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Socialist Activist who Fought for Indian Independence and Pacifism
: A complex man with a controversial legacy, Mohandas Gandhi remains one of the pioneers of civil disobedience as a political weapon and a giant in 20th century anti-colonialism. (From: Center for a Stateless Society.)
• "Tolstoy's life has been devoted to replacing the method of violence for removing tyranny or securing reform by the method of nonresistance to evil. He would meet hatred expressed in violence by love expressed in self-suffering. He admits of no exception to whittle down this great and divine law of love. He applies it to all the problems that trouble mankind." (From: "A Letter to a Hindu: The Subjection of India- Its....)
• "...the shape of reproduction on that sacred soil of gun factories and the hateful industrialism which has reduced the people of Europe to a state of slavery, and all but stifled among them the best instincts which are the heritage of the human family." (From: "A Letter to a Hindu: The Subjection of India- Its....)
• "The ideally nonviolent state will be an ordered anarchy. That State is the best governed which is governed the least." (From: Gandhi's Wisdom Box (1942), edited by Dewan Ram Pa....)
Part 15
A | An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth: M.K. Gandhi : translated from Gujarati by Mahadev Desai :Navajivan Publishing House. Ahmedabad; vol. I, 1927; Vol. II, 1929; edition used: 1959 | |
AA | Asia and the Americas: Monthly Magazine published from New York. | |
ABP | Amrita Bazar Patrika: English daily published from Calcutta. | |
AG | Among the Great: Dilip Kumar Roy; introduction by S. Radhakrishnan; Nalanda Publication, Bombay, 1945; edition used; reprint: Jaico Publications, Bombay, 1950 | |
AOA | Ashram Observances in Action: Translated from Gujarati by V.G. Desai ; Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad,1955. | |
BC | The Bombay Chronicle: Daily newspaper published from Bombay. | |
CP | Constructive Program: Its Meaning and place; M. K. Gandhi; Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, 1941; edition used: 1948. | |
EF | The Epic Fast : Pyarelal; Mohanlal Maganlal Bhatt; Ahmedabad, 1932. | |
ER | Ethical Religion: Mahatma Gandhi; translated from Hindi by B. Rama Iyer; S. Ganesan, Madras,1930. | |
FYM | From Yeravda Mandir: Ashram Observance: M.K. Gandhi; translated by V. G. Desai ; Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, 1933; edition used:1957. | |
GCG | Gandhiji’s Correspondence with the Government, 1942–44: Navajivan publishing House, Ahmedabad ; April, 1945. | |
GIV | Gandhiji in Indian Village: Mahadev Desai; S. Ganesan, Madras, 1927. | |
H | Harijan :(1933–1956) English weekly journal founded by Gandhiji and published under the auspices of the Harijan Sevak Sangh, Poona, and from 1942, by the Navajivan Trust, Ahmedabad. The weekly suspended publication in 1940 during the “Individual Satyagraha”; resumed in January 1942, but stopped appearing during the Quit India Struggle. It reappeared in 1946. | |
HS | Hind Swaraj or Indian Home rule: Mahatma Gandhi; Navajivan Publishing House. Ahmedabad, 1938; edition used:1958. | |
HSt | The Hindusthan Standard: Daily newspaper published from Calcutta. | |
Hu | The Hindu: Daily newspaper published from Calcutta. | |
ICS | India’s case for Swaraj: Edited by W. P. Kabadi: Yeshanand & Co., Bombay, 1932 | |
KH | key to Health: M. K. Gandhi; Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, 1948. | |
L | The Leader: Daily newspaper published from Ahmedabad. | |
M | Mahatma: Life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi: D. G. Tendulkar; Vithalbhai K. Jhaveri and D. G. Tendulkar, Bombay 1951–54, 8 Volumes. | |
MGI | Mahatma Gandhi’s Ideas: C.F. Andrews; George Allen, London, 1929. | |
MGLP | Mahatma Gandhi: The Last Phase: Pyarelal; Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad; Vol. I, February 1956; Vol. II, February 1958. | |
MI | Medium of Instruction: M. K. Gandhi; edited by Bharatan Kumarappa; Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, 1954. | |
MKG | M. K. Gandhi: An Indian Patriot in South Africa: By J. J. Doke; introduction by Lord Ampthill; The London Indian Chronicle, London, 1909. | |
MN | My Nonviolence: M. K. Gandhi; edited by Sailesh Kumar Bandopadhyaya; Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, 1960. | |
MR | The Modern Review: monthly journal published from Calcutta. | |
MS | My Socialism: M. K. Gandhi; compiled by R. K. Prabhu; Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, 1959. | |
N | Navajivan (1919–1931): Gujarati weekly, with occasional bi-weekly issues; first issued on September 7, 1919; edited by Gandhiji and published from Ahmedabad. | |
NWWP | Nonviolent Way to World Peace: M. K. Gandhi; compiled by R. K. Prabhu; Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, 1959. | |
RCPS | Report of the Commission Appointed by the Punjab Sub-committee of the Indian National Congress: published by K. Santhanam, Lahore, 1920. | |
S | Sabarmati: A Report of the Annual Meeting of the Federation of International Fellowships, 1929. | |
Sp | The Spectator: weekly issued from London. | |
SL | Satyagraha Leaflets: Occasionally issued during March-May 1919,from Bombay. | |
SSA | Satyagraha in South Africa: M. K. Gandhi; translated by V. G. Desai,, Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, 1928; edition used: 1950. | |
SW | Speeches and Writings of Mahatma Gandhi: G. A. Natesan & Co., Madras, 1933, 4th edition. | |
TI | The Times of India : Daily newspaper published from Bombay. | |
