Evening star., 1942-08-07
Gondhi Turns Again
To oNon-Co-operotion
Writer Reviews History
Of Indion Leaders Efforts
To Win independence
Bu Bertrdnt Benedict.

Bu Bertrdn1 Benedict.
The forthcoming civil disobedience
campaign In India will be the fourth
launched by Mohandas Karamchand
Gandhi The English-educated lawyer
developed the philosophy and procedure
of the thing in l907-l4 in South Africa
where he gave up a lucrative practice to
interest himself in the plight Of Indian
laborers. Gandhi's non-co-operative
movement in Africa was partially sue
cessful in its objectives.
The First World War saw Gsndhi far
from hostile to Great Britain he volun-
teered for ambulance service in France
as he had in the Boer War But in 1919
he went into opposition on the passage
of the two Rowlatt Acts in March: these
practically gave the Government of India
the right to use martial law to put down
existing unrest" On April 13, 1919, came
the "Amritsar Massacre" when General
Dyer ordered his troops to fire on an
unarmed gathering of Indians, killing al
most 400 and wounding some 200. Dyer
was censured by the Indian Government,
and the censure was upheld by the
House of Commons In London: but the
House OF Lords upheld the general, and
some of his supporters took up a purse
for him
In 1920 Gandhi, now undisputed head
OF the Indian nationalist movement. pro-
claimed campaign Of non-co- operation.
In this the Moslems joined the Hindus
for they were bitter at the British be-
cause of the postwar treatment of Tur-
key. Indians resigned public posts, with
drew their children from schools, boy
cotted British goods, banks and stores.
In 1921 some violence occurred. Also
with Turkey reasserting itself, the Mos
lens broke away from the non-co-oper-
alton campaign. and clashes between
Hindus and Moslems became frequent
In December, 1921, Gandhi expanded
non-co- operation into complete civil dis
obedience. The new campaign took hold
chiefly among the peasants and indus
trial workers.
In February, 1922. Indians killed q
score OF policemen at Chauri Chaura
and in protest Gandhi suspended civil
disobedience temporarily. In March he
was arrested for seditious agitation, and
was sentenced to six years imprison-
ment. Moderates gained control OF the
Indian Congress and began to stress
self government (swaraD instead OF IN
dependence. Gandhi was released, be-
cause OF Ill health, in February, 1924,
and the civil disobedience campaign
petered out in that year. In 1926 both
Hindus and Moslems boycotted the
Simon Commission because no Indian
was a member.
In December, 1928. Gandhi gave the
British one year in which to introduce
dominion status. On Jan. l, 1890, an
other civil disobedience campaign was
voted by the India Congress, and was
initiated in March. The participants
boycotted salt, Government monopoly,
and Gandhi led march to the sea
for deriving salt from sea water. Again
the Moslems co-operated, again there
was considerable violence. This time the
campaign had the support, financial and
personal, Of many Indian capitalists and
businessmen. The Government arrested
many leaders, Gandhi in May.
In January. 1881. Gandhi was released
from jail. In March he called of civil
disobedience, in return for the release
Of political leaders not involved In vio-
lence. In September Gandhi travelled
to London to attend the second govern
ment-sponsored roundtable conference
on India, but after several months
returned home, dissatisfied with the re-
suits, and third civil disobedience CAM
paign was launched.
In 1888 Gandhi was again arrested and
Jailed, soon to be released after a hunger
strike. The new Government of India
Act went into effect in 1887 with little
support from the Nationalists: never
theless the Gandhi wing at first favored
the British cause when the present war