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294 T HEMES IN NDIAN H ISTORY – P ART III Source 2 (contd) other politicians talked down to them, Gandhiji appeared not just to look like them, but to There were rumours understand them and relate to their lives. that those who opposed While Mahatma Gandhi’s mass appeal was Mahatma Gandhi invariably undoubtedly genuine – and in the context of Indian met with some tragedy. 1. A gentleman from politics, without precedent – it must also be stressed that his success in broadening the basis of nationalism Gorakhpur city questioned was based on careful organisation. New branches of the need to ply the charkha. the Congress were set up in various parts of India. His house caught fire. A series of “Praja Mandals” were established to promote 2. In April 1921 some the nationalist creed in the princely states. Gandhiji people were gambling in a encouraged the communication of the nationalist village of Uttar Pradesh. Someone told them to stop. message in the mother tongue, rather than in the Only one from amongst the language of the rulers, English. Thus the provincial group refused to stop and committees of the Congress were based on linguistic regions, rather than on the artificial boundaries of abused Gandhiji. The next day his goat was bitten by British India. In these different ways nationalism was four of his own dogs. taken to the farthest corners of the country and 3. In a village in Gorakhpur, embraced by social groups previously untouched by it. the peasants resolved to give By now, among the supporters of the Congress up drinking liquor. One were some very prosperous businessmen and person did not keep his industrialists. Indian entrepreneurs were quick to promise. As soon as he recognise that, in a free India, the favours enjoyed started for the liquor shop by their British competitors would come to an end. brickbats started to rain in hiSome of these entrepreneurs, such as G.D. Birla, path. When he spoke the supported the national movement openly; others did name of Gandhiji the brick- bats stopped flying. so tacitly. Thus, among Gandhiji’s admirers were both poor peasants and rich industrialists, although FROM SHAHID AMIN, “GANDHI AS the reasons why peasants followed Gandhiji were M AHATMA”, UBALTERNSTUDIESIII, somewhat different from, and perhaps opposed to, O XFORU NIVERSIPRES, DELH. the reasons of the industrialists. While Mahatma Gandhi’s own role was vital, the growth of what we might call “Gandhian nationalism” You have read about also depended to a very substantial extent on his rumours in Chapter 10 and followers. Between 1917 and 1922, a group of highly seen that the circulation of talented Indians attached themselves to Gandhiji. rumours tells us about the They included Mahadev Desai, Vallabh Bhai Patel, structure of the belief of a J.B. Kripalani, Subhas Chandra Bose, Abul Kalam time: they tell us about the Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu, Govind mind of the people who Ballabh Pant and C. Rajagopalachari. Notably, these believe in the rumours and the circumstances that close associates of Gandhiji came from different regions as well as different religious traditions. In make this belief possible. turn, they inspired countless other Indians to join What do you think these the Congress and work for it. rumours about Gandhiji reflect? 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 Reprint 2026-27