1. Independence for India
Gandhi
Independence for India

3. Mohandas Gandhi 1869-1948 Indian nationalist Born to vaisya class
Married at 13
Studied law & religion in England.
Gained nickname “Mahatma”, meaning “great soul”
Practiced law in S. Africa and protested racial discrimination there

4. 1915 returns to India
Sets up an “ashram” or a self-sufficient community, lived simply; equality for all
1918 – people were poor dying of famine b/c they’re forced to grow cash crops rather than food & he begins a campaign against British rule

5. Mohandas Gandhi’s methods
Gandhi was a pacifist, opposed war and violence
Used civil disobedience (refusal to obey laws that are considered unjust) & passive resistance (non-action) as forms of protest.
Led a movement for independence & religious tolerance and cooperation
Fasted to prevent the use of violence (refused to eat)

6. Gandhi’s beliefs Wanted Indians to reject violence
Wanted to end caste system and help untouchables
Wanted to improve status of women
Wanted Hindus and Muslims to work together
Satyagraha- soul force
Ahimsa- nonviolence

7. Indian National Congress
- Political party formed to make India independent from Britain.
1924: Party divided into two groups:
Jawaharlal Nehru – leader of Hindus
Mohammed Ali Jinnah – leader of Muslims

8. The Amritsar Massacre April 1919
1919 Rowlatt Acts- British had outlawed all large gatherings of Indian people
10,000 unarmed Indians assembled in Amritsar for a political meeting
British troops arrived and fired into crowd, killing 400 people and wounding 1,200 in less than 10 minutes
Reaction to the massacre was shock and outrage
Indians more determined to kick out British

9. Homespun movement - 1921 Boycott British goods/cotton
Burned British cloth
Wove their own cloth
Encouraged India’s self-sufficiency
Spinning wheel became symbol of movement

10. Salt March - 1930 Marched over 200 miles to the sea.
People began making their own salt.
British owned all the salt fields and mines (monopoly).
Taxes raised on salt which was needed to survive.
Over 100,000 people arrested, including Gandhi.

11. Move toward independence
Homespun movement 1921
Invited to London for “indep. talks”
Salt March 1930
Government of India Act (1935) created constitution for India that gave local Indian legislatures more control over certain areas (education, agriculture, etc.)
First step toward self-rule (independence)

12. World War II interrupted the independence process.
Gandhi declared that India could not be party to a war ostensibly being fought for democratic freedom, while that freedom was denied to India itself.
Gandhi drafted a resolution calling for the British to Quit India.
Placed under house arrest for treason (wartime)
Jawaharlal Nehru sitting next to Gandhi at the AICC General Session, 1942.

13. Jawaharlal Nehru Leader of the INC who took over as
India’s first Prime Minister after independence
Close Hindu friend & associate of Gandhi
Focused on building a new independent nation

14. Mohammed Ali Jinnah Started as member of INC
Served as first leader of a new nation- Pakistan, after independence
Muslim
Differed from Gandhi’s beliefs
Wanted more power and influence for Muslims
Formed Muslim League

15. Photograph of the Celebration of the Independence of India and Pakistan from Britain in August of 1947

16. Partition of India
Muslims worried the majority (Hindus) would mistreat them.
They wanted a separate independent country for the Muslims.
Hindu - “India” and Muslim - East and West “Pakistan.”
East-

17. Partition sparks violence
11 million refugees
Hindus & Sikhs blamed Muslims
bloodshed followed the partition, ~1 million died
Gandhi was to commence the last fast until violence was rejected by all groups

18. Gandhi’s death Jan 30, 1948
Nathuram Godse, a Brahmin Hindu, was one of seven conspirators
Assassinated Gandhi shooting him three times.
His ashes were dipped in all the major rivers
Mahatma Gandhi world peace memorial