Category Famous Personalities

            The British tried to lure India with the promise of a free state in return of their valuable support during war time. But the Indians were rebuffed when they were asked for Independence. Gandhiji did not accept this offer as he firmly believed in non-violence. 

            The period of the Second World War was a not only a period of external tensions, but also internal conflicts. The great famine of Bengal of 1943 was one of the many disasters India faced during the war.

            Despite the disastrous effects of World War II, it brought about a golden age in the colonies of Britain. The age of anxiety paved the way for the age of hope and freedom. Despite its many aftermaths, the end of the imperialistic era was glorious. The repercussion of the war occurred in all its colonies. India lost the lives of many army men. The cries for self-government and the loss of faith in the ruling imperialists were heard everywhere.

            Although Mahatma Gandhi works for India’s freedom from the British Empire since 1915, it was not until Britain was embroiled in World War II that the goal of Indian independence finally came within reach.

            In August of 1942, the All India Congress Committee gathered in Bombay, to formally endorse the Quit India movement, which called for an immediate end to British imperialism. 

          Gandhiji returned from England to India on December 28th, 1931. He addressed a huge gathering in Bombay- “I have come back empty handed, but I have not compromised the honour of my country”.

          The British, intent on preventing any further civil disobedience movements in India, arrested Nehru and some other Congress leaders two days prior to Gandhiji’s arrival. Gandhiji was arrested on a century old regulation of no trial or no fixed term of imprisonment. Once again, he was confined in Yerwada prison.

          Dr. B.R. Ambedkar demanded voting rights for untouchables and also a separate electorate for them, because he believed that otherwise his men would be swayed away by the caste Hindus. Many leaders opposed this view. Gandhiji opposed it for a different reason- he believed that no line of separation should be established between untouchables and the mainstream of the society. Accordingly, Gandhiji started a fast, until death in prison for the voting rights of the Harijans. The steadfast decision and his goodwill were accepted.

          Gandhiji’s appeal and the efforts of the Congress leaders, soon led to a general campaign against untouchability. Many temples and wells throughout India were opened to the untouchables. But, unfortunately this campaign did not last very long. 

               Lancashire was the heart of Britain’s textile industry, which was greatly affected by the boycott of foreign clothes by Indians. Therefore, Gandhiji’s visit to this place was a significant move.

               Gandhiji proclaimed at Springvale Garden Village, “There is no boycott of British cloth, as distinguished from other foreign cloth, since the 5th of March when the truce was signed. As a nation, we have pledged to boycott all foreign cloth, but in case of an honourable settlement between England and India, I should not hesitate to give preference to Lancashire cloth over all other foreign cloth, to the extent that we may need to supplement our cloth and on agreed terms”. He spoke of being the “representative of half-naked, half-starved dumb Indians”. He was pained by the unemployment created in the Lancashire cotton mills as a result of the boycott of foreign cloths in India. He did not fail to meet a single group of workers in the factory. And, he went on to explain the fact that there was no starvation or semi starvation among Lancashire workers. But, he said “we have both”. He told them about the poor standard of living of the Indians compared to the high resources they enjoyed.

               Even the unemployed workers were over-whelmed by Gandhiji’s answers. They were happier because such a mighty person from India came and spoke to them face to face.

              Gandhiji had no faith in creating his country’s happiness at the cost of the happiness of another country.

               The workers of the Lancashire villages understood that their condition was far better than that of the starving crores of people in India. Towards the conclusion of their communication, Gandhiji delivered the hope of an independent India which will be an equal partner for England in the future ahead.

          Gandhiji’s attire was, in a way, a potent political weapon for him, at least in the later phase of India’s fight for freedom. He believed that the way one dresses was an act of self expression and the use of Khadi that was spun by him was an act of self reliance.

          We can see the evolution in Gandhiji’s dressing style from the time he was a law student in England, then a barrister in South Africa to the period of our freedom struggle. Gandhiji’s decision to change his attire was a momentous one. This epoch-making decision was taken by Gandhiji in Madurai after he decided to work for and work with, the poor people of India. He believed that they would identify him as one among them only when he wore simple clothes. He stuck to this attire even when he travelled on trips abroad and until his last breath. When he attended the round table conference, Gandhiji was in a dhoti and a shawl.

          Once, when he visited Buckingham Palace, he was asked whether he felt unclothed compared to the King George V. Gandhiji retorted humorously that the King had enough on him for both of them! Gandhiji was appreciated by many, in spite of his dressing style. In short, Gandhiji’s personal habits, his attire, and his diet, fascinated the English people. 

          The Failure of the First Round Table Conference was marked by the absence of the Indian National Congress.

          The Second Round Table Conference was held in a less favourable environment. In India, Lord Irwin had been succeeded by Lord Willingdon. In England, The Labour Government was now replaced by a National Coalition Government. Samuel Hoare was the Secretary of State for the Government of India.

          Meanwhile, there was a robust protest in India against the statement of Winston Churchill who called Gandhi a ‘Naked Seditious Fakir’. The Second Round Table Conference opened on September 7th00, 1931. Gandhiji represented the Indian National Congress and Sarojini Naidu represented Indian women. Madan Mohan Malaviya, Ghanshyam Das Birla, Muhammad lqbal, Sir Mirza Ismail, S.K. Dutta and Sir Syed Ali Imam were among the other people who attended the conference.

          This session witnessed a prodigious number of Indian delegates. These included loyalists, landlords, representatives of the princes etc. Gandhiji put forth many demands being the only official representative of the Congress.

          Introduction of a responsible government in India was one of the many demands. But, it remained a dream till our independence. Gandhiji opposed the demand to treat the Dalits as a minority separate from the Hindu community and on this issue he had a clash with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The conference was concluded on December 11th, 1931 and Gandhiji returned almost empty handed.

            The rising intensity of the civil disobedience movement worried the British. Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India, initiated negotiations with Gandhiji, which led to the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact on 5th March in 1931 before the Second Round Table Conference in London. There were many provisions in the pact.

            One of the main provisions was to stop the civil disobedience movement. Another proposal was the participation of the Indian National Congress in the Round Table Conference. The pact also stated that the British government was also ready to lift the ban on the Indian National Congress. Peaceful picketing was allowed, but picketing for the boycott of foreign goods was not to be allowed beyond a limit permitted by law.

            The Congress agreed to join the Second Round Table Conference to sketch the constitutional reforms. Some of the other conditions were that the British would retract all orders imposing curbs on the activities of the Indian National Congress. They also agreed to withdraw trials except those involving violence and to release of prisoners arrested for participating in the civil dis-obedience movement. It was also agreed that the British would remove the tax on salt, and allow Indians to produce, trade and sell salt legally and for their own use.