Gandhi Starts Satyagraha Movement

Gandhi was still in a weak physical condition when he received an invitation to go to Madras (now Chennai).

He took the risk and went to Madras with Mahaev Desai.

It was there that he first met chakravarthi

Rajagopalachari, who impressed him very much.

A small conference of leaders was held and Gandhi explained to them the implications of the Rowlatt Bill. While these discussions were being held, news was received that the Rowlatt Bill had been published as an act.

It was also in Madras that Gandhi first conceived the idea of an All India hartal as the beginning of the Satyagraha movement. The leaders at once took up the suggestion and gave much publicity to the forthcoming hartal. The date was first fixed for March 30, 1919, but was subsequently changed to April 6. While the people had received only a short notice for the hartal, it turned out to be most successful. 

That was the first great awakening of India in her struggle towards Independence.

Gandhi left Madras and went to Bombay to join in the hartal there on April 6.

Meanwhile in Delhi, Lahore and Amritsar, the hartal had been observed on March 30. In Delhi the police did not allow free movement to the demonstrators and there was firing, causing a number of casualties. Gandhi was requested to go to Delhi and he replied that he would do so after the hartal in Bombay on April 6.

In Bombay the hartal was a great success. Not a wheel turned in any factory. Not a shop was kept open.

All over India the hartal was observed. Gandhi had asked the people again and again to be peaceful and not be provoked to violence by the Government’s actions. In spite of this, violence broke out in many places. There were disturbances in Ahmedabad and also in the Punjab and he decided to go to these places to propagate non-violence.

On the way to the Punjab he was arrested at a wayside station called Palwal and sent back to Bombay. The news of his arrest inflamed the entire population of Bombay.

There was an enormous crowd awaiting his arrival there. When he reached Bombay. He was set free. The crowd was getting impatient.

“Only you can control the crowd, “said a friend to Gandhi. “Come, I shall take you to the spot.”

The crowd greeted Gandhi with frenzied joy. A huge procession started. But the police barred its progress. A troop of mounted police was ordered to charge. Piecing screams and cries from women and children filled the air as the horsemen plunged forward with lowered lances. People ran to escape the fury of the police.

Gandhi was shocked. He went and met the Commissioner. He found him boiling with rage.

“We, the police, know better than you of the effect of your preaching on the people. If we had not taken drastic measures, the situation would have passed out of our hands. I have no doubt about your intentions. But the people do not understand them. They only follow their natural instincts.”

“The people by nature are not violent but peaceful,” said Gandhi.

“You wanted to go to the Punjab,” said the Commissioner. “Do you know what is happening in Ahmedabad, Punjab and Delhi? You are responsible for all these disturbances.”

Gandhi was pained to hear of the disturbances and said that he would certainly claim responsibility if he was convinced that it was his doing.

Gandhi went to Ahmedabad. On the way he learnt in detail about the happenings there. Ahmedabad was under martial law.

A police officer was waiting for him at the railway station to escort him to Commissioner. This Commissioner too was in a rage. Gandhi expressed his regret for the disturbances and promised complete cooperation in restoring peace.

Gandhi then asked for permission to hold a public meeting on the grounds of Sabarmati ashram. The proposal appealed to the officer.

At the meeting Gandhi announced with great sorrow the suspension of civil disobedience. He said he would fast for three days as a penance and he appealed to all the people to fast for one day. He asked those who were guilty of violence to confess their guilt. He expressed his regret at having started civil disobedience too early without giving sufficient training to the people.

“I have made a Himalayan miscalculation, “he said.

Many people jeered at Gandhi for saying that. Many of his friends and followers were furious at his stopping the Satyagraha.

Gandhi then started teaching people the true meaning of Satyagraha and how it should be conducted. Through his articles and speeches he wanted to drive home to the people the essence of his new creed.