation Movement
Program & policy
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Promotion of swadeshi and boycott of foreign made
articles
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Surrender of honorary posts and titles
Rejection of official Durbars
Progressive rejection by lawyers of British courts
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Boycott of elections appointing new Councils
Boycott of Government run and state assisted schools
Promotion of khadi
Result of Non-Cooperation Movement
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In contradiction to the approach of non violence championed
by Mahatma Gandhi, the Non-Cooperation Movement
sparked off an incident of mob violence in Chauri Chaura in
the United Provinces. A few police constables were killed,
following an attack of a police outpost on February 5th, 1922.
Disillusioned by this incident, Gandhi called for the
suspension of the movement in 1922.
Gandhi ji return all the medals he had received in recognition
of his war services from the British government (Kaiser-IHind" gold medal ).
Non-cooperation Movement
Non-cooperation Movement
• Gandhi's arrest in 1922 immediately after
suspension of non cooperation movement
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Gandhi returned from a brief hibernation following
his imprisonment & launch the Civil Disobedience
movement in 1930 (Defying government orders )
Civil Disobedience
Movement
(1930-34)
Factor leading to
Civil Disobedience Movement
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Accused of being an 'All-White Commission', the Simon
Commission was rejected by all political and social segments of the
country .
Demand for status of dominion .
Demand for release of the political prisoners .
Holding the suggested Round Table Conference for reflecting on
the problems regarding the constitution of the country.
But None of the efforts made by the Congress received
any favorable response from the British government &
Gandhi ji decided to launch Civil disobedience
movement
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Gandhi inaugurated The Civil Disobedience Movement by
conducting the historic Dandi Salt March, where he broke the Salt
Laws imposed by the British Government. On 6th April 1930,
Gandhi with the accompaniment of seventy nine satyagrahis,
violated the Salt Law by picking up a fistful of salt lying on the sea
shore. They manually made salt on the shores of Dandi. The entire
nation amalgamated under the call of a single man, Mahatma
Gandhi . Dandi Salt March had an immense impact on the entire
nation. Each and every corner of the country was gripped in a
unique fervor of nationalism
Civil Disobedience Movement
Program & policy (1930)
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Breaking of the Salt Laws.
Picketing of shops selling foreign goods and
liquor.
Bonfire of foreign cloths.
Refusal to pay taxes.
Avoidance of offices by the public officers and
Schools by the students.
Result of Civil Disobedience
Movement
Garndhi-Irwin Pact
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In the March of 1930, Gandhi met with the Viceroy, Lord Irwin and signed
an agreement known as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. The two main clauses of
the pact entailed; Congress participation in the Round Table Conference
and cessation of The Civil Disobedience Movement. The Government of
India released all satyagrahis from prison
Gandhi attended The Second Round Table Conference in London
accompanied by Smt. Sarojini Naidu . The Second Round Table
Conference proved to be futile for the Indians and Gandhi returned to the
country without any positive result. The political scene in India thereafter
assumed an acute dimension. The Viceroy, Lord Willingdon, in the
absence of Gandhi, adopted the policy of repression. The Gandhi-Irwin
Pact was violated and the Viceroy took to the suppression of the Congress
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Gandhi resumed the movement in January 1932 & it lasted for six moths.
Sardar Patel, the President of Congress and Gandhi were arrested, along
with other Congressmen . The Civil Disobedience Movement was
suspended, when Mahatma Gandhi withdrew mass satyagraha on July
14th 1933. The movement ceased completely on April 7th 1934.
Although The Civil Disobedience Movement failed to achieve any positive
outcome, it was an important juncture in the history of Indian
independence. The leadership of Mahatma Gandhi had a beneficial impact.
Gandhi ji speech during Civil
Disobedience Movement
Dandi yatra
End of Dandi yatra
Quit India Movement
Quit India Movement
(Factors)
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In 1939, with the outbreak of war between Germany and Britain,
India was announced to be a party to the war for being a constituent
component of the British Empire & congress criticized the decision
as taken without Indian consent.
