Indian Independence Movement

• The module covers events between 1915-19, focusing on Gandhi's initial years in India.
• Gandhi's career is broadly divided into two phases: 1893-1914 focusing on his struggle in South Africa and 1915-1947 focusing on his role in India's freedom struggle.

Gandhi in India Since 1915

• Gandhi's efforts in South Africa were well known among the Indian masses.
• Upon Gokhale's advice, Gandhi toured India for a year to understand the condition of the masses.
• Gandhi decided not to take any position on political matters for at least a year.
• He understood the limitations of moderate politics.
• Gandhi believed that non-violent satyagraha was the only technique capable of meeting nationalist aims.
• He didn't support Home Rule agitation, deeming it the wrong time with Britain at war.

Kochrab Ashram

• Gandhi wanted an Ashram to settle down with his Phoenix family.
• The first ashram in India was organized by Gandhi.
• The Kochrab Ashram was gifted by his friend Barrister Jivanlal Desai.
• It was founded on May 25, 1915, near Ahmedabad and was also called Satyagraha Ashram.

Sabarmati Ashram

• Ashram was relocated on June 17, 1917, to 36 acres on the banks of the Sabarmati river.
• Gandhi wanted to pursue farming, animal husbandry, and other activities requiring more usable land.

Gandhian Movements

• Key movements led or influenced by Gandhi include Champaran Satyagraha, Ahmedabad Satyagraha, Kheda Satyagraha, Rowlatt Satyagraha, Khilafat and NCM, Civil Disobedience, Individual Satyagraha, and Quit India Movement.

Gandhian Satyagraha

• Satyagraha involves passive resistance to change the opponent's heart through self-suffering.
• It serves as a non-violent alternative to struggle against oppression, exploitation, and injustice, representing a pledge of resistance to unjust laws.
• The philosophy of Satyagraha is based on four pillars: absolute truth, absolute love, absolute discipline and absolute justice.
• Satyagraha takes varied forms: fasting, prayers, spinning, hartal, picketing, non-cooperation, and civil disobedience
• The greatest weapon was "truth and common sense".
• Satyagraha aims at conflict resolution using peaceful resistance.

Champaran Satyagraha

• The Champaran Satyagraha involved European planters forcing Indian peasants to grow indigo on 3/20 part of their land under the tinkathia system to maximize profits, leading to higher rents and illegal dues.
• German synthetic dyes replaced indigo.
• Raj Kumar Shukla requested Gandhi to probe into the matter.
• Gandhi reached Champaran and defied authorities' order to leave, instead employing passive resistance.
• Key leaders who were associated with Champaran during this movement were Rajendra Prasad, Mahadev Desai, Narhari Parekh, and J.B. Kripalani.
• Authorities retreated and appointed a commission of enquiry with Gandhi as a member.
• Gandhi convinced authorities to abolish the system and compensate peasants for illegal dues, settling for 25% compensation.

Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

• Champaran Satyagraha (1917) is considered the first civil disobedience movement.
• European planters forced peasants to grow indigo on 3/20 of their land (tinkathia system), which meant cash crops instead of food crops.
• When German dyes replaced indigo, planters demanded high rents and illegal dues to maximize profits and forced peasants to sell produce at prices fixed by Europeans.
• A local indigo planter requested Gandhi to look at their problems..
• As authorities ordered Gandhi to leave, he defied the order, adopting passive resistance against the unjust order.
• Authorities appointed a committee with Gandhi as a member.
• Gandhi convinced authorities to abolish the tinkathia system and compensate peasants. Leaders included Rajendra Prasad, Mazharul-Haq, Mahadeo Desai, Narhari Parekh, J.B. Kripalani, and others.
• Gandhi achieved planters agreeing to compensate only 25% of the money taken.
• Within a decade, the planters left the area, marking Gandhi's first victory of civil disobedience in India.

Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918)

• The Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918) addressed the issue over discontinuation of the plague bonus.
• Cotton mill owners were ready to give only a 20% wage hike.
• Workers wanted a 50% rise to overcome wartime inflation.
• Owners decided to bring weavers from Bombay by dismissing striking workers.
• Anasuya Sarabhai, a social worker and sister of the Ahmedabad mill owners association president, approached Gandhi.
• Gandhi advised workers to demand a 35% hike instead of 50%.
• Gandhi undertook a fast which put pressure on mill owners.
• The issue was referred to a tribunal leading to a 35% hike settlement.
• Anusuya Behn asked Gandhi to intervene and resolve the impasse between workers & employers.
• Strikers got impatient and Gandhi went on a hunger strike to prevent them from breaking their pledge.
• His fast lasted for three days and influenced the mill owners to agree with workers.
• Gandhi formed Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association (Majoor Mahajan Sangh).
• Gandhi demanded a 35% increase in wages and advised the workers to remain non-violent during the strike.
• .Gandhi’s fast put pressure on the mill owners who agreed to the tribunal.
• The tribunal eventually awarded a 35% wage hike.
• Anasuya Ben Sarabai, her brother Ambalal Sarabhai and social workers were involved in the strike.

Kheda Satyagraha (1918)

• Kheda Satyagraha (1918) was caused by crop failure.
• As per the revenue code, farmers should get remission.
• The Government demanded taxes and threatened to seize property.
• Gandhi ordered farmers not to pay.
• Key leaders included Vallabhai Patel, Narahari Parikh, Ravi Shankar Vjas, and Mohanlal Pandya.
• Peasants organized a tax revolt and ostracized those who came to buy property.
• The government seized property, land, and livelihood of the farmers.
• This was the first non-cooperation movement.
• There was huge support for peasants forcing the government to make an agreement.
• Taxes were suspended for 2 years.
• There was overall deduction in tax.
• Government returned all confiscated land.
• The government was adamant about seizing farmer's property if taxes weren't paid and there was a drought in Gujarat which led to crop failure.
• Key leaders from Kheda Satyagraha included Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Narahari Parikh, Mohanial Pandya, and Ravi Shankar Vyas.
• Gandhi called on farmers "not to pay taxes" and the government agreed to suspend the tax for the year.
• Government also agreed to reduce the increase in rate and return confiscated property.
• The struggle at Kheda caused a new awakening among the peasantry, making them aware of injustice and exploitation until complete independence.

