in 1916, the British government realized that repressive measures alone could not check the rising tide of anti-British feeling. They realized that some reforms would have to be granted to appease the nationalists and bring the anti-British movement under control. F ollowing the signing of the Lucknow Pact The British government therefore passed the Government of India Act, 1919, orthe Montague- Chelmsford reforms. This Act provided for Dual government in the provinces, severely restricted the right to vote, enlarged the Provincial Legislative councils and the Governor-General remained responsible to the Secretary of the State. The reforms failed to appease the people, Real authority continued to be in the hands of the British. The Congress condemned the reforms as disappointing and unsatisfactory. A new era of struggle began—the Gandhian era. EMERGENCE OF MAHATMA GANDHI Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was born in 1869 at Porbandar, Gujarat. Gandhi studied law in England and spent about 22 years in South Africa as a practising lawyer, THEME 8: INDIA'S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM The Indian National Movement (1917-1934) rl pss’ |ATTO Nowy, IRNEY. 4 Gandhi asa young lawyer in South Africa The racial discrimination and the humiliating conditions under which Indians lived in that country shocked and angered Gandhiji. He became the leader of a struggle against rac injustice in South Africa. During the struggle, he evolved a technique known as satyagraha which was later applied to the Indian national movement, Gandhian Methods Satyagraha is a combination of two Sanskrit words—satya (truth) and agrala (eagerness). Satyagraha is based on the twin principles of truth and non-violence. HISTORY 135 ‘oh i‘ruth and Non-Violence A satyageahi was one who firmly believed in truth and non-violence and who would resist evil at all costs. A satyagrahi was peaceful, fearless and strong. He/she would hate evil but not the ‘evil doer’. In the fight for justice and truth, the satyagrahi would willingly accept suffering and be ready to make sacrifices. The suffering and patience of the satyagrahi was expected to bring about a change of heart in the enemy. The idea behind satyagraha was not to destroy the enemy but to transform and enlighten him, Gandhiji insisted on non-violent methods of struggle. He believed that non-violence was the ~ weapon of the strong and could be effectively used to resist armed attacks by the enemy. A satyagrahi was expected to follow peaceful methods even under extreme provocation. Non-violent methods of struggle in India consisted of non-cooperation with the British government, This included: (i) peaceful ustiation (i) defiance of unjust British laws (iii) boycott of British goods, institutions and services (iv) the use of the charkha and to promote self-reliance and the swadeshi spirit and (v) non-payment of the oppressive taxes. The idea was to bring the government to me a standstill. Gandhiji promoted the use of charkha and khadi to promote self-reliance and the spirit of swadeshi, Hindu-Muslim Unity Gandhiji was a devout Hindu and a passionate believer in the equality of all religions, He wrote, ‘Indian culture is neither Hindu, Islamic nor any other, wholly. It is a fusion of all.’ He was convinced that the path to India's salvation lay in Hindu-Muslim unity. Gandhiji lived and died for the cause of Hindu-Muslim unity. Mass Movement Gandhiji had immense faith in the capacity of the common people to struggle against oppression, Under his leadership, the Indian national movement was transformed into a mass movement. Social Justice Gandhiji was a great believer in social justice He championed the cause of the poor and the downtrodden, the emancipation of women and improvement of the conditions of the lower caste ‘untouchables’ whom he called ‘Harijans’, ie. children of God. He worked tirelessly to remove prejudices and change the mindset of the people. He believed that political freedom was meaningless without social reforms. Laws would be effective only if