India After WWI/ Ghandi

January 28, 2014

• Following WWI– India WANTS freedom

• 1919: England imposes stricter laws– No freedom of press

• 10,000 Indians protest– 379 die– 1100 wounded

Mohandas Ghandi• Unite people/ fight for change• From a middle class Hindu family• Lived in England/ studied law• 1891: moves to South Africa

– Learns NON-VIOLENT protest• Believes in:1. Hindu Non-violence/ respect for life2. Christian teachings of LOVE (even enemies)3. Civil disobedience: refuse to obey unjust laws

• Ghandi hopes: make world aware of British wrongdoing– Accept punishment/ no strike back

• Ghandi appeals to ALL Indians– Demands better treatment of untouchables– Reaches out to other religions (unite ALL Indians)

• Lives simply/ dress in white cotton cloth• Vegetarian• Fasted (no food)Salt March• 1930: British put a tax on salt

– India not allowed to make salt/ very $$$• Ghandi organizes a 200 mile march to sea to make salt• British arrested Ghandi & 50,000 others• Some British officers use VIOLENCE against protesters• British at home: do we want India anymore???

World War II• India does NOT want to fight for England (but does)• Agree to fight if they get their independence

– England says NOTrouble at HOME• Hindu/ Muslim Conflict• England LIKES India torn in religion conflict, BUT…• Talk about dividing India in half• Ghandi promotes everyone TOGETHER

– More power1942: England promises to grant independence after

WWII over1945: End of WWII• England is war-torn• Riots in India over religion/ Civil War possible

– No longer demand to keep India1947: England grants India independence• Partition India: divide it• Hindu population will live in INDIA• Muslim population will live in PAKISTAN

• Independence but still problems• Mass migration

– Hindus to India– Muslims to Pakistan

• Massive violence– 500,000 killed

• Ghandi refuses to celebrate India’s independence on August 15, 1947

• Ghandi reads prayers aloud from Bible, Koran, etc. (all religions)

January 1948: Ghandi assassinated• Hindu nationalist• Thinks that Ghandi is betraying Hindu

people by incorporating other religions