05. Mahatma Gandhi

Founded in 1885 with the objective of obtaining a greater share in government for educated Indians, the Indian National Congress(INC / Congress) was initially not opposed to British rule. Congress' men saw themselves as loyalists, but wanted an active role in governing their own country, albeit as part of the Empire. They considered British influences on education, law, culture and industry as beneficial to India. During its first several decades, the Congress passed fairly moderate reform resolutions, though many within the organization were becoming radicalized by the increased poverty that accompanied British imperialism.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a Gujrati born British educated barrister, having successfully led two struggle  of Indians in South Africa against British discriminatory laws, drew attention of some party members of INC.  Rabindranath Tagore writes a letter to him, imploring him to help Indians in their plight against the British. In 1915, at the age of 46, Gandhi returned to India. He spent a year traveling widely throughout the country to know the real India. He did not share Gandhi's belief in the use of non-violentcivil disobedience.

In an annual meeting of INC with delegates from all regions, Gandhi is introduced to the INC president Sir Surendranath Banerjee. Banerjee was a critic of the proposed method of civil disobedience advocated by Mohandas Gandhi, and as a first task of membership, appoints Gandhi as his personal caretaker for a year. Gandhi obliges, and when short of cleaners, he sets about cleaning the outnumbered toilets of the school where all these delegates were staying.


Other prominent leaders of the INC were Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Jawaharlal Nehru, son of North Indian INC leader Motilal Nehru, joined Congress when fairly young and rose under the mentorship of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Muhammad Ali Jinnah was one of the few Muslim leaders. He represented Sindh and the Muslim interests in Congress. Jinnah was a secular person and he initially  avoided joining the Muslim League, regarding it as too Muslim-oriented. Eventually, Jinnah  joined the All-India Muslim League in 1913 and became its president at the 1916 session in Lucknow.


Mahatma Gandhi, the first Non Bengali leader of the INC, was elected as its president  in 1921. Gandhi’s vision soon brings millions of regular Indians into the movement, transforming it from an elitist struggle to a national one. The nationalist cause was expanded to include the interests and industries that formed the economy of common Indians. Gandhi became the new guiding star of Indian politics, operating under the umbrella of the Indian National Congress.

In Sep 1920, Gandhi gave the call for Non-cooperation movement against the ills of British rule. "Non-cooperation" enjoyed widespread appeal and success, increasing excitement and participation from all strata of Indian society. Yet, just as the movement reached its apex, it ended abruptly in February 1922. An outbreak of mob violence in Chauri Chaura so shocked and pained Gandhi that he refused to continue the campaign. The decision was condemned even by many of his most loyal followers as a historic blunder.