· Gandhiji’s leadership dominated the Indian Nationalist Movement during 1919-1947. His philosophy of action was based on Satyagrah, i.e., non-violent, non-cooperation.
· It involved boycott, resignation, strikes and agitations, picketing, breaking laws, non-payment of taxes etc. Gandhiji’s role in different movements is commendable.
Non- Cooperation Movement
- Gandhiji made Khilafat Movement, a part of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920.
- It was the first mass movement which was different from earlier movements.
- This movement was a great success, but Gandhiji withdrew this movement after the Chauri-Chaura incident.
- But, Congress introduced Gandhiji’s constructive programmes even after the withdrawal of Non-Cooperation Movement.
Civil Disobedience Movement
Gandhiji started his second mass movement called the Civil Disobedience Movement with the famous Dandi March on March 12, 1930, from the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.
The Civil Disobedience Movement was suspended as a result of Gandhi-Irwin Pact. Gandhiji participated in Second Round Table Conference, but came empty handed.
The Civil Disobedience Movement was a great success which left the impact on the minds of all Indians.
Massive Rally of ProtestorsA two mile long rally of Indians in Bombay protesting the arrest of Gandhi, 1930
Gandhi - Irwin Pact
In 1931, due to the efforts of some leaders, an agreement was reached between Gandhiji and Lord Irwin (viceroy).
The Civil Disobedience Movement was suspended.
The Congress leaders were released and Gandhiji went to England to participate in Second Round Table Conference.
But Gandhiji returned without achieving anything and Civil Disobedience Movement was revived again.
The government took harsh measures to crush this movement and Gandhiji was arrested again.
Poona Pact
- In 1930, B.R. Ambedkar organized ‘Depressed Class Organization’ for dalits.
- They were in favour of separate electorates for dalits. So they clashed with Mahatma Gandhi at Second Round Table Conference.
- British government accepted the demand for separate electorates for dalits. But Gandhiji began a fast unto death.
- Ambedkar ultimately accepted Gandhiji’s position and signed Poona Pact.
- Under this, the Congress gave the reserved seats for depressed classes in Provincial and Central Legislative Councils.
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement was launched in August 1942 in response to Mahatma Gandhi's call for immediate independence of India. The aim was to bring the British government to the negotiating table. The call for determined, but passive resistance that signified the certitude that Gandhi foresaw for the movement is best described by his call to Do or Die, issued on 8 August at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay, since re-named August Kranti Maidan.
However, almost the entire Congress leadership, and not merely at the national level, was put into confinement less than twenty-four hours after Gandhiji's speech, and the greater number of the Congress leaders were to spend the rest of the war in jail.
Gandhiji's Path
Gandhiji urged the Indians to follow non-violent civil disobedience. He told the masses to act as an independent nation and not to follow the orders of the British. His call found support among a large number of Indians. It also found support among Indian revolutionaries who were not necessarily party to Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence.
