The Gandhian era of national struggle began in 1919 and lasted until India gained independence from British rule in 1947. The early Gandhian movements' success, such as Champaran Satyagraha (1917), Ahmedabad Mill Satyagraha (1918), and Kheda Satyagraha (1918), paved the way for Gandhiji's meteoric rise. Gandhi emerged as a leader during the freedom struggle. In this article, we will discuss the Beginning of the Gandhian Movements which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

About Mahatma Gandhi

• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who used nonviolent resistance to lead India's successful campaign for independence from British rule, and to later inspire movements for civil rights and freedom around the world.
• The honorific Mahatma, which was first applied to him in South Africa in 1914, is now used all over the world.
• When Gandhi became president of the Indian National Congress in 1921, he led nationwide campaigns to alleviate poverty, expand women's rights, foster religious and ethnic harmony, abolish untouchability, and, most importantly, achieve swaraj, or self-rule.
• Gandhi adopted the short dhoti made of hand-spun yarn as a symbol of identification with India's rural poor.
• He began to live in a self-sufficient residential community and to fast for extended periods of time as a form of introspection and political protest.
• Gandhi popularized anti-colonial nationalism among ordinary Indians by leading them in the 400-kilometer Dandi Salt March in 1930, which challenged the British-imposed salt tax, and by calling for the British to leave India in 1942.
• He was imprisoned numerous times and for a long period of time in both South Africa and India.

Rise of Mahatma Gandhi

• The emergence of Mahatma Gandhi as the supreme leader of the national movement between 1919 and 1920 marked the beginning of a new era in India's struggle against colonial and exploitative British rule.
• The Gandhian era of national struggle began in 1919 and lasted until India gained independence from British rule in 1947.
• The early Gandhian movements' success, such as Champaran Satyagraha (1917), Ahmedabad Mill Satyagraha (1918), and Kheda Satyagraha (1918), persuaded the masses that only the Gandhi method could defeat British rule.
• The situation in India in 1919-20 was extremely volatile due to a combination of factors such as a leadership vacuum, failure of moderate and extremist policies, and the Jalliawala Bagh massacre, which pushed Gandhiji to the forefront of the Indian national freedom struggle.
• The typical character of the Gandhian movement, as well as the success of the South African experiment, had also played a significant role in his ascension to the position of a supreme national leader.
• Gandhiji lived like most ordinary Indians and spoke commoners' language. Gandhiji fought for commoners' issues, and as a result, every section of Indian society developed a strong faith in Gandhian leadership.
• During the years 1919-20, he became a symbol of hope and inspiration for the common people, leading to his ascension to the position of an undisputed supreme national leader.

Nature of Gandhian Movements

• The Gandhian movement was a true mass movement, similar to moderate and extremist movements. He was adamant that no struggle against British rule would succeed unless the masses joined in.
• It was nonviolent in nature, egalitarian in outlook, secular and progressive in nature, strongly anti-colonial in appearance, and distinguished by the use of both constitutional and extra-constitutional methods.
• Gandhi's movement was a pan-India movement because it reached millions of Indians and was easily embraced by all segments of Indian society.
• Villagers had begun to participate in the national movement, which was no longer limited to towns and cities.
• Under Gandhiji's leadership, peasants, workers, women, students, and the business class had joined the nationalist struggle.
• Gandhiji defined the goal of Swaraj for the first time at the Nagpur session of Congress in December 1920.
• In Gandhiji's leadership, the Congress adopted the goal of 'Purna Swaraj' in order to strengthen the freedom movement on a large scale.
• The Gandhian movement was fundamentally a Satyagraha, or "search for truth." The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was Gandhiji's first Satyagraha movement.
• Gandhiji was always a staunch supporter of the truth, regardless of the consequences.
• He believed that it was humanity's responsibility to cooperate with good and avoid cooperation with evil. He saw British rule as a bad thing, which is why he opposed it.
• Because Gandhiji always emphasized using the right methods to achieve the right goals, the Gandhian movement was fundamentally an ethical and moral struggle. He never took advantage of anyone's weakness.
• Furthermore, it was distinguished by a transition between active and passive phases. During the active phase, Mahatma Gandhi led a mass agitation, and during the passive phase, he oversaw a village reconstruction program.
• It was centered on several themes, including the promotion of Hindu-Muslim unity, the abolition of untouchability, the promotion of cottage industry, the upliftment of women and lower castes, the prohibition of liquor alcohol, and the spread of vocational education.
• The Gandhian movement also made extensive use of STS (Struggle-Truce-Struggle) and PCP (Pressure-Compromise-Pressure) strategies.
• It was extremely successful because it was only due to the pressure exerted by the Gandhian movement that the British were forced to leave India in 1947.

