Page 78 - SST Class 08

Nationalist

Movement (1919-1947) 10

q Emergence of Mahatma Gandhi q Methods of Mahatma Gandhi
q Third Phase : 1919-1929 q Fourth Phase : 1929-39
q Fifth and Final Phase : 1939-1947

Introduction and Kheda in order to beget the poor workers
their rightful share. His non-violent means
One of the most important events of the national
succeeded in India. With these, he became very
movement for freedom was the emergence of
popular among the Indian masses.
Mahatma Gandhi on the national scene.

You have studied that the Government of India Act,
1919, the Rowlatt Act, 1919 and the Jallianwala
Bagh tragedy occurred in the same year. These
events brought Mahatma Gandhi to the forefront of
the national movement. He was now determined to
oppose the British. Mahatma Gandhi

EMERGENCE OF MAHATMA GANDHI Just Think!

Mahatma Gandhi was a barrister educated in
England. He went to South Africa and stayed there Is it possible to follow the principles of Gandhiji
even today?
for 21 years (1893-1914). There he fought for the
rights of the non-whites using Satyagraha. By
Satyagraha is meant non-violent insistence on METHODS OF MAHATMA GANDHI
truth and justice; that is, a man should insist on The methods employed by Mahatma Gandhi were
truth and justice by non-violent means, refuse to simple for a common man to adopt :
accept injustice fearlessly and resist the oppressor
not by hatred, but by love for truth. It was not q Satyagraha meant non-violent insistence on
truth and justice, without fear or favour.
cowardice, it was pure courage; it was a weapon
in the hands of those brave people who refused to q Non-cooperation meant non-cooperation with
bow before injustice without any fear of its the British and boycott of British schools,
consequences. For him, the national movement colleges and law courts, including non-
for freedom was the struggle for truth and justice. payment of taxes.
Non-violence remained the cardinal principle of q Social reforms were to go along with the
his philosophy. Though he met with little success
national movement which included uplift of
there, yet his methods were to the liking of the
the Dalits and eradication of social evils.
common people.
q Khadi and charkha became the symbols of
On his return to India in 1915, Mahatma Gandhi national movement as the use of India-made
entered the political scene. In the beginning he
goods was advocated.
led small movements in Champaran, Ahmedabad
Contemporary Social Science-8
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