The period from 1917 to 1947 in Indian history is known as Gandhian era.
Gandhiji and Champaran Satyagraha:
Gandhiji started his social activities in India by intervening in the problems faced by the indigo farmers in Champaran in 1917. In Champaran, he resorted to disobedience of British laws and Satyagraha. His involvement compelled the authorities to pass laws in favour of the indigo farmers.
Gandhiji and Ahmedabad Cotton Mill Strike:
Cotton mill workers in Ahmedabad started their strike in 1918 when they were denied plague bonus. Gandhiji adopted the tools of disobedience of British laws and Satyagraha here also. Following his Satyagraha, the authorities agreed to hike the wages of the employees.
Gandhiji and Kheda peasant struggle:
The rulers decided to collect tax from the poor farmers of Kheda who were living in utter misery due to drought and crop failure. Starting Satyagraha, Gandhiji protested against the decision. He advised the people not to pay tax. As a result, the authorities were forced to reduce tax.
Gandhiji and Rowlatt Act:
When the protests against Rowlatt Act failed, Gandhiji suggested starting Satyagraha. Vigorously reacting to this proposal, people in various parts of the country went to the streets and started demonstrations and strikes. The massacre at Jallianwala Bagh intensified the protest against the British. Gandhiji said about the Jallianwala Bagh massacre: ‘If the Battle of Plassey laid the foundation for the British rule, Jallianwala Bagh shook the foundation’.
Gandhiji and Non-Co-operation Movement:
The first national level struggle by the INC under the leadership of Gandhiji was the non co-operation movement. The confidence gained from the anti- Rowlatt protest motivated Gandhiji to declare non co-operation against the British. The methods of agitation were denial of taxes, boycott foreign goods, boycott elections, etc.
In addition to this, Gandhiji motivated the people to participate in constructive programmes like making indigenous products, spinning Khadi cloth using charka, establishing national educational institutions, popularising Hindi and eradicating untouchability. Non co-operation movement had a great role in making the national movement a grass root mass movement. But he suspended the Non cooperation movement due to the Chauri Chaura incident.
Gandhiji and Civil Disobedience:
The Lahore Congress Session of 1929 decided to launch a Civil Disobedience Movement under the leadership of Gandhiji. With the civil disobedience, Gandhiji meant to disobey all anti-popular and antidemocratic laws made by the British government. As part of the movement, Gandhiji demanded to lift salt tax, to declare 50% tax relaxation for farmers and to release political prisoners. Gandhiji selected salt as a powerful weapon against the British.
The Civil Disobedience Movement began with the Dandi March in 1930. Gandhiji broke the salt law by making salt. Inspired by the call of Gandhiji, people in various parts of the country started to produce salt on their own, violating the British regulations. The British government arrested Gandhiji and suppressed the movement callously.
Gandhiji and Quit India Movement:
The Quit India Movement was the last popular protest organised by the INC under the leadership of Gandhiji. It was a mass movement based on the ideology of non-violence, meant to force the British to leave the country, offering complete freedom to Indians. As part of the movement, Gandhiji called for:
- Princely states shall recognize the sovereignty of their people.
- Farmers shall not pay land tax.
Gandhiji gave the slogan ‘Do or Die’ to the Indians. The movement became strong all over India. The British government in India began to shake. But the government suppressed the movement very severely and arrested leaders including Gandhiji. Gandhian ideas played a major role in making the national movement a mass movement and finally achieving independence.
