Mahatma Gandhi was the leader of India's independence movement against British rule. He pioneered satyagraha, or non-violent civil disobedience, as a means of resisting tyranny through non-violent and peaceful acts of protest and civil disobedience. Some of the key tactics he used included fasting, non-cooperation, and non-payment of taxes. He was imprisoned numerous times for organizing campaigns of non-violent resistance, but remained committed to achieving independence for India through non-violent means. Gandhi had a great influence on India and the world through his philosophy and practice of non-violence.

1. Mahatma Gandhi
Father of the Nation
1869-1948
Abdul Azim Akhtar

2. Abdul Azim Akhtar

3. Abdul Azim Akhtar

4. Weapons
• Satyagraha
• Non-Violence
• Fast / Hunger Strike
• Passive Resistance
• Non-Cooperation
• Civil Disobedience
Abdul Azim Akhtar

5. Influence
• Buddha,
• Gita ( Aparigraha & Samabhava)
• Gokhale
• John Ruskin (Phoneix Ashram)
• Leo Tolstoy
• Other Religions
• Henry David Thoreau ( Civil Disobedience)- He opposed
American invasion of Mexico in 1840s and refused to
pay taxes to register protest. ‘Each man has ability to
change the society and should take it seriously.
Abdul Azim Akhtar

6. Constructive Programmes
• Removal of Untouchability
• Prohibition
• Khadi & Charkha
• Village Sanitation
• Education- Basic; Adult
• Women- Health & Hygiene; Education
• Language- Regional & National- 1925 Kanpur Session adopted Hindustani
(Urdu&Hindi)
• Economy- Equality
• Kisan, Adivasi cells; Labour recognition and Ahmedabad Labour Union to
be replicated at All India Level with AITUC
• Lepers
• Students- Search, study and research; Away from politics; Not force others
to wear flag, not impose Vande Matram; wear Khadi but not force
Abdul Azim Akhtar

7. Abdul Azim Akhtar

8. Early Life
• Early Education in Home state; Sailed to England
in 1888 to pursue Law Degree at Inner Temple 3
years; Used time to widen horizon and read on
religions & Cultures
• Joined High Court of London, and shifted to
Bombay. He lacked self-confidence and was
planning return to his hometown. During this
time, he was offered employment in South Africa
for 12 months by a firm for 105 BP / year.
Abdul Azim Akhtar

9. In South Africa
• Natal- Arrives in 1893 to serve as a lawyer to Dada Abdullah
• Indians were to pay poll tax of 3 Pounds; Not allowed to
own land; no franchise; Not allowed to walk after 9 PM
• Train Travel to Pretoria –Ist class (incidents)
• In Pretoria, he read around 80 books on religion
• Native Indian Congress Formed in 1894 against racialism
• 1896- Came to India for short time & inspired 800 Indians
to serve him in SA
• During Boer War in 1899, helped the British with Indian
Ambulance Corps & 1000 (serve Black Zulus who were not
touched by white)
Abdul Azim Akhtar

10. In South Africa...
• John Ruskin & Unto his Last inspired to set Phoenix
Farm – birthplace of Satyagraha
• 1901- Appeared at the INC Session of Calcutta & urged
for support struggle against racial discrmination in
South Africa.
• 1903- Foundation of British Indian Association in
Transval
• Sept 1906 & June 1907 organised Satyagarah against
Transval Asiatic Ordinance & Black Act
• 1908- Sentenced to Jail ; 1909- Sentenced to Jail for 3
months; 1913-Against nullification of non-Christian
Marriages
Abdul Azim Akhtar