Gains From Champaran, Ahmedabad and Kheda

• Gandhi demonstrated the efficacy of his satyagraha technique.
• He found his feet among the masses and came to understand their strengths & weaknesses.
• He acquired respect and commitment of many, especially youth.

Rowlatt Act, 1919

• During the Rowlatt Act, 1919, Minto-Morley policy was created after the Bengal partition as well as the newspaper act of 1908.
• After WWI, Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms were created as was the Rowlatt Act.
• Lord Chelmsford appointed a sedition committee in 1918 under Justice Rowlatt to inquire into political terrorism in Punjab and Bengal.
• The committee aimed to identify links between Indian terrorists, the German government, and Bolsheviks of Russia, but substantiated links with the Germans instead.
• Resulted in the "Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919", or "Rowlatt Act" which was passed on March 10, 1919.
• The Rowlatt Act was officially called Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act.
• It was based on the Rowlatt Commission, which was set to investigate "Seditious Conspiracy" of Indians.
• Recommended activists be deported or imprisoned without trail for two years.
• Advocated that possessing seditious newspapers was enough evidence of guilt.
• Civil rights are curbed; arrest without warrant, detention without trial, no access to legal help, special cell of three judges try the suspects, no right to appeal.
• All parties opposed the bill, chanting "No pleas, no lawyers, no appeal”.

Satyagraha Against the Rowlatt Act

• Satyagraha Against the Rowlatt Act marked the first mass strike.
• Gandhi, who supported the British during the war, called the Rowlatt Act the "Black Act."
• Satyagraha sabha published propaganda and collected signatures for Satyagraha pledge.
• Satyagrahis believed the Rowlatt Act was unjust, unfair and discriminatory
• They signed to disobey certain civil laws and fearlessly adhere to the truth.
• Techniques adopted: nationwide hartal (strike), fasting & prayer, and civil disobedience against specific laws.
• Congress could not start any movement, leaving Gandhi to suggest the form of struggle.
• Gandhi organized 'Satyagraha sabha' and used members of Home rule league, and the Pan Islamists..
• Gandhi toured India in march and declared April 6 as a nationwide strike, calling for mass protest at all India level.
• Punjab was most effective where citizens participated readily due to high inflation and war misery so the Army was called.
• Delhi and Calcutta were also important as a center of activity and Hartals observations occurred.
• salvation would occur when masses awakened and got involved in politics
• Muslim awakening inspired by Zafar Ali Khan and Iqbal.
• Arya Samaj activists also played important roles.
• There was Hindu, Muslim and Sikh unity.
• A peoples committee was formed in Badshahi Mosque, Lahore to control the city from April 11 to 14.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

• Jallianwala Bagh and the Rowlatt Act exposed the foreign rule's brutal and uncivilized nature.
• Punjab and Bengal were most affected by revolutionary terrorism.
• Martial law was declared in Amritsar and Lahore.
• Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr Satyapal were arrested by the British without provocation on April 9 causing resentment.
• Over 5,000 people gathered at Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919 (Baisakhi Day) in Amritsar, unaware of the curfew and ban on meetings.
• British General Dyer treated it as a conspiracy even though it was a peaceful protest calling for Rowlatt Act repeal and those national leaders release.
• Dyer ordered fire on the unarmed crowd causing at least 400 deaths.
• Indians’ were forced to crawl down the road where the English missionary was assaulted.
• The hostile, arrogance, inhumane nature, stunned the entire nation.
• The Indian National Congress appointed its own non-official committee involving, Motilal Nehru, C.R. Das, Abbas Tyabji, M.R. Jayakar and Gandhi to investigate into Jallianwala bagh.
• They all condemned Dyer's inhuman action and that there was no justification for martial law.
• Michael Francis O' Dwyer was the LT. Governor of Punjab.
• Reginald Dyer was the Brigadier General of Amritsar.

After Jallianwala Bagh Incident

• Montague ordered the formation of the enquiry committee.
• Disorder Inquiry Committee or the Hunter Committee was formed on Oct 14, 1919 to investigate the disturbance of Delhi, Mumbai and Punjab; identify the causes, and suggest measures.
• The committee unanimously condemned Dyer but did not impose a penal action.
• Gandhi returned the Kaiser-i-Hind title for his contribution in Boer wars.
• Shankaran Nair, a member of the viceroy executive council was the only Indian who supported the act.
• It was found that no notice was given to disperse the crowd, banning of the public meeting was not sufficiently publicized and Dyer had stepped authority.
• Winston Churchill condemned Dyer’s actions and the Cabinet agreed to it.
• Dyer was found guilty of mistaken notion of duty and was relieved of his command.
• Length of firing was deemed a grave error.
• There was no conspiracy to overthrow the British rule as Dyer claimed and his action lacked humanity.
• It was found that he neither ordered his troops to help wounded nor made instructionsto civil authorities to do so.
• Rowlatt Satyagraha which was launched on April 6, 1919, was withdrawn by Gandhi due to Jallianwala Bagh with the moniker Himalayan Blunder on April 18, 1919.
• Gandhi declared co-operation with a 'satanic regime' was now impossible and British rule was morally righteous.
• Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood on April 13, 1919.
• Udham Singh assassinated Michael O' Dwyer, the Lieutenant-Governor and was hanged in 1940.