Long Essay
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is the greatest leader that India has ever produced. He was born at Porbandar, a small coastal town in Kathiawar, Gujarat, on 02 October, 1869. He was the fourth and last child of his father’s fourth and last marriage. His father was the devan for about twenty-eight years in the states of Rajkot, Porbandar and Wankaner and was a renowned figure. His mother, Putlibai, was a good-natured, patient and saintly lady. He was sent to school at the age of seven. He was married to Kasturba at the age of twelve. He completed his matriculation in 1888 and went to England to become a barrister. He scrupulously observed the three vows he had given to his mother regarding abstinence from wine, women and meat. He found it difficult to practise law when he returned to Bombay (now Mumbai) as he had not studied the Indian law. At this time, he went to South Africa to take part in a civil suit in 1893. He had gone there for one year only, but continued to stay there for another 21 years (1893-1914) with intermittent breaks in between. It was in South Africa that he at first tried his ideas of Satyagraha, though without much success.
Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915. He was then initiated into politics by Gopal Krishna Gokhale. He established a Satyagraha Ashram on the banks of River Sabarmati. He wanted to take part in the Indian Independence Movement, so he travelled extensively to understand the Indian people. He successfully led small, but important, movements in Champaran, Ahmedabad and Kheda to beget the poor workers their due. Now he was fully active in politics.
In the First World War, Mahatma Gandhi genuinely believed that self-government would be granted to India at the end of the war, so he cooperated with the British, but his hopes were belied. Rather, the Rowlatt Bill, 1919 was imposed. A great tension was created and the things came to a tragic culmination at the Jallianwalah Bagh.
Mahatma Gandhi thought out the idea of complete break up from the British if the Rowlatt Act was not repealed. The idea of non-cooperation was simple, so it appealed to the masses. He promised to the masses if they non-cooperated with the British non-violently, the self-government would come within twelve months. He so emphatically conveyed the idea of non-cooperation to them that people took it on their personal level. In January, 1922, he gave a week's notice to Lord Reading of mass civil disobedience if government's policy of repression was not changed. The Civil Disobedience Movement finally started on 1 February, 1922 in Bardoli. The movement gained momentum, but an unfortunate incident took place in Chauri Chaura where 22 policemen were burnt alive following their repressive measures. Gandhiji called off the movement as it was to be a non-violent movement, despite opposition from the leaders. He was sent to jail.
Along side the independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi advocated and started constructive programmes of spinning and weaving khadi, prohibition, working for eradication of untouchability and unity of the Hindus and the Muslims, so that social conditions could be improved.
In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi formulated an 11-point programme for Government’s acceptance, failing which the civil disobedience movement was to be launched. It included total prohibition, reduction in revenue, amendment to the Arms Act, protection of textiles, reservation of coastal shipping for Indians, and abolition of salt tax. It was the last item on which he based his entire Civil Disobedience Movement.
The Salt Satyagraha started on 12 March, 1930 when Gandhi started from his Sabarmati Ashram with 79 co-workers for Dandi on the coast of the Arabian Sea. This was the historic Dandi March and the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement. As he treaded his path, hundreds and thousands of people joined him. He broke the Salt Law by making salt from seawater on 06 April. Therefrom he proceeded to Dharsana to take possession of the salt warehouse, but he was arrested on 5 May. The movement went on nonviolently. He was released in 1931 and took part in negotiations with Lord Irwin. Later he sailed to England to take part in the Second Round Table Conference, but he came back a disappointed man. He resumed his movement again, but was arrested and kept in the Yarvada Prison. The Communal Award was published by the British Government in 1932. It made Mahatma Gandhi take a fast unto death. It culminated into the Poona Pact in which the depressed classes were to get reserved seats. He took another fast for 21 days for purification, at this he was released from prison. Since the Civil Disobedience Movement had been officially withdrawn, he engaged himself in social uplift and constructive programmes.
The Second World War broke out in 1939. The British Government declared India a party to the war without the consent of the Congress. The Cripps Mission was sent from Britain, but it failed to meet the aspirations of the people since it did not promise self-government at the end of the war. On the other hand, Japan was nearing. Gandhiji felt that the British should quit India to its fate even if it meant anarchy here.
On 08 August, 1942, the AICC met at Bombay and passed the Quit India Resolution which proposed the commencement of a massive non-violent struggle under Gandhiji's leadership. He boldly declared, “We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetration of our slavery.” He and several other leaders were arrested. Protests and violence erupted. He toured the riot-hit areas from November, 1946 to March, 1947 facing danger to his life from religious fanatics. He undertook fast unto death at the age of 78 years on 2 October to save Calcutta (now Kolkata) to pacify communal hatred. He broke his fast three days later when the leaders of different communities assured him in writing that Calcutta would remain riot free. India gained freedom on 15 August, 1947 amidst news of communal violence and anarchy besides bifurcation of the country into India and Pakistan. It made him spend Independence Day, fasting and spinning. This great son of India, entitled Father of the Nation and Bapu, was shot dead on 30 January, 1948 by a fanatic called Nathuram Godse at Birla House. He fell to the ground with the words ‘Hey Ram’. Thus came the end of the glorious life of Mahatma Gandhi. We can never forget his achievements.
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