Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, known as the Mahatma (Great Soul), was the central figure in India’s struggle for independence. His political philosophy, centered on Satyagraha (truth-force) and Ahimsa (non-violence), transformed the Indian National Congress from an elite debating society into a mass-based political organization.
Early Life and South African Experiments (1893–1914)
Gandhi arrived in South Africa in 1893 as a legal advisor. The racial discrimination he encountered, particularly the incident at Pietermaritzburg railway station, catalyzed his political consciousness.
- Natal Indian Congress (1894): Founded to fight against the disenfranchisement of Indians in Natal.
- Indian Opinion (1903): A newspaper launched to advocate for the rights of the Indian community.
- Phoenix Farm (1904) and Tolstoy Farm (1910): These settlements served as training grounds for non-violent resistance and communal living.
- Satyagraha against Asiatic Registration Act (1907): His first major use of passive resistance against the “Black Act” requiring compulsory registration of Indians.
- Satyagraha against Poll Tax (1913): Protested against the £3 annual poll tax levied on indentured Indian laborers.
Arrival in India and Early Satyagrahas (1915–1918)
Upon returning to India in January 1915 on the advice of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Gandhi spent a year traveling across the country to understand the local realities.
- Champaran Satyagraha (1917): His first experiment in India. He fought for the rights of ryots (peasants) forced to cultivate indigo under the Tinkathia system (3/20th of land).
- Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918): Gandhi undertook his first hunger strike in India to support mill workers demanding a “plague bonus” and wage increase.
- Kheda Satyagraha (1918): Supported peasants facing crop failure who demanded remission of land revenue. This was his first full-fledged civil disobedience movement in India.
Mass Movements and Congress Leadership
Gandhi steered the Indian National Congress toward a strategy of non-cooperation and civil disobedience, creating a paradigm shift in the nationalist struggle.
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922): Launched to address the wrongs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the Rowlatt Act, and the Khilafat issue. It involved boycotting British institutions, courts, and foreign goods.
- Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1934): Initiated with the historic Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha). Gandhi walked from Sabarmati to Dandi to break the salt law, symbolizing defiance against British economic monopolies.
- Quit India Movement (1942): Launched during the backdrop of World War II, this was the final mass struggle demanding an immediate end to British rule. The slogan “Do or Die” became the defining call of this movement.
Core Pillars of Gandhian Ideology
Gandhi’s vision was holistic, integrating political independence with socio-economic reconstruction.
| Concept | Description |
| Satyagraha | Truth-force or holding onto truth; resistance through non-violent means. |
| Ahimsa | Non-violence; an absolute moral principle, not just a policy. |
| Sarvodaya | The upliftment of all; welfare of the last person in society. |
| Trusteeship | The wealthy hold their riches as trustees for the benefit of the poor. |
| Swadeshi | Self-reliance; promotion of indigenous goods and handicrafts. |
Social Reform Agenda
Gandhi believed that political freedom was unsustainable without addressing social inequalities within Indian society.
- Abolition of Untouchability: He campaigned extensively for the rights of the “Harijans” (Children of God). He founded the All India Anti-Untouchability League (later the Harijan Sevak Sangh).
- Women’s Empowerment: He actively encouraged women to participate in the freedom struggle, arguing that they were the primary strength of non-violent resistance.
- Hindu-Muslim Unity: He made communal harmony a prerequisite for the success of the national movement.
- Khadi and Village Industries: He promoted Khadi (hand-spun cloth) to provide economic sustenance to rural masses and foster self-respect.
Key Literary and Institutional Contributions
Gandhi was a prolific writer and a visionary institutional builder.
- Major Works: Hind Swaraj (1909), where he laid out his vision for Indian civilization; My Experiments with Truth (Autobiography); Navajivan; and Young India.
- Institutions: Sabarmati Ashram, Sevagram Ashram, and the Gujarat Vidyapith.
Trivia and Key Facts for UPSC Prelims
- Gandhi presided over only one session of the Indian National Congress: the Belgaum session in 1924.
- He called the Rowlatt Act a “Black Act” and described the British administration as “Satanic.”
- He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times, but never received it.
- His birthday, October 2nd, is observed as the International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations.
- Rabindranath Tagore is credited with popularizing the title “Mahatma,” while Subhas Chandra Bose was the first to address him as “Father of the Nation.”
- He ended the 1920 Non-Cooperation Movement after the Chauri Chaura incident (1922), where a mob set fire to a police station, leading to the deaths of several policemen.