Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement (1915-1948)

1. A Leader Announces Himself

Gandhi's Return to India (1915)

After spending two decades in South Africa (1893-1915), Gandhi returned to India. South Africa was crucial in shaping Gandhi's philosophy and techniques:

• Developed satyagraha (non-violent protest)
• Promoted religious harmony
• Highlighted discrimination against lower castes and women

Political Situation in India (1915)

India had become more politically active since Gandhi left in 1893:

• Indian National Congress had expanded with branches in major cities
• Swadeshi Movement (1905-07) had broadened Congress's appeal
• Emergence of militant leaders ("Lal, Bal, Pal"):
  • Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Maharashtra)
  • Bipin Chandra Pal (Bengal)
  • Lala Lajpat Rai (Punjab)
• Moderates like Gopal Krishna Gokhale (Gandhi's mentor) and Mohammad Ali Jinnah preferred gradual approach

Banaras Hindu University Speech (February 1916)

Gandhi's first major public appearance where he:

• Criticized Indian elite for neglecting the poor
• Stated salvation for India would come through farmers, not lawyers or landlords
• Announced his intent to make nationalism more representative of all Indians

Champaran Movement (1917)

Gandhi's first major intervention in Indian politics:

• Peasants in Bihar were being exploited by British indigo planters
• Gandhi spent much of 1917 in Champaran fighting for peasants' rights

2. The Making and Unmaking of Non-Cooperation

Early Campaigns (1918)

• Ahmedabad: Labor dispute for better working conditions for textile workers
• Kheda: Peasant movement demanding tax remission after crop failure

Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919)

Protest against the Rowlatt Act which continued wartime measures:

• Countrywide protests with shops and schools closed
• Intense protests in Punjab where many had served in WWI
• Led to Jallianwala Bagh massacre (April 1919) where British troops fired on nationalist meeting, killing 400+

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22)

Gandhi called for:

• Boycott of schools, colleges, law courts
• Non-payment of taxes
• Renunciation of all voluntary association with British government

Joined with Khilafat Movement to unite Hindus and Muslims.

Impact of Non-Cooperation Movement

• 396 strikes involving 600,000 workers in 1921
• Peasant protests across India
• Movement called off after Chauri Chaura incident (February 1922) when protesters burned police station

Gandhi as a People's Leader

By 1922, Gandhi had transformed Indian nationalism:

• Movement now included peasants, workers, and artisans
• Identified with common people through simple dress (dhoti) and use of charkha
• Viewed as "Mahatma" with miraculous powers by rural population
• Expanded Congress organization with new branches and Praja Mandals
• Support from both poor peasants and rich industrialists like G.D. Birla

3. The Salt Satyagraha - A Case Study

Background

• After years of social reform work, Gandhi re-entered politics in 1928
• 1929 Lahore Congress:
  • Jawaharlal Nehru elected President
  • Proclamation of "Purna Swaraj" (complete independence)
• January 26, 1930 observed as Independence Day

Dandi March (March-April 1930)

Gandhi led march to break salt laws which:

• Gave British monopoly on salt manufacture and sale
• Affected every Indian household
• Symbolized wider discontent against British rule

Gandhi walked from Sabarmati to Dandi (240 miles over 24 days) and made salt, becoming a criminal in British eyes.

Impact of Salt Satyagraha

• First brought Gandhi to world attention
• First nationalist activity with large-scale women participation
• Forced British to realize their rule wouldn't last forever
• 60,000 Indians arrested including Gandhi

Gandhi-Irwin Pact (March 1931)

After being released from jail, Gandhi negotiated with Viceroy Irwin:

• Civil disobedience called off
• Prisoners released
• Salt manufacture allowed along coast

Round Table Conferences

First (November 1930): Held without Gandhi, inconclusive

Second (1931): Gandhi represented Congress but faced challenges from:

• Muslim League (Muslim interests)
• Princes (Congress had no stake in princely states)
• B.R. Ambedkar (argued Congress didn't represent lowest castes)

4. Quit India Movement (1942)

Launched after failure of Cripps Mission:

• Gandhi jailed immediately but movement continued
• Mass movement involving hundreds of thousands
• Young people left colleges to join
• "Independent" governments proclaimed in some districts
• Took over a year for British to suppress

Meanwhile, Muslim League expanded influence in Punjab and Sind.

5. The Last Heroic Days

After independence (August 15, 1947):

• Gandhi marked Independence Day with 24-hour fast, unhappy with Partition
• Worked to stop communal violence in Bengal and Delhi
• Congress passed resolution protecting minority rights
• Assassinated by Nathuram Godse on January 30, 1948

6. Knowing Gandhi - Sources for Study

1. Public Voice and Private Scripts

• Speeches and writings show public persona
• Private letters reveal personal thoughts and conflicts
• Example: Letters between Nehru and other Congress leaders during socialist-conservative rift (1936)

2. Autobiographies

Retrospective accounts that:

• Show what authors chose to remember and emphasize
• Frame a particular picture of the self

3. Government Records

• Fortnightly Reports from Home Department show colonial perspective
• Often downplayed nationalist successes
• Example: Initially dismissed Salt March as insignificant

4. Newspapers

Contemporary accounts that:

• Reflect different political viewpoints
• Show how Gandhi was perceived by different groups
• Must be read critically due to biases

Key Themes and Analysis

Gandhi's Transformation of National Movement

• Made nationalism mass-based rather than elite phenomenon
• Used symbols like charkha and simple dress to connect with common people
• Combined political struggle with social reform (against untouchability, for Hindu-Muslim unity)
• Developed unique methods of protest (satyagraha, civil disobedience)

Nature of Protest Movements

• Non-cooperation involved withdrawal from British institutions
• Civil disobedience involved deliberate law-breaking (salt laws)
• Quit India was open rebellion demanding immediate British departure

Challenges to Gandhi's Leadership

• From socialists within Congress (Nehru, Bose)
• From Ambedkar on caste issues
• From Jinnah and Muslim League on representation