Rise of Gandhi (1915-1918)

Rise of Gandhi

• In the year 1915, Gandhi returned to India.
• During the initial day, he spent his time to "Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad" 
• He decided to tour the country the next one year 7 see for the himself the condition of the masses.
• He was not favour in Home rule Agitation. He thought it was not the best time to agitate for Home rule, when Britian in middle of war.

 

• During the 1917-1918, Gandhi involved three struggle- 

1. Champaran Satyagraha - 1917
2. Ahmedabad Mill Strike - 1918
3. Kheda Satyagraha - 1918 

1. Champaran Satyagraha -  

In Bihar, the European planters had been forcing the peasants to grow indigo on 3/20 of the total land (called "tinkathia syatem") 

When the end of the 19th century, the "German synthetic dyes replaced Indigo" then the European planters were demanded high rents & illegal dues from the peasants.

Gandhi reached Champaran to scrutiny into the matter by the help of Rajendra Prasad; Mazar-ul-fiaq; Mahadeo Desia; Narhari Parekh; J.B. Kriplani; Braj Kishor Prasad; Anugaraha Varah Sinha.

Then the authorities ordered him to leave the area. Gandhi defined the ordered & to face major punishment.

Satayagraha struggle, the government finally succumbed to the pressure by passing a law allowing concessions to the peasants in 1917. {25% of the money taken should be compensated}

Gandhi had won the first civil disobedience in India. 

2. Ahmedabad Mill Strike -  (first Hunger Strike)

Gandhi now intervened in a dispute between mill owners of Ahmedabad & the workers over the issue of discontinuation of the plague bonus.  

Gandhi told that the worker to go to the strike & demand 35% increase in wages.

He undertook the fast unto death to strengthen the worker resolve, but the fast also had the effect of putting pressure on the mill owner who finally agreed to give 35% bonus. 

3. Kheda Satyagraha - 

Because of drought in 1918, the crops failed in Kheda district of Gujarat.

According to revenue Code, if the yield was less than one-fourth the normal produce the farmer entitled to remission.

But the authorities refused to grant remission.

The authorities not willing to openly concede the peasants demands, issued secret instructions that only those who could afford to pay should pay.

During the Kheda Satyagrah, many young nationalist such as "Sardar Patel" & "Indulal Yagnik" became Gandhi's followers.