Civil Disobedience Movement

 Okay, here are the notes summarizing the key points from the lecture on the Civil Disobedience Movement:

Topic: శాసన ఉల్లంఘన ఉద్యమం (Shasana Ullanghana Udyamam) - Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)

• This is the 4th step in the 7 steps towards India's Independence.

• English Name: Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

Comparison: Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM) vs. Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)

• Both movements were led by Mahatma Gandhi under the Indian National Congress (INC).

• Key Difference: The nature and extent of participation by different social groups varied significantly.

  • Peasants (రైతులు): Less participation in CDM compared to NCM.

    • Reason 1: Disappointment over the abrupt withdrawal of NCM after Chauri Chaura.

    • Reason 2: Gandhi's 11 Demands did not adequately address core peasant issues (like revenue reduction).

    • Result: Many peasants gravitated towards peasant movements like the All India Kisan Sabha (led by figures like N.G. Ranga & Swami Sahajananda Saraswati, established later in 1936, indicating a shift in focus).

  • Labourers (కార్మికులు): Less participation in CDM compared to NCM.

    • Reason: Gandhi's 11 Demands did not include specific demands for the working class.

    • Result: Labour movements increasingly aligned with Communist ideologies (moving away from AITUC's initial INC linkage).

  • Muslims (ముస్లింలు): Participation was very low (చాలా తక్కువగా / Least Count) in CDM compared to NCM (where Khilafat linkage ensured participation).

    • Reason 1: Discontent with the Nehru Report (1928) which didn't fully incorporate Muslim League's demands/safeguards.

    • Reason 2: Gandhi's 11 Demands had no specific points for Muslims.

    • Result: Muslims largely stayed away or aligned more with the Muslim League under Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

  • Dalits / Depressed Classes (అణగారిన వర్గాలు): Less participation.

    • Result: Moved towards Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's leadership and focused on separate political rights.

  • Women (మహిళలు): Significantly increased participation in CDM compared to NCM.

    • Actively involved in picketing liquor shops and boycotting foreign goods.

    • New forms of participation emerged: Manjira Sena (మెంజరసేన - women's groups), Vanara Sena (వానరసేన - children's groups).

  • New Forms of Protest:

    • Prabhata Pheri (ప్రభాత ఫేరి): Morning processions with singing/drumming to mobilize people.

    • Vanara Sena (Children's groups).

    • Manjira Sena (Women's groups).

    • Secret Patrika (సీక్రెట్ పత్రిక): Circulation of secret/banned newspapers/pamphlets due to press restrictions.

Origin & Inspiration of CDM Concept:

• Inspired by Henry David Thoreau, an American civil rights activist.

• His book "Civil Disobedience" argued citizens have the right to peacefully disobey unjust civil laws.

• Gandhi adopted this concept.

Gandhi's First CDM in India:

• Champaran Satyagraha (1917) is considered Gandhi's first application of Civil Disobedience in India, challenging the exploitative Tinkathia system (a civil contract).

Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1934)

1. Causes/Reasons (కారణాలు):

• Rejection of the Nehru Report (1928) by the British.

• INC Calcutta Session (1928): Gandhi gives a 1-year ultimatum (deadline Dec 1929) for Dominion Status.

• INC Lahore Session (Dec 1929): Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) resolution passed as the British didn't respond. INC authorized Gandhi to launch CDM.

• Gandhi's 11 Demands: Presented to Viceroy Irwin through Young India newspaper. Included general administrative reforms, military expenditure reduction, release of political prisoners, and crucially, abolition of the salt tax.

• Rejection of 11 Demands by Irwin (Deadline Jan 31, 1930, passed).

• Gandhi felt compelled (గత్యంతరం లేక / తప్పనిసరి పరిస్థితుల్లో) to launch the movement.

2. Progression/Course of the Movement (గమనం):

• Salt Satyagraha (ఉప్పు సత్యాగ్రహం) / Dandi March:

  • Why Salt? It was a universal necessity affecting everyone (rich/poor, Hindu/Muslim), had emotional connect, high tax burden (8.2% of British revenue), and the 1882 Salt Act gave the British a monopoly (ఏకాధిపత్యం).

  • The March: Started from Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad) on March 12, 1930. Reached Dandi coast on April 5, 1930.

  • Breaking the Law: Gandhi symbolically broke the salt law on the morning of April 6, 1930. (April 6th chosen for its significance as the start date of Rowlatt Satyagraha in 1919).

  • Participants: 78 selected followers + Gandhi = 79 people started the march.

  • Telugu Participant: యెర్నేని సుబ్రహ్మణ్యం (Yerneni Subramanyam).

  • Comparison with Napoleon: Subhas Chandra Bose compared the Dandi March to Napoleon Bonaparte's march from Elba to Paris.

• Spread of Salt Satyagraha & Other Violations:

  • Kerala: Led by కేళప్పన్ (K. Kelappan) from Calicut to Payyanur.

  • Tamil Nadu: Led by రాజాజీ (C. Rajagopalachari) from Tiruchirappalli to Vedaranyam.

  • Odisha: Led by గోపాల బంధు చౌదరి (Gopala Bandhu Choudhuri).

  • Assam: March from Sylhet to Noakhali (Bengal) to access the coast. Parallel government formed by textile workers.

  • NWFP (North-West Frontier Province - Peshawar): Led by ఖాన్ అబ్దుల్ గఫార్ ఖాన్ (Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan), known as "Frontier Gandhi" (సరిహద్దు గాంధీ) or "Badshah Khan".

