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Mahatma Gandhi: The Father of the Nation

• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was a prominent lawyer, nationalist, and anti-colonial activist.
• Gandhi led a non-violent mass movement against the British rule of India, which eventually led to the country's independence.
• Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence, civil disobedience, and Satyagraha, which involves peaceful resistance, had a significant impact on the Indian independence movement and inspired similar movements around the world.
• Mahatma Gandhi is highly regarded in India as the Father of the Nation and continues to be an influential figure worldwide.

The Early Life of Mahatma Gandhi

• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869, in Porbandar in the princely state of Kathiawar in Gujarat.
• His father, Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi, served as a dewan of Porbandar state, and his mother, Putlibai, came from Junagadh.
• Gandhi was the youngest of four children, with two brothers and a sister.
• At age 13, he was married to 14-year-old Kastubai Makhanji Kapadia, as was the custom at that time.
• His father passed away in 1885, and the same year he and his wife lost their first child. The Gandhi couple later had four sons over the years.

Education of Mahatma Gandhi

• Gandhi received his primary education in Rajkot, where his father had relocated as dewan to the ruler Thakur Sahib. He went to Alfred high school in Rajkot at the age of 11.
• In 1887, at the age of 18, Gandhi graduated from a high school in Ahmedabad. He later enrolled at a college in Bhavnagar but dropped out later. He had also joined and eventually dropped out of a college in Bombay.
• In 1888, he went to London to pursue law at the University College. After completing his studies, he was invited to be enrolled at Inner Temple to become a barrister.
• He returned to India in 1891 at the age of 22 after his mother passed away.
• Gandhi failed to establish a successful law career both in Rajkot and Bombay.
• In 1893, he moved to Durban, South Africa, on a one-year contract to sort out the legal problems of Abdullah, a Gujarati merchant.

South Africa in the 1800s:

• British colonization of Natal and Cape provinces in the 1840s and 50s
• Transvaal and Orange Free State were independent Boer-ruled states
• Three societies created: whites (British and Dutch or Boer ancestry), Blacks, and Coloureds (mixed race)
• Governance of colonial regions controlled by minority white population, enforcing segregation between government-defined races in all spheres
• Indian immigration to South Africa began in the 1860s, indentured Indian labour (Girmityas) recruited to work on sugar plantations
• Mahatma Gandhi witnessed extreme apartheid against Asians in South Africa in 1893

Mahatma Gandhi's Experiences in South Africa:

• In 1893, Gandhi witnessed extreme racial discrimination against Asians in South Africa.
• He was thrown out of a first-class compartment by a white man at Pietermaritzburg station.
• Upon arriving at Johannesburg, he was refused rooms in the hotels.
• These experiences motivated him to stay in South Africa longer and organize Indian workers to fight for their rights.
• Gandhi taught English to the Asian population and organized protests against oppression.
• In 1894, after the Abdullah case, Gandhi planned to assist Indians in opposing a bill that denied them the right to vote.
• He founded the Natal Indian Congress and unified the Indian community into a political force.

The Boer War (1899-1902):

• Britain's control extended to include Transvaal and Orange Free State.
• Gandhi volunteered to form the Natal Indian ambulance corps and served the British empire.

The Civil Disobedience in South Africa (1906):

• Failure of moderate methods led to Satyagraha.
• Establishment of settlements by Gandhi.
• Passive Resistance Association formed against the law of compulsory registration.
• Protest against the new law to restrict migrations of Indians.
• Establishment of Tolstoy farm in Johannesburg.

Negotiations and Mass Movements (1910-1913):

• Good relationship established between Gokhale and Gandhi.
• Movement against the law invalidating marriages not conducted according to Christian rites.
• Final mass movement of over 2000 men, women, and children.
• Negotiations with Viceroy Hardinge, CR Andrews, and General Smuts.
• Concession by the government to most of the Indians’ demands.

Gandhiji’s return to India and the Gandhian era:

• Gandhiji returned to India in 1915 on Gokhale's request to help with the Indian struggle for independence.
• The Gandhian era is the last phase of the Indian National Movement, during which Mahatma Gandhi became the undisputed leader.
• Gandhi's principles of nonviolence and Satyagraha were used against the British government, making the nationalist movement a mass movement.
• After touring the country for one year, Gandhi established an ashram in Ahmedabad to settle his phoenix family.
• He first fought against indentured labor in India, continuing his fight from South Africa.
• Gandhi joined the Indian National Congress and was introduced to Indian issues and politics, with Gokhale becoming his political Guru.