TNH | Towards New Horizons: Pyarelal; reprinted from Mahatma Gandhi; The Last Phase; Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, 1959. | |
WGC | With Gandhiji in Ceylon: edited by Mahadev Desai; S. Ganesan, Madras, 1928. | |
YI | Young India: (1919–1932) English weekly journal, published from Bombay as a bi-weekly, under Gandhiji’s supervision from May 7, 1919, and as a weekly from Ahmedabad, with Gandhiji as editor from October 8, 1919. |
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Year/Month | Date | Event |
1869 Oct | 2 | Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi born of a Bania (Vaishya or trading caste) family at Porbunder, Kathiawar, the youngest of the three sons of Karamchand ALIAS Kaba Gandhi, prime Minister successively in Porbunder, Rajkot and Vankaner States, and his fourth wife Putlibai. |
1876 | Ges to Rajkot with parents; attend primary school there till twelfth year; is betrothed to Kasturbai, daughter of Gokuldas Makanji, merchant. | |
1881 | Enters high school at Rajkot. | |
1883 | Marries Kasturbai. | |
1884–85 | Takes to meat-eating in secret, but abandons habit after about a year to avoid deceiving his parents. | |
1887 | Passes matriculations examinations; joins Samaldas College at Bhavnagar (Kathiawar), but gives up studies at close of first term. | |
1888 Sept | 4 | Sails for England |
Oct | 28 |
Reaches London Lives on vegetarian diet. Takes lessons in dancing and music for a short time, thinking they are necessary parts of a gentleman’s equipment |
1889 | Reads books on simple living and decides to reduce expenses by half; studies religious literature; reads Gita for first time and is deeply impressed. | |
1890 | Cultivates contacts with vegetarian movement; for short while conducts vegetarian club. | |
June | passes London Matric | |
Sept | joins Vegetarian Society. | |
1891 June | 10 | Called to the Bar |
12 | Sails for India. | |
July | Reaches Bombay. | |
Nov | Applies for admission to Bombay High Court. | |
1892 | struggles with legal practice at Rajkot and Bombay; later settles down at former place as legal draftsman. | |
1893 April | leaves for South Africa, being engaged by a Muslim firm for legal work | |
May-June | Experience color bar in various forms; decides to remain and fight race prejudice. | |
1894 Aug | 22 | Founds Natal Indian Congress |
Sept | Enrolled as Advocate of Supreme Court of Natal, being first Indian to be so enrolled. Studies religious literature including the Bible, the Koran and Tolstoy’s The kingdom of god is within you. | |
1895 | Gets more committed to south African Indian cause. issues The Indian Franchise : An appeal to Every Briton in South Africa. | |
1896 July | Returns to India and starts agitation on behalf of south African Indians. | |
Aug | 14 | Publishes The Green Pamphlet at Rajkot, Tours Bombay, madras, Poona and Calcutta educating Indians in regard to grievances of south African Indians |
Nov | 30 | Sails for South Africa with wife and children. |
1897 Jan | 13 | Mobbed on landing at Durban by crowd excited by reports of his speeches in India on conditions of indentured Indian labor in South Africa. |
20 | Declines to prosecute assailants. | |
April | 6 |
Submits long memorial to Chamberlain, secretary of State for colonies, regarding landing incidents, background. Carries on program of petitioning local and Imperial Authorities, as well as ofcommunicating with British and Indian public men regarding discriminatory laws. |
1898–99 | Represents to Indian National Congress, Colonial and Imperial authorities, against Locations and restrictions on Indian’s trading rights. | |
1899 | Raises Indian Ambulance Corps in Boer War, which goes into action and is mentioned in dispatches; awarded war medal. | |
1990 | Sends Dadabhai Naoroji draft resolution on South African Indian problem, for Congress session | |
1901 Oct | 18 | Sails for India |
Dec | 14 | Reaches Rajkot via Porbunder. |
27 | Moves resolution on South Africa at congress | |
1902 Jan, 28 Feb |
Visits Rangoon Stays for a month with Gokhale at Calcutta. Returns to Rajkot, settles down to Practice. |
|
July | 1 | Shifts to and sets up practice at Bombay |
Nov | Is called to south Africa to champion Indian’s cause against anti-Asiatic legislation in Transvaal. | |
Dec | Arrives in Durban : leadsdelegation to chamberlain | |
1903 |
Enrolled as Attorney of Supreme Court of Transvaal; founds Transvaal British Indian Association. Sends weekly statements regarding situation to Dadabhai Naoroji |
|
June | Indian opinion commences publication | |
1904 | Reads Ruskin’s Unto This Last: founds Phenix Settlement near Durban (Natal); organizes hospital during outbreak of plague in Johannesburg; writes series of articles in Gujarati on dietetics which are later translated into English and published under the title Guide to Health. | |
1905 |
Opposes Bengal Partition, supports boycott of British goods. During Gokhale, Lajpat Rai deputation to Britain, appeals to Colonial statement to treat India, ‘an integral part of the Empire’, with consideration. Leads deputation to Lord Selborne, British High Commissioner, concerning Transvaal Indian problem. |
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1906 May | 12 | Support ‘home rule’ for India ‘in the name of justice and for good of humanity’ |
27 | Writes to brother, Lakshmidas, declaring disinterestedness in worldly possessions. | |
June-July | Raises Indian Stretcher-bearer Corps in Zulu Rebellion; takes vow of Brahmacharya for life. | |
Sept | 11 | Addresses mass meeting of Indian sat Johannesburg, which takes oath of passive resistance against newly promulgated Transvaal Asiatic Law Amendment Ordinance. |
