Mahatma Gandhi
Swaraji
Indian self-rule
Bhagavad Gita
An epic poem considered a sacred text to Hindus
Satyagraha History
- 1906 - He believe Vow of barmacharya allowed him to come up with the concept - Did not represent the rue spirit of Indian resistance since passive resistance was often though used by the weak, and was a tactic that could be potentially conducted in anger - First time used; South Africa 1907 -- > In opposition of the Asiatic Registration Law (Asatygrahi refused to get fingerorinted and picketed document offices)
Issues with Indian Independence
- 1944, huge disagreements between Hindus and Muslims - Muslims feared not having any political behavior if there was an indep. India (since most indians were hindus) - The Muslims wanted 6 Providences in northwest India, that were majority populated with Muslim, to become an indep. country - Massive violence erupted and would not stop. - Fearing a civil war, British decided to leave India in August 1947. Before leaving, the British got the Hindus to agree to the partition plan. - August 15, 1947. Granted Indian indep. and indep to the newly formed Pakistan - Violence continued as millions of Muslims refuges marched out of India, and Hindus marched out of Pakistan. No other time have so many people become refugees. Many died along the way from illness, exposure, and dehydration - Approx 15 million Indians became uprooted from their homes - Jan 15, 1948. To stop violence Gandhi began to fast - Jan 18, 1948. More than 100 representatives approached Gandhi with promise for peace.
Bramacharya
- A vow of abstinence against sexual relations, even with one's spouse - Not easy to follow, but kept up for the rest of his life
Indian Independence
- After march, Gandhi conducted another fast, this enhanced his image as a holy man - Gandhi retired from politics in 1934 at age 64, but came out of retirement 5 yrs later when British claimed that Indian would side with England without even consulting any Indian leaders - Indian Independence movement was revitalized by British arrogance - British Parliament began discussing India's indp. after mass protests - Prime Minster Winston Churchill was strongly against it - March 1941, agreed to free India at the end of WWI - 1942, Gandhi wanted indep. sooner, so he started "Quit India" campaign, British jailed Gandhi (4th time) - 1944 Gandhi released from prison
India 1920s Continued
- Began advocating self-reliance as a way to gain freedom from the British Example: Indians spinning their own cloth to free themselves from the reliance from the British - Popularized this idea by traveling with his own spinning wheel, often spinning yarn while giving speeches - Spinning wheel peace the symbol for Indian Independence
Books Mentioned
- Bhagavad Gita: Sacred Text of Hindus - "Unto This Last" by John Ruskin: Inspired Phoenix Settlement - Authors: Henry David Thoreau and Leo Tolstoy (From London Veg. Society)
South Africa Events (1899) and after
- Boer War - Organized Indian Ambulance Corp (IAC): 1,110 Indians helped injured British soldiers - Goodwill generated by the support of SA Indians to British allowed Gandhi to head back to India for a year (End of 1901) - Returned back to SA after drawing public attention to the sufferings of lower classes across India
After year of Travel
- Did not take advantage of Britians weaken state because of the war - Instead challenged inequality between Indians + Persuaded landlords to stop forcing their tenants farmers to pay increased rent + Persuaded mill owners to peacefully settle a protest - Used his fame to appeal to farm owners' morals - Used fasting to convince mill owners to settle
The Indian Opinon
- Gandhi's newspaper - Moved to Phoenix settlement in 1904
Rowlatt Act
- Gave British full rule to root out any "revolutionary" elements, and to detain them indefinitely without trial in India
Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)
- Indian Civil Rights - Considered father of Indian indep. movement - Spent 20 yrs in South Africa (SA) to fight discrimination - Satyargraha - Simplistic lifestyle - Work tp remove British rule from India - Better lives of india's poor classes - Non-violent model used by MLK and other civil rights leaders
Return to South Africa (3rd time)
- Influenced by Bhagavad Gita, wanted to purify life by adopting concepts of apargraha (non-violence) and sambhava (equability) - (1904) "Unto this Last" by John Ruskin, inspired Gandhi to create the Phoenix Settlement, just outside of Durban
People To Know
- Karamchand and Putlibai Ghandi: Parents - Kasturba: Wife - Mrs. Sarojini Naidu: Poet who led Salt Marches in Gandhi's absence - Lord Irwin: British viceroy (ruler on behalf of a colony)
Delhi Pact
