Gandhian Movements NCM, CDM, QIM - Know the Details!
Gandhian Movements NCM, CDM, QIM - Know the Details!
Mahatma Gandhi has been known to be the great leader that led this country to freedom. His presence in Indian History is so prominent that the whole time period in which he fought for our freedom is known as the Gandhian Era. Read this article to know in detail about the legendary Mahatma Gandhi and all of the Gandhian Movements.
About Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the leader of the Indian Independence Movement against the British Rule.
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His birthday, 2nd October, is widely celebrated in not only India but all over the world. United Nations Organisation has declared this day as International Non-Violence Day. Gandhi was born and brought up in a Hindu merchant caste family in coastal Gujarat, India. He studied law at the Inner Temple, London.
After he returned to India in 1915, he set out to organize peasants, farmers, and urban labourers to protest against excessive land-tax and discriminating system of rule. Taking up leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for achieving freedom from the British rule in a non- violent way.
This Era was named after Gandhi simply because he was a major part in the long struggle for India to gain back its independence. He stood up for what he believed in and what was right without thinking about the consequences would be. He was a very strong influence in India and will always be remembered not only in India but across the world for his heroic accomplishments.
Major Gandhian Movements
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Champaran Movement
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When: Launched on 19th April 1917
Why: Protest against British Government for forcing farmers to grow opium with barely any payment in return.
About the Movement:
It was the first Satyagraha movement. On his return to India in 1915, Gandhi came to realize that the country was facing adversities under the colonial rule. The British Government forced the farmers to plant indigo and other cash crops on their land. Those crops were then sold to the farmers at a much cheaper price. The situation worsened for the farmers due to harsh weather conditions and levy of heavy taxes which pushed them towards abject poverty. Gandhi paid a visit to Champaran district in April 1917 as soon as he heard about it. Implementing the approach of civil disobedience movement, Gandhi launched several demonstrations and strikes against the landlords which eventually brought them down on their knees.
The Movement ended in success with the landlords signing an agreement in which they granted control and compensations to the farmers, and canceled the hikes in revenue and collection.
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Kheda Movement
When: Launched during 1917-1918
Why: Major tax revolt against British Government as the farmers were unable to pay heavy taxes due to crop failure and plague epidemic.
About the Movement:
It was the third Satyagraha movement by Gandhi after Champaran Satyagraha and Ahmedabad mill strike. The Champaran village was heavily affected by the floods and famine in 1918. The natural phenomena resulted in massive destruction of the crop yields. The farmers pleaded the British government to exempt them from the payment of taxes but the British authorities refused.
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The farmers launched a crusade against the government under the guidance of Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel and pledged for the non-payment of taxes. The British government even threatened the peasants with the seizure of their land but they remained undeterred. After five months of consistent struggle, in May 1918, the British government relieved the payment of taxes by the farmers and also returned the seized properties of the farmers.
Khilafat Movement
When: Launched during 1919–1924
Why: To preserve the authority of the Ottoman Sultan as Caliph of Islam at the end of World War I.
About the Movement:
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Also known as the Indian Muslim movement. After the World War I, the Caliph and the Ottoman Empire encountered several humiliating allegations. The Muslims became fearful for the integrity of their Caliph and launched khilafat movement. The movement took place under the guidance of Gandhi and the purpose was to fight against the British government to restore the collapsing status of the Caliph. In 1919, Gandhi approached the Muslim community for their support in India’s freedom struggle and in return he supported the Muslim community in launching the Khilafat movement. This movement made Gandhi a notable spokesperson of the All India Muslim Conference and he returned the medals he had received from the British Empire in South Africa.
Non Cooperation Movement (NCM)
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Although short lived, the Non-Cooperation Movement was very significant in the Indian freedom struggle. Gandhi realized that there was no hope of getting fair treatment at the hands of the British and thus decided to withdraw the cooperation of the people of India by launching the Non Cooperation Movement.
When: Launched on 1st August 1920
Why: It was a reaction to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
About the Movement:
Under this movement, all offices and factories were shut down. Indians were encouraged to withdraw from the British sponsored schools, police services, the military, and the civil service, and lawyers were asked to leave the British courts. Public transportation and English-manufactured goods, especially clothing, were boycotted. Indians returned their honors and titles given by the British government and resigned from various posts like teachers, lawyers, civil and military services.
This movement was withdrawn in February 1922 due to the Chauri Chaura incident in which protesters participating in the Non Cooperation Movement clashed with the police who opened fire. Gandhi single-handedly stopped the nation wide movement as he did not want violence to be involved in the quest for freedom.
Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)
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When: Launched on 12th March 1930
Why: To display complete disobedience of the orders and laws of the British Government.
About the Movement:
Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement by conducting the historic Dandi Salt March, where he broke the Salt Laws imposed by the British Government. With the support of seventy nine ashramites, Gandhi went on his march from his Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi that is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea. On 6th April 1930, Gandhi and his entourage violated the Salt Law by picking up a fistful of salt lying on the sea shore. They made salt on the shores of Dandi.
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The British tried to repress the movement and resorted to brutal firing and killing hundreds of people. Many were arrested along with Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, but the movement only got stronger.
After this, a Round Table Conferences was arranged by the British and Gandhi attended the second Round Table Conference at London, but nothing was achieved in the conference and thus the Civil Disobedience Movement was revived.
Quit India Movement(QIM)
When: Launched on 8th August 1942
Why: A call to the British to withdraw from India and give the country its freedom.
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About the Movement:
The Second World War broke out in September of 1939 and without consulting the Indian leaders, India was declared a warring state on behalf of the British by the Governor General. Some Congress leaders were unhappy with India's involvement in the war and called for India's withdrawal from it. A delegation under Stafford Cripps was sent to negotiate with the unhappy Congress leaders, which became popular by the name of Cripps mission. The deal was to support Britain in the war in exchange of which the British promised freedom. The Indian National Congress passed a resolution on July 14, 1942, seeking complete freedom from British rule. In August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch a mass civil disobedience movement and thus started the Quit India Movement. It was a 'Do or Die' call to force the British to leave India. A huge number of people supported and participated in this movement. There were widespread acts of violence and sabotage, and the British government held Gandhi responsible for these acts of violence, alleging that they were a deliberate act of Congress policy.
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The movement collapsed as it lacked organisation from the very beginning, but the movement was not a complete failure. The movement of 1942 gave the death blow to the British rule that was needed to boost the confidence of the people of India. The Quit India Movement sparked off an aggressive national consciousness.
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