Oct, 21 Nov 30 | 18 | In England on deputation to present Indian’s case to Colonial Secretary |
Dec. | Returns to South Africa. | |
1907 Jan- Feb. | Writes series of 8 articles in Gujarati on “Ethical Religion”, published weekly in Indian Opinion and later, as a book | |
March | Asiatic Registration Act passed in Transvaal Parliament. Indians hold protect meetings. | |
April | Sees smuts at Pretoria, acquaints him with resolutions adopted at mass meeting. Pledge, in Indian Opinion, opposition to‘ Black Act’. | |
May | ‘Black Act’ receives royal assent | |
July | Address mass meeting opposing ‘Black Act’ | |
Aug |
Writes to Smuts criticizing Registration Act, suggesting amendments. Passive resistance, picketing of Permit Offices; defends passive resisters in court. |
|
Dec | Smuts decides to prosecute Gandhiji | |
1908 Jan | 8 | Asks Government for suspension of Registration act, offers voluntary registration. |
10 |
Adopt word;‘ Satyagraha’ in place of ‘Passive Resistance’. Sentenced to 2 months imprisonment for failure to leave Transvaal. |
|
21 | Agrees to settlement on basis of voluntary registration, if registration Act is repealed. | |
30 | Summoned to see General Smuts at Pretoria and released, on reaching a compromise. | |
Feb | 10 | Nearly killed by Pathans who regard the compromise, under which Indians are expected to give their finger –prints voluntarily, as a betrayal of Indian interests; refuses to prosecute his assailants. |
March-June | Negotiates with Smuts forfulfillment of promise of repeal of Act which Smuts denies; | |
July | Corresponding with Smuts released; Indians in mass meeting decide to refuse thumb impression and burn registration certificates | |
Aug |
Declares use of violence ‘harmful, even useless to uproot British rule’ in India. Appeals to Smuts to repeal ‘Black Act’. Registration certificates burnt at meetings, passive resistance resumed |
|
Sept |
Royal assent is given to amended Registration Act. Smuts refuses Indian terms for settlement |
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Oct | 15 | Arrested and sentenced sentenced to 2 months rigorous imprisonment |
Dec | 12 |
Released from Volksrust Jail. Indian National Congress adopts resolution on South Africa, criticizing the harsh, humiliating and cruel treatment of British Indians in South Africa as injurious to British Empire. |
1909 Jan | 16 | Arrested at Volksrust for failing to produce registration certificate; on deportation, returned and is re-arrested, but released on bail. |
20 | Writes to press calling on Indians to prepare for final phase of struggle | |
Feb | 25 | Arrested at Volksrust; sentenced to 3 months |
May | 2 | Transferred topretoria Central Jail |
24 | released. | |
June | 21 | Leaves with Haji Habib, on deputation to England to represent Indian case. |
July | 10 |
Arrives in London. With the assistance of Lord Ampthill, works ceaselessly to educate influential British leaders, the public, and to move Imperial authorities. |
Oct | 1 | Writes to Tolstoy regarding Passive Resistance movement. |
Nov | 9 | The times reports failure of Gandhi Government negotiations on Transvaal laws. |
10 | Replies to Tolstoy, sends his biography by Doke. | |
13 | Leaves England for South Africa Writes Hind Swaraj on board “s. s. Kildonan Castle” | |
30 | Reaches South Africa | |
Dec | 29 | Congress at Lahore adopts resolution praising Indian’s struggle in South Africa, urging ban on indenture. |
1910 April | 4 | Sends Tolstoy copy of Indians Home Rule, seeks comments |
May | 8 | Tolstoy replies; question of passive Resistance of greatest importance not only for India but for humanity. |
30 | Founds Tolstoy Farm | |
Dec | 4 | Pays memorial tribute to Tolstoy |
1911 Jan | Communicates with Smuts regarding amendments to Immigrants’ Restrictions Bill; latter assures; no color bar taint in laws | |
March | 27 | Interviews smuts atCape town |
April | 22 | Smuts agrees to assurances demanded by Indians in reciprocation of suspension of Passive Resistance movement |
May | 3 | Meets Smuts: ‘ProvisionalSettlement” arrived on Smuts’ promise of repeal of Asiatic Registration and Immigrations’ Restriction Acts’ |
June | 24 | Pledges loyalty to King-emperor on coronation |
Dec | 8 | Invites Gokhale to South Africa |
1912 March | 16 | Commends Gokhale’s attempts for abolition of indenture system |
Sept | 12 | Phenix Trust is set up |
Oct | 22 |
Accompanies Gokhale, on tour of South Africa, Laurenco Marques, Mozambique and Zanzibar. Gives up European dress and milk and restricts himself to diet of fresh and dried fruit. |
1913Jan | 18 | Refers in Indian Opinion to the possibility of return home to India by mid-year. |
March | 14 | Indian marriages in South Africa invalidated by Searle’s Supreme Court judgment. |
30 | Indians in mass meeting protest against Searle Judgment | |
April | 12 |
In Indian opinion draws attention to new Immigration Bill’s failure to fulfill terms of Provisional Settlement of 1911. Kasturba decides to join passive Resistance struggle. |
May | 19 | Warns Government of certainty of revival of movement if it fails to grant promised relief. |
June | 7 | Idea of return to India deferred in view of stringent application of discriminatory laws and likely resumption of satyagraha |
27 | Express readiness for negotiations | |
Sept | 13 | Announces negotiation “proved abortive |
15 | Passive Resistance is revived | |
16 | Kasturba is arrested | |
Oct | 17 | Visits Newcastle; urges indentured Indians to cease work till repeal of £ 3 tax. 3000 minor strike |
24 | proposes ‘March’ into Transvaal | |
28 | ‘March’ from Newcastle begins | |
30 | Reaches Charlestown | |
Nov | 3 | Announces ‘March’ into Transvaal to court arrest |