- Limited salt production - Freed all peaceful protesters from jail - Terms: Gandhi call of protests
Protests in response to Black Act
- Mass protests (miners went on strike and masses of Indians illegally traveled from Natal to Transvaal) - Many protesters were beaten and arrested, including Gandhi - FIRST TIME GANDHI WAS ARRESTED (MARCH 1907) - After 7 yrs of protest, Black act was repealed (June 1914)
Change to the Reformer
- Spent next 20yrs to better Indian's rights - First 3 yrs: Leaned more about Indian grievances,studied law, organized petitions and wrote letter to officials - Established Natal Indian Conference (NIC) (May 1849) - Became well-known for his acivism --> acts were covered by newspapers in India and England - Became the leader of the Indian Community in South Africa
Attack on British
- WWI at end --> Ghandi focuses on Swaraji - March 30,1919 (Rowlatt Act) Ghandi organized general strike--> got violent (Amristar Massacre) - After her stopped the protests, he spent the 1920s advocating satyargraha and learning to control nationwide protests - March 1922 (Second Jail Sentence - 6yrs) Gandhi was jailed for sedition - Released after two years fr ill-health and for his appendicitis surgery
Childhood
- Youngest child - Parents: Karamchand and Putlibai Ghandi - Characteristics: shy, soft spoken, mediocre student - Obedient child, but experimented (ate meat, smoked, small amounts of stealing) --> All acts he eventually regretted - Married (to Kasturba) at age 13 --> had 4 sons, died 1944
Amristar Massacre
- over 300 Indians had died and 1,1000 were injured by the time Gandhi heard about the violence and promptly stopped the protests
Simplifying his Life
-Aparigraha, Samabhava, Phoniex Settlement and Bramacharya - Restrictions on his diet: (To remove passion from his palette) Simplified his diet from vegetarianism to unspiced and uncooked foods (large portion of his food source: fruits and nuts) - Fasting: He believed would still the urges of flesh
Back to India (first time back)
1891 - For 2yrs attempted to practice law in India -- > found he lacked knowledge of Indian laws and self confidence in trail - Offered a year-long potion to take a case in SA
First time in South Africa (SA)
1893 (Gandhi - 23 yrs old) - Arrived in Natal (British-governed part of SA) - Left family behind again - Transformed from shy to resilient potent leader against discrimination) - Transformation began: (After a week in SA) was asked to take a trip from Natal across country to Transvaal providence (Dutch-governed territory. Boarded first train of his journey and told (by railroad officials) to move to 3rd class even though he had 1st class tickets. He resisted and was thrown off the train, - Event made him contemplate whether he should go back to India or fight the discrimination - Talked to other Indians in SA, found that there was large discrimination against Indians - Decided to stay and fight discriminatory practices
Return to South Africa (2nd time in SA)
1896 - Upon return found that his pamphlet of Indian grievances (Green Pamphlet) had been exaggerated and distorted. - When his ship reached SA (in Durban harbor), it was detained 23 days for "quarantine" --> real reason for delay: Mob of angry whites thought that he was bringing back tow shiploads of Indians to overrun SA. - When finally allowed off boat, HE was assaulted (with bricks, rotten eggs and fists), but he was able to get his family to safety - Once Gandhi refuted claims and did not press charges against those attacked that him, the violence towards him stopped. - Event strengthen his prestige in SA
Phoniex Settlement
1904 - Influenced by John Ruskin's "Unto this Last" - Experiment in communal living - A way to eliminate one's needless possessions and live in a society w/ full equality - Eventually moved family and his newspaper there - Each community member was allotted 3 acres of land on which to build a dwelling (basically a living area) of corrugated iron - All members were trained and expected to help with the newspaper (The Indian Opinion)
Great Fast of 1924
1924 - 21 Day fast (Many though he would die on the 12th day) - Fasted upon his released after he found the country embroiled in violent attacks between Muslims and Hindus - The fast created temporary peace
Asatyagrahi
A person using satyagraha - Would resist injustice by refusing to follow an unjust law - Would freely put up with physical assaults and the confiscation of their property - Would not use foul language against their opponent and would never take advantage of their opponents weakness. - Goal: not for there to be a winner or a loser, but rather that all would eventually see the "truth" and agree to change the unjust law.
