History assignment
Contributions made by Mahatma Gandhi in the India's struggle for independence.
Answer-
Mahatma Gandhi was a great patriotic Indian, if not the greatest. He was a man of an
unbelievably great personality. He certainly does not need anyone like me praising him.
Furthermore, his efforts for Indian independence are unparalleled. Most noteworthy, there would
have been a significant delay in independence without him. Consequently, the British because of
his pressure left India in 1947. In this essay on Mahatma Gandhi, we will see his contribution.
Role of Mahatma Gandhi in National Movement
The advent of Mahatma Gandhi was an indelible landmark in the history of the national
movement. He energized the national movement by resurrecting the dormant ideology of
Truthfulness and Non Violence and compelled the British to leave the country at their earliest.
Mahatma Gandhi, a reformist of the 19th century, transformed the nature of the national
movement by its thoughts, workings, and movement. Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from
South Africa in 1915. Before his arrival, the national movement had a different nature, but after
1915, the movement took on a mass movement.
Gandhi was born at Porbandar in Gujarat on 2nd Oct 1869. At the age of 18, he went to England
and qualified for the bar. He learned the first lesson of truth and non-violence from Rajchandra
Ravjibai. He went to South Africa in connection with the professional work of his friend. In South
Africa, he put into practice the weapon of satyagraha. He also developed the self-confidence to
lead a struggle. In 1915, he returned to India after winning a great name. Gandhi entered into the
political field of India with the satyagraha in Champaran in Bihar in 1917.
Birth of ideology of Non-Violence, Satyagraha:
Gandhi’s ideology of non-violence and satyagraha changed the course of the national movement
in a different direction. Before the arrival of Gandhi, these principles were not deep-rooted in the
people and the struggle for freedom was directionless. It was after the advent of Gandhi that the
Freedom struggle took a meaningful direction. Over time, these principles only helped India to
attain freedom against British rule. Gandhi was very strict in his principles, and the non-
cooperation movement was an example of this. The principle of satyagraha compelled the British
to leave India.
The Champaran satyagraha emerged as a successful struggle against the oppression of
Britishers in India. The government was forced to set up a committee to study the problems of
the farmers. In 1918, he intervened in a dispute between the workers and the mill owners of
Ahmedabad and undertook fast unto death to force a compromise. The mill owners agreed to
raise 35 percent wages of workers. He also supported the cause of the peasants of Kheda
against the collection of land revenue after the crops failed. These three events brought Gandhi
into the limelight. Gandhi’s weapons of Satyagraha, Non-Violence, and truth, proved to be
effective in attaining the purpose.
Gandhi and his Mass Movement:
In January 1919, the British government passed the Rowlatt Act. This act authorized the
government to imprison any person without trial and conviction in a court of law. This was in the
course of the policy of the government of India to suppress the revolutionaries. Mahatma Gandhi
declared a satyagraha campaign and formed a Satyagraha Sabha whose members pledged to
disobey the act non violently. Meanwhile, Gandhi suspended the movement due to violence at
some places. It brought no success, but it certainly taught people to make peaceful sacrifices for
the nation. Gandhi mobilized people from all over India during the Civil Disobedience movement
(Salt Satyagraha) of 1930, Gandhi knew that salt was of vital importance to every section of
society and tax on it impacts them. Such a step (Salt Satyagraha) from Gandhi helped to give a
different direction to the movement.
Aroused Self Confidence of the people:
After the entry of Gandhi into national politics, India witnessed three victories in the year 1917-18
at Champaran, Kheda, and Ahmedabad. This regained the lost confidence of the Indians and
made them feel they could also fight for their freedom without the help of modern arms and
ammunition.
Inspired by nationalist feeling:
The Gandhian movement inspired nationalist feelings among the people. During the time of the
non-cooperation movement, people boycotted schools and colleges and represented the
interests of the nation. It united people from all sections to fight for India’s Independence. He led
a non-violent civil disobedience movement against the Britisher’s injustice meted at the Indians.
The active participation of the people inculcated nationalist feelings among the people.
Hindu Muslim unity:
Gandhian phase led to emphasis on Hindus-Muslims Unity. He very well knew that India could
not attain freedom without the unity of Hindus-Muslims. Gandhi viewed the Khilafat movement as
a golden opportunity for bringing Hindus and Muslims together on the national front. In order to
involve the Muslims in the freedom struggle, Gandhi joined the national movement with the non-
cooperation movement. Gandhi always laid stress on communal harmony.
Involvement of different groups of people:
Gandhi knew that India cannot attain freedom without the involvement and support of every
section of society. Before the involvement of Gandhi, the movement was just confined to
Congress-dominated people but later the movement witnessed different sections of the society.
Lower class: Gandhi very well knew the importance of the Harijans or dalit person in the freedom
movement of India. He always spoke of the upliftment of the Harijans. In 1932, he founded an
organization to eradicate Untouchability to improve the social condition of the lower and
backward classes.
Women: Even though India was a very patriarchal society, Gandhian movements played an
important role in organizing women’s social, economic, and political spheres. The national
movement during the Gandhian phase empowered women to come forward. Women took an
active part in the non-cooperation and civil disobedience movements. Women played a unique
role in promoting Khadi, such as Gandhi’s manufacturing program, which ended the anarchy.
Anasuya Sarabhai accompanied Gandhi on his travels and took an active part in the 1918 strike
on the textile industry in Ahmedabad. Sarojini Naidu – Led the raid on the Dharasana salt factory
during the Civil Disobedience Movement after Gandhi’s arrest.
Business Class: Gandhian phase witnessed the involvement of the business class in the
movement. He emphasized the development of cottage and village industries. It was seen that
these cottage industries were on the rise and people became more self-reliant. This helped the
Indians be less dependent on imports from other countries and the Britishers.
Ultimately, it can be said that the Gandhian movement helped India attain freedom. Gandhi
through his nonviolent method shook the foundation of British rule and defeated the great
empire.
Gandhi's ultimate search was for righteous conduct. The means are more important than the
end, he maintained; with the right means, desired ends will follow. In time, he was proven right-
almost always. His struggles and actions were but external manifestations of his struggle to
evolve his own value system. Mahatma Gandhi better known as the father of Nation because it
was he who got freedom for us. He was the maker of Modern India.
By - ANIKET MEENA
BA PROGRAMME HIS PLUS POL SCIENCE
BA PROGRAMME HIS PLUS POL SCIENCE
ROLL NO- 120101