5 | Telephones Smuts seeking assurance of repeal of £ 3 tax | |
6 |
Leads ‘ Great March’ Arrested at Palmford |
|
7 | At Volksrust, released on bail; rejoin Marchers | |
8 | Arrested at Standerton; released on recognizance; ‘March’ continues | |
9 | Arrested at Teakworth, taken to Balfour | |
10 | Takes ‘one meal a day’ pledge till repeal of tax | |
11 | Sentenced, at Dundee, to 9 months’ rigorous imprisonment | |
13 | Removed to Volksrust jail | |
14 | Sentenced to 3 months on fresh count at Volksrust | |
Dec | 18 | Released unconditionally; from time of release till settlement take only one meal a day and puts on indentured laborer’s dress. |
1914 Jan | 13,16 | Interviews Smuts, submits proposals |
22 |
Suspends satyagraha following agreement with Smuts. Fourteen day’s penitential fast for moral lapse of inmates of Farm |
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June | Indian Relief Act is passed | |
July | 18 | Sails for England, EN ROUTE to India |
Aug | 4 |
Reaches London. Raises Indian Volunteer Corps |
Oct | volunteer corps on duty | |
Dec | 19 | Sails for India |
1915 Jan | 9 |
Reaches India. Awarded Kaiser-I-Hind Gold Medal for Ambulance services |
May | 20 | Founds Satyagraha Ashram (later known as Sabarmati Ashram, after the name of the river) at Ahmedabad |
1915–16 | Tours India and Burma, traveling 3rd class on the railways | |
1917 | Successfully agitates against indentured Indian emigration; idea of making use of spinning-wheel to produce hand-made cloth on large scale takes root in his mind | |
April | Ges to Champaran (Bihar) to investigate conditions of labor in indigo plantations; arrested and later released; appointed by Bihar Government as member of committee set up t o inquire into ryots’ grievances. | |
1918 Jan-March | Takes up cause of textile laborers of Ahmedabad and fasts to secure amicable settlement of dispute; initiates satyagraha in Kaira District (Bombay) to secures suspension of revenue assessment on failure of crops | |
April | 27 | Attends Viceroy’s War Conference at Delhi and addresses it in Hindustani; subsequently tours Kaira District to raise recruits for army |
1919Feb | 28 | Signs Satyagraha pledge to secure withdrawal of Rowlatt Bills. |
April | 6 | inaugurates all-India satyagraha movement ; countrywide HARTAL |
8–11 | Arrested on way to Delhi for refusal to co, ply with order not to enter Punjab; escorted back to Bombay; outbreaks of violence in several towns. | |
13 | Jallianwala Bagh tragedy at Amritsar, troops firing on an unarmed crowd and killing over 400. Addresses public meeting near Sabarmati Ashram and declares three day’s penitential fast | |
14 | Confesses at Nadiad his ‘Himalayan miscalculation’ regarding satyagraha martial law declared in Punjab. | |
18 | Suspends satyagraha. | |
Sept | Assumes editorship of the Gujarati monthly, Navajivan, later published weekly in Hindi also | |
Oct | Assumes editorship of the English weekly, Young India; joins non-official committee of inquiry into official excesses in Punjab | |
Nov | 24 | presides over all-India Khilafat Conference at Delhi |
Dec | Advises acceptance of Montague-Chelmsford Reforms by Congress at Amritsar. | |
1920Jan | Leads deputation to Viceroy to press on British Government not to deprive Sultan of Turkey (who was also Khalifa of Muslim) of his suzerainty over Holy Places of Islam. | |
Aug | 1 | Address letter to Viceroy surrendering Kaiser-I-Hind Medal, Zulu War Medal and Boer War Medal |
Sept | Special session of Indian National Congress at Calcutta accepts his program of non-cooperation to secure redress of Punjab and Khilafat wrongs | |
Nov | Founds Gujarat Vidyapeeth at Ahmedabad | |
Dec | Nagpur Congress session adopts his resolution declaring object of Congress to be attainment of Swaraj by the people of India by all legitimate and peacefully means | |
1921April | Launches program of enlisting a crore of members in Congress, raising a crore of rupees for Tilak Swaraj fund and setting up 20 lakhs of charkhas in the country in furtherance of national constructive movement | |
Aug | Leads campaign for complete boycott of foreign cloth and light s monster bonfire of foreign cloth in Bombay | |
Dec | Invested with full dictatorial powers by Congress session at Ahmedabad | |
1922Feb | 1 | Gives notice to Viceroy of Intention to launch satyagraha campaign in Bardoli (Gujarat). |
5 | Following Chauri Chaura (UP) tragedy, in which 21 police constables and one sub-inspector were burnt to death by a mob, fasts for five days and abandons plan of satyagraha movement | |
March | 10 | Arrested for sedition at Sabarmati and sentenced (march 18) to six years imprisonment. |
1924Jan-Feb | Operated on for appendicitis in Sassoon Hospital, Poona (jan.12) and released on Feb 5. | |
April | Resumes editorship of Young India and Navajivan. | |
Sept | 18 | Begins 21 day’s fast for Hindu-Muslim unity. |
Dec | Provides over Congress session at Belgaum. | |
1925Sept | Founds All-India Spinner’s Association | |
Nov |
Seven days vicarious fast for misdeeds of Ashram inmates. Commences writing his autobiography,‘The story of my Experiments with Truth’. |
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1927Nov | Visits Ceylon | |
1928Dec | Moves resolution at Calcutta Congress session in favor of Independence if Dominion Status in not granted by end of 1929. | |
1929Dec | At his instance Lahore Congress session declares that Swaraj in Congress creed shall mean Purna Swaraj (complete independence). | |
1930Feb | Appointed by A.I.C.C. as Congress Dictator to launch Civil Disobedience movement. | |
March | 2 | Addresses letter to Victory intimating his intention to break Salt law if Congress demands are not conceded |
