Shardul pandit biography of mahatma gandhi

Gandhi ran a thriving legal practice, and at the outbreak of the Boer War, he raised an all-Indian ambulance corps of 1, volunteers to support the British cause, arguing that if Indians expected to have full rights of citizenship in the British Empire, they also needed to shoulder their responsibilities. After years of protests, the government imprisoned hundreds of Indians inincluding Gandhi.

Under pressure, the South African government accepted a compromise negotiated by Gandhi and General Jan Christian Smuts that included recognition of Hindu marriages and the abolition of a poll tax for Indians. In Gandhi founded an ashram in Ahmedabad, India, that was open to all castes.

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Wearing a simple loincloth and shawl, Gandhi lived an austere life devoted to prayer, fasting and meditation. Inwith India still under the firm control of the British, Gandhi had a political reawakening when the newly enacted Rowlatt Act authorized British authorities to imprison people suspected of sedition without trial. In response, Gandhi called for a Satyagraha campaign of peaceful protests and strikes.

Violence broke out instead, which culminated on April 13,in the Massacre of Amritsar. Troops led by British Brigadier General Reginald Dyer fired machine guns into a crowd of unarmed demonstrators and killed nearly people. Gandhi became a leading figure in the Indian home-rule movement. Calling for mass boycotts, he urged government officials to stop working for the Crown, students to stop attending government schools, soldiers to leave their posts and citizens to stop paying taxes and purchasing British goods.

Rather than buy British-manufactured clothes, he began to use a portable spinning wheel to produce his own cloth. The spinning wheel soon became a symbol of Indian independence and self-reliance. Gandhi assumed the leadership of the Indian National Congress and advocated a policy of non-violence and non-cooperation to achieve home rule. After British authorities arrested Gandhi inhe pleaded guilty to three counts of sedition.

Although sentenced to a six-year imprisonment, Gandhi was released in February after appendicitis surgery. When violence between the two religious groups flared again, Gandhi began a three-week fast in the autumn of to urge unity. He remained away from active politics during much of the latter s. Wearing a homespun white shawl and sandals and carrying a walking stick, Gandhi set out from his religious retreat in Sabarmati on March 12,with a few dozen followers.

By the time he arrived 24 days later in the coastal town of Dandi, the ranks of the marchers swelled, and Gandhi broke the law by making salt from evaporated seawater. The Salt March sparked similar protests, and mass civil disobedience swept across India. Approximately 60, Indians were jailed for breaking the Salt Acts, including Gandhi, who was imprisoned in May His father, Karamchand Gandhi, served as a chief minister, while his mother, Putlibai, was a deeply religious woman who instilled values of spirituality and non-violence in him.

Initially, Gandhi was a timid and somewhat unremarkable student, struggling with confidence and societal expectations. Despite aspirations to become a doctor, family pressures guided him towards the legal profession, leading him to England in to study law. Gandhi's time in London was marked by his struggle to adapt to Western culture, alongside a growing commitment to vegetarianism and a deeper exploration of various religious philosophies.

This period was transformative for Gandhi, as he began to embrace values aligned with Jainism and Hinduism, including non-violence and simplicity.

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Returning to India in after his studies, he faced challenges as a lawyer, including a humiliating experience in court that accelerated his journey toward civil rights advocacy. This foundational stage in Gandhi's life ignited his passion for justice, which would later define his leadership in India's non-violent independence movement against British rule.

Gandhi's notable career began in South Africa, where he first encountered the harsh realities of racial discrimination. After arriving in Durban in to fulfill a legal contract, Gandhi was shocked by the unsettling treatment of Indian immigrants by the white authorities. His pivotal moment occurred during a train journey when he was forcibly removed from a first-class compartment simply for being Indian, despite holding a valid ticket.

This incident ignited a fire within him, leading Gandhi to dedicate himself to combating discrimination and the deep-seated prejudice against Indians in South Africa through peaceful means. In response to the injustices he witnessed, Gandhi established the Natal Indian Congress inaiming to address and alleviate the suffering of his fellow Indian citizens.

His approach combined the principles of nonviolence and passive resistance, emphasizing moral courage over physical aggression. Through these efforts, Gandhi not only fought for civil rights but also fostered a sense of unity among the Indian community, laying the groundwork for his later role as a leader in India's fight for freedom. Mahatma Gandhi, known for his leadership in India's non-violent struggle for independence against British rule, made significant contributions to civil rights both in India and South Africa.

They were: I That the good of the individual is contained in the good of all. Gandhi purchased some land near Phoenix station and established the Phoenix settlement in mid The settlers had to erect structures to accommodate themselves and the printing press. The settlers had to go through many trials to print the issue in time.

Everyone had to join in the work. The settlers were divided in two classes. The 'Schemers' made their living by manual labour. A few were paid labourers. To make a living by manual labour, land was divided in pieces of three acres each. Stress was on manual labour. Even the printing press was often worked with hand-power. Sanitary arrangements were primitive and everyone had to be his own scavenger.

The colony was to be self-supporting and the material needs were to be kept to the minimum. A spirit of self-reliance pervaded the colony. Gandhi, however, could stay there only for brief periods. He had to be in Johannesburg in connection with his work. The Zulu 'rebellion' broke out in April It was not in fact a rebellion, but a man-hunt. The British wanted to crush the freedom-loving Zulu tribals.

The operation to massacre them was, therefore, started under a flimsy pretext. Out of a sense of loyalty to the British empire, Gandhi offered the services of the Indian community, though his heart was with the Zulus. An ambulance corps of 24 persons was formed. Its duty was to carry the wounded Zulus and nurse them. The Zulus were flogged and tortured and left with festering wounds.

Whites were not ready to nurse them. Gandhi was happy to nurse them. He had to work hard and walk miles through hills. It was a thought-provoking experience. He saw the cruelty of the British and the horrors of the war. While marching through Zululand, Gandhi thought deeply.

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Two ideas became fixed in his mind-Brahmacharya and the adoption of voluntary poverty. The White rulers were bent on keeping South Africa under their domination. They wanted as few Indians there as possible and that too as slave-labourers. In Transvaal, Indians were required to register themselves. The procedure was humiliating. The registration was proposed to be made stricter in Gandhi realised that it was a matter of life or death for the Indians.

A mammoth meeting was held in September to oppose the bill. People took oath in the name of God not to submit to the bill at any cost. A new principle had come into being - the principle of Satyagraha. The bill about registration was however passed. Picketing against registration was organised. A wave of courage and enthusiasm swept the Indian community.

The Indian community rose as one man for the sake of its survival and dignity. The agitation was first called 'passive Resistance'. Gandhi, however, did not like that term. It did not convey the true nature of the struggle. It implied that it was the weapon of the weak and the disarmed. It did not denote complete faith in nonviolence. Moreover, Gandhi did not like that the Indian struggle should be known by an English name.

The term 'Sadagrah' was suggested. Gandhi changed it to 'Satyagrah' to make it represent fully, the whole idea. Satyagraha means asserting truth through non-violence. It aims at converting the opponents through self-suffering. Gandhi was ordered to leave the colony. He disobeyed and was jailed for two months. Indians filled the jails.

Repression failed to yield the results. General Smuts called Gandhi and promised that the law would be withdrawn if the Indians agreed to voluntary registration. Gandhi agreed. He and his co-workers were set free. Gandhi exhorted Indians to register voluntarily. He was criticized for this by some workers. A Pathan named Mir Alam was unconvinced by Gandhi's arguments and vowed to kill the first man who would register himself.

Gandhi came forward to be the first man to register himself. When he was going to the registration office, Mir Alam and his friends assaulted him with lathis. Gandhi fainted with the words 'He Ram' on his lips. It was 10th February His colleagues tried to save him otherwise it would have been the last day for him. Mir Alam and his friends were caught and handed over to the police.

When Gandhi regained consciousness, he inquired about Mir Alam. When told that he had been arrested, Gandhi told that he should be released. Gandhi was taken by his friend Rev. Doke to his house and was nursed there. Doke later became his first biographer. Smuts however, betrayed Gandhi. The agitation was again resumed. The voluntary registration certificates were publicly burnt.

Meanwhile, Transvaal passed Immigration Restriction Act. This too was opposed by the Indians. They crossed Transvaal border illegally and were jailed. Gandhi, too, was arrested and convicted. The fight continued in spite of the repression. Gandhi realised that the fight would be a long one. He, therefore, desired to have a center where the Satyagrahis could lead a simple community life and get training for the struggle.

Phoenix was at about 30 hours distance from Johannesburg. Gandhi's German friend Kallenbach therefore bought acres of land at a distance of about 20 miles from Johannesburg, where Tolstoy Farm was established. The community was named after Tolstoy to pay respect to the great Russian writer whose book 'The Kingdom of God is within You' had greatly influenced Gandhi and made him a firm believer in non-violence.

The inmates numbered about It was a heterogeneous shardul pandit biography of mahatma gandhi. It was a tribute to Gandhi's leadership that they remained together happily under hard conditions. The inmates erected sheds to accommodate themselves. They did all their work themselves. Drinking, smoking and meat-eating were prohibited.

All ate in the community kitchen. Small Cottage Industries were started for self-sufficiency. Gandhi and his colleagues learnt shoe-making. A school was started. Gandhi himself undertook the responsibility of educating the children. The life was simple, hard, but joyful. Experiments at Tolstoy Farm proved to be a source of purification and penance for Gandhi and his co-workers.

Satyagraha continued for four years. Gandhi discontinued his legal practice in After many ups and downs, the last phase of Satyagraha began in September A Black Law imposing three pounds tax on Indians provided occasion for it. Satyagrahis crossed Transvaal border defying the law. Even the women were invited to join. Indian workers in the Natal coal-mines struck work and joined the struggle.

Gandhi led a large contingent of these workers. They were about in number. It was on epic march. Indian National Congress supported the Satyagraha. Gandhi was arrested. The Satyagrahis marched to Natal without their leader. There, they were arrested and jailed. Thousands of labourers struck work in sympathy. The public outcry in India forced the Indian Government to express sympathy for the Indian cause.

The repression having failed, General Smuts had to bow ultimately. Indian demands were accepted. The fight was over. Gandhi now could return to India where a great work awaited him. It was South Africa which made Gandhi. He had gone there as a young, shy, Briefless Barrister. He returned as an extra-ordinary leader who had mobilised masses to an unprecedented extent for a novel fight.

In South Africa, Gandhi's ideas were shaped. He was influenced by Ruskin, Tolstoy and Thoreau. He made a deep study of religions there and became a staunch believer in nonviolence. The principle of Satyagraha was born in S. Gandhi returned to India in January He was welcomed and honoured as a hero. He spent a year touring the country at the instance of Gokhale, his guru.

He travelled mostly in third class railway compartments. He saw the conditions in the country first-hand. He founded the Satyagraha Ashram in May and started getting involved in the social and political life of the country. The Champaran Satyagraha was his shardul pandit biography of mahatma gandhi major struggle. Champaran was a district in Northern Bihar.

When Gandhi was called there, it was virtually under the rule of European indigo planters. They cruelly exploited and terrorised the tenants. The tenants were oppressed and fear-stricken. The British administration supported the planters. Gandhi was invited to visit Champaran by Rajkumar Shukla, a peasant from the area, in December Gandhi was first reluctant.

But Shukla's persistent requests made him change his mind. He went to Champaran in April to know the conditions there and the grievances of the peasants. Before visiting the district, Gandhi visited Muzaffarpur and Patna. He discussed the matter with lawyers and social workers. Gandhi declined to seek legal remedies as he felt that law courts were useless when the people were fear-stricken.

For him, removal of fear was most important. He made request to the lawyers for clerical assistance. Many of them gladly offered the same. Gandhi first met the planters and the District Commissioner. They were hostile. Gandhi was ordered to leave the area. He ignored the order. He was then summoned to the court. The news electrified the area.

Crowds gathered at the court. Gandhi pleaded guilty, saying that he was obeying a higher law, the voice of conscience. The case against him was later dropped. Gandhi and his co-workers met thousands of the peasants. They recorded about statements. Efforts were made to ensure that they were true. Recording was done in the presence of police officials.

Undue publicity and exaggeration were avoided. Planters' campaign of slander was ignored. The masses in Champaran overcame their fear. Public opinion in the country was aroused. The Government ultimately appointed an enquiry committee in Junewith Gandhi as a member. The committee recommended abolition of tinkathia system and partial refund of money taken illegal by the planters.

The Satyagraha was thus successful. Champaran Satyagraha was the first Satyagraha on the Indian soil. It was Gandhi's first major political work in India. It was carried out strictly in accordance with the principles of Satyagraha. Attention was paid to constructive work like sanitation, education and primary health-care. A dispute between the textile mill-owners and the labourers at Ahmedabad arose inabout the grant of bonus and dearness allowance.

Gandhi was approached to find a solution. He persuaded both the parties to agree to arbitration. But after a few days, some misunderstanding led to a strike. The mill-owners seized the opportunity and declared lock-out. Gandhi studied the case. He advised the labourers to demand the same. Regular strike began on the 26th February Thousands of labourers struck work.

They took a pledge not to resume work till their demand was met or arbitration was agreed upon. They also decided to observe non-violence and maintain peace. Gandhi had friends in both the camps. The mill-owners being led by Shri Ambalal Sarabhai. His sister Ansuyaben was leading the labourers. During the struggle, Gandhi's co-workers regularly visited the labourers' quarters to solve their problems and to keep high their morale.

Daily meetings and prayers were held. Bulletins were issued. Gandhi did not like charity.

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Efforts were made to find alternative employments for the workers. However, after a fortnight, the workers started getting tired. It was difficult to face starvation. It was unbearable for Gandhi that they should break the vow. He then decided to undertake an indefinite fast. This strengthened the workers. It brought moral pressure on the mill-owners.

They consented to arbitration after three days. Gandhi broke his fast. The Satyagraha was successful. The workers' demand was thus fully met. However, Gandhi's fast did involve in an element of coercion. But it was a spontaneous decision. The situation demanded some drastic action. The Satyagraha was significant in many respects. It was the first Satyagraha by industrial workers.

It was wholly peaceful. It showed how workers could fight non-violently. It also gave rise to a strong Gandhian Labour Union. Kheda was a district in Gujarat. Inthere was a crop failure due to famine. Peasants were unable to pay the land revenue. The rules permitted suspension of revenue collection when the crops were less than four annas.

According to the peasants' estimate, the crops were less than four annas. Gandhi's inquiries, as well as inquiries by independent observers, showed that the peasants were right. The Government, however, thought otherwise. It even turned down a suggestion of an impartial enquiry. It started coercing the peasants to collect revenue. Petitions etc.

Satyagraha was therefore started on the 22nd March Gandhi advised the peasants to withhold payment to revenue. Satyagrahis took a pledge not to pay the same and resolved to be ready to face the consequences. Volunteers went to villages to keep up the morale of the peasants. As in Champaran, Gandhi's main concern was to remove the fear from the peasants' minds.

The officials started attaching the property of the peasants including cattle and even standing crops. Notices were sent for attachment of the land. An occasion for civil disobedience arose when standing onion crop was attached at one place. Gandhi advised one Mohanlal Pandya and a few volunteers to remove the crop. This was done.

The volunteers were arrested. Pandya earned the nickname 'Onion Thief. The struggle went on for about four months till July It tested the people's patience. The Government discontinued coercive measures. It advised that if the well-to-do peasants paid up, the poor ones would be granted suspension. In one sense, the Satyagraha was thus successful.

The peasants' demand was not, however, fully met. Gandhi was not satisfied. He wanted people to come out stronger after Satyagraha. However, the Satyagraha resulted in shardul pandit biography of mahatma gandhi the peasants. It educated them politically. It was the first peasant struggle under Gandhi's leadership, the first nonviolent mass civil disobedience campaign organised by Gandhi in India.

The peasants became aware of their rights and learnt to suffer for them. British Government appointed a Committee in under the chairmanship of Justice Rowlatt, 1 to enquire and report to the Government about the nature and extent of anti-government activities, and 2 to suggest legal remedies to enable the Government to suppress those activities.

The Committee submitted its report in April Its work was carried out in secrecy. The Committee's recommendations were embodied in two bills. The first bill sought to make a permanent change in the Criminal Law. He soon accepted a position with an Indian firm that sent him to its office in South Africa. Along with his wife, Kasturbai, and their children, Gandhi remained in South Africa for nearly 20 years.

Did you know? The march resulted in the arrest of nearly 60, people, including Gandhi himself. Gandhi was appalled by the discrimination he experienced as an Indian immigrant in South Africa. When a European magistrate in Durban asked him to take off his turban, he refused and left the courtroom. On a train voyage to Pretoria, he was thrown out of a first-class railway compartment and beaten up by a white stagecoach driver after refusing to give up his seat for a European passenger.

Inafter the Transvaal government passed an ordinance regarding the registration of its Indian population, Gandhi led a campaign of civil disobedience that would last for the next eight years. During its final phase inhundreds of Indians living in South Africa, including women, went to jail, and thousands of striking Indian miners were imprisoned, flogged and even shot.