Mahatma Gandhi’s struggle against colonial power during the national freedom struggle in the country has inspired millions over the years. Born on 2 October 1869, his birthday- Gandhi Jayanti is also celebrated as International Day of Non-Violence.
During his life, Gandhi fought against the British using ahimsa (non-violence), satyagraha (struggle for truth) and mass movements remained the ideal of protest in India and abroad. Post-independence Indian history and many leaders have continued to draw inspiration from Gandhi and have used non-violence and satyagraha as political tools for public causes.
Here are some political movements and leaders who have famously adopted Gandhi’s ideals during their movement:
Anna Hazare
In 2011, Anna Hazare emerged as the unexpected face of a passionate mass movement in India against accusing the UPA-II government of corruption. Gandhi’s idea of Satyagraha and mass movement was used by Anna Hazare, who considers himself a follower of Gandhi. The anti-corruption movement was widely popular in the country and led to the poor performance of the Congress government in the 2014 general elections.
Arvind Kejriwal
After the India Against Corruption Movement led by Anna Hazare, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the movement. Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party came into existence after disbanding the IAC movement and contesting the assembly elections in New Delhi. Since then the party has come to power thrice and is looking to widen its footprint in the neighboring states of Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa.
JP movement
Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly known as JP, launched a mass movement against Indira Gandhi’s government in 1974. A follower of Mahatma Gandhi and a firm believer in his beliefs of mass movement and non-violence, JP inspired an entire generation of youth to take part in it. Masses in satyagraha against corrupt governments in Gujarat and Bihar. Jailed during the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi, he later defeated the Congress party for the first time in 1977.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Gandhi’s ideas and satyagraha were not confined only within the borders of the country. His ideas greatly inspired the American Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King and his wife Coretta Scott King traveled to India in 1959 to study Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of nonviolent persuasion, to bring it back home in the civil rights struggle. Martin Luther not only used non-violent means in his work, but he also led a mass movement inspired by Gandhi’s ideals.
farmers’ protest
In 1917, Mahatma Gandhi launched a political protest in the Champaran village of Bihar against the British colonial authorities, who forced poor farmers to grow indigo used in dyeing. Gandhi had organized a non-violent protest on behalf of the farmers. What is being seen as a similar protest against government agriculture laws introduced in Punjab in August last year. Protests, Gandhi’s method of satyagraha and mass movement were used, and the protesting farmers blocked the borders of Delhi, calling for the repeal of agricultural laws. Most of the farmers in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh have been protesting for the last 10 months.
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