12 | Commences march to Dandi sea-beach, where he ceremoniously picks up salt (April 6). | |
May | 5 | Arrested and imprisoned without trial; HARTAL all over India; over 100,000 are jailed before close of year |
1931Jan | 26 | Unconditionally released from prison |
Feb-march | Has series of talks with Viceroy resulting in Irwin-Gandhi Pact | |
Aug | 29 | sails for England as sole Congress delegate to Second Round Table Conference. |
Sept-Dec | Attends session of Conference | |
Dec | 5 | Leaves England for India |
28 | lands in Bombay | |
1932 Jan | 4 | Arrested and imprisoned without trial |
Sept | 20 | commences ‘ fast unto death’ in jail to secure abolition of separate electorates for Harijans in communal Award |
26 | Breaks fast on Government of India’s acceptance of his demand regarding Harijans | |
1933 Feb, | 11 | Founds the weekly paper Harijan, published in English and Hindi |
May | 8 | Commences at noon 21 days fast for self purification; released unconditionally at 9 p.m. |
9 | Announces suspension of Civil Disobedience movement for six weeks and calls on the Government to withdraw its Ordinances | |
29 | Breaks fast. | |
July | 26 | Disbands Satyagraha Ashram |
30 | Informs Government of Bombay of his decision to March from Ahmedabad to Ras with 33 followers to revive Civil Disobedience Movement | |
31 | Arrested and imprisoned without trial | |
Aug | 4 | Released and rearrested for breaking a restraint order |
16 | Ges on fast on being denied facilities to carry on anti-untouchability propaganda | |
23 | Released unconditionally | |
Nov | 7 | commences Harijan-uplift tour |
1934Sept | 17 | Announces decision to retire from politics from October 1 to engage himself in development of village industries, Harijan service and education through basic crafts |
Oct | 26 | Inaugurates All-India Village Industries Association. |
1936April | 30 | Settles down at Sevagram, a village near Wardha in the Central Provinces, making it his headquarters |
1937Oct | 22 | Presides over Educational Conferences at Wardha and outlines his scheme of education through basis crafts |
1939 March | 3 | Commences ‘fast unto death’ at Rajkot to secure Ruler’s adherence to promise given to reform administration, and ends it on March 7 on Viceroy’s intervention |
1940 July&Sept | Meets viceroy by invitation in connection with war situation | |
Oct | Sanctions individual civil disobedience; suspends Harijan and allied weeklies following official demand for pre-censorship of reports and writing in Harijan on the subject of Satyagraha. | |
1941Dec | 30 | At his own request is relieved of his leadership of Congress by Working Committee. |
1942Jan | 18 | Restarts Harijan and allied weeklies |
March | 27 | Meets Sir Stafford Cripps in New Delhi; later declares Cripps proposals to be a ‘postdated check’. |
May | Appeals to British Government to quit India | |
Aug | 8 | Addresses A.I.C.C. session in Bombay on implication of Quit India resolution. |
9 | Arrested and interned in Agakhan’s palace at Poona | |
15 | Death of Mahadev Desai, Gandhiji’s personal secretary, from heart failure, in Aga Khan’s palace | |
Aug-Dec | Corresponds with Viceroy and Government of India regarding disturbances | |
1943Feb | 10 | Commences 21 days fast, which he breaks on march 3 |
1944Feb | 22 | Kasturba Gandhi dies in Aga Khan palace |
May | 6 | Released unconditionally |
Sept | 9–27 | Carries on talks with M.A. Jinnah regarding Pakistan |
Oct | 2 | Presentation of purse of 110lakhs of rupees (£ 8,25,000) for Kasturba Memorial on occasion of 75thbirthday |
1945 April | 17 | In a statement regarding the ensuing San Francisco Conference says that peace is impossible without equality and freedom of India. Also demands a just peace for Germany and Japan. |
Dec | 19 | Lays foundation stone of C.F. Andrews’ Memorial Hospital at Santiniketan. |
1945-46Dec-Jan | Tour Bengal and Assam | |
1946 Jan& Feb | tours Southern India for anti-untouchability and Hindustani Propaganda. | |
Feb | 10 | Revives Harijan and allied group of weekly journals. |
April | Participates in political talks with Cabinet Mission in Delhi | |
May | 5–12 | In Simla; Simla Conference in session; deliberations prove infructuous |
16 | Cabinet mission announces Plan | |
18–19 | Discusses Plan with Cabinet mission | |
26 | Considers Plan best document produced by British Government under circumstances. | |
June | 6 | In Mussoorie |
7 | Returns to Delhi. | |
10 | Refuses to enthuse over Allied Victory as not being ‘Victory of truth over falsehood’. | |
11 | Viceroy interviews Gandhiji, moots proposal of coalition Government at Center | |
16 | Cabinet Mission negotiations discontinued; Viceroy proposes Interim Government. | |
18 | Congress Working Committee decides to accept interim Government scheme. | |
20–1 | Attends Working Committee meeting. Gandhiji is seen by Cripps | |
23 | Advices Congress not to enter Interim Government, but only Constituent Assembly | |
24 | Meets Cabinet Mission | |
28 | Leaves Delhi forPoona; attempts made to derail train EN ROUTE | |
July | 7 | Address A.I.C.C. meeting at Bombay; Congress accepts Cabinet Mission Plan of May 16. |
31 | Jinnah threatens sanctions of ‘Direct Action’ | |
Aug | 12 | Viceroy announces invitation to Congress to form Provisional Government. |
Aug | 16–18 | The ‘Great Calcutta Killing’ |
24 | Viceroy Wavell broadcasts Plan | |
27 | Gandhiji cables warning to British Government against repetition of ‘Bengal tragedy’; also writes to Wavell | |
Sept | 4 | Interim Government formed |
26 | Has interview with Wavell | |
Oct | 9 | Jinnah’s 9-point demands conveyed to Congress |
10 | Noakhali Massacre | |
