Gandhian Era — TNPSC Group II/IIA History
Overview
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi dominated Indian nationalist politics from 1919 to 1947. His methods — non-violence (Ahimsa), Satyagraha (truth-force), non-cooperation, and civil disobedience — transformed the independence movement into a mass movement involving millions of ordinary Indians. For TNPSC Group 2/2A, master the three major movements, the Dandi March, Quit India, and the path to independence.
Gandhi's Background and Early Life
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Born | October 2, 1869, Porbandar, Gujarat |
| Full name | Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi |
| Title | Mahatma (given by Rabindranath Tagore); Bapu |
| South Africa | 1893–1914; developed Satyagraha; Phoenix Settlement, Tolstoy Farm |
| Return to India | January 9, 1915 (now Pravasi Bharatiya Divas) |
| Mentor | Gopal Krishna Gokhale |
Gandhi's core principles:
- Ahimsa: Non-violence in thought, word, and deed
- Satyagraha: Truth-force; non-violent resistance to injustice
- Swaraj: Self-rule; both political independence and self-discipline
- Swadeshi: Economic self-sufficiency through Indian goods
Champaran Satyagraha (1917) — Gandhi's First Major Movement in India
- Indigo farmers in Champaran, Bihar forced to grow indigo on 3/20 of their land (Tinkathia system)
- Gandhi investigated conditions; launched Satyagraha
- British forced to abolish Tinkathia system
- First civil disobedience in India by Gandhi
Kheda Satyagraha (1918)
- Flood-affected farmers in Kheda district, Gujarat demanded revenue remission
- Gandhi organised non-payment of land revenue
- British partially conceded — revenue collection suspended for poorer peasants
- Vallabhbhai Patel (Sardar Patel) emerged as a key leader here
Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918)
- Gandhi's first hunger strike (Anshan) in India
- Mill workers demanding 35% wage increase; owners offered 20%
- Gandhi's hunger strike forced mill owners to agree to arbitration
- Workers got 35% increase
Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922)
Background
- Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919): British General Dyer ordered firing at unarmed crowd in Amritsar; 1000+ killed
- Rowlatt Act (1919): Allowed detention without trial — "Black Acts"
- Gandhi called for Satyagraha; Khilafat Movement by Muslims (against British treatment of Ottoman Caliphate)
- Gandhi linked Khilafat with Non-Cooperation for Hindu-Muslim unity
Programme
- Surrender titles and honours to British
- Boycott British courts, legislative councils, schools, colleges
- Boycott foreign goods; use Swadeshi products
- Non-payment of taxes
- Set up national schools and panchayat courts
Key Events
- Ali Brothers (Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali): Khilafat leaders who joined Gandhi
- Mass participation across India; first truly national movement
- C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) in Tamil Nadu actively participated
Withdrawal — Chauri Chaura (1922)
- February 5, 1922: Angry mob at Chauri Chaura (UP) burned police station; 22 policemen died
- Gandhi immediately suspended the movement on February 12, 1922
- Many leaders including Nehru criticised the withdrawal
- Gandhi argued: movement was getting violent; Satyagraha must be non-violent
Simon Commission and Response (1927–1928)
- British government sent Simon Commission (1927) to review constitutional reforms
- All seven members were British — no Indian member
- Indian boycott: "Simon Go Back" slogan
- Lala Lajpat Rai (Lalaji) severely beaten during protest; died November 17, 1928
- Nehru Report (1928): First constitutional draft by Indians — by Motilal Nehru
- Bhagat Singh avenged Lajpat Rai's death by shooting British officer Saunders (1928)
Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1934)
Dandi March (March 12 – April 6, 1930)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Start | Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad (March 12, 1930) |
| End | Dandi village, Navsari district, Gujarat (April 6, 1930) |
| Distance | 240 miles (386 km) |
| Duration | 24 days |
| Purpose | Break Salt Law; make salt without paying tax |
| Significance | Launched Civil Disobedience Movement |
Key moments:
- Gandhi started with 78 chosen followers
- As they marched, thousands joined
- On April 6: Gandhi picked up a handful of salt — "With this I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire"
- Raids on Dharasana Salt Works (May 1930): Sarojini Naidu led; Webb Miller of United Press reported the peaceful non-resistance
Response:
- 60,000+ arrested including Gandhi, Nehru, Patel
- Women participated massively — many were jailed
- Alluri Sitarama Raju (Andhra) had died earlier (1924) in Rampa Rebellion; inspired many
Gandhi-Irwin Pact (March 5, 1931)
- Gandhi called off Civil Disobedience
