Satyagraha at Champaran and Kheda
Gandhi's political career took a head start when he went to lead satyagraha against the indigo merchants at Champaran in Bihar. He raised his voice against the unbearable exploitation of the indigo farmers of the region. His methods, as always, were based on non-violence, and he met with success. The British authorities were forced to accept to the demandes of the indigo workers. He repeated his success at Kheda in Gujarat against the increasing revenues and taxed imposed by the government on the farmers at rural Gujarat. Once again, the processes were non-violent. With these successes, Gandhi was hailed as the new light in the Indian political scenario. He gained the appellation of the Mahatma (the great soul) and Bapu (father). Soon Rowlatt Act and the subsequent massacre at Jalianwallah Bagh at Amritsar in Punjab considerably heated up the scenario of Indian politics. Gandhiji assumed the responsibilities of the president of Indian National Congress in 1921, and unleashed a series of reforms in the party ranks, thereby giving impetus to the non-cooperation movement, that by that time took the entire nation in its grip.
Mahatma Gandhi as the President of Indian National Congress
Mahatma Gandhi was elected as the president of the Indian National Congress in 1921. He immediately introduced a number of reforms within the party ranks. The first responsibility that Gandhi undertook as the president of the Indian National Congress was to increase the reach of the party among the masses who reside in the remote corners in order to eradicate its elitist status. Gandhi famously stated that rural India was the very backbone of the country, both in economic and in logistical terms. Therefore no movement can be truly successful unless whole-heartedly supported by the inhabitants of the Indian villages. The first step that he took was to considerably reduce the membership fee of the party. Then he restructured the entire party hierarchy, and opened new party branches at various provinces and princely states of India. Soon congress took a national dimension with membership multiplied manifold. Gandhi became the new guiding star of Indian politics, operating under the umbrella of the Indian National Congress.
As the president of the Indian National Congress, Mahatma Gandhi introduced the tenets and the ideals of Satyagraha, and the party saw the emergence of many new and charismatic leaders with great public appeals, who were loyal followers of Gandhi. By then, Lala Lajpat Rai also became an admirer of Gandhi in spite of former differences. With such great following, non-cooperation movement against the Rowlatt Act and the Amritsar tragedy naturally took massive national dimension.
Gandhi's Contribution towards Unification of the Congress
Gandhi called off the non-cooperation movement abruptly following the unfortunate violence at Chauri Chaura. It was even condemned by many of his most loyal followers as a historic blunder, with the likes of Sri CR Das among them. Gandhi's arrest in 1922 was the beginning of a stormy period for the Indian National Congress. Two factions under CR Das and Chakraborty Rajagopalachari gathered force, and the entire coherent fabric of the INC was on the point of breaking down, thereby bringing down the impetus of the Indian nationalist movement and also tarnishing the image of the Congress in the public eye. Gandhi tried hard to bridge the differences. He undertook a fast in a bid to unite the warring factions. However, success was limited and Gandhi had to come back and hold the reins in order to guide Congress in the proper direction.
Gandhi returned from a brief hibernation following his imprisonment and in the Calcutta Conference of 1928, announced his arrival with aplomb, daring the British government with a one year deadline to free India. He was influenced by the enthusiasm of younger Congressmen like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose. The government did not respond and the INC celebrated Indian independence on 26th January, 1930, following the proposals undertaken Lahore Congress the year before. The Civil Disobedience movement ensued with Gandhi at the helm, defying government orders.
Gandhi and the Indian National Congress through the Nineteen Thirties
The thirties were a particularly important and significant decade in the development of the Indian National Congress and Gandhi's role became central towards determining the course of action in these years. The Civil Disobedience movement was strong enough to lead the British authorities to cower down under pressure and take steps to initiate the first round table conference leading to the Gandhi - Irwin pact. Gandhi, on the terms laid down by the pact reached England in 1931 as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress to participate in the Second Round Table conference, where he delivered an invigorating speech, exposing the brutalities of the British rule in India. The conference predictably failed. The British government thereafter indulged in a divide and rule policy with the introduction of the Communal Award rule. Gandhi's innate belief in secularism was terribly hurt and he led Congress towards a full-fledged revolution. Gandhi's particular cause of pain was the breakdown within the Hindu community on lines of caste and creed, which was absolutely antagonistic to his satyagraha ideals. The highlight of the movement was the fast until death that he undertook on 20th September, 1932. His condition deteriorated and soon the warring factions were forced to come to terms of commonality. There would be a common election for the Hindus with the harijans and the other backward categories having seats reserved for them. The meeting with Ambedkar was successful, a great cessation was avoided at Gandhi's own initiative and the British policy of divide and rule suffered a setback. The elections proved a great success for Gandhi and the Indian National Congress that worked under his leadership.