15 | Muslim League agrees to enter Interim Government | |
28 | Leaves for Calcutta. Riots breaks out in Bihar | |
Nov | 6 |
Leaves for Noakhali; issues statement on ‘Partial Fast’. Noakhali tour begins. |
20 | Starts tour without party | |
Dec | 20 | Completes month-long sojourn at Srirampur |
25 | At Noakhali, says :“I am being tested through and through”. | |
30 | Jawaharlal Nehru calls on Gandhiji, who says: “my reason wholly supports my heart | |
1947 Jan | 2 |
Says: “all around me is utter darkness”. Leaves Srirampur on walking tour |
3–29 | In Bihar, touring riot-affected areas | |
30 | Leaves Patna for Delhi | |
April | 1–2 | Gandhiji addresses Asian Relation Conference in Delhi |
15 | Issues with Jinnah joint appeal for communal peace | |
29 | In Bihar | |
May | 1 | Congress Working Committee accepts Partition in principle. |
5 | In interview, Gandhiji denies that communal division of India is inevitable | |
24 | Leaves Bihar for Delhi | |
31 | Declares peace must precede Partition, he would not be party to India’s vivisection. | |
June | 2 | Viceroy’s Partition plan revealed; Congress Working Committee conveys acceptance. |
3 | Indian leader broadcast on Mountbatten Plan | |
6 | Gandhiji writes to Mountbatten, with Pakistan conceded to persuade Jinnah to amicable settle all outstanding points with Congress | |
12 | Addresses Congress Working Committee | |
July | ‘Independence of India Bill passed’ | |
27 | Appeals to Princes to regard people’s paramountcy as a privilege | |
August | 14 | Hails following day as one of rejoicing for deliverance from British bondage; but deplores partition. Pakistan is born |
Aug | 15 | Hindu-Muslim fraternization in Calcutta |
16 | Hails ‘Miracle of Calcutta’ | |
Sept | 1 | Considers Calcutta peace nine-days wonder, decides on fast |
2 | Is mobbed in Calcutta house ;gives up idea of Noakhali visit. Peace efforts intensified | |
4 | Breaks fast | |
7 | Leaves Calcutta for Delhi; commences daily visits to riot-raced areas. | |
24 | Pakistan raiders invade Kashmir. | |
25 | Kashmir accedes to Indian Union | |
26 | Criticizes Churchill’s holocaust in India’ statement | |
Nov | 1 | Indian troops enter Junagadh |
3 |
Junagadh accedes to India. Address A.I.C.C |
|
11 | Defends Junagadh’s accession to India | |
Dec | 25 | Pleads for amicable settlement between India and Pakistan |
30 | India refers Kashmir dispute to U.N. | |
1948 | 12 | Decides to fast for communal peace in Delhi; Mountbatten fails to dissuade Gandhiji. |
15 | Enters ‘danger zone’. Hails Indian Cabinet’s decision to release Pakistan dues of Rs. 550 million. Fast continues for establishment of communal peace. | |
17 | Doctors warn fast must be ended. Central Peace Committee formed, decides on ‘Peace Pledge’ | |
18 | Peace Committee signs, presents ‘Peace Pledge’ to Gandhiji, who breaks fast. | |
20 | Bomb explodes at prayer meeting | |
27 | Visits Mehrauli Muslim Fair | |
29 | Angry refugees ask Gandhiji to retire to the Himalayas | |
30 | Drafts constitution of a Congress transformed into Lok Sevak Sangh. Is assassinated on way to evening prayer. |
Advaita | Hindu philosophy of Monism or Non-dualism |
Agiari | Zoroastrian fire-temple |
Ahimsa | Nonviolence; in its positive aspect-love for all living things. |
Allah | Muslim name of God |
Amanitvam | humility |
Aparigraha | non-possession |
Ardhangini | woman; the ‘better half’. |
Ashram | abode of spiritual teacher; place for disciplined community living; stage of life. |
Asoka | Indian monarch of 3rd century B.C. famed for his renunciation of empire and conquest and for his rock-edicts embodying Buddhist dharma. |
Atishudra | One lower than the shudra, the fourth caste at the bottom of Hindu social hierarchy; ‘untouchable’. |
Atman | soul |
Avatar | literally, a ‘descent’; incarnation of a deity, especially of Vishnu in the Hindu Trinity. |
Bansi | bamboo flute as of the divine cowherd, Sri Krishna. |
Bardoli | Gujarat village, connected with the Civil Disobedience Movement |
Bhagwadgita | (see ‘The Gita’) |
Bhakti | devotion. |
Bhangi | scavenger; sweeper. |
Bharat Mata | Mother India. |
Bibhishan | brother of Ravana, in the Ramayana, known for his wise counsel. |
Bhogabhumi | Land of enjoyment |
Brahma | Hindu name of God the Creator, one of the Trinity. |
Brahmachari | A celibate; one who observes Brahmacharya. |
Brahmacharya | celibacy; code of conduct involving strict observance of chastity or continence in the pursuit of learning, philosophy and God. |
Brahman, Brahmin | member of the first of the four castes, whose chief duty is the study and teaching of the Vedas and the performance of sacrifices and other religious rituals. |
Buddha | a. founder of Buddhism, b. about 563, d. about 483 B.C; also known as Gautama, Siddhartha, Sakyamuni, etc. |
Chaitanya | Bengali religious reformer of the 15th century A.D. who is worshiped by his followers as an incarnation of Sri Krishna. |
Chakki | Grinding wheel or mill. |
Chapati | Thin flat cakes made of flour; unleavened bread. |
Charkha | Spinning-wheel. |
Dandi March | March undertaken by Gandhiji from March 12 to April 5, 1930, from his Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal village of Dandi, about 100 miles distant, with a view to breaking the Salt Law by picking upnatural salt from the sea-shore. His arrest at Dandi was followed by a countrywide movement of Civil Disobedience famous as the Salt Satyagraha. |
Damayanti | Princess of Vidarbha and wife of Prince Nala of Naishadha, the constancy of whose devotion to each other forms the theme of a well-known episode in the Puranas. |
Daridranarayana | God in the form of the poor and the destitute. |
