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.