Gandhi's Political Career in South Africa

Gandhi's Early Political Career in South Africa

• Gandhi arrived in Durban, Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal) in 1893 to serve as legal counsel to merchant Dada Abdulla.
• He faced racial discrimination during travel, being forced to sit outside with the coachman on stagecoaches due to his Indian ethnicity.
• Indians in Transvaal were subjected to a £3 poll tax, worse treatment than in Natal.
• In Pretoria, Gandhi read around 80 books on religion and attended Bible classes, influencing his thoughts on truthfulness in business.
• The first discriminatory legislation against Indians was Law 3 of 1885, while Natal received self-government in 1893.
• The Immigration Law Amendment Bill (1895) required Indians to return to India after five years or pay a tax, reflecting systemic discrimination.
• Gandhi became active in politics, opposing the Franchise Bill in 1894, initiating the Natal Indian Congress for Indian rights.
• Published grievances known as the Green Pamphlet, which faced distortions upon arrival in Durban.
• During the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899), Gandhi organized an Indian Ambulance Corps to assist the British despite supporting the Boer cause.
• Gandhi founded the British Indian Association in 1903 to resist proposed evictions of Indians.
• Influenced by the Bhagavad Gita, he embraced concepts of non-possession (aparigraha) and equability (samabhava).
• The book "Unto This Last" led him to establish the Phoenix Settlement near Durban in 1904.
• In 1906, he adopted the vow of brahmacharya, enhancing his focus on Satyagraha principles.
• The first use of Satyagraha occurred in 1907 against the Asiatic Registration Law, leading to significant arrests of Indians.

Civil Disobedience in India

• The Non-Cooperation Movement launched on September 4, 1920, aimed at ending British colonial rule and achieving self-governance through Indian unity.
• It sought to address issues like the Khilafat Movement and untouchability.
• The 1921 revolt by Moplahs highlighted the challenges faced by the movement.
• Gandhi's letter to Lord Irwin on March 2, 1930, signaled the start of the Salt Satyagraha campaign against British salt laws.
• The historic Dandi March began on March 12, 1930, covering 241 miles and culminating in acts of salt-making on April 6.
• Multiple arrests of Gandhi and other Congress leaders marked his steadfast opposition, culminating in the Gandhi-Irwin Pact on March 5, 1931.

Ideas and Philosophies

• Sarvodaya, meaning "Universal Uplift," reflects Gandhi's vision for holistic progress, first articulated in "Unto This Last."
• Swadeshi emphasized self-reliance, symbolized by the charkha (spinning wheel), crucial to Gandhi's constructive program.
• Gram Swaraj represented Gandhi's vision for self-sufficient rural communities.

Influential Works by Gandhi

• "The Story of My Experiments with Truth": Gandhi's autobiography detailing his life and philosophies.
• "Gandhi: An Autobiography": Translated by Mahadev Desai, this work captures Gandhi's life journey.
• "Gandhi Before India": Covers the formative years of Gandhi leading up to his return to India.
• "Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World": Focuses on Gandhi's pivotal role in India's struggle for independence.
• "Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India": A nuanced examination of Gandhi's challenges in India.
• "Gandhi's Passion": An analysis of Gandhi's influential legacy.
• "The Life of Mahatma Gandhi": A classic biography foundational to the film adaptation.
• "Mahatma Gandhi: The Man Who Became One with the Universal Being": Written by Romain Rolland, capturing Gandhi's essence through a foreign lens.