11. • LIFE CHRONOLOGY
• 2 October 1869 Birth at Porbandar. ; 1882 Marriage with Kasturbai, aged 13.
• June 1888 Son, Harilal born. ; 29 September 1888 Reached Southampton,
England; 6 November 1888 Enrolled at the Inner Temple, Inn of Court
• 27 May 1891 Called to the Bar.; 28 October 1892 Son, Manilal born.
SOUTH AFRICA
• 25 May 1893 Reached Durban, Natal.; 26 May 1893 Refused to remove his
Paghadi; left the court. ;
• 31 May 1893 Thrown off the first class carriage of the train at Pietermartizburg
Station. ; 1893 Read Tolstoy's 'Kingdom of God is Within You'. ;22 August 1894
Founded the 'Natal Indian Congress'. ;9 July 1896 Commenced writing the 'Green
Pamphlet' at Rajkot.; 16 November 1896 Public lecture at Poona; chaired by
Ramkrishna Bhandarkar. ;4 May 1897 Son, Ramdas born.;
• 11 October 1899 Established Indian Ambulance Corp during the Boer War.; 22 May
1900 Assisted Kasturbai in the delivary of son Devadas.;
• 4 June 1903 First issue of 'Indian Opinion' published.; December 1904 Established
'Phoenix Settlement'.
Abdul Azim Akhtar

12. Abdul Azim Akhtar

13. Abdul Azim Akhtar

14. • 20 July 1906 Took the vow of Brahmcharya.; 11 September 1906 Advent of
Satyagraha at Empire Theatre, Johannesburg, where people took a pledge
with God as their witness, to oppose the Black Act.; 1 October 1906 Left
for England as a member of the Indian Delegation. 22 March 1907 Asiatic
Registration Bill passed in Transvaal Parliament. ; 1908 The term
'Satyagraha' adopted based on Maganlal Gandhi's fomulation 'Sadagraha'.;
10 January 1908 Awarded two months' simple imprisonment for refusal to
obtain registration. ; 30 January 1908 Agreement signed with General
Smuts on voluntary registration.
• 10 February 1908 Mir Alam and others assault Gandhiji. ; 16 August1908
Breach of faith and bonfire of certificate.; 14 October 1908 Awarded two
months' rigourous imprisonment for entry into the Transvaal without
permit.; 23 June 1909 Left for England as a member of the Indian
Delegation.; 13-22 November 1909 Wrote 'Hind Swarajya' aboard the
ship 'Kildonan Castle'.; 11-18 December 1909 'Hind Swarajya'
published in 'Indian Opinion'.; March 1910 'Hind Swarajya'
proscribed. Sent a copy of English rendering 'Indian Home Rule' to Tolstoy.;
23 June 1910 Established Tolstoy Farm; vowed to eschew milk;
commenced experiments in frutarian diet.;22 October 1912
Gopalkrishna Gokhale's South Africa tour commenced.
Abdul Azim Akhtar

15. • 22 September 1913 Kasturba and others arrested. ; 23-Sep
1913Kasturba was awarded 3 months' rigourous imprisonment.; 18
December 1913 MKG released from jail unconditionally with others,
before the completion of the period of imprisonement.; 22
December1913 Kasturba released from prison.; 26 June 1914
Indians' Relief Bill (1914), passed.;
II ND PHASE
• 18 July 1914 Travelled to London to meet Gokhale; Phoenix party at
Santiniketan.; 17 February 1915 Visited Santiniketan.; 5 April 1915
Visited Kumbh Mela, Hardwar.;
• 20 May 1915Established 'Satyagraha Ashram', Kochrab.; 26 June
1915 Awarded the 'Kaisare Hind' medal.; 11 September 1915 First
Harijan family of Dudabhai, Danibehn and Laxmi joined the Ashram.
Abdul Azim Akhtar

16. ‘ I have thus decided upon spinning wheel because I have
no letter or other message for the nation. I know no
other effective method for the attainment of Swaraj if
it is to be by ‘peaceful and legitimate means’. As I have
already remarked it is the only substitute for violence
that can be accepted by the whole nation. I swear by
Civil Disobedience. But Civil Disobedience for the
attainment of Swaraj is an impossibility unless and until
we have attained the power of achieving boycott of
foreign colth.’
–MKGandhi, 1924, Belgaum
Abdul Azim Akhtar

