FREE ESSAY ON GANDHI

GANDHI

Mohunduras Ghandi: His Vital Role in India's Independence Mohunduras Ghandi was a man that
the world thought could never exist. He believed strongly in all things that were good,
and to him, there were no two ways about it. Leading the Indian people spiritually and
morally, he inspired them to fight for Home Rule in which they achieved. He gave them
courage to fight against Britain, and to work along side of the Muslims. The Congress,
supported by Gandhi, and the Muslim League were opposites but Gandhi insisted that they
work along side each other. He tried, and to an extent they did, but the end result was
an independent Pakistan for the Muslim League, and an independent India for the Congress.
Mohunduras Gandhi was the striving force behind India to become an independent country.
In 1945, a change in the British government occurred. The Labour Party took office in
England having a clear majority over the other parties. This meant that dealing with
India now could be a priority but it was difficult to convince the Indian Congress
Leaders that Britain actually wanted to give over control to the Indians. A lot of
questions remained such as why the change now? Also, since Britain was just starting to
recover from World War II, would this issue just be pushed aside until their own affairs
are looked after? Ghandi was hopeful yet a bit sceptical.(Attenborough)
Those of us who had been hammering on the doors of the India Office for years past had an
impression of a great change of attitude. Up to 1945, she had felt that the attitude of
official Britain was: 'of course, we are ready to bring the Congress leaders(or more
likely they would say: 'The Hindu leaders, including the Congress and your friends Ghandi
and Nehru') into full partnership anytime; but you see what happens. They can not agree
with the Muslims. As long as that goes on, we are bound to continue our rule.' And in
unofficial conversation, what they seemed to be saying was: 'There will never be
agreement so long as we can foresee. Full self-government cannot be expected for another
twenty years or more. The present congress leaders are an impossible lot in any case. We
don't believe they represent much except as trouble makers. It is far better for the
millions of India that British rule should continue, for self-government could only bring
conflict and inefficiency and mass starvation. So please stop your starry-eyed and
foolish idealism about their capacity to govern themselves.'(Alexander 126)
In February 1946, it was announced that three Cabinet members of Britain's three major
parties would soon be leaving to go to India to negotiate a settlement. They wanted to
view such things like how India was close up after the war and the demands of India's
parties. Reginald Sorensen was one of the members of the delegation. For years, Sorensen
was the one member in the House of Commons who would plead the Indian Congress view in
Parliament. The members of the House of Commons found his views to be very extreme. These
members of the delegation appeared to be quite friendly towards the Indians and their
hopes. They were just as 
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good to Jinnah as they were to Ghandi. Their trip helped reassure some but a lot of the
Indian nationalists were still much too sceptical to be so easily persuaded.(Alexander
126)
On March 15, 1946, Prime Minister Attlee said
India must choose what will be her future constitution. I hope that the Indian people may
elect to remain within the British Commonwealth.... But if she does so elect it must be
by her own free will.... If, on the other hand, she elects for independence, in our view
she has a right to do so.... We are very mindful of the rights of the minorities, and
minorities should be able to live free from fear. On the other hand, we cannot allow a
minority to place a veto in the advance of the majority.(Alexander 128)
Yet people were still sceptical. It sounded better than what Britain usually says but
they were going to wait and be convinced when the members of the Cabinet arrived and on
March 24, 1946 they did. Lord Pethick-Lawrence(the Secretary State for India), Sir
Stafford Cripps and A.V. Alexander arrived in India. The trip was expected to only last a
month but instead, they stayed for three. They worked very hard, even keeping busy
through India's very hot months. Cripps suffered a breakdown which resulted in a week of
regrouping but then they persevered stayed to finish their work, proving that they were
serious this time.
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