fighter for human dignity satyagraha: “truth force”
TRANSCRIPT
Fighter for human dignity
Satyagraha: “Truth force”
Ashram- community marked by honesty, truthfulness, celibacy and poverty
Nationwide campaigns Indian independence Strove to practise
non- violence and truth at all times
Hartel- a general strike
Tremendous support gained.
Protest turned into rioting
Gandhi condemned this
Fasted as penance
379 people dead Over 1200 wounded “I had faith in them-
until 1919, but the Amritsar Massacre and other atrocities in the Punjab changed my heart”.
Indian independence
Spread the message to the people
Soldiers encouraged to desert their posts
Lawyers give up their practise
By December 1921 20,000 people had been imprisoned
Five day fast as penance
Actions proved effective as Congress could not be ignored
Indian demands had to be recognised
1922: charged with rebellion against the government
“... Some of the most loved of India’s patriots have been convicted under it. (Indian law) I consider it a privilege”
Over 80% of Indians were peasants 24 day, 200 mile march Spread civil disobedience to embarrass
the government The Salt Tax which Gandhi set out to
destroy was not only a symbol of the Government’s right to tax and therefore its right to rule- it was an emotional issue too.
Bore hardest on the poor.
2,500 Congress volunteers led to the Dharasana Salt Works
Salt works defended by armed policemen
Viscously attacked and beatenMethodically beaten downObeying the rules of non violence
they did not defend themselves2 deaths and 32o injured
Sailed to England “Do you want your
own prosperity to be built on the misery of others?”
Popular with the British public
Ventured to cotton towns of Lancashire
Gandhi personal triumph but the conference was a failure
Gandhi called for the British to ‘Quit India’
Imprisoned again for his speech on it
“We do not seek our independence out of Britain’s ruin”
(Gandhi)
“Our quarrel is not with the British people, we fight their imperialism”
(Gandhi)
Gandhi called for ‘Quit India’
Muslim League called for ‘Divide and Quit’
Direct Action Day:-4,000 killed-15,000 injured
Gandhi wanted to unite the Indian people
He preached courage, forgiveness and truth
Visited Muslim areas
Vowed not to leave until Muslims and Hindus were at peace
14th – 15th August 1947 Indian Independence Act invoked
India and Pakistan “Partition of the
heart” 12.5 million
displaced At least half a
million killed
Gandhi preached and read from : the Hindu Bhagavad, the Muslim Koran and Jewish-Christian Bible
He felt he must do more Fast unless reunion of
all communities 3rd day~ payment by
India to Pakistan 6th day~ satisfied with
promises made about the restoration of peace
THE DEATH OF GANDHI
3oth January 1948 Gandhi was assassinated
Prime Minister Nehru:
“The light has gone out of our lives”