17. Abdul Azim Akhtar

18. • 15 November 1915 Elected as Vice President of Gujarat Sabha.; 6
February 1916 Lectured at Benaras Hindu University.
• 26 December 1916 Met Jawaharlal Nehru for the first time at Lucknow
Congress.;
• 10 April 1917 Travelled to Patna with Rajkumar Shukla to
investigate condition of indigo farmers.; CHAMPARAN SATYAGRAH-
Indians forced 3/20 Tinkathia ;18 April 1917 Gave a statement in the court
about disobedience of prohibitary orders.; JB Kriplani, Rajedndra Prasad
others
• 17 June 1917 Sabarmati Ashram established.
• 20 October 1917 Presided over the Second Gujarati Education
Conference, Bharuch.; 3 November 1917 Presided over the First
Gujarat Political Conference, Godhara.
• 7 November 1917 Mahadev Desai joined as Secretary.
• 14 February 1918 Appointed to arbitar the dispute between Mill-
owners and Mill-hands of Ahmedabad. ( AHMEDABAD MILL STRIKE-
Workers were taken bonus during famine & plague; workers demanded
hike in salary; 35 % hike)
• KHEDA – Farmers were asked to pay taxes with 23 % hike despite famine ;
increase was suspended & tax for the year was suspended. ( Others
involved Vallabhbhai Patel, Indulal Yagnik, Mahadev Desai
Abdul Azim Akhtar

19. • 15 March 1918 Indefinite fast to keep the resolve of striking Mill-
hands commenced.; 18 March 1918 Broke fast after compromise.;
22 March 1918 Addressed the public meeting of 5000 peasants at
Nadiad; advised them to not pay land revenue.
• 24 February 1919 Satyagraha pledge against 'Rowlett Act'.
• 6 April 1919 National Hartal and Satyagraha against the Rowlett
Act.; 9 April 1919 Arrested at Palval Station.; 13 April 1919
Massacre at Jallianwala Bag; three days' fast in Ahmedabad
commenced. ; 7 September 1919 First issue of 'Navajivan'
published.; 8 October 1919 First issue of 'Young India' published.;
15 November 1919Congress boycott the Hunter Commission and
set up independent inquiry.;
• 2 August 1920 Returned the honours to the Government,
commencement of Khilafat Non-cooperation. ; 18 October
1920Gujarat Vidyapith established.; Sept 1920 –Special Session of
INC passed resolution to take action against ‘Human Rights
Violation. 24 December 1921 Given the reigns of the Congress in
Ahmedabad.
Abdul Azim Akhtar

20. • Surrender of Titles; Renounce Honorary
offices; Withdraw students from Govt schools
& colleges; Boycott of British courts by lawyers
and litigants; Boycott of Police & Civil service;
Non-Payment of taxes; Boycott of council
elections; Boycott of foreign goods;
Resignation from Govt bodies
• Tilak Swaraj Fund;
Abdul Azim Akhtar

21. • “When the Rowlatt Bills were published, I flet
they were so restrictive of ‘human
liberty’..must be resisted to the utmost. No
state has the right to enact laws which are
repugnant to the whole body or the
people.much less government guided by
constitutional usage, such as the Indian
Government.’ - M K Gandhi
Abdul Azim Akhtar

22. • 29 January 1922 Bardoli Taluka resolved against payment
of land revenue and Civil-Disobedience.;
• 4 February 1922 Policemen at Chauri Chaura killed.; 10
March 1922 Gandhiji and Shankerlal Banker arrested.
• 11
• March 1922 Charged of sedition for the authorship of
three articles in Young India.;
• 18 March 1922 Trial held at Ahmedabad Circuit House;
Judge Broomfield awarded Gandhiji a sentence of six years'
imprisonment. ; 21 March1922 Transferred to Yeravda
Prison.; 12 January 1924 Operated for appendicites at
Sasoon Hospital, Poona. 5 February 1924 Released
unconditionally.;
• 6 April 1924 The publication of 'Dakshin Africana
Satyagrahano Itihas' in Navajivan. ; 17 September 1924
Twenty one days' fast for communal harmony commenced
at Maulana Mohammed Ali's house, Delhi.
Abdul Azim Akhtar

