Mahatma Gandhi, revered as the father of the Indian nation, was a transformative figure whose leadership transcended boundaries. Through nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience, he mobilized millions in India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule. His principles of truth, nonviolence, and self-reliance inspired generations worldwide.

A People’s Leader

Leader of the Masses: By 1922, Gandhiji had transformed Indian nationalism; it was no longer a movement of professionals and intellectuals; now, hundreds of thousands of peasants, workers and artisans also participated in the movement. 

• Relatable Appearance: Many of them venerated Gandhiji, referring to him as their  “Mahatma”. 
• Appearance: They appreciated the fact that he dressed like them –  dhoti or loincloth, lived like them, and spoke their language. 
  • Belongingness: Unlike other leaders he did not stand apart from the common folk, but empathised and even identified with them. 
• Use of Charkha: Meanwhile, he spent part of each day working on the charkha (spinning wheel), and encouraged other nationalists to do likewise. 
  • Turning Wheel: The act of spinning allowed him to break the boundaries that prevailed within the traditional caste system, between mental labour and manual labour. 
• Popular Perception: In a fascinating study, the historian Shahid Amin has traced the image of Mahatma Gandhi among the peasants of eastern Uttar Pradesh,  as conveyed by reports and rumours in the local press. 
• Enthusiastic Crowd: When he travelled through the region in February 1921, Gandhiji was received by adoring crowds everywhere.  
• Wherever Gandhiji went, rumours spread of his miraculous powers. 

• Gandhiji: Saviour of the Peasants: Known variously as “Gandhi baba”, “Gandhi Maharaj”, or simply as “Mahatma”, Gandhiji appeared to the Indian peasant as a saviour, who would rescue them from high taxes and oppressive officials and restore dignity and autonomy to their lives. 
• Gandhi’s Identity and Profession: Mahatma Gandhi was by caste a merchant, and by profession a lawyer.
• Simplistic Appearance: But his simple lifestyle and love of working with his hands allowed him to empathise more fully with the labouring poor and for them, in turn, to empathise with him. 
• Importance to Organisation: While Mahatma Gandhi’s mass appeal was undoubtedly genuine, his success in broadening the basis of nationalism was based on careful organisation. 
  • Praja Mandals: New branches of the Congress were set up in various parts of India and a series of “Praja Mandals” were established to promote the nationalist creed in the princely states. 
• Importance to the Mother Tongue: Gandhiji encouraged the communication of the nationalist message in the mother tongue. 

Increasing Followers of Gandhi Ji

Gandhian Nationalism: While Mahatma Gandhi’s own role was vital, the growth of what we might call “Gandhian nationalism” also depended to a very substantial extent on his followers. 

• Gandhiji’s Circle of Associates: Between 1917 and 1922, a group of highly talented Indians – Mahadev Desai, Vallabh Bhai Patel, J.B. Kripalani, Subhas Chandra Bose, Abul Kalam Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu, Govind Ballabh Pant and C. Rajagopalachari attached themselves to Gandhiji. 
• Diversity Among Gandhi’s Allies: These close associates of Gandhiji came from different regions as well as different religious traditions which in turn, inspired countless other Indians to join the Congress and work for it. 
• Promotion of Khadi: Mahatma Gandhi was released from prison in February 1924, and now chose to devote his attention to the promotion of home-spun cloth (khadi) and the abolition of untouchability. 

Gandhiji as a Socio-Economic Reformer

Gandhiji’s Vision: He believed that in order to be worthy of freedom, Indians had to get rid of social evils such as child marriage and untouchability. 

• Emphasis on Hindu-Muslim Harmony: Indians of one faith had also to cultivate a genuine tolerance for Indians of another – hence his emphasis on Hindu-Muslim harmony. 
• Promotion of Self-Reliance: Meanwhile, on the economic front Indians had to learn to become self-reliant – hence his stress on the significance of wearing khadi rather than mill-made cloth imported from overseas.
• Support from Business Community: Prosperous businessmen and industrialists were quick to recognise that, in a free India, the favors enjoyed by their British competitors would come to an end. 
• Open Support: Some of these entrepreneurs, such as G.D. Birla, supported the national movement openly. 

Conclusion

Mahatma Gandhi transformed India’s independence movement. His simple lifestyle, nonviolent resistance, and message of unity resonated with millions, from peasants to businessmen. Gandhi’s leadership and organisation broadened the movement’s base, making freedom a national aspiration.

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