The Gandhian Struggle (1915–1934)
Overview
| Cue Words | Notes |
|---|---|
| Gandhian Struggle Overview | Gandhi's return in 1915 transformed national movement into mass struggle. Merged localized grievances (Champaran/Kheda) with pan-Indian issues (Rowlatt/Khilafat), establishing Satyagraha as primary tool for liberation. |
1. Early Experiments (1917–1918)
| Cue Words | Notes |
|---|---|
| Champaran Satyagraha (1917) | 1st Civil Disobedience. Against Tinkathia system (3/20th compulsory indigo planting in Bihar). |
| Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918) | 1st Hunger Strike. Dispute over Plague Bonus; 35% wage hike secured. |
| Kheda Satyagraha (1918) | 1st Non-Cooperation. Against high land revenue demand during crop failure (Sardar Patel joined). |
2. Rowlatt, NCM & Khilafat (1919–1922)
| Cue Words | Notes |
|---|---|
| Rowlatt Act & Jallianwala Bagh (1919) | Rowlatt Act: Imprisonment without trial. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13 April 1919): Dyer's fire on crowd. Tagore renounced Knighthood. |
| Non-Cooperation Movement & Khilafat (1920-22) | NCM launched at Nagpur Session (1920), merged with Khilafat Movement (Ali Brothers). Called off by Gandhi in Feb 1922 following violence at Chauri Chaura. |
3. Swarajists, Simon & Purna Swaraj (1923–1929)
| Cue Words | Notes |
|---|---|
| Swarajists (1923) | Founded by C.R. Das & Motilal Nehru to enter and wreck councils from within. V.J. Patel elected 1st Indian Assembly Speaker (1925). |
| Simon Commission & Nehru Report | Simon Commission (1927, all-white). Nehru Report (1928, Motilal Nehru): Demanded Dominion Status. |
| Lahore Session (1929) | J.L. Nehru presided. Passed Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) resolution; 26 Jan 1930 declared Independence Day. |
4. Civil Disobedience & RTCs (1930–1934)
| Cue Words | Notes |
|---|---|
| Dandi March & Dharasana (1930) | Dandi March (12 Mar - 6 Apr 1930): Sabarmati to Dandi (240 miles). Dharasana Raid led by Sarojini Naidu, Imam Sahib, Manilal Gandhi. |
| Gandhi-Irwin Pact & RTCs | Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931): INC agreed to attend 2nd Round Table Conference (only RTC attended by Gandhi). Ambedkar attended all three. |
| Communal Award & Poona Pact (1932) | Communal Award (Ramsay MacDonald): Separate electorates for Depressed Classes. Gandhi fasted in Yervada Jail. Poona Pact (Gandhi & Ambedkar): Joint electorates with reserved seats. |
🏛️ Karachi Session (1931)
- Fundamental Rights Resolution: The INC's Karachi Session (March 1931), held soon after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, was presided over by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and adopted a resolution on Fundamental Rights and National Economic Programme, largely drafted with input from Jawaharlal Nehru — an early articulation of the socio-economic vision later reflected in the Constitution.
UPSC High-Yield Recall & Exam Traps
| Cue Words | Notes |
|---|---|
| Satyagraha Chronology Order | Champaran (1917) → Ahmedabad (1918) → Kheda (1918). |
| Nehru Report Demand | Demanded Dominion Status (not Purna Swaraj). |
| RTC Attendance | Gandhi attended only the 2nd RTC (1931); Ambedkar attended all three (1930–32). |
| First Indian Speaker | V.J. Patel elected Central Assembly Speaker in 1925 (Swarajist milestone). |