Question

How did Gandhi’s technique of Satyagraha help us achieve freedom from British

Answer 1

• In 1917, Gandhiji led a successful satyagraha campaign fighting for the rights of the indigo planters at Champaran. Champaran was a turning point in India's freedom struggle. For the first time with peaceful means, he tapped the power of the present masses and awoke their spirit of dignity and self-reliance.
• In 1918, Gandhiji fought for the rights of the textile mill workers of Ahmedabad. Here for the first time he introduced a method of arbitration - fasting. Gandhiji felt this method eliminated violence and the compulsion which may present even peaceful struggles. After considerable arbitration and negotiations, the mill owners agreed to the demands.
• In March 1918, Gandhiji led a satyagraha for a peasants of Kheda. While in April, he appealed for a nationwide hartal protecting the enactment of the barbarous Rowlatt Act. However violence broke out and for the first time Gandhiji had to suspend the satyagraha calling it a Himalayan miscalculation. Gandhiji realised that a peaceful agitation could only be led by trained satyagrahis (non-violent soldiers).