The British Invasion
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/3/6/25368254/3925582.jpg?336)
From the start the British were just traders with India, they did not control any land of India. Then when the French and others threatened the British in trading with India, British thought they might as well take over India and prevent the other countries from getting India first. So they attacked them and had many victories, Britain got control over many lands in India then more British came over to India once they found out how much money there was to be had and the British started taking over more and more land. Eventually the British took over all of India, which also included Pakistan and Bangladesh back then as they were a part of India.
At the time,in India, the Mughal Empire (People who had control over India) lacked strong leaders, unity, lack of good military and lack of knowledge so when the British attacked, India would already be weak.
After the British had completely took over India in 1858, everything had changed rapidly. British beliefs and traditions soon spread in India, many Indians worried that Christianity was going to take over Hinduand Muslim Religion. New laws and rules emerged that made it hard for Indians to live in India.
At the time,in India, the Mughal Empire (People who had control over India) lacked strong leaders, unity, lack of good military and lack of knowledge so when the British attacked, India would already be weak.
After the British had completely took over India in 1858, everything had changed rapidly. British beliefs and traditions soon spread in India, many Indians worried that Christianity was going to take over Hinduand Muslim Religion. New laws and rules emerged that made it hard for Indians to live in India.
Racial Discrimination towards the Indians
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/3/6/25368254/999743_orig.jpg)
India suffered brutal racial discrimination, where the taxes were overwhelmingly high and the poor education and hospitality. Racial discrimination was found everywhere in India. The British Empire was despised strongly and India wanted independence desperately.
After the failed attempt of starting his own practice law, Gandhi move to South Africa to become an Indian Law Firm. In South Africa, Gandhi did not realize that racial discrimination against people of color was part of daily life in South Africa. For example, an event that Gandhi experienced happened after he booked first-class passage on a train to Pretoria; A white man declined Gandhi to be sat in first class seats since he was black, he demanded Gandhi to be seated in third-class. Of course, Gandhi refused. Then shockingly at the train's first stop the conductor physically and menacingly kicked Gandhi off the train. This humiliated Gandhi tremendously. After the incident Gandhi planned thoroughly throughout the night on how to cure such injustice.
Indians in South Africa were forced to be fingerprinted and scanned. The law even allowed white police officers to require Indian women to remove their clothes - so the police could make a note of body markings on registration forms. At first Gandhi considered himself to be a loyal British Empire member but when the racial discrimination was this serious, Gandhi changed his mind.
Human Rights Laws broken by the British:
Freedom from discrimination:
You have all these human rights no matter what your race, skin colour, sex, language, religion, opinions, family background, social or economic status, birth or nationality. (Were not welcomed onto the first class seats because of his skin colour)
Freedom from torture and degrading treatment:
Nobody has the right to torture, harm or humiliate you. (Physically thrown out of the train for no good reason)
Right to equality:
You are born free and equal in rights to every other human being. You have the ability to think and to tell right from wrong. You should treat others with friendship. (Discrimination and unfriendliness from the white person)
Right to a nationality and the freedom to change it:
You have the right to belong to a country and have a nationality.
Actions took
Believing that Racial Discrimination has gone too far, Gandhi created communities of people from different races and religions. He wanted to become a unifying force in the country. In 1913, when Hindu and Muslim marriages in South Africa were declared illegal, Gandhi came up with an idea to change this nonsense. He encouraged Indian women, who until then had served their families in traditional roles, to revolt in public. Gandhi also opposed unfair taxes put on Indian workers and he wanted to get Indians their voting rights. And in 1907 he began a campaign against the laws that made Indians register if they wanted to live in South Africa. 3,000 Indians burnt their registration cards. Even though racism was still high in South Africa, Gandhi stayed there for more than 20 years opposing racial discrimination.
In 1915 Gandhi returned to India to start his campaign against the British. He wanted India to have it's independence and surely did not India to be controlled by other people. When he got back to India, his kind work has already been noticed by many Indian people. He was praised for his good efforts and Gandhi quickly became a leader within the Indian National Congress, a growing political party supporting independence. His party and him traveled around India discovering famine within the community, he got volunteers to clean up areas of poverty and built new school and hospitals for the people. Gandhi encouraged Indians to boycott British goods and buy Indian goods instead. This helped to re-energize local economies in India and it also affected the British by undermining their economy in the country.