Dasharatha | King of Ayodhya, father of Rama, in the Ramayana. |
Dayanand | Swami Dayanand Saraswati (1824–83), founder of the Arya Samaj. |
Dharma | religion; law of one’s being; righteousness; Hindu code of religion and morals or religious and moral duty. |
Dharmaja | one born from a sense of duty. |
Dharmayuddha | war fought for a righteous end by righteous means and methods. |
Dheds | a community in Gujarat traditionally treated as ‘untouchable’. |
Dhurna | ‘sit-down’ strike; an early and crude form of Satyagraha. |
Dnyandev | boy poet-saint of Maharashtra of the 13th century A.D., author of Dnyaneshwari, a Marathi commentary on the Gita; also spelt as Dnyaneshwar or Jnaneshwar. |
Draupadi | consort of the Pandava Princes, in the Mahabharata. |
Dublas | a backward shudra community of Gujarat |
Duryodhana | Head of the Kaurava Princes, in the Mahabharata. |
Dyer | British General who fired on an unarmed assembly in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, on April 13, 1919, killing over 400 people. |
Ganga | the sacred river Ganges of Northern India. |
Ganja | narcotic from the flower of Indian hemp. |
Ghani | village oil mill. |
Gita, the | The ‘Song Celestial’; a Hindu scriptural work in sanskrit verse, composed some centuries before the Christian era, in which Sri Krishna sums up the essence of Hindu religion and philosophy. |
Ghee | clarified butter. |
Gokhale | Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866–1915), Indian politician, member of the Viceroy’s Legislative Council and founder of the Servants of India Society, whom Gandhiji acknowledged as his political guru. |
Goonda | a rowdy or hooligan. |
Goondaism | rowdyism |
Gopal | cowherd; a name of Sri Krishna. |
Gur | jaggery, indigenous form of sugarmolasses |
Guru | teacher; preceptor. |
Goseva | service of the cattle; cow-protection.. |
Gram Panchayat | village tribune or ‘council of five’. |
Gramseva | village service. |
Gram sevak | person employed in village service. |
Hakim | practitioner of indigenous form of medicine. |
Hanuman | The ‘Monkey-God’ who serves Rama in the Ramayana. |
Hartal | strike, suspension of normal business. |
Hooghli | western most branch of the River Ganges on the banks of which Calcutta is situated. |
Ishopanishad | one of the major Upanishads. |
Jainism | ancient Indian religion, one of the cardinal principles of which is nonviolence. |
Jains | followers of Jainism. |
Janak | philosopher-king of Videha, foster-father of Sita, in the Ramayana. |
Kabir | poet-saint of northern India, who lived in the 15th century A.D. and who, in his devotional songs, dwelt on the essential oneness of the Godhead and the harmony between Hinduism and Islam. |
Kamaja | one born of lust. |
Karmabhumi | land of duty. |
Karmayogi | one who has devoted his life to action in the selfless service of others. |
Khaddar, Khadi | hand-spun and hand-woven cloth. |
Kisan | peasant. |
Koran | Muslim scripture. |
Krishna | divine hero and central figure of the epic, Mahabharata, who is worshiped by the Hindus as the 8th incarnation of God. |
Kshatriya | member of the second (warrior) caste among Hindus. |
Lila, leela | divine play or sport; the creation is often explained by the Vaishnavas as the leela of God, a conception that introduces elements of spontaneity and freedom into the universe. |
Lok Sevak Sangh | Society or association for the service of the people. |
Mahabharata, the | Hindu epic having for its theme the story of the great war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, princes of the Lunar race who were cousins, rival claimants to the throne of Hastinapur, (ancient Delhi). |
Mhatma | Great Soul, title given to Gandhiji. |
Mahavir | Vardhamana. 24th Tirthankar or Prophet of Jainism (b. about 540, d. about 468 B.C.) who is popularly regarded as its greatest promulgator, originally named |
Mhayajna | the great sacrifice or ritual of propitiation. |
mantra, Mantram | sacred or magicalincantation. |
Manushya | man. |
Maya | illusion; in Hindu philosophy, Maya is the divine power which has created the cosmos. |
Moksha | liberation from earthly bondage. |
Muni | sage; ancient seer. |
Nai Talim | literally, ‘new education’, name given to basic or craft education. |
Namaz | form of Muslim prayer, worship. |
Nanak | Fonder of Sikhism (b.1469-d.1538 or 1539 A.D.) |
Nirvana | Salvation, Buddhist equivalent of ‘Moksa’ |
Pancha, Panchayat | the five ; the communal tribune or ‘council of five’ |
Panchayat Raj | rule of the Panchayat |
Pandavas | the five brothers, prices of the Lunar Race, who were the victor in the Maharashtra war |
Pinjrapoles | institutions for looking after old and disabled cattle |
Poorna Swaraj | full self-government or complete independence |
Prahlad | son of Hiranyakashipu, amythological demon king; Prahlad’s worship of Vishnu led to persecution by his father who was ultimately slain by Narasimha, the ‘ Man-Lion’ avatar of Vishnu |
Pritam | Pritamdas, Gujarati poet of the 16th century A.D. who composed numerous devotional songs |
Raj | kingdom, rule, regime |
Rajachandra, Raychandbhai | Jain saint and philosopher, contemporary of Gandhiji, whom the latter acknowledged as his spiritual GURU. He died in 1900 |
Ram, Rama | hero of the epic, RAMAYANA, who is regarded by Hindus as an ideal man and king, and worshiped as the 7 thin carnation of God |
Ramakrishna | Bengali saint (1836–86 A.D.) who was the GURU of Swami Vivekananda and who taught the oneness of the Godhead and the basic harmony of all religions. The Ramakrishna Mission is named after him |
Ramayana | literally, the name of Rama; recitation of God’s names |
Ramanuja | Vaishnava scholar of the 12th century, who propounded Dualistic philosophy |