23. INC & Gandhi
• First appeared as observor in 1901
• Participated at 1916 Session of Lucknow
• 1921- Given Complete executive authority &
also nominate his successor; 1924- withdrew
from active politics
• 1930- Civil Disobedience Movement; Sept
1932- fast unto death for Dalit issues
• 1934- Resigned from INC;
Abdul Azim Akhtar

24. • 26 December 1924 Presided over the Belgaum Congress.
• 22 September 1925 'All India Spinners' Association'
established.; 7 November1925 .; 29 November 1925
The publication of 'Satyana PrayogMadeleine Slade joined
Satyagraha Ashram, named Mirabehno athava Atmakatha'
commences in Navajivan.; 3 December 1925 The
publication of 'Autobiography or The Story of My
Experiments with Truth' commences in Young India.; 3
February 1928 Boycott of Simon Commission.; 27
June1929 Wrote introduction to 'Anasktiyoga'.; 31
October 1929 Viceroy Lord Irwin annouces Round
Table Conference.; 27 December 1929 Purna Swaraj
Resolution adopted at Lahore Congress.; 15 February 1930
Wrote to the Viceroy about his intention to break the Salt
Law ( 11 DEMANDS)- .
Abdul Azim Akhtar

25. • (British Salt Law prohibited Indians from
collecting, selling salt.) 12 March 1930 Dandi
March commences from Satyagraha Ashram.
• 6 April 1930 Broke the Salt Law.; 5 May
1930 Arrested and sent to Yeravda Prison.;
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT- Protest
against Monopoly of British on salt; 12 March
1930- starts with 78 followers 0n 241 Mile
March to Dandi; Reached Dandi on April 5,
crowd was around 20,000; May 21 1932:
Sarojini Naidu led led 2,500 marchers on
Dharsana Salt Works, 150 Miles from Bombay;
Abdul Azim Akhtar

26. Gandhi Irwin pact,
• Immediate release of all political prisoners
• Remission of all fees not collected
• Return of land
• Right to make salt for personal consumption in coastal
villages
• Withdrawal of emergency ordinances
• Two demands refused by Viceroy: Enquiry into Police
Excess; Commutation of Bhagat Singh &Comrades
death into life sentence
• Agreed to suspend movement; take part in 2nd RTC
Abdul Azim Akhtar

27. • 26 January 1931 Released from prison.; 5 March 1931Gandhi-
Irwin pact signed.; 12 September 1931 In London as the sole
representative of the Congress at the Second Round Table
Conference.; 13 September 1931 Recorded a message for the
people of America.; 9 October 1931 Met Maria Montessori.
20 October 1931 'God is' recorded.; 5 November 1931
Attended (in his loin-cloth) the Royal reception for the
delegates of the Second Round Table Conference at the
Buckingham Palace at the invitation of Emperor George V.; 13
November 193Declared his opposition to the proposed Communal
Award.
• 1 December 1931 Second Round Table Conference ends.; 6
December 1931 With Romain Rolland.; 12 December 1931
In Vatican. Met Mussolini in Rome.
Abdul Azim Akhtar

28. 1 January1932 Congress Working Committee adopted the resolution of Civil
Disobedience.; IInd phase lasted for six months;
4 January1932 Arrested and sent to Yeravda for indefinite period; Vallabhbhai
fellow prisoner. ;10 March 1932 Mahadev Desai transfered to Yeravda. ;
17 August 1932 Premier Ramsay Macdonald announced the Communal
Award. ( Separate Electorate was extended to all minorities in India; and
Untouchables were also declared MINORITY, special seats were given to them); 18
August 1932 Letter to Ramsay Macdonald declaring his intentions to fast unto
death against the Communal Award.; 20 September 1932 The fast commenced.
24 September 1932Poona Pact signed.; 26 September 1932 Broke the fast.; 30
September 1932 'Harijan Sevak Sangh' established.; 11 February Commneced
publication of 'Harijan'. 'Harijan Sevak' (Hindi), commenced publication on 23rd
February and 'Harijanbandhu' (Gujarati) commenced publication on 12th March.; 29
April 1933 Resolved to fast for 21 days at midnight.; 1 May 1933 Issued a
statement about the fast; unconditional and for self-purification.; 8 May 1933
Commenced the fast. Released from prison.; 29 May 1933 Fast broken.; 31
July1933Declare his intention to offer Individual Satyagraha.
Abdul Azim Akhtar

