Gandhiji - A Man Of Peace

Sreeparvathy Rakesh, IIK Young Contributor
Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Hello everyone! We all know about the Indian Independence Struggle held years ago, from 1857 to 1947. Some followed the path of non – violence and peace, while others followed revolutionary fictions. We know about the great man Mahatma Gandhi who dedicated his life for India. He always followed the path of peace and non- violence in Indian freedom struggle. Now we will see how much he struggled and fought for India’s freedom.

Gandhiji returned to India in 1915 from South Africa and introduced a new way of protest called ‘Satyagraha’. His methods of protests were peaceful civil actions, boycotts and hunger strikes. In Indian Independence Struggle, Mahatma Gandhi led six important movements for independence.

They are:
i)Champaran Movement
ii)Kheda Movement
iii)Khilafat Movement
iv)Non-cooperation Movement
v)Salt Satyagraha Movement
vi)Quit India Movement

1)Champaran Movement
The Champaran Movement was the first movement led by Mahatma Gandhi for Indian independence in 1917. This movement took place in Champaran district of Bihar by farmers; the reason for the protest was that The British was forcing the farmers to grow Indigo with barely any payment. It needed a high quantity of water and made the soil infertile. So farmers opposed to cultivate Indigo because it led to a big lose to them. The landlords exploited the farmers with the support of The British. So Mahatma Gandhi protested against them.

2)Kheda Movement
The Kheda movement was the second movement held by Gandhiji. The Kheda Satyagraha was held in 1918, Kheda district of Gujarat.It is too a farmer struggle against The British government who demanded land tax despite poverty and crop loses. They increased the tax at the place by 23% . Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabai Patel led this protest.

3)Khilafat Movement
The Khilafat Movement is the third movement held by Gandhiji in 1919. The Khilafit Movement was started by Muslims to protest against unfair treatment of Ottoman Empire by the British. Mahatma Gandhi and Khilafat leaders fought together for the causes of Khilafat and Swaraj. It was a peaceful civil disobedience.

4)Non – cooperation Movement
The fourth movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, it aimed Self-Governance and Purna Swaraj .It was a reaction to British government’s oppressive policies such as Rowlatt Act and Jallianwallah bagh massacre. Gandhiji advised all Indians to resign their government job and boycott British goods and buy only Indian goods. They made Khadi clothes by spinning charka. Mahatma Gandhi motivated the people to make their own clothes.

5)Salt Satyagraha Movement – Dandi march
The famous Salt Satyagraha or Dandi march is the fifth movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930.The reason for this protest was that the British government was collecting heavy salt tax. The march began with 80 people but more people joined on the journey and increased into 50,000 people. The Dandi March was a non-violent civil disobedience movement for 24 days. At last Mahatma Gandhi picked up grains of salt and ended the march.

6) Quit India Movement
Quit India Movement the last successful movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942.It started in Bombay on August 8, 1942.And five years later after this powerful movement led by Gandhiji, The British left India in 1947 on August 15.

Now, we saw the the freedom movements led by the father of India. Not only Mahatma Gandhi ,but also there are other many freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for our nation. Their struggles, hard work and sacrifices, is the reason why we are living a comfortable life now. In Delhi a monument is situated in memory of Mahatma Gandhi is called Raj Ghat. There are other memorial statues of freedom fighters. And finally when India got freedom in August 15, 1947 every year this day is celebrated as Independence Day all over the country with joy and patriotism. So let us remember all the great heroes in this occasion of Independence Day.

Jai Hind!

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Sreeparvathy Rakesh
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