Ramarajya | Hindu epic narrating the story of the abduction of Sita, wife of Rama, prince of Ayodhya, by Ravana, demon-king of Lanka (Ceylon), and her rescue after the conquest of Lanka by the armies led by Rama and the death of Ravana at Rama’s hands |
Ramji Mandir | Rama’s temple |
Ravana | the demon-king of Lanka, whose abduction of Sita, led to his destruction at Rama’s hands, in the Ramayana |
Sadavrat | charity |
Sahadharmin | wife |
Samagra Gramseva | all-round village service |
Samskaras | innate tendencies inherited from past life, religious customs |
Sanatanist | faithful follower of ancient Vedic religion |
Sannyas | abandonment of all worldly ties with a view to fixing the mind on the Supreme Being |
Sannyasi | one who has taken to SANYAS |
Sarvodaya | welfare of all |
Satvika | tending to truth |
Satya | truth |
Satyagraha | recourse to truth-force or soul-force |
Satygrahi | one who practices Satyagraha |
Savitri | wife of Satyavan who according to legend, reclaimed his life from the God of Death |
Shankara | Hindu philosopher of the 8thcentury A.D. who was one of the foremost exponents of Non-dualism of the Vedanta school of philosophy. |
Shastras | the Hindu scriptures |
Shloka | metrical verse or composition |
Shudra | member of the fourth or menial caste among Hindus |
Sita | wife of Rama |
Smritis | the Codes, based on recollection of the Shastras |
Sthitaprajna | literally, ‘one of steadfast mind’ ; a soul unaffected by extremes of joy and sorrow |
Sudama | the indigent boyhood friend and associate of Shri Krishna, whom the latter hours, in the BHAGAVATA |
Surdas | blind Hindi poet of northern India wholived in the 16th century A.D.; his poetical work, Sursagar, narrating thestory of Krishna, is immensely popular with Hindi-speaking Hindus |
Swadeshi | belonging to or made in one’s own country |
Swargarohan Parva | the name of the last of the eighteen sections of the epic MAHABHARATA which describes how, when Yudhisthira, the eldest of the five Pandava brothers, retired to the Himalayas, towards the close of his life, and lost his wife and four brothers one after another, Indra appeared in his chariot to take him in the flesh to his (Indra’s) SWARGA, i.e, his heaven where mortals after death enjoy the results of their good deeds on earth, |
Tadgud | Jaggery prepared from the juice of palmyra fruit |
Tapascharya | penance |
Tilaks | caste-marks on the forehead |
Tukaram | poet-saint of Maharashtra who lived in the 17th century A. D. and who composed thousands of devotional songs |
Tulsidas | Hindi poet of northern India who lived in the 16th century A.D. and who composed, among other works, Ramacharitamanasa, (lit. The Holy Pool of the Life of Rama), retelling the epic story of the exploits of Rama. This work is held in the highest veneration by all Hindi-speaking Hindus |
Upanishads | ancient Hindu philosophical treatises, appended to the Vedas and regarded as equally authoritative as the Vedas |
Vaidas | practitioner of Ayurveda system of indigenous medicine |
Vaishyas | members of the third (cultivator and mercantile) class among Hindus |
Valmiki | first of Sanskrit poets and author of the Hindu epic, RAMAYANA |
Varna | color ; one of the fourdivisions of Hindu society (i.e., Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra) based onhereditary occupations |
Varnashrama | four-fold division of Hindu society |
Vedanta | a system of philosophy springing from the Upanishads |
Vedas | most ancient Hindu scriptures, composed of hymns to various deities. There are four collections of these hymns, known as Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda |
Vidura | the low-born but ‘wise one’ in the MAHABHARATA honored by Sri Krishna |
Yajna | ritual or religious sacrifice |
Yoga | Hindu system of contemplation for effecting union of the human soul with the Supreme Being |
Yogi | one who practices yoga |
Yudhishthira | eldest of the Pandava Princes, celebrated for his right conduct |
Zamindar | land holder |
Zend Avesta | zoroastrian scriptures |
Zoroaster | Founder of religious system known as Zoroastrianism. He is also known as Zarathustra or Zerdusht. The Parsis of India, who areemigrants from Persia, are followers of this prophet |
[1] Gandhiji’s idea of a transformed Congress was published in Harijan under the title “His Last Will and Testament”.
From : TheAnarchistLibrary.org
Socialist Activist who Fought for Indian Independence and Pacifism
: A complex man with a controversial legacy, Mohandas Gandhi remains one of the pioneers of civil disobedience as a political weapon and a giant in 20th century anti-colonialism. (From: Center for a Stateless Society.)
• "The ideally nonviolent state will be an ordered anarchy. That State is the best governed which is governed the least." (From: Gandhi's Wisdom Box (1942), edited by Dewan Ram Pa....)
• "...the shape of reproduction on that sacred soil of gun factories and the hateful industrialism which has reduced the people of Europe to a state of slavery, and all but stifled among them the best instincts which are the heritage of the human family." (From: "A Letter to a Hindu: The Subjection of India- Its....)
• "Tolstoy's life has been devoted to replacing the method of violence for removing tyranny or securing reform by the method of nonresistance to evil. He would meet hatred expressed in violence by love expressed in self-suffering. He admits of no exception to whittle down this great and divine law of love. He applies it to all the problems that trouble mankind." (From: "A Letter to a Hindu: The Subjection of India- Its....)
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