- Viceroy Lord Irwin agreed to: release political prisoners, allow salt manufacture on coast, allow Congress to participate in Round Table Conference
- Gandhi participated in Second Round Table Conference in London (1931) — no result
Round Table Conferences
| Conference | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First RTC | 1930–31 | Congress absent; inconclusive |
| Second RTC | 1931 | Gandhi attended; no agreement on minorities |
| Third RTC | 1932 | Congress absent; Communal Award issued |
Communal Award (1932):
- British PM Ramsay MacDonald — separate electorates for depressed classes (Dalits)
- Gandhi started fast-unto-death; B.R. Ambedkar and Gandhi signed Poona Pact (September 25, 1932)
- Separate electorates dropped; reserved seats given in general electorates
Quit India Movement (1942)
Background
- World War II (1939–1945): British dragged India into war without consent
- Cripps Mission (1942): Stafford Cripps offered dominion status after war — Congress rejected "post-dated cheque on a failing bank"
August 8, 1942
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Session | AICC meeting at Gowalia Tank Maidan, Bombay |
| Resolution | "Quit India" resolution passed |
| Gandhi's speech | "Do or Die" (Karo ya Maro) — historic call to action |
| British response | Arrested Gandhi, Nehru, all Congress leaders at dawn August 9 |
Underground leadership:
- Jayaprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia led underground resistance
- Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted Congress flag at Gowalia Tank (symbol of defiance)
- Mass protests, strikes, sabotage of government property
- British suppressed harshly: 100,000 arrested, 1000+ killed in firing
INA (Indian National Army):
- Subhash Chandra Bose escaped to Germany (1941), then Japan
- Formed Indian National Army (INA/Azad Hind Fauj) with help of Japan
- "Jai Hind" and "Delhi Chalo" slogans
- INA advanced to Imphal and Kohima (1944); repulsed by Allied forces
Path to Independence (1945–1947)
Wavell Plan and Simla Conference (1945)
- Viceroy Wavell proposed Indianisation of Executive Council
- Failed due to Jinnah's insistence on Muslim League's right to name all Muslim members
Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Members | Pethick-Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, A.V. Alexander |
| Proposal | Three-tier federal India — no partition |
| Congress | Accepted the plan |
| Muslim League | Accepted initially; later rejected |
| Result | Failure → partition inevitable |
Direct Action Day (August 16, 1946)
- Jinnah declared "Direct Action Day" — led to massive Hindu-Muslim riots in Calcutta
- "The Great Calcutta Killings" — thousands died
Interim Government (September 1946)
- Nehru formed Interim Government; Muslim League joined later
- Constant friction; ML ministers boycotted Congress decisions
Indian Independence Act (July 18, 1947)
- Partition of British India into India and Pakistan
- Independence on August 15, 1947
- Mountbatten as first Governor-General of India; Jinnah as first Governor-General of Pakistan
- Radcliffe Line divided Bengal and Punjab
Key Facts for TNPSC Group II/IIA
- Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: April 13, 1919 — General Dyer; 1000+ killed; Udham Singh avenged in 1940
- Non-Cooperation Movement: 1920–1922; withdrawn after Chauri Chaura (February 5, 1922)
- Dandi March: March 12 – April 6, 1930; 240 miles; broke Salt Law
- Civil Disobedience Movement: 1930–1934; Gandhi-Irwin Pact March 5, 1931
- Poona Pact (1932): Gandhi-Ambedkar agreement; reserved seats instead of separate electorates for Dalits
- Quit India Movement: August 8, 1942; "Do or Die" slogan; Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted flag
- INA/Azad Hind Fauj: Subhash Chandra Bose; "Jai Hind"; "Delhi Chalo"
- Cabinet Mission Plan (1946): Proposed federal India; Congress accepted; ML rejected
- India Independent: August 15, 1947; Nehru's "Tryst with Destiny" speech
- Gandhi assassinated on January 30, 1948 by Nathuram Godse
Previous Year MCQ Patterns
Q: The Dandi March by Mahatma Gandhi was to protest against: a) Rowlatt Act b) Salt Tax c) Simon Commission d) Jallianwala Bagh
Q: The Non-Cooperation Movement was withdrawn by Gandhi due to violence at: a) Jallianwala Bagh b) Chauri Chaura c) Bardoli d) Dandi
Q: "Do or Die" slogan was associated with which movement? a) Non-Cooperation Movement b) Civil Disobedience Movement c) Quit India Movement d) Khilafat Movement
Frequently Asked Questions
The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922) was Gandhi's first mass movement against British rule. Indians boycotted British institutions — courts, schools, councils, and goods. It was withdrawn by Gandhi on February 12, 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident, where an angry mob burned a police station killing 22 policemen.