29. • 1 August 1933 Arrested at Ahmedabad and sent to Sabarmati
Prison; shifted to Yeravda later.; 14 September 1933 Went to
Wardha with a decision to not involve himself with politics.; 30
September1933 Satyagraha Ashram, Sabarmati given to Harijan Sevak
Sangh.; 7 November 1933 Nationwide Harijan Yatra commenced.
• 25 April 1934 A mob attacked in Bihar at the instigation of Lalanath
Shastri.; 9 May 1934 Toured Orissa on foot. 18 May 1934 Withdrew
Collective Satyagraha.; 25 June 1934 Bomb thrown at his motorcade in
Poona.; 17 September 1934 Declared his intention to retire from
Congress. ;
• 30 October 1934 Resigned from the Congress.; 14 December 1934
'All India Village Industries' Association' established.; 30 April 1936 Moved
to Segaon from Wardha. ;31 October 1936 Presided over the 12th Gujarati
Sahitya Parishad.; 12 November 1936 Travancore temples opened to
Harijans.;
Abdul Azim Akhtar

30. • 2 February 1939 Kasturba arrested in Rajkot by Thakoresaheb.;
3 March 1939 Commenced fast at Rajkot against the breach
of trust.; 7 March 1939 Broke the fast; Chief Justice Maurice
Gwyer appointed the arbitrator. ;16 April 1939 Sir Maurice
Gwyer declared award in favour of the people of Rajkot; Muslims
and Bhayats demonstrate against Gandhiji and disrupt a prayer
meeting.; 23 July 1939 Wrote a letter to Adolf Hitler.; 31 October
1939Congress Ministries resign.; 5 March 1940Segaon named
Sevagram.; 11 October 1940 Congress Working Committee meeting
at Sevagram; Individual Satyagraha proposed.; 17 October 1940
Vinoba chosen as the first Individual Satyagrahi.; 13 December
1941'On Constructive Programme' published.; 30 December 1941
The Congress Working Committee at Bardoli accepted Gandhiji's
request to free him from the responsibility of guiding the Congress.
Abdul Azim Akhtar

31. • 15 January 1942 Informed Congress Working
Committee at Sevagram that Jawaharlal Nehru
would be his political heir.; 27 March 1942
Advised the Cripps Mission to return to
England.;
Abdul Azim Akhtar

32. Cripps Mission
• Stafford Cripps mission to seek Indian support
for the WWII; Britain was facing challenge
from Japan and loosing South East Asia;
needed support
• Pressure from Allies ( USA, China & Russia) to
seek the Indian cooperation
• Indian nationalists had pledged support in
return for immediate changes in power &
independence after WWII
Abdul Azim Akhtar

33. Proposal
• Union with Dominion Status; Free to join
commonwealth & UN
• After war a Constituent Assembly to be formed;
members nominated by princes & state
assemblies through proportion
• New Constitution acceptance subject to two
conditions: Provinces free to form separate Union
or join the Union; A treaty to safeguard religious
& racial minorities
• Defence with Britain & Governor-General
powerful
Abdul Azim Akhtar

34. • INC objected to Dominion Status
• Representation by nomination
• Right to provinces to join Union / reject
• No plan for immediate transfer of power
• The issue of secession to decided by 60% vote
; if less vote by plebscite
• Nehru & Azad were the official INC negotiators
• Gandhi declared it ‘post dated cheque’
Abdul Azim Akhtar

35. • 14 July1942Congress Working
Committee(Wardha) adopted the resolution
for immediate withdrawal of the British from
India.;
• Factors: failure of Cripps Mission to solve
constitutional deadlock; Inflation & shortage
of food; Britian facing defeat in South East
Asia; Fear of Japanese invasion
Abdul Azim Akhtar

