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Mahatma
Gandhi
1932
Gandhi,
born Mohandas Karamchand in 1869, was known as
‘Mahatma’ (or ‘Great Soul’). He studied
law in London and later went to South Africa where,
for 21 years, he opposed legislation that discriminated
against Indians. Returning to India in 1914, he
supported the Home Rule movement, and became leader
of the Indian National Congress. He advocated
a policy of non-violent non-cooperation to try
to force the British to grant independence. Gandhi
led a civil disobedience campaign between 1919
and 1922, which was later abandoned when it became
violent. He was then jailed for conspiracy for
two years. His radical and confrontational protest
in 1930, when he led a 200-mile march to the sea
to collect salt, was a symbolic act which deliberately
defied the English authorities and their monopoly
over this industry. Again Gandhi was jailed for
his actions. On his release, he attended the 1931
London Round Table Conference on Indian Constitutional
reform. Gandhi’s presence as representative of
the Indian National Congress party was essential
for genuine progress, but little was achieved
because the participants could not reach agreement.
Instrumental
in leading India to independence, Gandhi was a
remarkable character and a prolific correspondent—perhaps
even the most prolific correspondent in history.
His collected works fill 100 volumes. He wrote
this letter to Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru in 1932.
Sapru was a prominent lawyer based in Calcutta
and a leader of the Congress Party. Gandhi held
him in respect and corresponded with him often.
Gandhi’s
presence in this exhibition resonates with the
inclusion of other key political figures of the
later twentieth century, most obviously Martin
Luther King and Nelson Mandela. Both leaders were
influenced by Gandhi. His strategy for dealing
with an oppressive colonial regime provided significant
object lessons in their own struggles with difficult
circumstances.
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