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Table​ ​of​ ​Contents

Introduction 2

Argument​ ​1:​ ​Nonviolent​ ​Tactics 4

Gandhi’s​ ​Actions

Effect​ ​on​ ​Independence

Argument​ ​2:​ ​Religious​ ​Influence 9

Gandhi’s​ ​Actions

Effect​ ​on​ ​Independence

Conclusion 16

Works​ ​Cited 18
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Introduction:

The​ ​declaration​ ​of​ ​Queen​ ​Elizabeth​ ​in​ ​1858​ ​as​ ​the​ ​ ​“Empress​ ​of​ ​India”

constituted​ ​the​ ​start​ ​of​ ​the​ ​British​ ​Raj​ ​“(Indian​ ​Independence​ ​Act​ ​1),​ ​an​ ​almost​ ​two

hundred​ ​year​ ​rule​ ​that​ ​refined​ ​the​ ​ideals​ ​of​ ​civil​ ​disobedience.​ ​Mahatma​ ​Gandhi,​ ​one​ ​of

the​ ​most​ ​prominent​ ​independence​ ​leaders,​ ​applied​ ​the​ ​same​ ​nonviolent​ ​principles​ ​he

used​ ​for​ ​the​ ​“disenfranchised​ ​Indians​ ​living​ ​in​ ​South​ ​Africa”​ ​(Gale​ ​2)​ ​to​ ​the​ ​fight​ ​for

Indian​ ​independence​ ​from​ ​British​ ​rule.​ ​Throughout​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​whole​ ​career,​ ​like​ ​the

published​ ​Declaration​ ​of​ ​Independence​ ​of​ ​India,​ ​he​ ​promoted​ ​nonviolence​ ​and​ ​religious

equality​ ​under​ ​the​ ​British​ ​Regime.​ ​Many​ ​sources​ ​used​ ​illustrate​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​nonviolent

tactics,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​his​ ​relation​ ​to​ ​other​ ​religious​ ​and​ ​political​ ​groups.​ ​The​ ​sources​ ​ ​“Jinnah,

Pakistan​ ​and​ ​Islamic​ ​Identity”​ ​and​ ​“Gandhi,​ ​Ambedkar​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Poona​ ​pact,​ ​1932.”

provide​ ​a​ ​profound​ ​account​ ​of​ ​Islam​ ​strife​ ​in​ ​India​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Legal​ ​power​ ​of​ ​Gandhi,

respectively,​ ​but​ ​might​ ​be​ ​biased​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​author's​ ​religious​ ​values.​ ​Other​ ​sources

such​ ​as​ ​“Gandhism”​ ​and​ ​“Gandhi​ ​and​ ​Indian​ ​independence:​ ​Did​ ​Gandhi​ ​Really

Liberate​ ​India?”​ ​use​ ​a​ ​methodical​ ​and​ ​informational​ ​approach​ ​but​ ​might​ ​lack​ ​cultural

perspective​ ​in​ ​writing.​ ​The​ ​combination​ ​of​ ​all​ ​sources,​ ​however,​ ​allow​ ​a​ ​more​ ​fair​ ​and

balanced​ ​paper.

Through​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​words,​ ​he​ ​inspired​ ​revolutionaries​ ​to​ ​gain​ ​independence​ ​from

Britain,​ ​but​ ​by​ ​using​ ​peaceful​ ​tactics.​ ​There​ ​is​ ​controversy,​ ​however,​ ​on​ ​the​ ​truth​ ​about

Gandhi’s​ ​effectiveness​ ​as​ ​a​ ​leader​ ​of​ ​Indian​ ​Independence​ ​in​ ​the​ ​twentieth​ ​century.​ ​It​ ​is

no​ ​argument​ ​that​ ​Gandhi​ ​is​ ​the​ ​most​ ​known​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Independence​ ​leaders,​ ​but​ ​his
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importance​ ​is​ ​still​ ​discussed.​ ​Many​ ​of​ ​his​ ​tactics​ ​are​ ​still​ ​taught​ ​today,​ ​therefore​ ​it​ ​is

imperative​ ​to​ ​assess​ ​whether​ ​they​ ​were​ ​actually​ ​assisted​ ​independence.​ ​Personally,​ ​my

own​ ​grandparents​ ​walked​ ​with​ ​Gandhi​ ​on​ ​his​ ​famed​ ​Salt​ ​March,​ ​therefore​ ​I​ ​feel

obligated​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​and​ ​assess​ ​how​ ​Gandhi​ ​had​ ​affected​ ​my​ ​own​ ​family.​ ​Overall,​ ​this

paper​ ​will​ ​delve​ ​into​ ​assessing​ ​how​ ​important​ ​were​ ​the​ ​religious​ ​and​ ​nonviolent​ ​actions

of​ ​Mahatma​ ​Gandhi​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Independence​ ​Movement​ ​(also​ ​referred​ ​to​ ​as​ ​the

"Indian​ ​Revolution").
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Nonviolence:​ ​Actions

The​ ​most​ ​remembered​ ​part​ ​of​ ​Gandhi​ ​was​ ​his​ ​refinement​ ​of​ ​nonviolent​ ​ideals

and​ ​creation​ ​of​ ​Gandhism,​ ​a​ ​set​ ​of​ ​principles​ ​based​ ​“on​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​primary​ ​principles​ ​of

truth​ ​and​ ​nonviolence”(Gale​ ​1).​ ​One​ ​major​ ​event​ ​that​ ​marked​ ​Gandhi​ ​as​ ​a​ ​passive

fighter​ ​was​ ​the​ ​Salt​ ​March​ ​of​ ​1930.​ ​The​ ​Salt​ ​Laws​ ​were​ ​salt​ ​taxes​ ​placed​ ​on​ ​the​ ​citizens

of​ ​India​ ​to​ ​increase​ ​importation​ ​of​ ​salt​ ​but​ ​were​ ​announced​ ​as​ ​unfair​ ​by​ ​Indians.​ ​The

