The Making of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

The early career and experiments with truth of Mohandas Gandhi in South Africa laid the foundation of Satyagraha, a non-violent technique of resistance. From confronting racist laws to establishing Tolstoy Farm and negotiating with the South African government, Gandhi’s experiences shaped his leadership. Understanding these events is essential for students preparing for history exams due to their influence on India's independence movement and global non-violent struggles.

Gandhi’s Early Career and Experiments with Satyagraha in South Africa (1898-1914)

• Gandhi’s formative years in South Africa and the evolution of his non-violent philosophy
  • (i) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat.
  • (ii) Studied law in England and moved to South Africa in 1898 for a case involving Dada Abdullah.
  • (iii) Experienced racial discrimination, decided to organize Indian workers, and stayed until 1914.
  • (iv) Indian community in South Africa included:
    • Indentured laborers from South India (post-1890) on sugar plantations.
    • Merchants, mostly Meman Muslims, following laborers.
    • Ex-indentured laborers settling after contract completion.
  • (v) Faced restrictions: denied voting, poor living conditions, and strict curfews.

• Moderate Phase of Struggle (1894-1906)

  Initially, Gandhi relied on petitions, memorials, and legal channels to address injustices.

  • (i) Established Natal Indian Congress and Indian Opinion newspaper to unite Indians.

• Phase of Passive Resistance or Satyagraha (1906-1914)

  • Satyagraha against Registration Certificates (1906)

    • (i) Indians required to carry registration certificates with fingerprints.
    • (ii) Gandhi led the Passive Resistance Association, refusing registration, burning certificates, and facing penalties, achieving compromise.

  • Campaign against Restrictions on Indian Migration

    • (i) Indians defied restrictive laws through strikes and jailings.

  • Campaign against Poll Tax and Invalidation of Indian Marriages

    • (i) Poll tax imposed on ex-indentured Indians; demand for abolition fueled protests.
    • (ii) Supreme Court invalidated non-Christian marriages; united Indians under Gandhi’s leadership, including women.

  • Protest against Transvaal Immigration Act

    • (i) Illegal migration and strikes were used as protest.
    • (ii) Gokhale mobilized Indian public opinion; Lord Hardinge condemned repression.

• Tolstoy Farm (1910)

  Tolstoy Farm was established to house satyagrahis, educate families, and integrate manual work with social service.

  • (i) Named after Tolstoy, following Phoenix Farm.
  • (ii) Promoted vocational training, social service, and respect for labor.

• Compromise Solution

  Negotiations between Gandhi, Lord Hardinge, C.F. Andrews, and General Smuts led to concessions on poll tax, registration certificates, marriage recognition, and Indian immigration.

• Gandhi’s Experience in South Africa

  Gandhi observed mass participation, unity across religions and classes, and the importance of leadership decisions in guiding struggle.

  • (i) Discovered masses’ capacity for participation and sacrifice.
  • (ii) United Indians, including women, across communities.
  • (iii) Learned leadership required sometimes unpopular decisions.
  • (iv) Developed techniques for small-scale struggles without political opposition.

• Gandhi’s Technique of Satyagraha

  Satyagraha combined truth, non-violence, Indian traditions, Christian ethics, and Tolstoy’s philosophy.

  • Basic Tenets of Satyagraha

    • (i) Non-submission to perceived wrongs while remaining truthful, non-violent, and fearless.
    • (ii) Withdrawal of cooperation and boycotts as methods.
    • (iii) Non-payment of taxes, refusal of honors and positions.
    • (iv) Acceptance of suffering as part of the struggle for truth.
    • (v) Maintain no ill will; never bow to evil.
    • (vi) Practiced only by the brave; consistency between thought and action required.

• Summary of Gandhi’s Experiments with Satyagraha in South Africa

  Gandhi’s South African experiences shaped his approach to non-violent resistance, laying the foundation for his leadership in India. His development of Satyagraha and institution-building like Tolstoy Farm are crucial for students studying the roots of India’s independence movement and global non-violent struggles.