Gandhian Movements - Significance

• The Gandhian movement made a significant contribution to the success of India's struggle against British rule, but it should be noted that the Gandhian movement was not without limitations.
• Subhash Chandra Bose called the sudden withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922, following the Chauri-Chaura incident, a "national calamity."
• The Non-Cooperation Movement was an important stage in India's struggle for independence from British rule.
• From August 1920 to February 1922, this movement was active. It was launched from the Khilafat platform, led by Mahatma Gandhi, and was backed by the Indian National Congress.
• The Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) was suspended as an example of this. It was the second great mass movement, launched on March 12, 1930, by Congress under Gandhiji's leadership.
• Gandhiji suspended the CDM on March 5, 1931, through a pact signed with Lord Irwin.
• It created a disillusioned atmosphere in the national struggle because Gandhiji completely failed to take all of the leaders into confidence when making decisions.

Contribution of Gandhian Movements

Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

• Gandhi's first active involvement in Indian freedom politics was the Champaran agitation in Bihar.
• Farmers in Champaran were being forced to grow Indigo and were being tortured if they objected.
• The farmers sought Gandhi's assistance, and Gandhi was able to gain concessions from the authorities through a calculated nonviolent protest.

Kheda Satyagraha (1918)

• When floods devastated Kheda, a village in Gujarat, the local farmers petitioned the rulers to waive the taxes. Here, Gandhi launched a signature campaign in which peasants pledged not to pay taxes.
• In addition, he organized a social boycott of mamlatdars and talatdars (revenue officials). In 1918, the government relaxed the terms of revenue tax payment until the famine ended.

Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918)

• Gandhi used Satyagraha and hunger strike for the first time during an industrial dispute between the owners and workers of a cotton mill in Ahmedabad.
• The owners wanted to withdraw the plague bonus from the workers, while the workers demanded a wage increase of 35%.
• During Gandhi's peaceful strike, he went on hunger strike.
• The Ahmedabad Mill strike was successful, and the workers received the wage increase they desired.

Khilafat Movement (1919)

• Gandhi had a significant impact on the Muslim population. This was evident in his participation in the Khilafat Movement.
• Following World War I, Muslims feared for the safety of their Caliph or religious leader, and a worldwide protest was organized to combat the Caliph's collapsing status.
• Gandhi became a prominent spokesperson for the All India Muslim Conference and returned the Empire medals he had received while serving in the Indian Ambulance Corps in South Africa.
• His role in the Khilafat quickly elevated him to the position of a national leader.

Movement Against Non-Cooperation (1920)

• Gandhi realized that the British were only able to stay in India because of the Indians' cooperation. In light of this, he called for a non-cooperation movement.
• With the help of Congress and his indomitable spirit, he persuaded the people that peaceful non-cooperation was the key to independence.
• The foreboding day of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre sparked the non-cooperation movement.
• Gandhi established the goal of Swaraj, or self-government, which has since become the motto of the Indian freedom movement.

Conclusion

Mahatma Gandhi was the visionary who led India to independence. For over 250 years, India was ruled by the British. At the request of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915. Gandhi's contribution to the Indian freedom movement is incalculable in words. He and other freedom fighters forced the British to leave India. His policies and agendas were nonviolent, and his words inspired millions of people.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which movement marked the beginning of Gandhian politics in India?

