Soul of Indian Capitalism M.k.gandhi

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saintly hero who led the Indian people forward in a movement of noble dignity that aroused the compassion of the great British nation.

In a gesture of equal nobility, the Western power was then moved to free these Eastern children from their oaths of allegiance to the mighty Empire which had nourished and advanced them.

The reality of the Indian national movement, and Gandhi's individual participation, is naturally very different from the glossy images of Hollywood epic.

Gandhi's political career was prolonged and intricate and cannot. be easily summarised.

Significance

But his activities in India from 1915 to 1934 display all the characteristics that were typical of his politics, and give an accurate picture of the actual historical significance of the 'Mahatma' ('great soul'.)

Between 1893 and 1914, he lived in South Africa, where he began to develop his theories in leading a campaign of the Indian community against racialist laws and customs, With the outbreak of the first imperialist world war, he travelled back to India London.

At this time Gandhi publicaly urged his Indian friends to 'think imperially' and do their duty'; as late as 1918 he was campaigning vigourously for army recruitment, arguing that the British government, inspired by gratitude, would then grant some form of home rule.

Long history

The Indian nationalist movement already had a long history by this time. The British administration had founded the Indian National Congress in 1885 as a means of diverting the militant peasant movements into the safe channels of collaboration.

But this plan misfired, and the Congress became the property of the dissatisfied Indian capitalists.

In this form. it was generally impotent, but sprang to life in 1905 as the mass movement gathered pace and momentum, and for five years developed its demands for Swaraj (self-government) and fumbled for a programme of action. on those who were present, but more especially throughout the Punjab"

Martial law was imposed, and an orgy of shootings; hangings and bombings was initiated by the army Dyer received a £20,000.

Strikes

Amritsar was only the most famous incident in a period of endless strikes, riots and demonstrations Gandhi had called a hartal (general day of suspension of business) for April 6, and had soon become alarmed by this massive response which went well beyond the limits of non-violence.

The government was particularly alarmed by the increasing unity between Hindus and Moslems, which seriously undermined their colonial policy.

The situation was developing headlong and passing out of the control of Congress. As Handhi intervened hest pol ot, the campaign solemnly declaring "a civil resister never seeks to embarrass the Government.

This was only the first of many identical betrayals. Again and again, as the mass movement reached a climax which threatened to overwhelm the Raj, Gandhi called for a truce.

Control

On the one hand he needed to suppress a movement that would certainly discard his leadership as it grew more powerful.

At the same time he also needed to show the British that he was able to control the ebb and flow of resistance, in order to secure his position in any future discussions or negotiations.

Although he wrapped them up in pious platitudes, Gandhi's motives and needs are quite apparent. But it is not so clear how he managed to impose his requirements on the direction of the mass movement.

Attraction

Several factors combined here Gandhi's policy: of Satyagraha was put forward when the Congress' old strategy of cooperation had become totally unviable.

The non-cooperation element had an obvious attraction to all layers, while the non-violent aspect proved particularly attractive to the fast-growing professional class who had violent imperiali and wor process ensure position India.

little to gain a overthrow of st rule by peasants ‹ers, when a gradual reform would them a privileged in a self-governing No alternative Crucially, there was at this stage no alternative revolutionary leadership. The Indian Communist Party was barely conceived, and not even the most determined spontaneous militancy could substitute for . conscious Marxist direction of the revolutionary struggles.

The critical moment had been dissolved by Gandhi's action, but the national movement continued its resistance during the next two years.

As economic crisis developed, 1½ million workers were drawn into the massive strike wave in early 1920. But Congress only moved more resolutely to adopt Gandhi's perspectives, which he guaranteed to win Swaraj by the end of the next year!

Not jailed In fact by that time there were 20,000 political prisoners, including all the Congress leaders-except When the Congress met at Ahmedabad in December, he was voted virtually dictatorial powers-there was nobody left out of prison to stand against him.

His immediate programme had two main points. Firstly, a boycott of the legal and educational institutions of British rule. This was mainly directed at the educated middle class.

Secondly, for the masses, a revival of hand-spinning and hand-weaving.

This did provide a short-term improvement in their economic condition for the millions of landless labourers but its main function was to prevent any mobilisation of the poor peasants as a class.

Dangers

Gandhi was fully conscious of the dangers his leadership faced from the developing political education of the proletariat, and his writings make this clear:

"I do not deny that labour strikes can serve political ends. But they do not fall within the plan of nonviolent non-cooperation.

"It does not require much effort of the intellect to perceive that it is a most dangerous thing to make political use of labour until labourers understand the political condition of the country and are prepared to improve their own condition, to become better informed, to insist on their rights and even to demand proper use by their employers of the manufactures in which they have had such an important hand.

"The proper evolution, therefore, would be for the labourers to raise themselves to the status of part proprietors.

"Strikes, therefore, for the present, should only take place for the direct betterment of the labourers' lot, and, when they have acquired the spirit of patriotism, for the regulation of prices of their manufactures".

This remarkable homily needs little comment. But the apologetics of bourgeois liberalism take on a more sinister character when translated into action.

In 1920 Gandhi had also advocated a later stage of the campaign, where the peasants and workers would refuse payment of taxes and rents.

Dropped

Local campaigns erupted sporadically, but at the Ahmedabad Congress, all reference to the No-Tax campaign was decisively dropped.

Such activities had beer had been shown to provide the basis of independent unity between peasants on rentstrike and workers in industrial action.

The demands for complete independence from colonial rule, and an end to the non-violence policy became louder and more urgent.

But Gandhi turned a deaf ear, and the programme of Congress was even scaled down. *j"

While the Congress leadership prevaricated, a local NoTax campaign began in the district of Guntur. Less than 5% of all taxes and rents were being paid, until Gandhi instructed that this isolated challenge end at once.

He now moved himself, sending an ultimatum to the Viceroy which: demanded amnesty for political prisoners and the lifting of the repressive legislation.

87,000 people If these demands were not met, mass civil disobedience would begin-but in Bardoli alone. The population of Bardoli was a mere 87,000, firmly, loyal to Gandhi's direction.