    • His organization: Khudai Khidmatgar (ఖుదాయి కిద్మత్ గర్ - Servants of God), also called Red Shirts (ఎర్ర చొక్కాల దళం) due to their uniform.

    • Significant incident: Garhwali soldiers led by Chandra Singh refused to fire on peaceful protestors, showing growing nationalism within the British Indian Army. Martial Law imposed in Peshawar.

  • Nagaland & Manipur: Led by Rani Gaidinliu (రాణి గైడిన్లు), a 13-year-old girl. Arrested in 1930, remained imprisoned until 1946. Nehru gave her the title "Rani".

  • Bengal (Chittagong): సూర్య సేన్ (Surya Sen) led the Chittagong Armoury Raid (విప్లవాత్మక కార్యక్రమం) during this period.

  • Maharashtra, Karnataka, Central Provinces (CP): Violation of Forest Laws became a major form of protest.

  • Bengal, Bihar: Non-payment of Chowkidar Tax.

• Dharsana Salt Works Raid:

  • Planned by Gandhi after Dandi.

  • Gandhi arrested before the raid (May 1930).

  • Leadership passed to Abbas Tyabji (అబ్బాస్ త్యాబ్జీ - Grandson of Badruddin Tyabji) & Kasturba Gandhi; they were also arrested.

  • Finally led by Sarojini Naidu, Imam Sahib (గాంధీజీ స్నేహితుడు - Friend of Gandhi from South Africa), and Manilal Gandhi (గాంధీజీ కొడుకు).

  • Protestors faced brutal Lathi charges by police.

  • Witnessed by American journalist Webb Miller, whose reports in the New York Times brought international attention and sympathy to the Indian cause and highlighted the non-violent nature of the protestors despite extreme provocation.

3. First Round Table Conference (RTC) & Gandhi-Irwin Pact:

• First RTC held in London (1930) to discuss India's future constitution (based on Simon Commission report).

• INC boycotted it, rendering it ineffective ("రాముడు లేకుండా రామలీల అంటూ ఉండదు" - Like Ram Leela without Ram). British PM Ramsay MacDonald (Labour Party) realized INC participation was crucial.

• Pressure on Viceroy Irwin to negotiate with INC. MacDonald told Irwin to bring INC to the 2nd RTC "at any cost".

• Mediators: M. R. Jayakar (Hindu Mahasabha) and Tej Bahadur Sapru (Indian Liberal Federation).

• Gandhi-Irwin Pact / Delhi Pact (March 5, 1931):

  • INC/Gandhi Agreed: Suspend (తాత్కాలికంగా నిలిపివేయాలి) CDM; Participate in the 2nd RTC.

  • British/Irwin Agreed: Release political prisoners (రాజకీయ ఖైదీలు) except those convicted of violence; Allow coastal villagers to make salt for personal consumption (ఉప్పు అవకాశం).

  • This pact marked the first time the British government negotiated with an Indian leader (Gandhi) on equal terms (సమాన హోదా).

• Criticism of the Pact:

  • Gandhi heavily criticized, especially by youth and leftists, for not securing the release/commutation of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev (hanged March 23, 1931). Gandhi maintained they weren't covered as they were convicted for violence (Saunders' murder).

  • The pact did not achieve Poorna Swaraj.

  • Winston Churchill criticized the British government for negotiating with the "half-naked fakir" (అర్ధ నగ్న ఫకీర్).

  • Gujarati poet Meghani wrote a poem urging Gandhi not to go to the RTC, warning it was like drinking "another cup of poison" (ఇంకో కప్పు విషాన్ని మింగాల్సిందే).

4. Second RTC & Resumption of CDM (Part 2):

• Gandhi attended the 2nd RTC (1931) as the sole INC representative.

• The conference failed due to disagreements, particularly on communal representation (Ambedkar demanding separate electorates for Dalits).

• Gandhi returned to India disappointed.

• The new Viceroy, Willingdon, adopted a repressive policy.

• Gandhi restarted CDM (Part 2) in early 1932.

• The response was weaker this time; people were exhausted, and the British suppression was severe.

• Gandhi was arrested again.

5. Final Withdrawal & Review (సమీక్ష):

• Gandhi officially withdrew the CDM in 1934 due to dwindling public support (స్పందన లేకపోవడంతో).

• Positive Outcomes:

  • Demonstrated the power of non-violent mass struggle globally (thanks to Webb Miller).

  • Increased political consciousness and participation, especially among women.

  • Showcased Indian nationalism even within the British Indian Army (Garhwali incident).

  • Forced the British to negotiate on relatively equal terms (Gandhi-Irwin Pact).

  • Introduced new protest methods (Prabhata Pheri etc.).

  • INC adopted resolutions on Fundamental Rights (FR) and a National Economic Programme for the first time at the Karachi Session (1931, Vallabhbhai Patel president), which ratified the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.

• Negative Outcomes/Limitations:

  • Alienated significant sections: Peasants, Labourers, Muslims, Dalits felt their specific demands weren't prioritized by Gandhi/INC, leading them to organize separately.

  • Failed to achieve the immediate goal of Poorna Swaraj.

  • Led to severe British repression.

  • Criticism regarding Gandhi's handling of the Bhagat Singh issue.

• Overall: A significant movement that expanded the base of the freedom struggle but also highlighted internal divisions within Indian society.