Mahatma Gandhi
The struggle for Indian independence
Early Life
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Born 1869 as
Mohandas
Karamchand Gandhi
From a middle class
Hindu family; studied
law in England
Left India to work as a
legal representative
for Muslim-Indian
traders in South Africa
from 1893-1914
Gandhi in South Africa
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Fought against racism,
prejudice, and injustice
directed at Indians in S.
Africa
Developed his social
activism during this time
o "Satyagraha"
Formed an ambulance
corps in 1900 during the
Boer War
Created Indian Opinion
newspaper
Satyagraha - "truth force"
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Use of nonviolent resistance to end injustice
Influences:
Hinduism - nonviolence and respect for all life
o Christianity - loving one's enemies
o Henry David Thoreau - civil disobedience; the
refusal to obey unjust laws
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Goal of satyagraha
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"convert the wrongdoer"
Gandhi hoped that by accepting punishment
without retaliation, the world and the British
aware of injustices being committed
Return to India - 1914
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Within a few years, became a leader in the
Indian struggle for independence
United the middle-class, common people,
and Indian patrons of the British
Demanded better treatment for the
"untouchables"
United Hindus and Muslims in the movement
for independence
Founded Young India and Navajivan journals
Return to India (continued)
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Reminded Indians of
their rich heritage
o Gave up western ways
o Encouraged traditional
Indian industries,
especially spinning
cotton
o Led a simple life dressed in white cotton
clothes commonly
worn by India's poor
o Emphasized Hindu
virtues (duty, morality,
self-discipline)
Amritsar Massacre - turning point
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Fearing mass
insurrection, British
passed harsh new
laws limiting many
freedoms and rights
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British force under
Gen. Dyer arrive on
scene
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o Tense period; sporadic
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acts of violence around
the country
April 13, 1919 - More
than 10,000 Indians
gather in public area in
Amritsar for peaceful
protest
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Without warning,
opens fire on crowd
of men, women, and
children
Soldiers fire until
nearly out of ammo
Many Indians
trampled to death or
jumped into well to
escape fire
Amritsar Massacre - Gandhi (1982)
Aftermath of Amritsar Massacre
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Fueled Indian distrust of the British - created
climate of hostility that would last through the
rest of India's struggle for independence
Reaction in Britain was mixed:
o Supporters of the Raj (mainly in the House of Lords)
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considered Gen. Dyer a hero
o General public, and House of Commons, condemned the
massacre
Led to increased violence
Many Indians called for complete separation
from Britain
Many moderate politicians, such as Gandhi,
were pushed toward outright rebellion
1930 - The Salt March (Dandi March)
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British laws enacted to prevent Indians from
making their own salt - they had to buy
heavily taxed salt from the government
Gandhi used satyagraha to protest salt laws
Protested by marching 200 miles to the
coast to make salt
Thousands of people joined Gandhi along
the way
Gandhi and around 50,000 of his followers
arrested afterwards
1942-45: "Quit India" Movement
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At start of WWII, Indians did not want to fight for
British
o Indian National Congress would not support British
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without immediate independence
Gandhi and Congress urged Indians to practice
policy of non-cooperation with the British;
continued campaign of civil disobedience
British response: arrest of more than 20,000
members of INC leadership (virtually all of it)
1945 - British weak after WWII, public support
for keeping overseas colonies diminishing
Hindu-Muslim Conflict
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In early stages of independence movement,
Hindus and Muslims were united
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Muhammad Ali Jinnah: demanded separate
Muslim nation
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This changed through the 20's and 30's, and
tensions between the two groups emerged
(Congress party and the Muslim League)
Stemmed from long history of clashes between the
two religions
Muslims did not trust Hindu-dominated government
to secure their rights
Hindus viewed Muslims as foreign
Hindu-Muslim Conflict (continued)
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1946 - Widespread rioting between Hindus and
Muslims; British foresaw civil war
1947 - British pass Indian Independence Act:
o Ended British rule in India
o Creation of (Hindu) India and (Muslim) Pakistan
Following the partition, explosion of violence
Despite promises of tolerance, fighting between
two groups left more than half a million dead
Estimated 15 million people migrated between
the countries to escape fighting
Gandhi deeply upset by this; refused to
celebrate when India officially achieved
Assassination
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January 30, 1947 - Gandhi shot three times
at close range after giving blessing to
assassin
Assassin was Hindu extremist who believed
Gandhi was appeasing Muslims at the
expense of Hindus
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Hoped to start a war between Hindus and Muslims;
had opposite effect as it drew both groups together
in mourning
PM Jawaharlal Nehru - addressed nation
over radio, spontaneously and without
Nehru's Speech on Gandhi's Death