Fighter for human dignity Satyagraha: “Truth force”

Fighter for human dignity

Satyagraha: “Truth force”

Ashram- community marked by honesty, truthfulness, celibacy and poverty

Nationwide campaigns Indian independence Strove to practise

non- violence and truth at all times

Hartel- a general strike

Tremendous support gained.

Protest turned into rioting

Gandhi condemned this

Fasted as penance

379 people dead Over 1200 wounded “I had faith in them-

until 1919, but the Amritsar Massacre and other atrocities in the Punjab changed my heart”.

Indian independence

Spread the message to the people

Soldiers encouraged to desert their posts

Lawyers give up their practise

By December 1921 20,000 people had been imprisoned

Five day fast as penance

Actions proved effective as Congress could not be ignored

Indian demands had to be recognised

1922: charged with rebellion against the government

“... Some of the most loved of India’s patriots have been convicted under it. (Indian law) I consider it a privilege”

Over 80% of Indians were peasants 24 day, 200 mile march Spread civil disobedience to embarrass

the government The Salt Tax which Gandhi set out to

destroy was not only a symbol of the Government’s right to tax and therefore its right to rule- it was an emotional issue too.

Bore hardest on the poor.

2,500 Congress volunteers led to the Dharasana Salt Works

Salt works defended by armed policemen

Viscously attacked and beatenMethodically beaten downObeying the rules of non violence

they did not defend themselves2 deaths and 32o injured

Sailed to England “Do you want your

own prosperity to be built on the misery of others?”

Popular with the British public

Ventured to cotton towns of Lancashire

Gandhi personal triumph but the conference was a failure

Gandhi called for the British to ‘Quit India’

Imprisoned again for his speech on it

“We do not seek our independence out of Britain’s ruin”

(Gandhi)

“Our quarrel is not with the British people, we fight their imperialism”

(Gandhi)

Gandhi called for ‘Quit India’

Muslim League called for ‘Divide and Quit’

Direct Action Day:-4,000 killed-15,000 injured

Gandhi wanted to unite the Indian people

He preached courage, forgiveness and truth

Visited Muslim areas

Vowed not to leave until Muslims and Hindus were at peace

14th – 15th August 1947 Indian Independence Act invoked

India and Pakistan “Partition of the

heart” 12.5 million

displaced At least half a

million killed

Gandhi preached and read from : the Hindu Bhagavad, the Muslim Koran and Jewish-Christian Bible

He felt he must do more Fast unless reunion of

all communities 3rd day~ payment by

India to Pakistan 6th day~ satisfied with

promises made about the restoration of peace

THE DEATH OF GANDHI

3oth January 1948 Gandhi was assassinated

Prime Minister Nehru:

“The light has gone out of our lives”