Gandhian Era (Overview)

Key Pointers

Before India: In South Africa Gandhi founded the Natal Indian Congress (1894), Phoenix Farm (1904), Tolstoy Farm (1910), edited Indian Opinion, launched satyagraha (1906) against the Asiatic Registration ('Black') Act, and wrote Hind Swaraj (1909).
Return: Came back to India on 9 January 1915 (now Pravasi Bharatiya Divas); his political guru was Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Established Sabarmati Ashram (1917), Ahmedabad.
Early satyagrahas: Champaran (1917), Ahmedabad (1918), Kheda (1918).
Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919): The Rowlatt Act (March 1919) allowed detention without trial; nationwide hartal on 6 April 1919.
Jallianwala Bagh massacre (13 April 1919, Amritsar): General Dyer ordered firing on a peaceful gathering protesting arrests of Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satyapal; led to the Hunter Committee; Tagore renounced his knighthood.
Rise to leadership: After Tilak's death (1 Aug 1920), Gandhi became the dominant leader. At Nagpur (Dec 1920), Congress revised its constitution: goal of Swaraj, linguistic provincial committees, four-anna membership.
Mass movements: Non-Cooperation (1920–22), Civil Disobedience (1930–34), Individual Satyagraha (1940), Quit India (1942).
Key milestones: Nehru Report (1928); Purna Swaraj (Lahore, 1929); Gandhi–Irwin Pact (1931); Poona Pact (1932); Government of India Act 1935; 1937 elections; Cripps Mission (1942); CR Formula (1944); Wavell Plan (1945); Cabinet Mission (1946); Direct Action Day (16 Aug 1946); Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947); Independence (15 Aug 1947).
Journals: Indian Opinion, Young India, Navajivan, Harijan.
Features: Mass base (peasants, workers, women), non-violence, constructive work, and Hindu–Muslim unity.

MCQs

Q2. Who was Gandhi's political guru? (a) Tilak (b) Gopal Krishna Gokhale (c) Dadabhai Naoroji (d) Lajpat Rai Answer: (b).

Q3. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on: (a) 6 April 1919 (b) 13 April 1919 (c) 13 April 1920 (d) 30 March 1919 Answer: (b).