Gandhi Jayanti: Top 7 Mahatma Gandhi-Led Movements Against British Rule in India

Gandhi Jayanti: Top 7 Mahatma Gandhi-Led Movements Against British Rule in India

Gandhi Jayanti, celebrated every year on October 2, marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, one of India’s greatest freedom fighters. Revered as the “Father of the Nation,” Gandhi led a nonviolent struggle that ultimately resulted in India’s independence from British rule. His unique approach of Satyagraha, or nonviolent resistance, left an indelible mark on history and became a powerful tool against oppression. On this Gandhi Jayanti, we reflect on the top seven movements led by Mahatma Gandhi that shaped India’s freedom struggle.

1. Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

The Champaran Satyagraha is widely regarded as Gandhi’s first significant victory in the Indian independence movement. It took place in the Champaran district of Bihar, where poor indigo farmers were forced to grow indigo and sell it at artificially low prices to British planters. The farmers were subjected to severe exploitation, and their livelihoods were at stake.

Upon hearing about their plight, Gandhi visited Champaran and initiated a peaceful protest against the oppressive Tinkathia system (a system where farmers were forced to plant indigo on three-twentieths of their land). Gandhi mobilized the local population and encouraged them to defy unjust laws without resorting to violence.

The movement garnered widespread attention and forced the British government to establish a committee to investigate the issue. Gandhi was made a member of this committee, which eventually led to the abolition of the oppressive system. Champaran became a model for peaceful civil disobedience, marking Gandhi’s first triumph in India.

2. Kheda Satyagraha (1918)

Shortly after the Champaran success, Gandhi took up the cause of farmers in Kheda, Gujarat. The region was suffering from famine, and crop failure had severely affected the farmers. Despite this, the British authorities insisted on collecting the full land revenue from the already impoverished peasants.

Gandhi, along with local leaders such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, launched the Kheda Satyagraha. The movement was built on the principle of non-cooperation, with farmers refusing to pay taxes until the government provided relief. The British government eventually relented, suspending tax collection and offering relief to the peasants.

The Kheda Satyagraha was a success, further cementing Gandhi’s leadership in the freedom struggle. It demonstrated that nonviolent resistance could effectively force the British government to listen to the grievances of the Indian people.

3. Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922)

One of Gandhi’s most significant movements against British rule was the Non-Cooperation Movement. Launched in 1920 after the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and the British betrayal over the Khilafat issue, this movement marked the beginning of widespread national resistance.

The objective was simple: to withdraw all support from British institutions and cripple their administration in India. Gandhi called upon Indians to boycott British goods, educational institutions, courts, and government services. He advocated the revival of Swadeshi (indigenous) goods and industries, encouraging the use of khadi (homespun cloth) to promote self-reliance.

The movement gained massive support across the country, uniting people from all sections of society. However, it was called off in 1922 after violent clashes at Chauri Chaura, where a mob set fire to a police station, resulting in the deaths of 22 policemen. Gandhi believed that nonviolence was the foundation of the movement, and its abandonment due to violent incidents was unacceptable to him. Despite its premature end, the Non-Cooperation Movement was pivotal in shaking British confidence and uniting Indians in the quest for freedom.

4. Salt March (Dandi March) and Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)

The Salt March, also known as the Dandi March, is perhaps the most iconic of all the movements led by Mahatma Gandhi. It was a direct action against the British monopoly on salt production, which forced Indians to buy heavily taxed salt.

On March 12, 1930, Gandhi set out on a 240-mile march from his ashram in Sabarmati to the coastal village of Dandi in Gujarat, where he intended to make salt from the sea, thus defying the Salt Act. Thousands of people joined him along the way, and on April 6, Gandhi symbolically broke the salt law by producing salt from seawater.

This act of civil disobedience inspired millions of Indians to break British laws by producing and selling salt, refusing to pay taxes, and boycotting British goods. The Salt March became a powerful symbol of resistance and triggered the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement.

The British government responded with mass arrests, including that of Gandhi and many other leaders, but the movement had a lasting impact, both in India and abroad. It showcased the power of nonviolent resistance and exposed the injustice of British rule to the world.

5. Quit India Movement (1942)

By 1942, the global context had shifted with the outbreak of World War II. Gandhi’s patience with British rule had worn thin, and he launched the Quit India Movement on August 8, 1942, with the famous slogan, “Do or Die.”

Gandhi called for an immediate end to British rule in India. The movement demanded complete independence, and Indians were urged to refuse to cooperate with the colonial administration in any form.

The British government responded with brutal repression, arresting Gandhi and other key leaders, and crushing the movement with force. Despite the crackdown, the Quit India Movement demonstrated the deep desire of Indians for independence. It was clear that British rule could no longer be sustained in the face of widespread national opposition.

6. Khilafat Movement (1919-1924)

While not solely a Gandhi-led movement, the Khilafat Movement saw his active participation as part of his broader strategy of uniting Hindus and Muslims in the fight against British rule. The movement aimed to preserve the authority of the Ottoman Caliph, who was regarded as the spiritual leader of the global Muslim community, after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I.

Gandhi supported the Khilafat cause as he saw an opportunity to build Hindu-Muslim unity. He believed that by joining forces, Indians could present a united front against the British. Gandhi’s support for the Khilafat Movement strengthened the relationship between Indian Muslims and the Congress party at the time, though it eventually disintegrated due to the fall of the Ottoman Empire and rising communal tensions.

7. Swadeshi Movement

The Swadeshi Movement was not a single, defined event but rather an ongoing theme in Gandhi’s strategy against British rule. It advocated for the use of Indian-made goods and the rejection of British-manufactured products. Gandhi promoted khadi as a symbol of self-reliance, encouraging Indians to spin their own cloth and boycott British textiles.

The Swadeshi Movement became a cornerstone of Gandhi’s broader philosophy of self-sufficiency and economic independence, which he believed were essential for India’s political freedom. By urging Indians to adopt a Swadeshi lifestyle, Gandhi emphasized the importance of economic empowerment as a tool to challenge British colonialism.

Conclusion

Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent approach to India’s independence struggle remains a testament to the power of peaceful resistance. The seven movements outlined above played critical roles in weakening British control over India, ultimately leading to independence in 1947. On this Gandhi Jayanti, we remember the enduring legacy of these movements and the values of truth, nonviolence, and self-reliance that Gandhi embodied. His contributions to the fight for freedom continue to inspire movements for justice around the world.

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