Gandhi Era & Mass Movements

Overview

Gandhi Era Overview	Decisive phase of Indian freedom struggle transitioning from elite constitutionalism to mass Satyagraha. Mobilized peasants, workers, women, and youth through three pan-Indian movements (NCM, CDM, Quit India).

1. Early Satyagrahas & South Africa Legacy

South Africa Passive Resistance	Developed Satyagraha technique; 13 of first 25 Sabarmati ashram inmates were South African Tamils.
Champaran Satyagraha (1917)	First civil disobedience against Tinkathia system of compulsory indigo cultivation (invited by Rajkumar Shukla).
Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918)	First hunger strike over Plague Bonus; 35% wage hike negotiated; introduced "Trusteeship" model.
Kheda Satyagraha (1918)	First real peasant Satyagraha led by "Lesser Patidars" against high revenue demands despite crop failure.

2. Non-Cooperation & Khilafat (1920–1922)

Rowlatt Act & Satyagraha Sabha	Authorized detention without trial; led to Satyagraha Sabha and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
Nagpur Session (1920)	Reorganized INC into linguistic committees; reduced membership fee to 4 annas for mass participation. Merged NCM with Khilafat.
Regional Peasant Assertions	Oudh Kisan Sabha (Baba Ramchandra); Eka Movement (Madari Pasi); Akali Movement (Gurdwara liberation).
Bardoli Resolution (1922)	Movement abruptly withdrawn via Bardoli Resolution following Chauri Chaura violence.

3. Interlude, Swarajists & Leftism (1923–1929)

Swarajists vs No-Changers	Swarajists (C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru) entered councils; No-Changers focused on constructive work (Khadi, Untouchability).
Rise of the Left & CPI	M.N. Roy founded CPI at Tashkent (1920). Kanpur Conspiracy Case (1924) & Workers and Peasants Parties.
HRA & Kakori Action	Formation of HRA (1924) and Kakori Train Action (1925).

4. Civil Disobedience & Quit India (1930–1947)

Lahore 1929 & Dandi March 1930	Lahore Session (1929, J.L. Nehru): Purna Swaraj. Dandi March (241 miles, 78 companions).
Peshawar, Dharasana & Poona Pact	Peshawar: Khudai Khidmatgars (Ghaffar Khan); Garhwal Rifles refused to fire on crowd. Dharasana: Sarojini Naidu, reported by Webb Miller. Poona Pact (1932): Reserved seats for Depressed Classes.
Quit India & Parallel Governments	Quit India (1942): Operation Zero Hour arrested leaders. Spontaneous mass upsurge. Parallel Govts: Satara (Prati Sarkar, longest), Tamluk, Ballia. Post-war: INA Trials & RIN Mutiny (1946).

UPSC High-Yield Recall & PYQ Targets

Champaran Catalyst	Rajkumar Shukla invited Gandhi to Champaran to investigate Tinkathia system.
Bardoli Resolution 1922	NCM officially withdrawn via Bardoli Resolution after Chauri Chaura.
Garhwal Rifles Action	Refused to fire on unarmed Khudai Khidmatgar crowds in Peshawar.
Dharasana Journalist	American journalist Webb Miller documented brutal police beatings at Dharasana.