FREEDOM STRUGGLE - HOME RULE MOVEMENT - 1916 - 1917
HOME RULE MOVEMENT - (1916 - 1917) :
Madam Anne Besant suggested the idea "Home rule" for the first time in 1915 Bombay Session, presided over by Lord S.P. Sinha.
However. Tilak was the first to form "Home Rule League" in April, 1916. Madam Anne Besant started her "Home Rule League" in Madras in Oct, 1916. Tilak gave his historical statement, "Swaraj is my birthright " during the Home Rule Movement. Anne Besant was supported by George Arundale. Indulal Yagnik and B.P. Wadia. She started 2 journals -'New India' and 'Common Weal' for promoting the ideas of Home rule. The movement demanded self governance and native education. At the instance of Anne Besant national colleges and schools were founded, particularly at Madanapalli and she was instrumental for Varanasi Sanskrit Vidyapith in association with M.M. Malviya.
the movement attracted Md. Ali Jinnah and Motilal Nehru. The Sindhi Community entered freedom struggle for the 1st time with the Home Rule Movement. The movement ended with the 'August Declaration'. 1917 made by Viceroy Lord Chelmstord, promissing self - governance after World War - 1.
LUCKNOW PACT (1916):
In the Lucknow Session in 1916, presided over by A.C. Majumdar, the expelled extremists were welcomed to join back Congress. At the instance of Annu Besant Lucknow Pact was also signed by Congress and Muslim League. extending mutual support against the British. The Congress were represented by Rajendra Prasad and League by Jinnah.
In 1917, the Calcutta Sssion was presided over by Anne Besant, the first woman President of the Congress.
GANDHIAN ERA (1915 ONWARDS) :-
Gandhi left for S.Africa to plead for Abdullah & Co; effectively championed the cause of Indian indenture labour against the white racist regime thoroughly unfluenced by Leo Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God is within you. John Ruskin's 'Unto This Last' Edwin Arnold's 'Song Celestial' (Commentry on Bhagwad Gita) and French Philospher Thoreau's Civil Disobedience' Near Durban, Founded the 'Phoenix Ashram' (Tolstoy Ashram); Also founded the journals The Indian opinion and 'Hind Swaraj' in S.Africa.
In India in 1916, founded Sabarmati Ashram near Ahmedabad. In 1917, he started his first political camaign at Champaran in Bihar supponting the cause of indigo cultivators. He was invited to Champaran by Rajendra Prasad and was assisted by A.N. Sinha and Mahadev Desai.
In 1917, his 2nd campaign started at Kheda in Gujarat called Kheda Satyagraha against the hike in land revenue demand.
In 1918, Gandhi mediated between the workers and the management in the Aahedabad mill workers strike. With the 3 movements he emerged as the messaiah of the working classes.