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Liberty or Death Two Men from Gujarat Matthew Hough February 15th 2011 Modern History 12 Gandhi Differing

Perspectives Gandhi is the most famous Indian since the Buddha and arguably the most influential political campaigner of the 20th century o Message of: truth, tolerance and peaceful resistance against injustice HOWEVER!!!!!!! Gandhi was an emotionally troubled activist and a ruthless political negotiator o Ex. Failure to reach settlement with Muslim League Richard Attenboroughs 1982 film Gandhi appeals to the western market, and Gandhi becomes sanctified and turns into a Christ like figure. At times Gandhis motivations an opinions are difficult to establish o Gandhi turned to his arbitrary inner voice Gandhi in addition made no distinction between public, private, and political life believing all were interrelated. Way of Living o Many contradictions arise in Gandhis way of life, living a life of simplicity o Ex. Deified poverty and condemned industrialism yet relied on lavish donations which came from such sources. o Traveled with a large entourage on trains which cost more money than himself traveling first class o Relied on western medicine when he had appendicitis yet preached against it to Indian society. Time, Energy, and Quirks o His time and energy taken up not on the fight against British rule but with the promotion of social change o Ex. Believer in the increment of human excrement calling it black gold o His practice of sleeping with naked girls is ridiculed. o Took vow of brahmacharya (sexual abstinence) in 1906 o Adopted massage and purgation as substitute.

Early Life o 6th and youngest child in his family. Born October 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat. o Family vegetarian and followed strand of Hinduism that held tenants of the rigorously non violent Jain religion. o When Gandhi was 13, his father arranged marriage to Kasturba, daughter of a local merchant. o Gandhi later left India Britain for further education even though the community warned he would lose his caste. o When in Britain: Gandhi wore a silk top hat, leather boots and carried a silver topped cane. Time in Africa o Time in Africa represents his most influential period of his life o Formulated moral strategies for he would later become famous. o Practiced lawyer however had more success as a political organizer. o When he realized authorities in Natal denied Indians of vote, he launched a popular campaign. South Africans viewed him as a promoter of Indian immigration o Most famous campaign over Transvaal Government Asiatic Registration Bill 1906 o Seen as beginning of satygraha which literally means truth force but is translated non violent resistance. Communities o Gandhis spiritual and social ideas being developed during this time and set up idealistic communities, Phoenix farm and Tolstoy farm. o Aim to live as wholesome and simple as possible Gandhis wife Kasturba did not share his political and social ideas. Vow of Brahmacharya o In 1906 Gandhi told his wife he was taking vow of sexual abstinence in order to conserve vital fluids and raise him to a higher spiritual place o Stemmed from the fact he had been having sexual relations with Kasturba when his father was dying. Travel Through India and Sabarmati Ashram o In 1915 Gandhi returned to Bombay and was awarded Kaiser I tied Gold Medal in New Years Honors list o Instead he avoided open politics and traveled through India, shocked over poor and dirty conditions Indians lived and their contemptment of treatment from local officials. o LED GANDHI TO BELIEVE: India was in need of moral and spiritual regeneration. Theory of Indian self rule (Hind swaraj) was India had fallen into

western ideology and needed to return to simple life. o With funds from Gujarati mill owners he set up an Ashram on the banks of Sabarmati River near Ahmedabad, where he developed reputation as a holy man. Attitude toward Britain o Gandhi believed in benign nature of British Empire!!! o At Delhi War Conference (1918) Gandhi supported a resolution proposed by Viceroy Chelmsford to encourage Indians to join army o Asked Jinnah to join effort in hopes it would encourage Indian Nationalism. Jinnah Perspectives of Jinnah o Mohammad Ali Jinnah is a forgotten player in the story of Indian Independence and division. o He emerges late as a shadowy villain whose urge to create a Muslim homeland was motivated by malice rather than by statesmanship or a wish to protect religious minority. o Richard Attenboroughs film Gandhi, has Jinnah portrayed as a demented trickster. o HOWEVER!!!!!! o Jinnahs political ideology developed over fifty years, and that the founder of the homeland for Indian Muslims remained secularist o Jinnah not only altered the course of history but he also modified the map of the world, and can be credited with creating a nation state. Background o Jinnah was one of seven children, born around 1876 to a Muslim family in Karachi, Gujarat. o The Jinnah family where Shia Khojas, making them a minority with a minority. o Jinnahs father was a dealer in manufactured goods and later a successful banker. Trip to England o Jinnah in January 1893 went to Britain to work as an apprentice book keeper. o Before he went he was married to a Muslim girl called Emibhai. o Jinnah abandoned account books to study at Lincolns Inn to become a barrister, opposing his fathers wishes. o Unlike Gandhi, Jinnah does not seem subsequently to have been troubled by shedding the outward trappings of his cultural heritage. o He left England in 1895 for Bombay to become a barrister, independent, arrogant, and strong willed.