there was a change of heart. Gandhiji’s Early Campaigns Gandhiji returned to India in 1915 and began to take an interest in national politics. His early campaigns at Kheda, Champaran and Ahmadabad were also his first experiments in satyagraha, in three local areas—each with a distinct problem.Under Gandhij'’s leadership, the Indian national movement was transformed into a mass movement for freedom. Champaran Gandhiji championed the cause of the tenant farmers of Champaran district against’ the oppression of the British indigo planters. The movement was a success and the peasants received compensation. Ahmadabad Mill Strike Gandhiji organized a workers strike against the exploitative Indian mill owners in Ahmadabad. The mill owners finally agreed to increase the salary of the workers. Kheda Satyagraha (Gujarat) Gandhi advised and convinced the cultivators of Kheda district to stop paying land revenue to the government because the crops had failed. The peasants’ demand for remission of land tax was accepted by the government. The success of these three localized movements had proved the efficiency of the Gandhian techniques of non-violence and satyagraha, By 1919, Gandhii had become the most important leader of the national movement. He was convinced that the participation of the people in the movement was essential for its success. He became very popular among the a DISCUSS Why do you think mass movements are popular? Why did Gandhiji take so much care to get the support of the masses? masses and led a number of mass movements. He soon became the centrestays of national politics. JALLIANWALA BAGH TRAGEDY The British government adopted the pri of repression to crush the anti-British 9 against the repressive Rowlatt Act passed by the government in 1919. In some places, particularly in Punjab, the hartals led to violence. Two popular nationalist leaders were arrested in Amritsar. To protest against the arrest of their leaders, a public meeting was held on 13 April 1919 in an enclosed space known as Jallianwala Bagh. The people were unarmed and p= Unfortunately, they were not aware of the fact that the military commander of Amritsar, General Dyer, had issued an order banning all public meetings. General Dyer surrounded the Bagh with his troops, blocked the only exit and ordered the troops to open fire on the peaceful gathering in the Bagh. The shooting continued till there was no ammunition left. Nearly 400 people were killed and over 1,000 were injured. General Dyer, the B commander who order the infamous fring on unarmed civilians at the Jallianwala Bagh HISTORY 137 is taMartial law was proclaimed in Punjab. During this period, people were humiliated and tortured. The brutality of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the humiliation and inhuman treatment of the Indians that followed shocked the entire nation Gandhiji_ was horrified. He lost all faith in the goodness of the British government and declared that it would be a ‘sin’ to cooperate with the ‘satanic’ government. KHILAFAT MOVEMENT Turkey had been defeated in the First World War and the territories of the Turkish empire were divided between Britain and France. Harsh treatment was given to the Turkish sultan who was also the religious head of all Muslims. This caused great resentment among Muslims all over the world, including India. As a result of this the Khilafat Movement was launched by the Ali brothers—Maulana Muhammad Ali and Maulana Shaukat Ali, Gandhiji and the Congress supported this movement. The main aim of the movement was to uphold the power and prestige of the Caliph and preservation of the territorial integrity of Turkey. On 24 November 1919, the all India Khilafat Conference was held and on 31 August 1920, under Gandhi's leadership, the Non- Cooperation Movement was launched. The two movements took place at the same time, People resigned from government services, schools and colleges were boycotted, shops selling foreign goods were picketed and strikes and demonstration were held. By the end of 1920, the Khilafat Movement