Boer War
Began in South Africa (1899)
March on Dharasana Saltworks
Dharasana Saltworks (government owned salt company) - When Gandhi announced he planned a march on the saltwork comapny, he was imprisoned (for the third time) without trial. - British thought that this would stop protests, but poet, Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, led 2,500 marchers. - Marchers faced 400 Police men, and 6 British officers - Marchers formed columns of 25 and would approach and be beaten until all 2,500 were beaten (Marches never raised a hand to defend themselves) -The world was shocked by the beating of the peaceful protesters - Lord Irwin (British viceroy- ruler on behalf of a colony) met with Gandhi to stop protests - The two created the Dehli Pact - Events led to Indian Independence
Samabhava
Equability (Free from extremes, not easily disturbed)
India 1915
Gandhi's struggles and triumphs had been reported worldwide - regarded as national hero when he reached home - Waited a year before starting reforms in India (advice of a friend) --> traveled around India to acquaint himself with the people and their tribulations - Found that his fame got in the way of his mission, decided to disguise himself by wearing a dohti (Loincloth) and sandals (clothes of average people) --> Became the wardrobe for the rest of his life - Founded another communal settlement (Sabarmati Ashram) --> lived here with his family for the next 16 years
Assassination
Jan, 30 1948 (78 yrs old) - At 5pm as he walked to the Birla house for prayer, surrounded by supports, Nathuram Gose stopped before him and bowed before he rushed Gandhi and shot him 3 times. Gandhi fell to the ground, dead.
Back to India (England)
July 1914 to India - Short stop to England, WWI broke out and decided to stay - Formed another ambulance corps of Indians - British air caused Gandhi to become ill - Sailed to India in January 1915
Salt March
March, 1930 - In Dec, 1928, Gandhi and INC announced a challenge to Britian: if not granted the status of a Commonwealth by Dec 31, 1929, they would organize a nation-wide protest against British tax - Did not grant; so protested salt tax (was illegal to own salt not sold or produced by the British government) - Began when Gandhi, and 78 followers, marched 200 miles to the sea. Over the course of the days of travel, the crowd grew to 2 or 3 thousand people. The protesters march 12 miles everyday. - On April 5, once they reached a town (Dandi) off the coast, the prayed all night. In the morning, He made a presentation by picking up a piece of salt (he had broken the law by doing so). Thousands of people went to the beaches to pick up loose salt, others evaporated salt water. - Peaceful picketing and marches were conducted - British responded with mass arrests
Natal Indian Conference (NIC)
May 22, 1894 - Organized for the wealthy Indians - Gandhi worked hard to expand it to all classes and castes
Mahatma
Meaning: "Great Soul" - Rabindranath Tagore (winner of 1913 Nobel Peace Prize, for Literature) with presenting and publicizing this name of Gandhi
Other Names
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Mahatma ("Great Soul"), Father of the Nation, Bapu("Father"), Gandhiji
Acronyms To Know
NIC: Natal Indian Conference (1849) IAC: Indian Ambulance Corp (1899) LVS: London Vegetarian Society
Aparigraha
Non-possesion
Back to India (2nd Time)
Sailed back to India 1896 - Intended to bring back wife and children (two sons) to SA - During trip, Bubonic plaque outbreak in India. Though cause, poor sanitation. Gandhi volunteered to inspect the latrines (toilets), of wealthy and poor alike, and offer suggestions for better sanitation - After inspections, found that the wealthy had the worst sanitation problems
First Move: London
Sept. 1888 (age 18) - Left son and wife in India - Left to study to become lawyer (barrister) - (At first) Attempted to fit into English society: (expensive!) bought new suits, adopting English accent, learning french, taking violin and dance lessons --> Later decide they were a waster of time and money - Spent remainder of 3 yrs as a serious student living a very simple lifestyle - Discverd passion for vegetarinism (vowed to mother to stay vegetariean, eventhough other indian student were not) --> joined London Vegetarian Society (LVS) - LVS: intellectual crowd, introduced Ghandi to many authers, "really read" the --> books were his inspiration for his later endevours - Passed bar exam (June 10, 1891), sailed back to India two day later
Asiatic Registration Law
South Africa 1907 - Also known as Black Act - Required all Indians to be fingerprinted and to keep official document on them at all times.
Coolies
an offensive term for Indians in South Africa
Satyagraha
form "passive resistance" - Meaning "truth force" - Only possible if the exploited and the exploiter accept it and see above the current situation to the universal truth. - Truth: natural right