Bombay and All Indian Muslim League (AIML) o Success came quickly, partially because of his demeanor, and his precise, powerful, aloof manner. o In 1913 he decided to join the political organization AIML, where he got the approval of Congress activist Motilal Nehru. o Insisting it did not imply even the shadow of disloyalty to the larger national cause. He was a promoter of religious unity, insisting Hindus and Muslims should battle together for an end to colonial rule. Gandhi and Jinnahs first meeting o Gandhi and Jinnahs fatally antagonistic tone of their relationship was set at their first meeting. January 1915 at a garden party in Bombay celebrating Gandhis return from Africa. o Gandhi stated he was glad to find a Mahomedan not only belonging to his own regions Sabha, but chairing it. o Gandhi contrived a patronizing insult, for he was not actually insulting Jinnah but informing everyone of his minority religious identity. India post WWI India at the end of WW1 and the Rowlatt Act o The insecurity of the British position after WWI made it veer in favor of repression. o The Rawlatt Act o Enabling suspected subversives to be arrested without trail. o Repressive measure o When the bill was passed in March 1919 Jinnah resigned from Indias Legislative Council on the grounds of constitutional right violations. o Nationalists like Gandhi saw it as an insulting betrayal after them helping in WWI. Amritsar Massacre o Agitation was strong and rioting followed o The slaughter by troops of an estimated 379 civilian protestors, at Jallianwala Bagh at Amritsar on 13 April 1919 represents the most harrowing images of British rule. This caused many moderate Indians to lose faith in British. Mantagu Chelmsford Reforms o Put into effect six months after Amritsar Massacre

o 1919 legislation presented a diarchy. But in practice it was closer to nine tenths British rule to one tenth Indian rule. Gandhis effect on Congress, 1919, 1920 o The outspoken tactics of Gandhi allowed Congress to develop into a populist movement. o 1919: year of boycott of British made goods o 1920: marked the moment of satygraha the notion freedom could be obtained through non-violence. Gandhis conception of Satygraha o Rather than negotiating with the British Gandhi wanted swaraj (self rule) in one year. Gandhi Alienating Muslims o Gandhi offered a Hindu agenda, tapping into a reservoir of common identity that united the majority (Hindus) o Gandhi in turn alienated and brought about the rise of the AIML. Gandhi read from the Quran in prayer session but it did not amount genuine tolerance to a way of thinking other than his. Gandhi was HINDU TO THE CORE!!!!!! Khilafat Movement o His initial method of Hindu Muslim unity was through the Khilafat issue, which aimed to protect Muslim sacred locations after the breaking up of the Ottoman Empire post WWI. o By associating with the leaders (Ali brothers) he encouraged a hard brand of Islam and seemed to be doing it out of convenience rather than genuine devotion to unity. Gandhis Non Co-operation Campaign 1920-22 o Gandhis campaign of Satyagraha and non co-operation garnered support but was not enough to dislodge British rulers. o The British ruled through legal authoritarianism and decided to through Gandhi into prison. o Chauri Chaura: After the burning to death of 22 policemen in Chauri Chaura Gandhi calls of the movement on February 1922. Gandhi Release from Prison 1924 o When Gandhi is released from prison interest in the Khilafat issue has subsided and he steps back from politics to take interest in social change o Concentrated on health and sanitation, the eradication of untouchables and the production of khadi cloth as a symbol of

national self respect.

Communal Troubles o In the beginning of the 1920s, communal relations between the Hindus and Muslims worsen. o Religious riots in Lucknow and Allahabad o Gandhis political techniques had mobilized Indian society BUT!!! Also stimulated antagonism in the Indian society. Lucknow Pact and Jinnahs view on National Unity o Jinnah formed proposals called the Lucknow Pact aimed at an Indian selfgovernment within the British Empire with weighting in favor of minorities. o Believed India was experiencing direction of national unity, which would bring Hindus and Muslims together. Polar Opposites: Gandhi and Jinnah o Jinnah and Gandhi disagreed on leadership and how to achieve their goals. Jinnah a constitutionalist and social elitist told Gandhi a non cooperative strategy would not end well, and he was right. o He believed such radicalism would be counterproductive and Gandhi was turning the politics into a spiritual movement. Nagpur Conference December 1920 o Because of Gandhis huge support due to the Khilifat movement, essentially beginning a mass movement, relating to the peasants, it caused Jinnah to be essentially booed off the platform. For the first time a nationalist (Gandhi) had garnered the support of the nation.

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