Salt​ ​March​ ​was​ ​simply​ ​a​ ​nonviolent​ ​march​ ​from​ ​now​ ​Gujarat​ ​all​ ​the​ ​way​ ​to​ ​Dandi​ ​near

the​ ​Arabian​ ​sea​ ​(Pletcher​ ​2).​ ​Meant​ ​as​ ​a​ ​symbolic​ ​protest​ ​against​ ​unfair​ ​taxation,

Gandhi​ ​hoped​ ​to​ ​civilly​ ​show​ ​the​ ​oppression​ ​that​ ​the​ ​British​ ​were​ ​causing​ ​to​ ​the​ ​people

of​ ​India.​ ​Britain​ ​responded​ ​by​ ​arresting​ ​thousands​ ​of​ ​people,​ ​including​ ​Gandhi​ ​himself,

to​ ​punish​ ​the​ ​illegal​ ​“production​ ​of​ ​salt”​ ​(Gandhi​ ​and​ ​his​ ​followers​ ​“produced”​ ​salt​ ​by

picking​ ​it​ ​up​ ​from​ ​the​ ​sea)​ ​(Pletcher​ ​2).​ ​Gandhi​ ​still​ ​instructed​ ​to​ ​peacefully​ ​continue

the​ ​march​ ​and​ ​not​ ​cooperate​ ​in​ ​buying​ ​the​ ​overly​ ​taxed​ ​salt.​ ​This​ ​insistence​ ​on​ ​peace,

showed​ ​how​ ​Gandhi​ ​did​ ​not,​ ​under​ ​any​ ​circumstances,​ ​want​ ​to​ ​start​ ​a​ ​violent

revolution.​ ​By​ ​enacting​ ​violence​ ​it​ ​will​ ​neglect​ ​the​ ​truth​ ​and​ ​morality​ ​of​ ​what​ ​they​ ​are

trying​ ​to​ ​achieve.​ ​Because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​wave​ ​of​ ​nonviolent​ ​support​ ​in​ ​India,​ ​Britain​ ​eventually

released​ ​all​ ​prisoners​ ​from​ ​this​ ​event​ ​and​ ​Gandhi​ ​was​ ​invited​ ​to​ ​represent​ ​Indian​ ​in

Britain's​ ​second​ ​roundtable​ ​to​ ​discuss​ ​constitutional​ ​issues​ ​in​ ​India​ ​(Government​ ​of

India​ ​239).​ ​A​ ​clear​ ​success​ ​is​ ​shown​ ​in​ ​nonviolent​ ​strategy​ ​because​ ​it​ ​showed

effectiveness​ ​In​ ​bringing​ ​light​ ​to​ ​oppressive​ ​laws​ ​in​ ​India.​ ​Gandhi​ ​continued​ ​to​ ​lead
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more​ ​peaceful​ ​demonstrations​ ​against​ ​British​ ​rule,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​maintained​ ​strict​ ​morality​ ​on

all​ ​fronts.

After​ ​World​ ​War​ ​II​ ​was​ ​declared​ ​in​ ​1939,​ ​Gandhi​ ​told​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​population​ ​to

support​ ​Britain​ ​in​ ​the​ ​war​ ​effort,​ ​even​ ​though​ ​they​ ​were​ ​oppressed.​ ​He​ ​believed​ ​that​ ​this

favor​ ​would​ ​reveal​ ​Britain's​ ​compassion​ ​and​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​a​ ​peaceful​ ​independence.​ ​Britain,

refusing​ ​to​ ​give​ ​any​ ​autonomous​ ​rights​ ​to​ ​India,​ ​“Gandhi​ ​in​ ​August​ ​1942​ ​proposed

noncooperation”.​ ​In​ ​response,​ ​the​ ​British​ ​government​ ​arrested​ ​many​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Congress

leaders,​ ​but​ ​in​ ​noncooperation,​ ​Gandhi​ ​fasted​ ​for​ ​weeks​ ​in​ ​prison.​ ​Again,​ ​Gandhi

encouraged​ ​to​ ​protest​ ​the​ ​injustice​ ​by​ ​means​ ​of​ ​peaceful​ ​demonstration,​ ​even​ ​when​ ​their

leaders​ ​were​ ​imprisoned.​ ​Gandhi​ ​eventually​ ​was​ ​released​ ​from​ ​prison​ ​and​ ​continued​ ​to

protest​ ​Britain​ ​forcing​ ​India​ ​into​ ​World​ ​War​ ​II.​ ​Gandhism​ ​(discussed​ ​in​ ​Argument​ ​2:

Religion)​ ​is​ ​based​ ​in​ ​truth​ ​and​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is​ ​“a​ ​sacred​ ​concept​ ​that​ ​all​ ​people​ ​have​ ​a​ ​duty​ ​to

seek​ ​out”(Gale​ ​2).​ ​Nonviolence​ ​was​ ​most​ ​effective​ ​“to​ ​seek​ ​truth”(Gale​ ​2),​ ​therefore

fasting​ ​provided​ ​Gandhi​ ​with​ ​a​ ​way​ ​to​ ​protest​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​adhere​ ​to​ ​his​ ​strict​ ​morals.

Nonviolence:​ ​Effect​ ​on​ ​Indian​ ​Revolution

The​ ​Indian​ ​Independence​ ​movement​ ​was​ ​championed​ ​by​ ​nonviolent​ ​protests,

therefore,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​easy​ ​to​ ​support​ ​to​ ​say​ ​that​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​symbolic​ ​demonstrations​ ​played​ ​a

major​ ​factor​ ​in​ ​gaining​ ​independence.​ ​The​ ​Salt​ ​March​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​first​ ​major
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demonstrations​ ​and​ ​directly​ ​led​ ​to​ ​the​ ​discussion​ ​of​ ​constitutional​ ​reform​ ​for​ ​India.​ ​It

also​ ​showed​ ​that​ ​British​ ​oppressive​ ​rule​ ​can​ ​be​ ​amended​ ​and​ ​on​ ​the​ ​path​ ​to​ ​being​ ​taken

out​ ​entirely.​ ​The​ ​reason​ ​the​ ​Salt​ ​March​ ​was​ ​so​ ​successful,​ ​however,​ ​was​ ​the​ ​profound

effect​ ​it​ ​had​ ​on​ ​the​ ​population;​ ​The​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​thousands​ ​of​ ​Indians​ ​refused​ ​to​ ​buy​ ​the

monopolized​ ​salt​ ​made​ ​it​ ​impossible​ ​for​ ​Britain​ ​to​ ​continue​ ​with​ ​the​ ​tax.​ ​Without

Gandhi’s​ ​involvement​ ​and​ ​popularity​ ​from​ ​his​ ​reputation​ ​with​ ​the​ ​South​ ​African

Indians,​ ​It​ ​would​ ​have​ ​been​ ​extremely​ ​difficult​ ​to​ ​mobilize​ ​so​ ​many​ ​people​ ​in

nonviolent​ ​protest.​ ​Therefore,​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​actions​ ​to​ ​lead​ ​the​ ​Salt​ ​march​ ​had​ ​a​ ​large​ ​effect

on​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Indian​ ​Independence​ ​movement.

Gandhi​ ​used​ ​fasting​ ​as​ ​a​ ​means​ ​of​ ​protest​ ​in​ ​many​ ​situations,​ ​because​ ​he

believed​ ​it​ ​to​ ​be​ ​morally​ ​sound​ ​and​ ​showed​ ​his​ ​dedication​ ​to​ ​the​ ​cause.​ ​When​ ​Gandhi

fasted​ ​for​ ​many​ ​weeks​ ​after​ ​being​ ​arrested​ ​because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Congress’s​ ​press​ ​for

Independence,​ ​it​ ​symbolically​ ​showed​ ​resistance​ ​to​ ​British​ ​authority.​ ​Gandhi​ ​still

served​ ​a​ ​two-year​ ​sentence,​ ​however,​ ​which​ ​undermined​ ​the​ ​effectiveness​ ​of​ ​his

campaign.​ ​He​ ​continued​ ​to​ ​encourage​ ​nonviolent​ ​demonstrations,​ ​but​ ​during​ ​this​ ​time

religious​ ​tension​ ​increased​ ​between​ ​the​ ​Hindu​ ​and​ ​Muslim​ ​populations​ ​in​ ​India.​ ​Even

though​ ​fasting​ ​showed​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​dedication,​ ​and​ ​incited​ ​passion​ ​in​ ​the​ ​people​ ​of​ ​India,

it​ ​did​ ​less​ ​in​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​gaining​ ​Independence​ ​than​ ​many​ ​of​ ​his​ ​more​ ​active

demonstrations.

Gandhi’s​ ​demonstrations​ ​riled​ ​the​ ​oppressed​ ​population​ ​against​ ​the​ ​British​ ​rule

by​ ​leading​ ​it​ ​himself,​ ​showing​ ​how​ ​the​ ​laws​ ​placed​ ​were​ ​unfair,​ ​and​ ​bearing​ ​the
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consequences​ ​of​ ​this​ ​himself.​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​fasting,​ ​while​ ​morally​ ​in​ ​line​ ​with​ ​Gandhism,

only​ ​showed​ ​his​ ​defiance​ ​to​ ​British​ ​rule​ ​and​ ​did​ ​not​ ​produce​ ​the​ ​same​ ​effect​ ​as​ ​his

demonstrations.​ ​Even​ ​though​ ​fasting​ ​will​ ​have​ ​played​ ​a​ ​large​ ​part​ ​in​ ​solving​ ​the

religious​ ​tensions​ ​between​ ​Muslims​ ​and​ ​Hindus​ ​in​ ​India,​ ​it​ ​did​ ​not​ ​have​ ​a​ ​comparable

impact​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Independence​ ​of​ ​India​ ​as​ ​demonstrations​ ​did.​ ​However,​ ​was​ ​the

nonviolent​ ​approach​ ​imperative​ ​to​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Revolution?

The​ ​Oxford​ ​Dictionary​ ​defines​ ​revolution​ ​as​ ​a​ ​“forcible​ ​overthrow​ ​of​ ​the

government​ ​or​ ​social​ ​order”(Oxford​ ​Dictionary),​ ​however,​ ​Gandhi​ ​argued​ ​that​ ​change

was​ ​only​ ​achieved​ ​through​ ​a​ ​nonviolent​ ​struggle​ ​for​ ​truth.​ ​Gandhi​ ​himself​ ​wrote​ ​to

Lord​ ​Irwin​ ​and​ ​stated,​ ​“My​ ​ambition​ ​is​ ​no​ ​less​ ​than​ ​to​ ​convert​ ​the​ ​British​ ​people

through​ ​nonviolence,​ ​and​ ​thus​ ​make​ ​them​ ​see​ ​the​ ​wrong​ ​they​ ​have​ ​done​ ​to

India”(Gandhi​ ​1).​ ​The​ ​Indian​ ​Independence​ ​movement​ ​used​ ​nonviolence​ ​to​ ​gain

freedom​ ​from​ ​Britain,​ ​but​ ​would​ ​India​ ​still​ ​have​ ​gained​ ​freedom​ ​without​ ​it?

Freedom​ ​fighters​ ​in​ ​India​ ​had​ ​no​ ​formal​ ​army,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​small​ ​militias​ ​in​ ​India​ ​were

ill-equipped​ ​to​ ​fight​ ​against​ ​the​ ​much​ ​larger​ ​British​ ​army.​ ​Moreover,​ ​the​ ​British​ ​army

enlisted​ ​millions​ ​of​ ​Indians​ ​in​ ​their​ ​armies,​ ​rendering​ ​any​ ​remaining​ ​militias​ ​in​ ​the

minority.​ ​Other​ ​violent​ ​rebellions​ ​for​ ​Indian​ ​independence​ ​remained​ ​unsuccessful,

namely​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Mutiny​ ​of​ ​1857.​ ​The​ ​rebellion,​ ​referred​ ​to​ ​as​ ​the​ ​Sepoy​ ​rebellion,

because​ ​it​ ​was​ ​Indian​ ​Soldiers​ ​(called​ ​Sepoys)​ ​having​ ​a​ ​“large-scale

revolution”(Summers​ ​2)​ ​that​ ​ultimately​ ​ended​ ​with​ ​a​ ​firmer​ ​British​ ​grasp​ ​on​ ​India.​ ​The

British​ ​army​ ​took​ ​advantage​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Sepoys​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​leadership​ ​and​ ​preparedness​ ​to
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quickly​ ​end​ ​the​ ​rebellion​ ​and​ ​reinstate​ ​control.​ ​This​ ​shows​ ​that​ ​freedom​ ​fighters​ ​in​ ​India

cannot​ ​use​ ​violence​ ​as​ ​their​ ​primary​ ​way​ ​to​ ​gain​ ​independence,​ ​so​ ​they​ ​must​ ​use​ ​a

different​ ​tactic.​ ​The​ ​nonviolent​ ​tactics​ ​the​ ​Gandhi​ ​proposed​ ​such​ ​as​ ​Organised​ ​marches

and​ ​protest,​ ​created​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​Indian​ ​front​ ​against​ ​British​ ​rule​ ​and​ ​gave​ ​freedom​ ​fighters

the​ ​leadership​ ​they​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​stay​ ​strong​ ​and​ ​eventually​ ​declare​ ​independence.

Therefore,​ ​it​ ​should​ ​be​ ​said​ ​that​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​leadership​ ​and​ ​nonviolence​ ​tactics​ ​were

imperative​ ​to​ ​India’s​ ​independence.

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Religion​ ​and​ ​Morality:​ ​Actions

Almost​ ​all​ ​of​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​nonviolent​ ​tactics​ ​and​ ​attitudes​ ​come​ ​from​ ​a​ ​place​ ​of

religion​ ​that​ ​was​ ​enforced​ ​from​ ​his​ ​childhood.​ ​His​ ​mother​ ​was​ ​“deeply​ ​religious”​ ​and

attended​ ​“service​ ​daily’’​ ​(Encyclopedia​ ​of​ ​World​ ​Biography​ ​2).​ ​This​ ​Hindu​ ​upbringing

enforced​ ​the​ ​strong​ ​value​ ​of​ ​ahimsa,​ ​a​ ​Sanskrit​ ​term,​ ​“often​ ​translated​ ​as

‘nonviolence’’’​ ​(Caillat​ ​1)​ ​and​ ​attributed​ ​his​ ​intensely​ ​peaceful​ ​beliefs.​ ​In​ ​ahimsa,​ ​it​ ​is

taught​ ​that​ ​“chastity​ ​and​ ​the​ ​absence​ ​of​ ​possessions’’​ ​(Caillat​ ​1).​ ​Gandhi​ ​stayed​ ​true​ ​to

these​ ​beliefs​ ​by​ ​taking​ ​a​ ​vow​ ​of​ ​celibacy​ ​after​ ​fathering​ ​five​ ​sons​ ​and​ ​was​ ​extremely​ ​in

favor​ ​of​ ​people​ ​only​ ​making​ ​enough​ ​money​ ​to​ ​support​ ​themselves​ ​and​ ​their​ ​family.

This​ ​extreme​ ​lifestyle​ ​of​ ​“voluntary​ ​poverty’’​ ​(Encyclopedia​ ​of​ ​World​ ​Biography​ ​2)

alludes​ ​to​ ​his​ ​beliefs​ ​in​ ​why​ ​the​ ​British​ ​should​ ​not​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​rule​ ​India.​ ​Since​ ​Britain

disrupted​ ​the​ ​Indians​ ​way​ ​of​ ​life​ ​and​ ​home,​ ​Gandhi's​ ​belief​ ​they​ ​have​ ​done​ ​something

immoral;​ ​Gandhi,​ ​however,​ ​never​ ​promoted​ ​violence​ ​against​ ​the​ ​British.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​because

of​ ​his​ ​strong​ ​moral​ ​compass​ ​again​ ​founded​ ​in​ ​ahimsa​ ​belief.​ ​Gandhi​ ​associated​ ​ahimsa

with​ ​the​ ​belief​ ​that​ ​“one​ ​should​ ​identify​ ​with​ ​all​ ​beings’’​ ​(Caillat​ ​1),​ ​therefore​ ​he

sympathized,​ ​but​ ​condemned,​ ​with​ ​the​ ​British​ ​rule​ ​and​ ​also​ ​asked​ ​his​ ​followers​ ​to

respect​ ​them.​ ​Gandhi​ ​utilized​ ​ahimsa​ ​as​ ​his​ ​only​ ​weapon,​ ​not​ ​to​ ​wish​ ​harm​ ​to​ ​the

British​ ​but​ ​to​ ​show​ ​them​ ​the​ ​pain​ ​they​ ​have​ ​cause​ ​India​ ​and​ ​her​ ​population.​ ​Gandhi

consolidated​ ​most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ahimsa​ ​beliefs​ ​like​ ​celibacy,​ ​extreme​ ​peace,​ ​vegetarian,​ ​ext

into​ ​his​ ​own​ ​theory​ ​of​ ​Gandhianism.

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Gandhism​ ​is​ ​a​ ​philosophy​ ​portrayed​ ​by​ ​Gandhi​ ​(Gale​ ​1),​ ​but​ ​rooted​ ​in​ ​strict

religious​ ​and​ ​moral​ ​values.​ ​It​ ​can​ ​also​ ​be​ ​applied​ ​to​ ​a​ ​way​ ​of​ ​living,​ ​just​ ​as​ ​Ahimsa​ ​can.

The​ ​largest​ ​point​ ​of​ ​Gandhism​ ​is​ ​the​ ​opposition​ ​“to​ ​any​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​violence’’(Gale​ ​2).​ ​Even

in​ ​the​ ​rebellion,​ ​Gandhi​ ​was​ ​in,​ ​he​ ​supported​ ​hunger​ ​strikes,​ ​protests,​ ​and​ ​marches

instead​ ​of​ ​mutiny​ ​or​ ​civil​ ​war.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​all​ ​encompassed​ ​by​ ​“satyagraha,​ ​or​ ​‘holding​ ​the

truth’’(Gale​ ​2),​ ​and​ ​the​ ​truth​ ​is​ ​dependent​ ​on​ ​how​ ​moral​ ​your​ ​actions​ ​are.​ ​For​ ​example,

Gandhi​ ​believed​ ​that​ ​wealth​ ​should​ ​be​ ​shared​ ​with​ ​the​ ​community,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​action​ ​is​ ​a

further​ ​search​ ​for​ ​truth.​ ​As​ ​shown​ ​here​ ​Gandhism​ ​has​ ​a​ ​direct​ ​connection​ ​to​ ​ahimsa,

both​ ​which​ ​have​ ​a​ ​major​ ​effect​ ​on​ ​later​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Independence​ ​Movement.

Another​ ​major​ ​tenet​ ​of​ ​Gandhism​ ​is​ ​that​ ​all​ ​religions​ ​are​ ​equal.​ ​Gandhi​ ​help​ ​that

“all​ ​religions​ ​were​ ​rooted​ ​in​ ​a​ ​single,​ ​timeless​ ​world​ ​religion’’(Gale​ ​2).​ ​This​ ​became

very​ ​important​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​disconnect​ ​between​ ​Hindus​ ​and​ ​Muslims​ ​during​ ​the​ ​Indian

Independence​ ​movement.​ ​Hinduism​ ​and​ ​Islam​ ​were​ ​the​ ​two​ ​major​ ​religions​ ​in​ ​India

(Along​ ​with​ ​Sikhism)​ ​and​ ​during​ ​the​ ​Independence​ ​movement,​ ​leaders​ ​from​ ​both​ ​faiths

united​ ​against​ ​the​ ​British.​ ​Many​ ​Muslim​ ​leaders,​ ​however,​ ​felt​ ​that​ ​India​ ​would​ ​become

a​ ​Hindu​ ​state​ ​and​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​create​ ​a​ ​separate​ ​country​ ​with​ ​a​ ​religious​ ​identity​ ​of

Islam(Abdulmumin​ ​3).​ ​Gandhi,​ ​rooted​ ​in​ ​ahimsa​ ​belief,​ ​vehemently​ ​opposed​ ​this

because​ ​he​ ​believed​ ​it​ ​would​ ​only​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​more​ ​disunity​ ​between​ ​all​ ​Indians.​ ​It​ ​seemed

likely,​ ​however,​ ​on​ ​August​ ​16th​ ​20,000​ ​Hindus​ ​and​ ​Muslims​ ​were​ ​injured​ ​in​ ​religious

fighting(Gale​ ​3).​ ​This​ ​demand​ ​for​ ​a​ ​separate​ ​religious​ ​state​ ​was,​ ​in​ ​fact,​ ​backed​ ​by​ ​the
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British,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Congress​ ​had​ ​to​ ​agree​ ​to​ ​partition,​ ​“since​ ​the​ ​only​ ​alternative

appeared​ ​to​ ​be​ ​continuation​ ​of​ ​British​ ​rule’’(Gale​ ​3).

Gandhi’s​ ​political​ ​actions​ ​were,​ ​for​ ​the​ ​most​ ​part,​ ​an​ ​extension​ ​of​ ​his​ ​religious

beliefs;​ ​In​ ​fact,​ ​his​ ​political​ ​ideology,​ ​Gandhism,​ ​is​ ​based​ ​on​ ​his​ ​religious​ ​faith​ ​of

Hinduism.​ ​In​ ​fact,​ ​Gandhi​ ​used​ ​his​ ​intense​ ​popularity​ ​and​ ​strict​ ​religious​ ​beliefs​ ​to

integrate​ ​of​ ​the​ ​‘untouchables’​ ​into​ ​the​ ​regular​ ​canon​ ​of​ ​Indian​ ​society.​ ​In​ ​classic​ ​Indian

caste​ ​system,​ ​the​ ​untouchable,​ ​or​ ​Dalits,​ ​are​ ​the​ ​lowest​ ​caste​ ​rung​ ​and​ ​an​ ​oppressed

group​ ​in​ ​India.​ ​During​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​independence​ ​movement,​ ​they​ ​did​ ​not​ ​have​ ​full​ ​legal

rights,​ ​nor​ ​were​ ​allowed​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​prayer​ ​or​ ​government.(Kumar)​ ​This​ ​led​ ​to​ ​a

disconnect​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Independence​ ​movement​ ​because​ ​the​ ​majority​ ​of​ ​Indians​ ​(those

in​ ​the​ ​untouchable​ ​class)​ ​would​ ​not​ ​have​ ​a​ ​better​ ​life​ ​without​ ​British​ ​rule.​ ​Gandhi

sought​ ​to​ ​improve​ ​that​ ​by​ ​rallying​ ​in​ ​Congress​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Untouchables​ ​to​ ​have​ ​guaranteed

seats​ ​in​ ​Congress​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​full​ ​legal​ ​status.​ ​This​ ​was​ ​done​ ​either​ ​by​ ​exemplar,​ ​with

him​ ​dressing​ ​and​ ​working​ ​as​ ​an​ ​untouchable,​ ​or​ ​by​ ​using​ ​his​ ​influence​ ​to​ ​get​ ​the​ ​Indian

Congress​ ​on​ ​board.

Religion​ ​and​ ​Morality:​ ​Effect​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Revolution

Religion​ ​and​ ​Morality​ ​was​ ​the​ ​base​ ​on​ ​which​ ​Gandhi​ ​promoted​ ​his​ ​nonviolent

tactics.​ ​Since​ ​religion​ ​and​ ​his​ ​passive​ ​protests​ ​are​ ​intertwining,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​easy​ ​to​ ​say​ ​that

religion​ ​had​ ​a​ ​large​ ​effect​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Revolution.​ ​Gandhi​ ​himself​ ​was​ ​a​ ​religious

leader,​ ​meaning​ ​he​ ​had​ ​religious​ ​power​ ​but​ ​no​ ​political​ ​power(Gale​ ​1).​ ​During​ ​that​ ​time
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85%​ ​of​ ​India’s​ ​population​ ​was​ ​Hindu​ ​(Ram​ ​2),​ ​meaning​ ​that​ ​most​ ​of​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​values

were​ ​shared​ ​with​ ​the​ ​majority​ ​of​ ​India.​ ​Moreover,​ ​his​ ​strong​ ​beliefs​ ​in​ ​religious​ ​equality

allowed​ ​him​ ​to​ ​speak​ ​not​ ​only​ ​to​ ​Hindus​ ​but​ ​also​ ​to​ ​Muslims​ ​and​ ​Sikhs​ ​(who​ ​made​ ​12%

of​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​population).​ ​Each​ ​of​ ​these​ ​religious​ ​groups​ ​was​ ​oppressed​ ​by​ ​the​ ​British

government,​ ​so​ ​Gandhi​ ​made​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​represent​ ​and​ ​attest​ ​to​ ​each​ ​group's​ ​views;​ ​Because

of​ ​this,​ ​Gandhi​ ​managed​ ​to​ ​unite​ ​people​ ​of​ ​all​ ​faiths​ ​in​ ​India​ ​like​ ​never​ ​before.​ ​Without

this,​ ​and​ ​each​ ​faith​ ​fighting​ ​for​ ​their​ ​own​ ​freedom,​ ​Independence​ ​most​ ​likely​ ​wouldn’t

have​ ​been​ ​achieved.​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​passive​ ​protests​ ​remained​ ​mostly​ ​secular​ ​and​ ​didn’t

promote​ ​any​ ​specific​ ​religion.

The​ ​Muslim​ ​collaboration​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Independence​ ​movement​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the

main​ ​reasons​ ​that​ ​India​ ​was​ ​successful.​ ​Muslims,​ ​however,​ ​wanted​ ​a​ ​separate​ ​state

because​ ​they​ ​felt​ ​that​ ​religion​ ​should​ ​be​ ​a​ ​defining​ ​part​ ​of​ ​their​ ​country.​ ​This​ ​led​ ​to​ ​the

Two​ ​Nation​ ​Theory​ ​of​ ​Pakistan​ ​and​ ​India,​ ​championed​ ​by​ ​Muhammad​ ​Ali​ ​Jinnah​ ​ ​(The

founder​ ​of​ ​Pakistan).​ ​He​ ​created​ ​an​ ​all-Muslim​ ​league,​ ​and​ ​with​ ​his​ ​influence​ ​in​ ​the

Indian​ ​Congress​ ​pushed​ ​for​ ​a​ ​Hindu​ ​India​ ​and​ ​Muslim​ ​Pakistan​ ​(Ahmed​ ​1).​ ​Due​ ​to​ ​his

strong​ ​beliefs​ ​on​ ​religious​ ​unity,​ ​Gandhi​ ​opposed​ ​the​ ​Two​ ​Nation​ ​Theory​ ​it​ ​was​ ​a

necessary​ ​step​ ​for​ ​Indian​ ​Independence.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​because​ ​the​ ​British​ ​Empire​ ​wanted​ ​to

create​ ​a​ ​partition​ ​of​ ​India​ ​to​ ​weaken​ ​it​ ​even​ ​further.​ ​Lord​ ​Mountbatten,​ ​the​ ​last​ ​viceroy

of​ ​India,​ ​who​ ​was​ ​“charged​ ​with​ ​taking​ ​Britain​ ​out​ ​of​ ​Indian​ ​by​ ​June​ ​1948’’​ ​(Gale​ ​3)

would​ ​only​ ​do​ ​this​ ​if​ ​the​ ​partition​ ​of​ ​India​ ​was​ ​successful;​ ​with​ ​a​ ​source​ ​saying​ ​that

without​ ​the​ ​partition,​ ​“the​ ​only​ ​alternative​ ​appeared​ ​to​ ​be​ ​continuation​ ​of​ ​British
 Suri​ ​13

rule’’(Gale​ ​3).​ ​So​ ​even​ ​though​ ​Muhammad​ ​Ali​ ​Jinnah​ ​is​ ​still​ ​seen​ ​as​ ​someone​ ​who

divided​ ​India,​ ​he​ ​might​ ​have​ ​used​ ​this​ ​partition​ ​as​ ​a​ ​tool​ ​to​ ​liberate​ ​India.

Gandhi​ ​petitioning​ ​for​ ​full​ ​legal​ ​status​ ​for​ ​the​ ​untouchables​ ​also​ ​alluded​ ​to​ ​the

Indian​ ​revolution,​ ​because​ ​his​ ​goal​ ​was​ ​to​ ​unify​ ​all​ ​Indians​ ​under​ ​a​ ​similar​ ​cause.​ ​After

Gandhi​ ​used​ ​his​ ​influence​ ​to​ ​gain​ ​some​ ​political​ ​power​ ​for​ ​the​ ​untouchables​ ​and​ ​set​ ​the

path​ ​for​ ​full​ ​social​ ​integration,​ ​they​ ​began​ ​to​ ​rally​ ​behind​ ​him​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​cause.​ ​The

Indian​ ​national​ ​cause​ ​at​ ​that​ ​point​ ​became​ ​creating​ ​a​ ​less​ ​oppressed​ ​and​ ​a​ ​“purer”​ ​India

with​ ​the​ ​main​ ​focus​ ​being​ ​on​ ​the​ ​civil​ ​life.​ ​This​ ​statement​ ​was​ ​now​ ​validated​ ​through

Gandhi's​ ​political​ ​actions​ ​because​ ​he​ ​had​ ​now​ ​set​ ​the​ ​path​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Untouchables​ ​(near

20%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​population​ ​(Indian​ ​Government​ ​Census)​ ​to​ ​be​ ​represented​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​This

narrowing​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Independence​ ​nationalistic​ ​cause​ ​can​ ​be​ ​attributed​ ​to​ ​the​ ​way

Gandhi​ ​used​ ​his​ ​influence​ ​to​ ​create​ ​a​ ​single​ ​mind​ ​in​ ​Congress​ ​as​ ​well​ ​a​ ​work​ ​to

represent​ ​all​ ​of​ ​Indians.​ ​Without​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​cause​ ​for​ ​Indians​ ​to​ ​rally​ ​behind,​ ​there​ ​would

be​ ​no​ ​single​ ​independence​ ​movement​ ​and​ ​mostly​ ​have​ ​been​ ​unsuccessful.

To​ ​analyze​ ​whether​ ​Religion​ ​was​ ​imperative​ ​to​ ​India’s​ ​Independence

movement,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​important​ ​to​ ​separate​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​nonviolent​ ​tactics​ ​from​ ​religion.​ ​Even

though​ ​they​ ​are​ ​similar,​ ​religion​ ​is​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​beliefs​ ​and​ ​his​ ​actions​ ​were​ ​affected​ ​by​ ​it.

Ahimsa​ ​was​ ​the​ ​most​ ​prominent​ ​religious​ ​belief​ ​that​ ​Gandhi​ ​held​ ​to,​ ​and​ ​therefore

influenced​ ​all​ ​of​ ​his​ ​decisions.​ ​Without​ ​his​ ​strict​ ​adherence​ ​to​ ​ahimsa​ ​beliefs,​ ​he

wouldn't’​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​passive​ ​protest​ ​such​ ​as​ ​hunger​ ​strikes​ ​was​ ​the​ ​best​ ​course​ ​of

action.​ ​This​ ​would​ ​mean​ ​that​ ​freedom​ ​fighters​ ​in​ ​India​ ​would​ ​have​ ​to​ ​resort​ ​to​ ​violence,
 Suri​ ​14

which​ ​discussed​ ​earlier,​ ​would​ ​have​ ​resulted​ ​in​ ​the​ ​failure​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Independence

movement.​ ​Also,​ ​If​ ​Gandhi​ ​was​ ​not​ ​a​ ​religious​ ​leader​ ​in​ ​his​ ​community,​ ​then​ ​he​ ​would

not​ ​have​ ​been​ ​able​ ​to​ ​promote​ ​his​ ​way​ ​of​ ​passive​ ​protest​ ​in​ ​Gandhism.​ ​Gandhism​ ​is​ ​the

manifestation​ ​of​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​religious​ ​beliefs​ ​into​ ​a​ ​political​ ​philosophy,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​is​ ​almost

entirely​ ​from​ ​ahimsa​ ​beliefs.​ ​Therefore​ ​without​ ​religion,​ ​Gandhi​ ​would​ ​not​ ​have​ ​been

able​ ​to​ ​promote​ ​political​ ​ideas​ ​of​ ​unity​ ​and​ ​equality​ ​through​ ​a​ ​lens​ ​that​ ​can​ ​be​ ​seen​ ​by

people​ ​of​ ​all​ ​faiths.

The​ ​biggest​ ​issue​ ​of​ ​religion​ ​has​ ​to​ ​deal​ ​with​ ​the​ ​partition​ ​of​ ​India​ ​into​ ​two

nations​ ​based​ ​on​ ​a​ ​religious​ ​divide.​ ​Even​ ​though​ ​Gandhi​ ​believed​ ​that​ ​this​ ​would​ ​lead

to​ ​more​ ​strife​ ​and​ ​disunity​ ​between​ ​Muslims​ ​and​ ​Hindus​ ​(which​ ​it​ ​did),​ ​this​ ​decision

might​ ​have​ ​crucial​ ​for​ ​Independence​ ​in​ ​India.​ ​Religious​ ​conflict​ ​in​ ​India​ ​goes​ ​back​ ​to

the​ ​Mughal​ ​empire,​ ​a​ ​dynasty​ ​of​ ​Muslims​ ​ruling​ ​over​ ​predominantly​ ​Hindus​ ​in​ ​India.

Ever​ ​since​ ​then,​ ​both​ ​faiths​ ​believed​ ​they​ ​should​ ​separate​ ​into​ ​two​ ​nations​ ​because​ ​“At

the​ ​heart​ ​of​ ​the​ ​two-nation​ ​theory​ ​was​ ​the​ ​belief​ ​that​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Muslims'​ ​identity​ ​was

defined​ ​by​ ​religion​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​language​ ​or​ ​ethnicity”.​ ​Since​ ​Britain​ ​pushed​ ​for​ ​this

partition​ ​so​ ​strongly​ ​(Even​ ​with​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​disapproval),​ ​it​ ​was​ ​assumed​ ​that​ ​without​ ​it,

India’s​ ​Independence​ ​would​ ​never​ ​be​ ​achieved.​ ​Gandhi's​ ​nonviolent​ ​tactics​ ​that​ ​won

Independence​ ​are​ ​based​ ​on​ ​ahimsa​ ​and​ ​his​ ​strong​ ​religious​ ​values,​ ​therefore​ ​it​ ​was

extremely​ ​important​ ​to​ ​Gandhi​ ​and​ ​to​ ​India’s​ ​independence​ ​as​ ​a​ ​whole.

Gandhi​ ​certainly​ ​unified​ ​the​ ​cause​ ​of​ ​all​ ​Indians​ ​regardless​ ​of​ ​faith​ ​or​ ​caste,​ ​but

was​ ​limited​ ​due​ ​to​ ​his​ ​strict​ ​religious​ ​belief​ ​and​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​political​ ​stature.​ ​Since​ ​he​ ​held
 Suri​ ​15

no​ ​actual​ ​office,​ ​Gandhi​ ​had​ ​to​ ​resort​ ​to​ ​only​ ​using​ ​his​ ​influence​ ​with​ ​the​ ​public​ ​rather

than​ ​usual​ ​methods.​ ​This​ ​led​ ​to​ ​him​ ​being​ ​limited​ ​in​ ​his​ ​political​ ​impact​ ​and​ ​to​ ​a​ ​certain

point​ ​idealistic​ ​to​ ​other​ ​actual​ ​political​ ​leaders.​ ​The​ ​integration​ ​of​ ​the​ ​untouchables​ ​into

the​ ​status​ ​quo​ ​increased​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​popularity​ ​within​ ​India,​ ​was​ ​not​ ​aided​ ​by​ ​any

politician​ ​and​ ​contributed​ ​to​ ​the​ ​overall​ ​force​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​Independence​ ​Movement

due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​increase​ ​in​ ​Indian​ ​cohesiveness.​ ​Therefore​ ​the​ ​degradation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​caste

system​ ​with​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​integration​ ​of​ ​the​ ​untouchables,​ ​due​ ​to​ ​his​ ​own​ ​religious​ ​beliefs

were​ ​important​ ​to​ ​the​ ​independence​ ​movement.​ ​Gandhi's​ ​Use​ ​of​ ​religion​ ​and​ ​morality

to:​ ​impose​ ​Gandhism,​ ​fight​ ​for​ ​equal​ ​religious​ ​rights,​ ​and​ ​integrate​ ​the​ ​untouchables,

provided​ ​India​ ​an​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​fights​ ​unified​ ​and​ ​therefore​ ​was​ ​imperative​ ​to​ ​the

movement.
 Suri​ ​16

Conclusion:

Gandhi​ ​was​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​prominent​ ​of​ ​the​ ​“religious​ ​leaders’’​ ​(Gale​ ​1),​ ​using

nonviolent​ ​tactics​ ​rooted​ ​in​ ​religious​ ​faith​ ​to​ ​protest​ ​against​ ​British​ ​rule,​ ​but​ ​was​ ​limited

in​ ​his​ ​political​ ​Impact​ ​for​ ​the​ ​country.​ ​His​ ​nonviolent​ ​tactics​ ​included​ ​peaceful​ ​marches,

fasts,​ ​and​ ​boycotts​ ​all​ ​of​ ​which​ ​were​ ​design​ ​to​ ​show​ ​a​ ​certain​ ​aspect​ ​of​ ​oppression​ ​the

British​ ​had​ ​placed​ ​on​ ​Indians.​ ​The​ ​famous​ ​salt​ ​march​ ​was​ ​meant​ ​as​ ​a​ ​symbolic​ ​protest

against​ ​the​ ​unfair​ ​taxation​ ​of​ ​salt​ ​for​ ​Indians,​ ​while​ ​his​ ​prison​ ​fast​ ​was​ ​to​ ​protest​ ​the

British’s​ ​unfair​ ​regulations.​ ​Nonviolent​ ​protest​ ​allowed​ ​Indians​ ​to​ ​gain​ ​the​ ​favor​ ​of

Independence​ ​because​ ​it​ ​declared​ ​unity​ ​against​ ​unfair​ ​Britain​ ​ruling​ ​but​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same

time​ ​did​ ​not​ ​engage​ ​violent​ ​tactics.​ ​Without​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​leadership​ ​on​ ​nonviolence,​ ​the

Independence​ ​would​ ​have​ ​resorted​ ​to​ ​violence​ ​and​ ​most​ ​likely​ ​have​ ​led​ ​to​ ​an​ ​Indian

defeat​ ​like​ ​the​ ​Sepoy​ ​Mutiny​ ​of​ ​1857.​ ​Faith​ ​played​ ​a​ ​large​ ​part​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Independence

movement,​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​ninety-seven​ ​percent​ ​of​ ​India​ ​was​ ​either​ ​Hindu,​ ​Muslim,

or​ ​Sikh​ ​(Ram​ ​2010).​ ​Gandhi​ ​channels​ ​his​ ​religious​ ​upbringing​ ​in​ ​ahimsa​ ​to​ ​his​ ​actions,

especially​ ​with​ ​nonviolence​ ​and​ ​religious​ ​equality.​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​influence​ ​as​ ​a​ ​religious

leader​ ​and​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​speak​ ​past​ ​religions​ ​create​ ​a​ ​stronger​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​community​ ​between

all​ ​religions​ ​and​ ​that​ ​itself​ ​helped​ ​create​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​independence​ ​movement.​ ​There​ ​was

conflict​ ​in​ ​“communal​ ​relations​ ​between​ ​India’s​ ​Hindus​ ​and​ ​Muslims”(Gale​ ​3),​ ​and​ ​this

snowballed​ ​into​ ​the​ ​Two​ ​Nation​ ​Theory​ ​and​ ​led​ ​to​ ​the​ ​partition​ ​of​ ​India​ ​into​ ​Muslim

Pakistan​ ​and​ ​Hindu​ ​India.​ ​Even​ ​though​ ​Gandhi​ ​believed​ ​this​ ​would​ ​further​ ​strain
 Suri​ ​17

religious​ ​relations,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​reasons​ ​the​ ​Britain​ ​decided​ ​to​ ​decolonize​ ​India.

Many​ ​of​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​actions​ ​led​ ​to​ ​a​ ​more​ ​unified​ ​front​ ​with​ ​the​ ​public​ ​and​ ​with

politicians.​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​politician​ ​ ​B.​ ​R.​ ​Ambedkar’s​ ​campaigned​ ​with​ ​Gandhi​ ​for

disenfranchised​ ​untouchables.​ ​Even​ ​though​ ​some​ ​of​ ​Gandhi’s​ ​actions​ ​did​ ​not​ ​come​ ​to

fruition,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​the​ ​partition​ ​of​ ​India,​ ​the​ ​myriad​ ​of​ ​success​ ​in​ ​nonviolent​ ​protest,

which​ ​coupled​ ​with​ ​his​ ​strict​ ​moral​ ​values,​ ​paved​ ​the​ ​way​ ​for​ ​independence.​ ​Gandhi

created​ ​a​ ​philosophy​ ​of​ ​life​ ​through​ ​his​ ​work​ ​and​ ​provided​ ​Indians​ ​with​ ​a​ ​purer

alternative​ ​to​ ​a​ ​violent​ ​movement,​ ​and​ ​became​ ​a​ ​defining​ ​factor​ ​for​ ​India’s​ ​success​ ​in

their​ ​independence​ ​movement​ ​against​ ​Britain.

 Suri​ ​18

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Company​ ​1997.​ ​Print.

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Detroit:​ ​Gale,​ ​2004.​ ​201-204.​ ​Gale​ ​Virtual​ ​Reference​ ​Library.​ ​Web.​ ​30​ ​Mar.​ ​2017.

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Context

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​ ​Pletcher,​ ​Kenneth.​ ​"Salt​ ​March."​ ​Encyclopædia​ ​Britannica.​ ​Encyclopædia​ ​Britannica,

Inc.,​ ​4​ ​Mar.​ ​2010.​ ​Web.​ ​11​ ​May​ ​2017.

<https://www.britannica.com/event/Salt-March>.

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Government​ ​of​ ​India,​ ​1931.​ ​Print.

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