36. Quit India Movement
• 8 August 1942 'Quit India' resolution adopted; gave the call
'Do or Die'. QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT
• Immediate end to British Rule; Defence against fascism &
imperialism; form provisional govt after British withdrawal;
Civil Disobedience Movement against British; Gandhi
named leader;
• Mahatma Gandhi advise- Govt servants should declare
allegiance to INC; Soldiers: Not resign but no fire on Indian;
Students- Leave studies; peasants- If zamindar pro-
government do not pay rent; Princely States should declare
part of India and people should support if they are pro-
India, The mantra is do or die, either free or die in the
attempt
Abdul Azim Akhtar

37. • Strike in Ahmedabad, Bombay, Jamshedpur,
Ahmednagar, Poona
• Underground-Rammanohar Lohia, JP Narayan,
Aruna Asaf Ali, Usha Sharma, Biju Patnaik,
Chhotubhai Patnaik, Achyut Patwardhan, R P
Goenka
• Parallel Govt formed- Ballia, Tamluk, Satara
• 10,000 people killed; Loyalty to Britain
questioned; Independence on the agenda;
Famine of 1943-(Army supply, import of rice from
Burma stopped; no plan)
Abdul Azim Akhtar

38. • 9 August 1942 Gandhiji and Congress Working
Committee members arrested; Gandhiji imprisoned at
the Aga Khan Palace.;15 August 1942Death of
Mahadev Desai;cremated at Aga Khan Palace.; 10
February 1943Commenced a 21 day fast.; 22 February
1944 Death of Kasturba; cremated at Aga Khan Palace.;
6 May 1944Released unconditionally .’ 14 June1945
Lord Wavell calls for negotiations.; 15 June 1945
Congress Working Committee members released from
Ahmedanagar Fort Prison. Ban on Congress lifted.; 14
July1945 The Viceroy declared the Simla Conference a
failure.; 23 March 1946 Three member British
delegation reaches Delhi.
Abdul Azim Akhtar

39. • 25 June 1946 The Congress Working Committee
adopted resolution to accept the formation of the
Constituent Assembly.; 4 July 1946 The Viceroy
formed an Interim Government.; 16 August1946
Communal riots in Calcutta.; 2 September 1946 A
12 member Interim Government headed by
Pandit Nehru formed.; 10 October 1946
Communal violence in Noakhali.; 15 October
1946 Muslim League representatives joined the
Interim Government. 27 October 1946Communal
riots in Bihar.; 6 November 1946 Left for
Noakhali.
Abdul Azim Akhtar

40. • 19 November 1946 Handed over the responsibility of Harijan Journals
to Kaka Kalelkar, Kishorelal Mashruwala and Narahari Parikh.; 2
January1947 Bare Foot March to Noakhali commences.; 30 March 1947
Tour of violence-affected villages of Bihar.
• 31 March 1947 Met the new Viceroy Lord Mountbatten.; 1 April1947
Addressed the Asian Relations Conference.; 13 April 1947 Left for Bihar.; 2
June 1947 The Congress, the Muslim League and the representatives
of the Sikhs accept the plan of Partition.; 13 June 1947 The Congress
Working Committee adopted resolution to accept the Partition.; 13
August1947 In Calcutta with Shaheed Suhrawardy; 15 August 1947
Spent the day in fast and prayer.; 31 August 1947 Indefinite fast
against the communal violence in Calcutta.; 4 September 1947 Broke
the fast.; 9 September 1947Reached Delhi.; 12 January 1948
Commenced fast at Delhi.; 18 January 1948 Broke the fast.;20
January 1948 A bomb thrown during the Prayer Meeting.;
• 30 January 1948 Took three bullets on his chest. Godse the assassin.;31
January 1948 Cremated on the banks of the Yamuna by Ramdas.
Abdul Azim Akhtar

41. The End
Abdul Azim Akhtar