The Cripps' Mission and its failure also played an important role in
Gandhi's call for The Quit India Movement
British government on 22nd March, 1942, sent Sir Stafford Cripps
to talk terms with the Indian political parties and secure their
support in Britain's war efforts. A Draft Declaration of the British
Government was presented, which included terms like
establishment of Dominion, establishment of a Constituent . These
would be, however, granted after the cessation of the Second
World War. According to the Congress this Declaration only offered
India a promise that was to be fulfilled in the future. Commenting on
this Gandhi said; "It is a post dated cheque on a crashing bank."
Gandhi's Call for Quit India
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The Quit India Movement, inaugurated at the call of the Mahatma, unfolded
in four phases. In the first phase there were strikes, processions,
demonstrations and processions. This phase lasted for a period of three to
four days and commenced from the day of Gandhi's arrest on August 9th ,
1942. The factory and mill workers rose to the cause and displayed
maximum vigor and enthusiasm. The government took recourse to
repressive measures to subdue the movement.
Raids of municipal and government buildings characterized the second
phase of the movement. Police stations, post offices and railway stations
were attacked and set ablaze. Attempts were made by the agitated mobs
to capture court buildings. Troops fired to control mob fury. September
1942, marks the beginning of the third phase of the movement. It is said
that during this phase of the movement, the mob threw bombs on the
police in Madhya Pradesh, Bombay and Uttar Pradesh. With the
emergence of the movement into the fourth phase, it gained back its
peaceful character and extended till Mahatma Gandhi was released from
prison in May, 1944.
Towards Independence
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August 1946 Viceroy of India announces invitation to Congress to
form Provisional Government; Gandhi opposes partition of India
June 1947 Indian leaders accept Mountbatten partition plan;
Gandhi opposes it.
July 1947 Independence of India Bill passed
August 14, 1947 Gandhi hails August 15 as a day for rejoicing for
the independence of India but deplores the division of the country
January 12, 1948 Gandhi begins fast for communal peace in Delhi.
January 18,1948 Gandhi ends fast after communal harmony is
assured when antagonistic parties came to a common platform to
settle the differences
Assassination of Gandhi
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The political turmoil in India continued long after the Independence
was granted to India. Great degree of migration followed the
partition and riots were rampant on both sides of the border. It was
a virtual nightmare for Gandhi who earnestly believed in secularism
all through his life, and earnestly hoped that the Hindus and the
Muslims of India would stay side by side as brothers and sisters. He
travelled across the riot-ridden country trying to spread the
message of peace and brotherhood, but with little success. The
independence that came at the cost of partition was summarily
unacceptable to him.
But Gandhi had to pay the price with his life. He became the martyr
for ideals, when Nathuram Godse, an assassin with radical Hindu
fundamentalist ideology, assassinated him at a prayer meeting in
Delhi on 30th January, 1948. A pall of gloom enveloped the
country after the incident. Despite his bodily death, the legacy of
Gandhi's ideals stayed on as India marched bravely on through its
new era of independence.
Place where Gandhi ji shot dead
Emergence of Gandhi as the Father of
the Nation
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Gandhi ji in the hearts of millions of Indians as The Father of the Nation, for
the path breaking role that he played not in the Indian struggle for
independence but for moulding the national character and the lives of the
Indians alike. At a time when the fabric of the Indian society was tearing
apart, he accomplished the Herculean task of unifying the nation.
Confronted with diverse political ideologies like hard line extremism, the
moderate approach and the newly emerging communist forces .The
confused Indians found solace in the simple philosophies of Gandhi. He
worked hard for the upliftment of the dalits and gave them a new identity.
Women, under his Support, found back their long lost confidence and
actively participated in the tasks of national cause. As a visionary, he
realized right at the onset that the real strength of India lies in communal
harmony and brotherhood.
Thus, the emergence of Gandhi, as a national leader, as a humanist, as a
visionary, as a social and political reformer and most importantly as a
spiritual leader has been critically instrumental in shaping a new India,
firmly rooted in its historical past and at the same time welcoming the
progressive trends of modernity.
Thanks