Question

Role of mahatma gandhi in indian national movement for independence

Answer 1

M.K. Gandhi, was an important leader in the freedom struggle. He spearheaded the pacifist role of the Indian Movement for Independence and managed to capture the imagination of the western world, especially in the realms of imperialism. While Indian Independence should not be credited to one person alone (it was a complex amalgamation of liberalism, nationalism and pacifism) it is important to evaluate the role of Mahatma Gandhi as his actions laid the foundations for various civil rights movements across the world, especially in USA and South Africa.

Non-Cooperation, Khilafat movements and Champaran- Gandhi had already learnt a great deal of pacifism and protest in South Africa. He held regular correspondence with Leo Tolstoy and decided to start a peaceful non-violent method to attain swaraj or self-rule(A Letter to a Hindu). In Champaran village (Bihar), farmers were forced to grow crash crops and pay heavy taxes, even in face of a famine. Gandhi led a non-violent protest and managed to secure farmer rights. He was also able to provide Muslim support for the INC. He did this by upholding the right of Islamic Caliphs to exist within Turkey and hence got support from various sections of the society.Following incidents like Jallianwala Bagh massacre, his resolve strengthened and he became responsible for mobilizing large number of people. He held up the notion that the British held India only via the co-operation of the Indians and called for a nation-wide Non-cooperation movement. The movement called for boycotting all British goods and services. The nation-wide movement was able to shock the British into action, leading to the Chaurie-Chowra incident. Gandhi was afraid that the revolts may turn violent and called of the movement. However, he was able to gain populist support for the Nationalists.

Civil Disobedience Movement- In 1930, in the light of Great Depression, there was a giant increase in British Taxes. While the British were relieved at home for avoiding the effects of the Great Depression, Indians were  forced to pay taxes for common items like salt. Gandhi called for Salt March and walked with his supporters from Sabarmathi to the coasts of Dandi. The march gained a great support and led to many Indians following the cue. At Dandi, Gandhi cooked some salt and was subsequently arrested. This caused enough agitation in the country and had people breaking the rules nation-wide. This captured the attention across the world. Many people via media, were able to see British brutality first hand as non-violent protesters were lathi-charged. The British ended up imprisoning nearly 60,000 people. Soon the international pressures increased and the British were forced to call of the taxes, release Gandhi and call for a Round Table Conferences (India)where the demands for Self-Rule were placed.

Quit India- World War II broke out in 1939 and the Nationalists were angry at the Unilateral inclusion of British Indian Army without consultation. Gandhi claimed that India couldn't participate in a war for democratic struggle when basic democratic freedom was denied to India itself. There was a call for completely independent India and led to massive boycott and civil disobedience. Nearly 100,000 citizens were arrested as they broke various restricve rules en-masse. This broke the backbone of a lot of British trade around the Indian ocean. It also led to a call for Indian Independence within Britain itself which soon culminated into independence in 1947.

EFFECT OF GANDHI'S STRUGGLE- The questioner makes a legitimate point. Gandhi's movements inspired restrictive laws across the world. Nelson Mandela's pacifist activism mobilized great number of people against the Apartheid. He used Gandhi's non-violent methods to grow a populist base for the African Nationalist Party (ANC). Mandela's arrest led to an international outcry against South Africa which helped it end the Apartheid.