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The Independence Movement of India. Film Chapter 1- 3:00-6:00. Now a little background information on Gandhi and his importance to the world. Mahatma Gandhi moves to South Africa in the1890’s.
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The Independence Movement of India Film Chapter 1- 3:00-6:00
Now a little background information on Gandhi and his importance to the world.
Mahatma Gandhi moves to South Africa in the1890’s
Gandhi’s first class travels on a train to South Africa are interrupted by white citizens who have him thrown off despite the fact he is a lawyer and has a first class ticket.
He finds South Africa to be… • A colony in which only two groups exist. • Colored • White
Colored people, namely Indians, have been brought to the colony to work in the diamond mines and farms.
The colored, in South Africa, are required to carry identification cards with them at all times. Whereas whites do not even need papers in South Africa.
Gandhi vows to fight against this injustice by burning his own papers and encouraging others to do the same.
Indians who burn their passes are arrested and thrown in prison.
Gandhi himself receives a beating from a South African policeman and is hospitalized! Film Chapter 3- 11:00-15:45
The event is recorded • Published in the British Press • It is likened to the American Declaration of Independence
Weeks later, when he was released, Gandhi finds that the governor in charge of South Africa has decided to change the pass laws (due to the bad publicity received through the Gandhi beating and arrests). He has made them stricter in the hopes of breaking Gandhi’s will. Under the new laws, all Indians must be fingerprinted like criminals, only Christian marriages are recognized, and the police are allowed to enter any house they want unannounced.
An American journalist comes to visit Gandhi in South Africa • He wants to find out more about Gandhi. • Discovers Gandhi wants to achieve equality with the British through non-violent methods. • Gandhi believes that all people are equal (even to the point where he and others do the work of untouchables)
Through an impassioned speech • Gandhi is able to convince Hindu, Muslim and Sikh alike that they must refuse to obey all unjust British laws until the laws are repealed and they achieve equality with the British.
No British citizen is to be hurt in the process. • Indians will accept attack, but never fight back in their struggle.
“They may torture my body, break my bones, even kill me. Then they will have my dead body. But not my obedience!” -- Mahatma Gandhi Film Chapter 3- 26:00-31:00
Many Indians are arrested • They did not comply with the new laws. • Gandhi responds by demonstrating against the government and calling for a strike of all Indian workers.
A cavalry charge by mounted police against the demonstrators is thwarted when the demonstrators simply lie down, causing the horses to panic and retreat.
Not to be defeated, • The government arrests Gandhi for breaking the pass laws • They hope this will force him to rethink the idea of fighting the British/South African government.
Gandhi joins thousands of his comrades already in British jails for refusing to obey the unjust laws and is uplifted by the fact that they are all willing to endure punishment if it means eventual justice.
South African businesses crawl to a stop and the nation shuts down due to most of the workforce having been arrested. • The South African leadership is forced to concede to Gandhi’s demands. • The British laws are repealed and Gandhi victoriously leaves South Africa and returns to India in 1915.
Upon arrival in India, Gandhi realizes that the British are treating the people of India badly also. Now the Independence Movement of India begins.
The People to Know Jinnah, Nehru and Gandhi
Gandhi and the leaders of the Independence Movement meet to discuss the latest British laws. • The British can arrest an Indian without a warrant. • There are to be no mass meetings of Indians. Remember this one!! • Immediate arrest of people advocating the overthrow of the British.
Some want terrorist attacks against the British • Gandhi and Nehru do not, they think it will only provoke the British more. Gandhi has a different idea.
Gandhi calls for a day of prayer and fasting. All Indians are to stay home from work. They hope the entire nation will shut down (busses, trains, markets, communications).
His arrest and imprisonment sparks rioting by Indians against the Indian police (hired by the British) and the British.
Gandhi questions whether the Indian people are worthy enough for independence if they immediately resort to violence when times get tough.
He is released from prison on the condition he speaks to the Indian people about non-violence. • He agrees
Meanwhile, a mass demonstration is held at the Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar in which Gandhi supporters advocate non-violence. Film Chapter 11- 1:24- 1:31
British troops arrive at Amritsar • Under General Reginald Dyer • They want to disperse the crowd because British law forbids mass meetings by Indians.
The troops open fire on unarmed men, women and children in the crowd. No resistance against the British is offered. Over 1500 people are shot.
Gandhi and Indian leaders meet • Talk to the British government after the Amritsar massacre to tell them that enough is enough. • It is time for the British to leave India
The British response was “Without our administration the country would be in chaos! We need to be here to protect the Muslim minority from the Hindu majority. Do not expect us to just walk out of India.”
Gandhi says, “It is better for Indians to run their own bad government and have their own religious problems, then to have the British in charge.”
He tells the viceroy that Indians will use non-violence, non-cooperation until the British realize they must leave.
With the British outnumbered 350 million Indians100,000 British Non-cooperation by the Indians will mean British India will shut down.
Gandhi travels India, urging Indians to get rid of their Hindu-Muslim hatreds, their caste prejudices and their acceptance of British superiority.
The Indians are asked to… • Remove their British made clothing and destroy it. • This British cloth keeps millions of Indians from working. • It is better to have no clothes or only clothes made by yourself than to wear clothing from a British factory. Film Chapter 13- 1:33- 1:41
Violence breaks outs • Despite Gandhi’s urgings, violence between Hindus and Muslims breaks out in some areas and the British declare martial law. • The military is in charge, no press allowed, curfews enforced…
Gandhi sees this as a sign of British desperation to maintain control. • Unfortunately, some of the peaceful demonstrations turn violent in areas under martial law. • Angry mobs will kill a number of policeman.
Upon hearing the news • Gandhi is upset • He decides to end the non-cooperation movement because it has led to violence. • He wants no part of the birth of a nation through the killing of others.
To end the violence against the police and the British, Gandhi begins a hunger strike. Only a complete end to the violence will convince him to eat again.
If the Indian people care they will listen to his actions and stop. He tells a follower not to be upset if he should die. “…for evil has always been conquered by good.” The hunger strike works. 350 million Indians end their violence against the authorities out of fear of losing the Mahatma (Great Soul)
Gandhi stops the fast • But he is arrested on sedition charges. • He says he is guilty. He is then given 6 years in jail. While in jail the independence movement will continue. • (notice anything strange about this court scene) Film Chapter 16- 1:56-1:58:30
The Salt March • After getting out of jail Gandhi has an idea. • The British have a monopoly on salt, only they can produce it, sell it and profit from it. • So Gandhi will march 240 miles to the sea and make his own. • Civil-disobedience again. Film Chapter 18- 2:06- 2:13
The transfer of power begins • The British realize they are fighting a losing battle and will leave and the people of India will take care of themselves. • But arguments break out…
Jinnah • He fears being a Muslim minority in a Hindu dominated India. • He wants the Muslims to have their own country. (partitioned out of India) • It would be called Pakistan.
