And so the Wheel of time turned on. Gandhi’s use of the bicycle- a rare performance in order to punctual at meeting – indicated the lengths he was ready to go. And his constant companion, the spinning wheel, remained with him wherever he went, an instrument which spun the destiny of the country and symbolised his identification with the poor.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salt Satyagraha
1929-30: "The Year of Grace". Gandhi was gathering his forces for onslaught on the citadel of authority. The "salt Satyagraha" was not merely a protest against taxing the poor man’s diet, or a disobedience of the salt lows. In Gandhi’s eyes it was a "battle or rights against might". While the world wondered, the "Dandi March" became the "First shot" in this unique fight.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dandi March
Small through the chosen band, its 200 mile march to the sea recalled the other "Great March" of 1913 Gandhi had led in South Africa. He had sent viceroy Irwin an "Ultimatum" before embarking on civil disobedience. On "bended knees" he had asked "for bread and received a stone instead". On the knight of may 5, 1930, they stole of him like thieves in the night and arrested him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Truce and Release
India was a fire. Satyagraha, strikes, picketing, boycott of foreign goods and no-tax campaigns were the other of the day. Lakhs were jailed. Thousands suffered loss of limb, hundreds died on lathi charges, firing. Sapru, Jaykar helped to bring about a truce. Gandhi was released on June 25, 1931. while resting inBombay, he took counsels with his associates, he wanted peace but with honour.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Nehrus
Drawn into the political struggle, largely under Gandhi influence, Motilal and Jawaharlal occupied the centre of the stage. At Allahabad they had presided over, addressed meeting attended by leaders like Kripalani, Tandon, Malavia. When in February 1931, Motilal died, Gandhi felt more than "Windowed", said, "What I have lost is loss for ever". Jawaharlal was a rich legacy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Karachi Mandate
The congress met at Karachi in March, adopted a resolution moved by Jawaharlal and secondary by Badshan Khan endorsing the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. It reaffirmed the goal of "Poorna Swaraj", authorised Gandhi to represent it at the Second Round Table Conference in London. Congress also extolled the bravery of Bhagat Singh and his associates who were martyrs in the country’s cost.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Way Clear for R. T. C.
Official implementation of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was partial, trady. There was repression in the frontier province, tension in U. P. Gandhi stood by the pledge to honour the truce acquainted Viceroy Willingdon at Simla with official branches. After a second settlement, in August, Gandhi saw the way clear for the R. T. C. ; at Bombay the nation bade him speed on August 29.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Quest of Freedom
Malaviya, Sarojini Naidu, Madhav and Pyarelal- his secretary Miraben, and son Devdas accompanied Gandhi. On board S. S. Rajputana he was in high spirits, chatted with other passengers, made friends and play with children, held prayer meetings, spoke, examined the ship’s instruments, dozed on the sunlit deck, and most of the time plied the spinning wheel.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friends Every Where
At Suez and port side, Gandhi received Egypt’s greetings, met Indian deputations, talk to journalist, at Marseilles, European friends, like Deenbandhu C. F. Andrews. Arriving in London on September 12, Gandhi and party proceeded to the East End, the quarter of the poor coal miners and factory hands, live in their midst of Kingsley Hall, managed by Muriel Lester, his English hostess.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meeting the people
Scotland Yard had provided two top detectives to guard him, but he needed none. Wherever Mahatma went, children and woman, simple folk and sophisticated gentry flocked round him, as when Charles Chaplin, the famous comedian, called. And it is on record that it was Gandhi also who made him laugh.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Talking to Leaders
Gandhi met many groups of intellectuals, social workers and students. Addressed many meetings. He visited coal miners cottages, east end children celebrated his birthday with candles and cakes, leaders of all shades of thought-social, political, religious- discussed India with him; for instance, the "Red Dean" of Canterbury, Dr. Hewlett Johnson.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome in Lancashire
Gandhi visited the cotton mills District, Lancashire, hard hit by foreign cloth boycott loom idle, chimneys unsmoking, men unemployed, woman miserable. But when he talked to them, explained the plight of India’s peasants, they understand him, they understand him, even cheered him. And he took time off to attend the Dairy Animal show at Islington and to pat the prize-winning goats.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Futile Quest
And in the midst of all his social calls, Gandhi attend to his main business, the Round Table Conference; he pleaded fervently with the British leaders to give his country freedom, to avoid parting of ways …. But they listened him not, and he left Britain’s shores empty-handed. On the way home at Villeneuve in Switzerland Gandhi met Romain Rollands, the French savant.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fresh Ordeal
1932: Returning to India, Gandhiji saw Willingdon’s Ordinance raj everywhere: close associates, colleagues arrested. Soon he himself was taken to Yeravda Prison. In September he fast against the Communal Award lying under the mango tree, stirred the Hindu conscience and led to the Yeravda Pact. On a second fast, in May 1933, for Harijan work, he was released.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Sabarmati to Segaon
In July 1933, after the solemn last prayer, Gandhi disbanded the Sabarmati Ashram. In September he moved to Satyagraha Ashram at Wardha. Henceforth, the morning walks were on Wardha’s plains. In November, commenced his country-wide Harijan tour, starting from Nagpur, for rousing the masses to a sense of their duty in regard to the abolition of untouchability.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tireless pilgrimage
The story of Gandhiji is the story of his tireless pilgrimage throughout the length and breath of the country for the emancipation of the dumb, downtrodden masses. The tour of 1934 had for its aim the uplift of the "untouchable" whom he called the "Hari Jans" or the children of god.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Blot of Untouchability
Gandhiji addressed meetings, spoke to people everywhere of the Blot of untouchability and the Hindus duty to remove it. When Bihar was devastated by the earthquake in January in 1934, he rushed their to organize relief, but he considered disaster God’s punishment for the sin of the Hindus.
No comments:
Post a Comment