Notes on Gandhi, Jinnah, The Amritsar Massacre, and Civil Disobedience

Gandhi promoted nonviolent protesting, or civil disobedience to put an end to racial discrimination, abusive labor treatment and to increase India’s economic self – reliance. Gandhi wanted to unite India, and eventually achieve full independence.  In the first non – cooperation movement, Gandhi encouraged people to buy Indian goods, boycott British products, refuse to pay taxes and resign from the government. Gandhi ceased the movement when 22 policemen were killed. In 1922, Gandhi was sentenced to 6 years in prison, but was released after two.  Gandhi rebelled against Britain’s salt tax, and called for the British to “Quit India”. 

Mohammed Ali Jinnah was a politically powerful Muslim man. He became the president of Pakistan. Jinnah first pushed for a unified India. He brought all Indian Congress and the Muslim league together. Jinnah was then overshadowed by Gandhi’s efforts.

The Amritsar massacre was on the 13th of April 1919. Many people of all genders and ages gathered in the meeting point of Amritsar. The people were peacefully discussing the arrest of two Indian Nation Congress leaders. Despite the fact that these civilians were unarmed and not violent, Edward Dyer ordered his soldiers to shoot the people. Nearly 400 were killed and more than a thousand were severely injured.

Civil disobedience is the “active refusal to obey certain laws, demands and commands of a government, or of an occupying power, without resorting to physical violence”. Some examples of civil disobedience would be when Thoreau refused to pay taxes, or when Gandhi led the salt marches, and refused to pay the British salt tax. Rosa Parks became famous, as her civil disobedience led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Civil disobedience is an effective way to rebel against unjust laws.

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia