NATIONALISM IN INDIA

ASSINGMENT
Kanak Chopra
PSY/21/20
Q1. Analyse the salient features of Gandhi's leadership.

A. Introduction

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, known as Mahatma Gandhi, born in 1869 in Porbandar, India,
assassinated in 1948 by a Hindu extremist, he was a political, spiritual, and ideological leader of
India. He is widely recognized as the preeminent theorist of nonviolent civil disobedience, the leader
of India's successful campaign for national independence and an architect of modern Indian self-
identity.
The emergence of Gandhi played a pivotal role in the history of Indian Nationalism. He took the
country by storm with his novel political ideologies centered on the cardinal principles of:
 Ahimsa (Nonviolence)
 Satyagraha (Nonviolent Conflict Resolution)
 Yajna (Sacrifice and Service)
 Swaraj (Self Rule)
Major movements:
1. Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
2. Kheda Satyagraha (1917 -1918)
3. Khilafat Movement (1919)
4. Non-Cooperation Movement (1920)
5. Civil-Disobedience Movement (1930)
6. Salt Satyagraha (1930)
7. Quit India Movement (1942)
Basic tenets of Gandhian leadership:
1. Ahimsa- Nonviolence and Satyagraha:
Gandhi championed love, non-violence, forgiveness, & peaceful civil disobedience as a response to
the unjust laws by the British. Gandhi called his overall method of nonviolent action Satyagraha.
An example of the success of Gandhi’s nonviolent method is the Champaran Movement. Farmers
turned to Gandhi for assistance, & through a well-planned nonviolent protest, Gandhi persuaded the
authorities to grant them concessions.
2. Self Reliance
Swaraj was Gandhi's stated objective & has since evolved into the guiding principle of the Indian
freedom struggle.
He also believed in the ideal of self-reliance along with that of interdependence and cooperation. He
refused C.F. Andrew’s help during Champaran movement because he wanted Indians to be self-
reliant.
3. Gandhi’s organizational skills are best seen in the way he restructured the Indian National
Congress between 1915 and 1930. When he joined, it had many weaknesses. One of changes he
made were dethroning English by insisting Indian languages be used for work at provincial levels. At
the first Gujarat political meeting in November 1917, he ruled that all speeches should be in Gujarati.
4. Brotherhood
Although Gandhi was a man of faith, he did not create any specific dogma for his followers, believed
in the unity of all mankind, and preached Hindu, Muslim, and Christian ethics.
5. Visionary and Strategist

He was a wonderful strategist; He had an amazing public relations network & a very good
relationship with the press then. The Dandi march, if Gandhi had gone there quietly, it would just
not have made an impact. He knew he had to create an event to make an impact.

6. Disciplined Leader
He was a focused leader that had a "Do or Die" attitude. He 'would free India or die in the process.
Mahatma would do extraordinary things to improve his discipline and his commitment.
Conclusion
Gandhi gave the people a vision, and his dedication to achieving India's freedoms inspired millions to
give their lives for a better future. Representing a unique combination of transformational, spiritual,
& servant leadership styles, Gandhi managed to inspire people.