In 1915 Gandhi returned to India to start his campaign against the British. He wanted India to have it's independence and surely did not India to be controlled by other people. When he got back to India, his kind work has already been noticed by many Indian people. He was praised for his good efforts and Gandhi quickly became a leader within the Indian National Congress, a growing political party supporting independence. His party and him traveled around India discovering famine within the community, he got volunteers to clean up areas of poverty and built new school and hospitals for the people. Gandhi encouraged Indians to boycott British goods and buy Indian goods instead. This helped to re-energize local economies in India and it also affected the British by undermining their economy in the country.
Salt March
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/3/6/25368254/1409823_orig.jpg)
In 1930 Gandhi and his people (people in his campaign) joined in a Salt March to protest the British Government's Salt Acts. Britain’s Salt Acts prevented Indians from collecting or selling salt which was a staple in the Indian diet. This forced the Indians to buy salt off the Britains. Heavy salt tax was also added. Gandhi declared resistance to British salt policies, his new campaign was “satyagraha,” meaning mass civil disobedience.
The Salt march started on 12th March 1930 in a religious retreat, near Ahmedabad where he grouped a dozen of people and set off the 240 miles journey to the coastal town of Dandi on the Arabian Sea. When they had got to the sea, they would defy the Britains by making salt out of saltwater. They would pray each morning then collect salt again, along the way of their journey, thousands of Indians joined them. Near the end of the march, there were millions of people in the march.
The Salt march started on 12th March 1930 in a religious retreat, near Ahmedabad where he grouped a dozen of people and set off the 240 miles journey to the coastal town of Dandi on the Arabian Sea. When they had got to the sea, they would defy the Britains by making salt out of saltwater. They would pray each morning then collect salt again, along the way of their journey, thousands of Indians joined them. Near the end of the march, there were millions of people in the march.
Consequences
Obviously the Salt March did not get unnoticed by the British Authorities. 60,000 people were arrested including Gandhi himself on May 5 because of law breaking (Collecting salt). Although the leader of the pack was arrested, the march continued for the rest of the people. The new leader of the march was a poet called Sarojini Naidu, he led 2,500 marchers on the Dharasana Salt Works, some 150 miles north of Bombay. But unfortunately, they were discovered and were beaten viciously by the British Police.
Gandhi was later released from prison in January 1931.
Gandhi was not only imprisoned once but many times for leading protests, while in prison he would often fast (not eat) while he was in prison. The British government would eventually have to release him because the Indian people had grown to love Gandhi. The British were scared what would happen if they let him die, additionally, if he died in prison because of hunger he would make international headlines and embarrass the British greatly at a time when Britain was condemning dictators in Europe.
Gandhi was later released from prison in January 1931.
Gandhi was not only imprisoned once but many times for leading protests, while in prison he would often fast (not eat) while he was in prison. The British government would eventually have to release him because the Indian people had grown to love Gandhi. The British were scared what would happen if they let him die, additionally, if he died in prison because of hunger he would make international headlines and embarrass the British greatly at a time when Britain was condemning dictators in Europe.
Independence
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/3/6/25368254/2051219_orig.jpg)
In 1947, Britain gave up on India and gave them their independence.
For better or worse Britain after the WW2 was in no position to fight to keep control of India and political opinion at the time favoured Indian independence. They realised that It is better sometimes to grant Independence than to fight a war.
Gandhi's non-violent movement of Civil Disobedience did not get unnoticed. Millions of people around the world and especially India was inspired by Gandhi's strong willingness and courage. If it was not for him, a big change would not have been made.
Like Gandhi once said:
"Britain cannot rule a nation of 500 million, if the 500 million do not want to be ruled".
For better or worse Britain after the WW2 was in no position to fight to keep control of India and political opinion at the time favoured Indian independence. They realised that It is better sometimes to grant Independence than to fight a war.
Gandhi's non-violent movement of Civil Disobedience did not get unnoticed. Millions of people around the world and especially India was inspired by Gandhi's strong willingness and courage. If it was not for him, a big change would not have been made.
Like Gandhi once said:
"Britain cannot rule a nation of 500 million, if the 500 million do not want to be ruled".
Why Gandhi deserves the Human Rights Hero Title
I believe Gandhi is a hero because he led not thousands but millions of people to march with him to attempt to gain their independence, he fought for what he believed in with strength and courage and succeeded at the end. He did not give up hope on his country because he truly believed that they will gain their freedom from the British. He did many good things like build hospitals, schools for his people. He managed to overthrow the most powerful government of his time without resorting to violence. He should be remembered as a man of peace.