A. Kheda Satyagraha
B. Non-Cooperation Movement
C. Champaran Satyagraha
D. Civil Disobedience Movement

2. What was the key demand of the Kheda Satyagraha?

A. Independence from British rule
B. Relief from land revenue taxes
C. Equal representation in legislative councils
D. Removal of the Rowlatt Act

3. What does ‘Satyagraha’ literally mean?

A. Non-violence
B. Passive resistance
C. Truth force
D. Moral courage

4. Which of the following movements involved the boycott of British goods and institutions?

A. Kheda Satyagraha
B. Non-Cooperation Movement
C. Champaran Satyagraha
D. Civil Disobedience Movement

5. Which principle was central to Gandhi’s method of resistance?

A. Armed rebellion
B. Economic boycott
C. Non-violence
D. Revolutionary terrorism

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the role of Mahatma Gandhi in the Champaran and Kheda Satyagrahas. How did these movements shape the Indian freedom struggle?

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership in the Champaran Satyagraha (1917) and Kheda Satyagraha (1918) marked the beginning of his political involvement in India. In Champaran, Gandhi fought against the exploitation of indigo farmers by European planters, using Satyagraha to peacefully demand justice. The success of this movement proved the effectiveness of non-violent resistance. Similarly, in Kheda, Gandhi mobilized the peasants of Gujarat to demand tax relief in the face of famine and crop failure. Both movements highlighted the potential of mass mobilization and non-violent civil disobedience, setting the stage for future national movements like the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Q2: Analyze the significance of Satyagraha in the early phase of the Indian independence movement.

Answer: Satyagraha, or the force of truth, became a powerful tool in the hands of Mahatma Gandhi to confront the British colonial regime without violence. The concept of Satyagraha emphasized moral courage, passive resistance, and the power of truth. In the early phase of the Indian freedom struggle, Gandhi applied Satyagraha in the Champaran and Kheda movements, leading to significant victories for the common people. This philosophy of non-violence not only united diverse sections of society but also garnered international attention, giving India’s freedom struggle a distinct identity. Satyagraha remained a cornerstone of subsequent movements, including the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements.

Q3: Evaluate the impact of the Non-Cooperation Movement on Indian society and politics.

Answer: The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) had a profound impact on Indian society and politics. It marked the first instance of mass mobilization under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership, involving people from all walks of life, including peasants, workers, students, and women. The movement encouraged boycotts of British institutions, goods, and services, and promoted self-reliance through the use of Indian-made goods (Swadeshi). Politically, it shifted the focus of the freedom struggle from elite leadership to mass participation. Although the movement was eventually called off following the Chauri Chaura incident, it laid the foundation for Gandhian leadership in the independence movement and demonstrated the power of non-violent resistance.

Previous Year Questions from Beginning of the Gandhian Movements

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2020

Question: Which of the following was the first major movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in India?
A. Kheda Satyagraha
B. Non-Cooperation Movement
C. Champaran Satyagraha
D. Civil Disobedience Movement

Answer: C

Explanation: The Champaran Satyagraha (1917) was the first major movement led by Gandhi in India, addressing the grievances of indigo farmers in Bihar.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 1)

Question: Discuss the relevance of Satyagraha in the Indian freedom struggle. How did Gandhi apply this method in his early movements?

Explanation: The concept of Satyagraha, or non-violent resistance, was central to Mahatma Gandhi’s strategy in the Indian freedom struggle. Gandhi applied Satyagraha in the Champaran and Kheda movements, where he successfully mobilized peasants to resist British exploitation through peaceful means. Satyagraha emphasized the power of truth, moral courage, and non-violence, which helped unite diverse sections of society and gave India’s freedom struggle a unique identity. The success of these early movements demonstrated the effectiveness of non-violent resistance and set the stage for larger national movements like the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements.