Examine the role of Gandhi in the development of Indian nationalism
Examine the role of Gandhi in the development of Indian nationalism
Gandhi is a renowned world figure famous for his works in Indian nationalism. It was his aim to free the Indian Nation from the grips of the British imperial rule. Unlike, other famous nationalist freedom fighter of our time Gandhi was particularly known for his religious and non-violent approaches to nationalism. Being a lawyer by career he spent his early years working in the field of law but after working for rights campaigns he built up a strong sense of morals and objectives, this linked with his strict religious ideals turned him into a public figure and stirred him towards politics in later life. So much of a public man he became in was imprisoned by the British rulers three times during his life for various reasons relating to his nationalist movement. Gandhi was a man respected by all parties involved in India for his works and indeed the way he went about them. His ultimate goal was indeed achieved in 1947 with the bill of Indian Independence being past. It was not exactly how he envisaged it with the partition of India and the birth of Pakistan also emerging which were issues Gandhi worked to prevent.
Mohandas K. Gandhi was born in 1869 in Western Indian in the state of Gujarat. He was born into a Hindu family and went on to have an arranged marriage at the age of thirteen to his wife Kasturbai Makanji. Gandhi was sent to London in 1888 an exile to study Law as the wish of his father. In 1891 he passed his BAR exam and returned to India to pursue a career in Law, however he ended up in South Africa working for African Indians in their fight against equality. He only intended in going to South Africa for one year but ended up staying for twenty. It was these years that shaped his life, religious ideologies, and political thinking. Whilst in South Africa through his works he started to become a house hold name both with South African Indians and British officials, still no more than a successful lawyer, he set up his own news paper in which he could publish his ideas and build up support. It was also during these South African years that he developed his devotement to religion. It was this religion that primarily gave him guidance in his life. He was a staunch vegetarian and would not touch meat even when advised by doctors on medical grounds. His diet consisted of just fruit, nuts, bread and vegetables. He also believed that he could only eat 5 things a day and fasting was important to help bear the pain of the Indian suffering. He was fanatical about cleanliness and in particular sanitation. These beliefs proved to be the bases of his every day life; he led a simple life with no luxuries even when available to him. He read, wrote and prayed every day along with exercise. Later on in his life he developed the need for spinning as a religious act which also featured in his daily routine. Any other matters he performed during his day had to be fitted in around his chores.
Although a large majority and indeed most influential years of Gandhi’s life were spent in South Africa building his ideologies and support it was not until he left Africa and returned to India in 1915 that his fight for Indian nationalism really began. Under the supervision of his mentor Gokhale, Gandhi returned to India a relatively unknown character. Gandhi was advised by Gokhale to, for the time being, keep his ideas to him self and to take time out to travel around India and observe from the outside the political scene. He did this for three years in which although remaining absent from politics still watched attentively the events of the Congress and only became involved after the 1919 Rowlatt bills were rushed through which restricted the civil liberties of the Indian population. These bills came as a shock to most Indians including Gandhi. The Indian National Congress had been working towards giving more liberties to Indians not restricting them. Gandhi used Satyagraha to secure withdrawal from the Rowlatt legislation. He travelled the country trying to implement his pledge to the masses. These tactics of non-co-operation tends to lead to a high degree of respect between adversaries, which ultimately serve as the basis for a settlement of their disputes. Gandhi influenced the people to close their businesses and to fast and pray in protest against the hated legislation. ‘Satyagraha can only succeed if one’s rival, no matter how harsh, unjust or imperialist, is also somewhat honourable and is reluctant to use or endorse force or violence’(Brown, J.M. Gandhi prisoner of hope). Gandhi believed this to be true of the British and on the whole was successful with them, as they did not commit massacres. Having said that, the actions following the Rowlatt bills were marred by rioting in Amritsar and two local leaders were arrested. An angry mob that had gathered and demanded for their release rampaged in the streets killing 5 Europeans. Under the orders of General Dyer, troops opened fire into the crowd. Nearly 400 were killed and 1,200 injured. The British set up the Hunter Committee to look into the events of the Amritsar Massacre, but the Indian National Congress boycotted it and set up their own committee which included Gandhi. His non-violent non-co-operation pact had not gone to plan; he publicly condemned both the mob and the British officials for the incident. Gandhi hoped that the government would make amends the wrong caused by a few erratic officers but in fact they were not dealt with at all. Reluctantly Gandhi now concluded that this government was not one that could be worked with and rather than finding a way to work with it, it was now time to end it. Gandhi’s views on the British Empire may not have changed so rapidly were it not for another part of Indian politics, namely the Khilafat movement. This was the Muslim Indians annoyed about the peace terms Turkey would get from the victorious Allies. Gandhi was fearful that this anger would turn into violent actions against the British, so he agreed that by his terms to lead the Muslim community.
