Gandhi's Satyagraha Sabha: Opposition to the Rowlatt Act

The question asks about a specific organization formed by Mahatma Gandhi on 24 February 1919 with the primary objective of opposing the controversial Rowlatt Act. Understanding the context of the Rowlatt Act is crucial to identifying the correct body.

Understanding the Rowlatt Act

• The Rowlatt Act, passed in 1919, was an extension of wartime measures that allowed the British government in India to arrest and detain any person suspected of sedition without a trial.
• This act was widely opposed by Indians across different political spectrums because it severely curtailed civil liberties, including freedom of the press and assembly.
• Mahatma Gandhi strongly condemned the Rowlatt Act, viewing it as unjust and a violation of fundamental rights.

Formation of the Satyagraha Sabha

In response to the Rowlatt Act, Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch a nationwide Satyagraha (non-violent resistance). To organize this movement effectively, he founded the Satyagraha Sabha on 24 February 1919.

• Purpose: The main goal of the Satyagraha Sabha was to coordinate and lead the protests against the Rowlatt Act.
• Strategy: It advocated for non-violent methods, such as strikes, fasting, and boycotts, as forms of protest.
• Significance: The formation of this Sabha marked a significant step in Gandhi's organized resistance against British rule, mobilizing people for civil disobedience.

Analysis of Options

• Congress Committee: While the Indian National Congress was a major political party, the specific body formed by Gandhi on this date for this purpose was distinct.
• Swaraj Sabha: The concept of Swaraj (self-rule) was central to the independence movement, but the specific organization established on 24 February 1919 to counter the Rowlatt Act was named Satyagraha Sabha.
• Khilafat Committee: The Khilafat Committee was formed later, primarily to address issues related to the Ottoman Caliphate, although there were overlaps in leadership and protest actions with the broader Indian independence movement.
• Satyagraha Sabha: This was the organization precisely established by Gandhi on the specified date to spearhead the opposition to the Rowlatt Act using Satyagraha principles.

Therefore, the body formed by Gandhi on 24 February 1919 to oppose the Rowlatt Act was the Satyagraha Sabha.