GANDHISM- Then and Now

INTRODUCTION

Indian National Movements were raised to end the British rule and seek the Independence of India. The National Movements spanned from 1857 to 1947 with the aim to change the political, socio-culture and economic factors of India. Indians were struggling for freedom against the British Government. It led to the formation of Indian National Congress in 1885, Muslim League in 1906, and Swadeshi Movement in 1905 which spread the Nationalism in India.

‘Raise Voice Without Noise’

Mahatma Gandhi was moving on the path of Non-Violence. He adopted Non-Violence as an ideal of his life. He protested against British rule but without violent action. Furthermore, he introduced various movements such as Swadeshi Movement, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, Non-Cooperation Movement, Quit-India Movement, Swaraj, and Civil Disobedience Movement for freedom.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

On 13th April 1919. This movement began due to the arrest of the leaders Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal on 10th April 1919. They were arrested for the protest against the Rowlatt Act. This movement was introduced for the protest against the arrest of two leaders. On 13th April 1919, the adults and children were peacefully gathered in the jallianwala Bagh for the protest against these arrests. The military commander of Amritsar came to the park with armed forces and fired on the public; almost hundreds of people were killed and thousands of people were wounded. This was a very painful situation for Indians. After this, many fights and clashes happened. On 15th April 1919, martial law was declared in Punjab.

Non-Cooperation Movement

The Non-Cooperation Movement was started in 1920, Mahatma Gandhi was the main leader behind this movement. He issued a manifesto for declaring a doctrine of Non-Cooperation. This manifesto declared:

• The People have to follow Swadesh principles.

• The People have to abolish Untouchability from society.

• The People have to adopt Swadesh activities including weaving and hand spinning.

Features :

1. The movement was a non-violent and peaceful protest.

2. People were asked to resign from their government jobs.

3. People were asked to take off their children from government schools and colleges.

4. People were asked to adopt Indian products.

5. People were asked to boycott foreign products.

6. People were asked to abolish the election of the legislative council.

7. People were asked not to serve in the British Army.

8. Indians were asked to renounce their title and resign from nominated seats in local bodies as a mark of protest.

9. It was decided that if they were not to fulfil our above demand then they would not pay taxes.

10. Indian National Congress demanded for Self-governance.

11. Gandhi had assured that it would take a year if this movement would be continued to completion.

Significance :

1. Lakhs of Indians peacefully participated in this protest Against the Rule of British Government.

2. Muslim and Hindu religion were participated, it showed harmony between different religions In the India.

3. The People were aware of their political rights through this movement.

4. The crowd of people were jailed without fear.

5. The mills and industry were benefited because boycotts of foreign products and khadi were promoted.

6. The import of sugar from the British was reduced.

7. Swaraj was not achieved in a one year and Gandhi became the leader of the masses.

Quit-India Movement

On 8 and 9 August 1942, the Quit-India Movement was started by Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders of the India National Congress in Gowalia Tank Maidan is also known as India August Kranti. This movement gave slogans ‘Quit-India’ and ‘Bharat Chodo’. Gandhi gave the slogan to the people was that ‘do or die’ after the Cripps Mission. It was supposed to be a non-violent and peaceful movement aimed to get freedom over British rule.

Provisions :

1. Immediate freedom from British rule.

2. Deceleration of the commitment of free India from British rule to defend from imperialism and fascism.

3. Approaching the civil disobedience movement from British rule.

4. Formation of provisional government after British withdrawal.

Impact :

1. All the leaders of the movement including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Abdul Kalam Azad and several leaders were arrested.

2. Indian National Congress was declared an unlawful association. Several leaders who were in support of the movement were arrested. It’s offices all over the country were raided. Funds were frozen.

3. The council of viceroy of the Muslim, Communist party and Americans were in support of the British.

4. The first phase of the movement was peacefully continued but in the second phase, it was violent. They were setting fire at government buildings, railway stations and post offices.

Civil Disobedience Movement

This movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi. Civil Disobedience Movement was the huge salt march in which Mahatma Gandhi 78 we're goin from the sabarmati ashram to Gujarati coastal town of Dandi. This movement was started to abolish the salt law. Mahatma Gandhi sent a letter to viceroy Irwin in which he stated 11 demands one of the most important demand was to abolish the salt tax. Gandhi introduced salt march to manufacture the salt by boiling seawater.

Feature :

1. The participation of women were in large in the movement

2. This was the worldwide national movement because others were restricted in urban areas.

3. People from rural areas could also participate in this movement.

4. The Motto of this movement was Non-Violence.

5. This movement didn’t turn back after the continuous suppression by the British government.

6. People became fearless.

Do Non-Violence Work in today’s world?

Yes, Non-Violence is still more effective than Violence as we are working on solving the disputes among the countries by Non-Violence. That’s how we have not emphasized witnessing world war III. We can also change the criminals too by providing them reformative centers in prisons and taking peaceful ways to bring changes. Tihar jail proved that. Anna hazare who took a stand through peace and non-violence for lokpal bill. Doklam issue in which P.M solved the issue through peace and harmony.

I think this depends on the problem we face. If we want to truce the problem so the Non-Violence is a good way and if we want to get rid of the problem so that armed movement is the only way. I have suggested armed movement just for that problem or issue which is faced many times and tried to throw Non-Violence, but it doesn’t stop. So the armed movement is the only way.

If we compare today’s situation, we can see a change in the mentality of the human being. They have less patience and do not have control on aggression as they follow ‘’tit-for-tat’’ which means ‘give equal counter response to someone’. They used arms and other forces to express their views or to protest. Furthermore, peaceful protest can be difficult for them. This is not all about protest. This is all about violent behaviour towards a woman, an individual or a group of people. Somehow, this could be resulted as economic, social, and cultural loss of the nation

Constitutional protections under Article 19(1)(a)&(b) elucidates all citizen the right to freedom of speech and expression, and to assemble peaceably and without arms which means every citizen of the country shall express their views through speech in the public, but they should assemble peacefully and without arms.

Protesting peacefully to show loopholes of the government policies can happen. But violence protest is not protected under the Constitution of India. For example, a student leader Arun Jaitley who was a Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad assembled a crowd and set a fire on a statue of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He was arrested for his violent action.

“Protesting is not fundamentally inaugurated but protest against injustice is a moral duty”.

Conclusion

National movement was the step taken by legend leaders of India. It was taken to end the British rule. They were imposing and pressurising the Indians to follow their policies. India was under the control of British government. The National movement instilled a feeling of Nationalism in the heart of Indians that’s how they became fearless and fought for their rights. Gandhi gave the theory of Ahimsa( Non-Violence), Satya(Truth), Satyagraha(peaceful protest) and Sarvodaya(Welfare of all), and followed it. Gandhi gave the fire of every Indian’s heart to come forward and ask for their rights. He was the only who taught us that 'Only physical strength is not everything, also mental strength gives power to fight against wrong.’

“We should follow the GANDHIAN PRINCIPLES so we can increase the wealth and health of the nation.”

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Written By-

Vanshita Jain