merged with the Non- Cooperation Movement. ‘ fh usa 138 HISTORY NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT (1920) The ultimate goal of the Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Gandhiji in 1920, was the attainment of swaraj by peaceful and legitimate means. The programme of non- cooperation and the methods of resistance were as follows: 4 Boycott of foreign goods # Boycott of government schools, colleges, law courts, legislatures and all British institutions + Boycott of functions elections and government Renunciation of titles and honours awarded by the British Constructive programmes like swadeshi and Hindu-Muslim unity also became a part of the movement, Gandhiji stressed the importance of self-reliance and self-sufficiency. He popularized khadi (handspun and hand-woven cloth) among the people including the upper classes. The charkha became the symbol of swadeshi, National education was promoted The atmosphere was charged with enthusiasm, determination and confidence. An unfortunate incident changed all that. Early in 1922, a procession of peasants were fired upon by the police at Chauri Chaura, a village in UP. The people reacted violently and burnt down the Chauri Chaura police station. Twenty-two policemen were killed. Gandhiji immediately called off the movement. Do you think Gandhiji was justified in calling off the Non-Coperation Movement? Give reasons for your answer.A people's procession during the Non-Cooperation Movement The Non-Cooperation Movement had ended in failure but the national spirit had been strengthened. Gandhiji withdrew from active politics and devoted himself to the task of social reform, LAHORE SESSION OF THE CONGRESS (1929) In December 1929, the Indian National Congress met in Lahore under the youthful and dynamic leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, The Congress passed a resolution declaring “Poorna Swaraj’ or ‘Complete Independence’ as its goal. 26 January 1930 was fixed as “Independence Day’ The Congress also resolved to launch a Civil Disobedience Movement under the leadership of Gandhiji On 26 January 1930, Independence Day was celebrated all over the country. The newly adopted Indian tricolour was unfurled and people solemnly took the pledge of freedom. 26 January was celebrated as Independence Day every year, till India finally became free in 1947. From 1930 onwards, 26 January has been celebrated as Republic Day. CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT (1930-34) * The Civil Disobedience Movement was a form of non-cooperation, involving the breakin government laws. Its objective was to defy the British government and pressurize it to give in to the demands of the nationalists. The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched by Gandhiji in March 1930, with the Salt Satyagraha. Gandhiji decided to start with the breaking of the unjust salt lew because it affected everybody in the country. Every Indian had to pay the salt tax. Indians could not manufacture salt because it was a government monopoly. The Salt Satyagraha began with the historic Dandi March. Gandhifji set out from Sabarmati Ashram with 78 followers, on a 385-km journey to the coastal village of Dandi. Thousands of people joined him on the way On his arrival in Dandi, he picked up a handful of: salt from the beach. This act symbolized defiance of the salt law. It was a signal for every Indian to violate the salt law. Throughout India, people began to manufacture salt and sell it openly. The movement spread rapidly. Civil Disobedience extended to violation of other laws and refusal to pay taxes. Itincluded of foreign goods, hartals, demonstrations and picketing of shops selling foreigr @ DIDYOU KNOW? inthe North-West Frontier Province, the Civil Disobedience Movement was led by Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, populariy known as ‘Frontier Gandhi He established an organization called Khudai khidmatgars, popularly known as the "Red Shirts ee HISTORY 139 ‘aa 1GGandhiji and his followers during the Dandi March in 2930. The march was in protest against the unfair salt tax imposed by the British on Indians. An important feature of this movement was the of a large number of “VALUES AND LIFE SKILLS hhurt. We should re women, Sarojini Naidu was one of the leaders of this movement. The government suppressed the movement with force and brutality. Gandhiji, Nehru and all other important leaders were arrested, Hundreds of people where injured or killed in lathi charges and police firing. Over 90,000 people were imprisoned. The political activity in India became very intense after 1937. Leaders of the national movement had made it clear to the British that their days in India were numbered. The British passed a number of Acts and sent missions to appease the Indians but in vain. ‘day's world of violence and conflict non-violence is more relevant than ever before. We should have self-control jage our anger, stay calm and keep the peace. We should not retaliate in an angry or violent way when we are ort to peaceful but firm ways of solving problems and conflicts. + What are the ways in which you can deal with anger or hurt without hurting someone else? HISTORY wah. addressing of making people aware of the ly aware and knew its rights. , 4 meticulous ists and a master at raising funds. The nati ampaigns were organized by a flood of postcards giving precise instructions. Nothing escaped his attention, and during Congress sessions he would worry about everything from cleanliness to drinking water and seating arrangements. He sent off party workers to canvass for-members in the districts and soon there were Congress flags flying in small towns and even lages. Later this disciplined party organization was crucial in keeping the country running during the chaotic days after meetings were being conducted in the regional language and ustani, Now everyone from national gatherings were in a patrician lawyer from Madras to the metal-worker from Moradabad and the farmer from Madhopur were all Congress- 68 SAFFRON, WHITE AND GREEN BAPU People wheel led him ‘mahatma’ and the ‘saint of the spinning ut he preferred to be called Bopv. He had a stickshin body with large ears that stuck out at an angle from his bald ly arms and legs and a gentle, oddly vulnerable smile. He liked to walk and would stride along in his dhol and chappals, 0 huge chaddar wrapped around his bare of peasants on any village road, anywhere in This image was at the centre of Mahalma Gon to win the hearts and minds of his people. He was not clad in the suit and tie of « city man or the saffron robes of sadhu; he was in clothes that the poores made o visval statoment that even or understood—he was one of them, he understood ther lives and was on their side. His charisma came from this very human, transparent ove for his land and his people. Gandhiji was the fist mass leader ofthe country, and to © many of his colleagues his hold over people's imagination _ was @ mystery. People would wait for hours under o hot sun just fo catch a glimpse of him and he could make the whole country obey him just by going on a fast. The magic was « very simple one—people sensed that he genuinely cared. And he hed an extraordinary abiliy to communicate ‘A MAN FROM SOUTH AFRICA 6ra Yorusy tines Nous NVW¥ ‘pyn2es Ajainjo3q0 ox som on uow sno1Byjou Aydoop y ; “PIpU| jo uo\od ay pasoddo oy way uny “04 Us Jou pip Auod ssei6u0> oy puo aouinuoo o} Asoe 7 04 ara mayo [OOW pun jeing OYqugD}IOA 2%} sseposy Pepoey-pioy"y6no) saroqep Buo ayo uByo) sion suo‘ Auld jo pun ‘wy yy peeiBosIp uayjo oy ‘siemojosiy 1woy soverpaqo Bunwoysenbun puowep jou pip 04 jouo}op1p | J2A0NY 2yp¥sW © apow poy 24 Joy Agnd BuIyiupo ul twa|goid ou pay 05/0 244 “si09 e810) siy Jo asnooeq ,opul 40 esnoy) AQ7PIW, Sy wy Peqgnp npION wilos0g vay snp 412A som pu asuadke siy 10 sayol podolua op 18940 Weg 40} uo sayioy> yBnovs poy Bury eys, ‘pios Puo peuuli6 24 puo uoisn220 ay} 104 passayp Ajejoudoxddou! 8} Poy 94}: uuy peyso jsyousnol 0 ‘ao0}04 woyBunyang jo #0 BUDD OY HBA *USIDILI9 fo IOI D SOM slay ‘NOYP a, sty Buroom 4 281005 Bury jsow oj am oy voy, puaLy 102, $9 uy Bulssexppo pup suojd siy jo syoiap Buin6 {ns pioy Aose01 ay oo vasa ‘ojos 94 40019 Puuo|d 94 veya ‘y0yy1puDg ay 210499 MoUNy fo osUos 8 ‘ABLIZoWD [sou ‘puD uoyOUBOUN ‘ssouLanap YiM jyBn0y 24 Puy “sYBs sno puo yin 19,464 puo dn puoi oj ss0}:00) 24791 57 yBn0} puo Aysonayl jo asu9s sno ayouq lypuoe {2|S paulowes puo 201 fq spoay sno pamoq am. uo“ Auo yi ‘oa1od ey ‘sjo1riyo ay Jo pioyo vem 93} © SUEIPU apoU! poy ain jo1UOIO> jo S109, {uoWUrOROB ysuig | Passounguio Ajdeap puo pliom ayy ss0100 sradodsimou 49 S960 20H) ou uo posojsoid som jos eyow 01 shop sno, Na9 ONY auIHia ‘NowsS¥S ot * ‘Awom 10) Bunjpm Aanjores wow pjosnakuonos so ‘Bow! 24) “yDlOW) Ipung aif 2sIn0 Jo som juoWoU |soU © sip) tpoyy Buyoom puo pyr04> ay) 'sBuos ayoujod "Boy inojoauy aly 29) ‘paiequieusa! ajdoad youl sjoquiAs jo Jaysow ~ 0 50% a}4 AyoyJgnd pajouipso09 Ajjnje10> yBnos1y 2yjqad ‘ouajolnuou —oypsBokjog jo o—y aly 40 S91] YM Poojss80UN JOU js any supipu| jou) smoys Kopo} o1pu) pup jaj2200d oypsBoXjog Buideoy ul pesoans skomo jou Pip 24 ‘Aypog “uawssesBu0> 40) nouoy Jo aBpoq 0 wo>8q 0, Bu108 pun siqo a2y0d Burs0, ‘ejdwoxa s y Buy uy *,sjeloy sAisaloyy si}, payjo> oy joy) suosud ul sik Buoj ,uads pun ‘ayo4}0491 0} puny siy pasios JaAau yng sow uw u9yooq Ajpoq som ay “@Bosn09 ouosiad siy yan Kom 4) pemoys 9fj 2000s pun Buoys oquy puny Ai94 9 som Dswilyo pu oYyosBoAjog jo yod ‘padsas oj 109] syuouoddo sy Joy ulDq pmaiys © pud vo: © ply 1018KX9 plu 514 HeAoysnd OU Som 24 “HoAaMOH “Suo%ssod Jo poasu! ‘uosoas pup 2160) yt id yy ‘souuou (sapoUl ‘AyS OY 0—srapoa| so Ajayun sow ayy som apy Summ puo saypaeds siy yBnouy) Surpuoysispun pun uoissoduio> siyyhe opposed the casle system and took off his sacred thread when he discovered that Dalits were not ollowed to wear them. He prayed every day but did not perform rituals and led Satyagraha campaigns to force temples to ‘open their doors to everyone. At his prayer meetings here were readings from holy, books of inspired not just by the Bhagavad Gita but also by Jesus Christ's Sermon on the Mount, the Koran, Jain beliefs in non- Violence and the teachings of Lord Buddha. He was a fascinating mix of highly original ideos and eccentric fads and fancies. He was suspicious of modern medicine and preferred nature cures of mudpacks and herbal pills. His diet was so boring that people avoided siting next fo him at meals because he would offer them his bland mash of boiled vegetables cooked without sol, oil or spices, and bitter neem chutney. His dessert was palm gu that he called mndnut powder sprinkled on mashed bananas that he called ‘butter’. In many ways he was a very unusual polfcion because he was clearly not hankering for power or wealth, As a: matier of fac, all his possessions could be packed into a single khodi bag—a few dhotis and chaddars, a pair of ° batiered chappals, his rosary and copy ofthe Gita his false { teeth that he only put on to eat, paper, pen ond ink, and - ‘an enamel bow! and a fin spoon that he took away from ; Yeravada Prison, He slept for about four hours and woul to read his letiers, which he! ing a reply on the back = pot eh ot 1 gel up at three in the m ‘offen answered person en co aa , 5 n SAFFRON, WHITE AND GREEN the moment we refuse fo be afraid. of a used envelope or postcard because he hated fo waste conything. He talked so much that he decided on,a day of silence every week to rest his vocal chords! Saint, halFnaked fagir, shrewd pol unusual freedom struggles in the world, one that mobilized «on normed, peaceful people and not fighters with guns. - India's freedom was the fi in Asia and Altica became independent. Later, Satyagraha inspired Martin luther King’s bate for civ Sates and Nelson Mandela's freedom march in South Africa, proving once again that Salyagraha was relevant and it works. In tribute, the United Notions General Assembly now observes the Mahatina’s birthday, 2 October, as Intemational was an endless search for that ever @ 's good fortune that he took us along }0us journey and tought us that freedom begins ‘A MAN FROM SOUTH AFRICA B