Gandhi's involvement in World War I:

• In 1917, during World War I, the British army urgently required reinforcements and looked to India for participation.
• Viceroy Chelmsford invited various Indian leaders to attend a war conference, including Gandhi.
• After attending the conference, Gandhi agreed to support the recruitment of Indians in the British war effort.
• He undertook a recruitment campaign in Kaira district, Gujarat, with the belief that support from Indians would make the British government look at their plight sympathetically after the war.

Early Movements Led by Gandhi:

• Champaran Satyagraha, Kheda Satyagraha, and Ahmedabad Mill Strike were early movements led by Gandhi before he became a national mass leader.

Champaran Satyagraha of 1917:

• Rajkumar Shukla asked Gandhi to address the problems of the Indigo planters in Champaran.
• European planters were forcing peasants to grow Indigo on 3/20 of their land.
• Gandhi organized passive resistance or civil disobedience against the tinkatiya system.
• The authorities relented and permitted Gandhi to make inquiries among the peasants, and he was nominated as a member of a committee appointed to look into the matter.
• Eminent lawyers such as Rajendra Prasad and Anugrah Narayan Sinha became inspired by Gandhi and fought for the Indigo farmers in court for free.
• The authorities abolished the system and compensated the peasants for the illegal dues extracted from them.

Kheda Satyagraha of 1918:

• The Kheda Satyagraha was the first non-cooperation movement organized by Gandhi.
• Due to drought in 1918, crops failed in the Kheda district of Gujarat and the farmers were entitled to remission.
• The authorities refused to grant permission for revenue assessment in 1919, so Gandhi supported the peasants’ cause and asked them to withhold revenue.
• Young nationalists such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Indulal Yagnik became Gandhi’s followers.
• Sardar Patel led a group of eminent people who gave political advice and instructions to villages.
• The government finally agreed to form an agreement with the farmers and suspended taxes for 1919 and 1920, and returned all confiscated properties.

1918: Ahmedabad Mill Strike:

• Gandhi's first hunger strike to mediate between mill owners and workers
• Workers demanded a 50% wage rise, owners agreed to only 20% bonus
• Gandhi asked workers to strike non-violently, undertook a fast unto death
• Strike ended with a 35% wage increase for workers

1919: Khilafat Movement:

• Gandhi supported cooperation with Muslims against British by backing Ottoman Empire
• Rowlatt Act passed to block movement, leading to Rowlatt Satyagraha
• Jallianwala Bagh incident prompted Gandhi to call off civil disobedience movement

1920: Non-Cooperation Movement:

• Congress adopted non-cooperation program in support of Khilafat and Swaraj
• Chauri Chaura incident caused Gandhi to withdraw from movement

1930: The Salt March and The Civil Disobedience Movement:

• Gandhi led march to break salt law and began civil disobedience movement
• Marched to Dandi, Gujarat and broke government law by producing salt

1931: The Gandhi-Irwin Pact:

• Gandhi accepted truce, called off civil disobedience movement, and attended conference in London

1932: Poona Pact:

• Pact between B.R Ambedkar and Gandhi for upliftment of marginalized communities

1934: Gandhi Resigned from Congress Party:

• Disagreed with party's position on various issues

1938: Tripuri Crisis:

• Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose's principles clashed during the Tripuri session of Congress.

The Quit India Movement

• World War II and national struggle in India coincided in 1942.
• Failure of the Cripps mission led to the Quit India movement.
• Gandhi was arrested and held at Aga Khan Palace in Pune.
• Kasturba, Gandhi's wife, died during his imprisonment.
• Gandhi suffered from severe malaria in 1944.
• He was released on May 6, 1944, before the end of the war.
• British gave indications of power transfer, leading to the end of the struggle.
• All political prisoners, including Congress leaders, were released.

Partition and Independence:

• Gandhi opposed the partition of India along religious lines.
• Congress wanted the British to quit India.
• Muslim league wanted to divide and quit India.
• Gandhi's efforts to bring both parties to an agreement failed.
• Gandhi did not celebrate India's independence and end of British rule.
• His demeanour played a key role in avoiding riots during partition.

Death of Mahatma Gandhi:

• Nathuram Godse assassinated Gandhi on January 30, 1948.
• Gandhi was on his way to address a prayer meeting in the Birla House in New Delhi.
• Godse fired three bullets into Gandhi's chest from close range.

Mahatma Gandhi's Legacy:

• Gandhi's principles, practices, and beliefs were centered on non-violence and simple living.
• He worked for the upliftment of untouchables and called them Harijan.
• Rabindranath Tagore accorded him the title of Mahatma.
• Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose first addressed him as the Father of the Nation.
• Gandhi's philosophy inspired many people across the world.
• Great world leaders like Nelson Mandela followed his teachings and way of life.
• Gandhi is respectfully referred to as the father of the nation or Bapu.

Mahakaleshwar Corridor

Why in News:

• On October 11th, the Mahakaleshwar Corridor, which was built in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh for Rs 350 crore, will be officially opened by the Prime Minister.

Background:

• The Mahakaleshwar temple was built by the Maratha general Ranoji Shinde in 1734 CE.
• Before Independence, the Devasthan Trust managed the temple, which was replaced by the municipal corporation of Ujjain post-Independence.
• Currently, the collectorate office of Ujjain district manages the administration of the temple.

What is the Mahakal corridor?

• The Mahakal Maharaj Mandir Parisar Vistar Yojna is a plan for the expansion, beautification, and decongestion of the Mahakaleshwar temple and its adjoining area in Ujjain district.
• The temple premise of around 2.82 hectares is being increased to 47 hectares, which will be developed in two phases by the Ujjain district administration.
• The first phase includes a visitor plaza with two entrances, a 900-metre pedestrian corridor with murals and statues depicting stories related to Lord Shiva.

What is the second phase of the plan?

• The second phase includes expansion of the eastern and northern fronts of the temple, as well as development of various areas of Ujjain city.
• It is being developed with funding from Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) under the City Investments to Innovate Integrate and Sustainable (CITIIS) programme.

Significance of the move:

• Mahakaleshwar temple is one of the 12 jyotirlingas considered the most sacred abodes of Shiva.
• The temple’s Mahakal Lingam is believed to be Swayambhu and unlike any other jyotirlingas in the country, the idol of Mahakaleshwar faces south.
• A circulation plan has also been developed to reduce congestion and facilitate visitor movement.

Aurobindo Ghose

About:

• Aurobindo Ghose was an Indian nationalist, yogi, seer, philosopher, poet, and proponent of a philosophy of divine life on earth through spiritual evolution.
• He was born in Calcutta on 15th August 1872 and died in Pondicherry on 5th December 1950.

 Education

• Aurobindo Ghose's education began in a Christian convent school in Darjeeling.
• He became proficient in two classical and several modern European languages while studying at the University of Cambridge.
• In 1892, he held various administrative posts in Baroda and Calcutta, and began studying Yoga and Indian languages, including classical Sanskrit.

Indian Revolutionary Movement:

• From 1902 to 1910, Aurobindo Ghose participated in the struggle to free India from the British.
• He attended Congress sessions and helped establish the Anushilan Samiti of Calcutta in 1902.
• He was imprisoned in 1908 (Alipore Bomb case) and later fled British India to the French colony of Puducherry, where he devoted himself to the development of his “integral” yoga.

Spirituality:

• In Puducherry, Aurobindo Ghose founded a community of spiritual seekers, which took shape as the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1926.
• He believed that the basic principles of matter, life, and mind would be succeeded through terrestrial evolution by the principle of supermind as an intermediate power between the two spheres of the infinite and the finite.

Teachings:

• Aurobindo Ghose propounded a philosophy of divine life on earth through spiritual evolution.

Literary Works:

• Aurobindo Ghose was a journalist and editor of newspapers such as Bande Mataram.
• He published his first philosophical magazine called Arya in 1914.
• He authored numerous works including The Life Divine, The Synthesis of Yoga and Savitri.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Why in news:

• On December 3, 2022, the Indian President commemorated Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, on his birth anniversary by offering floral tributes at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad: A Biography

Early Life and Education:

• Born on December 3, 1884 in Zeradei, Siwan, Bihar
• Attended Calcutta Presidency College in 1902
• Completed a master's in law from the Department of Law, University of Calcutta in 1915
• Began his legal career in the Patna High Court in 1916
• Earned his Doctorate in Law from Allahabad University in 1937

Role in Fight for Freedom:

• Association with Mahatma Gandhi during the Champaran Satyagraha
• Called for non-cooperation in Bihar as part of Gandhi's non-cooperation movement
• Started a National College near Patna in 1921
• Guided the Salt Satyagraha in Bihar in 1930
• Joined the Indian National Congress in 1911
• Elected as President of the Congress in 1939
• Became Minister of Food & Agriculture in 1946

Dr. Prasad's role in the Constituent Assembly and India's independence:

• Elected President of the Constituent Assembly in July 1946, responsible for framing the Constitution of India.
• Led various committees, such as the Ad hoc Committee on the National flag, Committee on the Rules of Procedure, Finance and Staff Committee, and Steering Committee.
• After two and a half years of independence, on 26th January 1950, the Constitution of independent India was ratified, and Dr. Prasad was elected India's First President.

Awards and Recognition:

• Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India, was conferred upon Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1962, after he retired from the presidency.
• Dr. Prasad authored several books about his life and the pre-independence era, including "Satyagraha at Champaran," "India Divided," "Atmakatha" (his autobiography), "Mahatma Gandhi and Bihar, Some Reminiscences," and "Bapu ke Kadmon Mein."

Death:

• Dr. Rajendra Prasad spent his final months in retirement at the Sadaqat Ashram in Patna.
• He passed away on February 28, 1963.

J C Bose: A Satyagrahi Scientist

Why in news:

• The Ministry of Culture recently arranged a global conference to commemorate the 164th birth anniversary of J C Bose, focusing on his contributions as a Satyagrahi Scientist.

About:

• Jagdish Chandra Bose was born on 30th November, 1858 in Bengal. He was a well-known plant physiologist and physicist who revolutionized the field of science with his groundbreaking discoveries.

Education:

• Bose completed his BSc from University College London in 1883, and a BA (Natural Sciences Tripos) from the University of Cambridge in 1884.

Scientific Contributions:

• Bose was an accomplished biologist, physicist, botanist, and science fiction writer. His noteworthy contributions to science include the invention of the crescograph, which was a device for measuring the growth of plants. He demonstrated for the first time that plants have feelings. He also discovered wireless communication and was named the Father of Radio Science by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. Furthermore, Bose played a crucial role in expanding experimental science in India.

Legacy:

• Bose is known as the father of Bengali science fiction, and a crater on the moon has been named in his honor. He established Bose Institute, one of India's oldest and most distinguished research institutes, in 1917. The institute was the first interdisciplinary research center in Asia. Bose served as the Director of Bose Institute from its inception until his death.

Publications:

• Bose's most famous books include Response in the Living and Non-Living (1902) and The Nervous Mechanism of Plants (1926).

Death:

• Jagdish Chandra Bose passed away on 23rd November 1937 in Giridih, Bihar, leaving behind an incredible legacy of scientific contributions.

International Conference in Honour of Bose:

• Recently, on his 164th birth anniversary, the Ministry of Culture organized an international conference titled "J C Bose: A Satyagrahi Scientist" to honor Bose's contributions to science.

Mahaparinirvan Diwas

Why in news:

• The Prime Minister recently paid tribute to Dr. Baba saheb Ambedkar on the occasion of Mahaparinirvan Diwas and remembered his remarkable contributions to the country.

Mahaparinirvan Diwas: A Commemoration of Dr. Ambedkar’s Contributions

• Meaning of Parinirvana
  • Release or freedom after death
• Original Mahaparinirvan
  • Death of Lord Buddha at the age of 80
• Mahaparinirvan Diwas
  • Observed on 6th December
  • Commemorates Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s contributions
  • Dr. Ambedkar’s achievements and status as a Buddhist leader led to the anniversary of his death being referred to as Mahaparinirvan Diwas
• Prime Minister’s Homage
  • Recently paid homage to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on Mahaparinirvan Diwas
  • Recalled Dr. Ambedkar’s exemplary service to our nation.

Who was Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar?

About:

• Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was a multifaceted personality who worked as a social reformer, jurist, economist, author, polyglot orator, scholar, and thinker of comparative religions.

Early Life and Career:

• Dr. Ambedkar was born in 1891 in Mhow, Central Province (now Madhya Pradesh).
• He became the Father of the Indian Constitution and served as India's first Law Minister.
• He chaired the Drafting Committee for the new Constitution and fought for the rights of Dalits and other socially backward classes.

Contributions:

• Dr. Ambedkar led the Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927 to protest against the Hindus who opposed the decision of the Municipal Board.
• He participated in all three Round Table Conferences.
• He signed the Poona pact with Mahatma Gandhi in 1932, which abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the depressed classes.
• He played a significant role in increasing the seats reserved for the depressed classes in provincial and central legislatures.
• His ideas before the Hilton Young Commission laid the foundation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Election and Designation:

• In 1937, Dr. Ambedkar was elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly as a legislator (MLA).
• He was appointed to the Executive Council of Viceroy as a Labour member in 1942.
• In 1947, he accepted PM Nehru's invitation to become Minister of Law in the first Cabinet of independent India.

Shift to Buddhism:

• Dr. Ambedkar resigned from the cabinet in 1951 due to differences on the Hindu Code Bill.
• He converted to Buddhism in 1956, renouncing Hinduism.
• He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1990 for his contribution to society.