Q.) Discuss why Gandhian philosophy and the political program had a wide popular appeal. Discuss.

Ans– Nationalist politics before the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi was participated only by a limited group of Western-educated and trained professionals. We talk about Gandhian philosophy. They belonged to certain specific caste and communities, certain language speaking and economic groups, Living primarily in the presidency towns.

The arrival of Gandhiji in 1915 and his entry into the Indian National Movement was a decisive turn towards the broad-based popular struggle. I had a clear vision of the pluralist nature of Indian society and for the first time, his movements included the masses. the operation of the Gandhian movement and his mode ways of protest against colonial government added to the hearts and minds of common people living even in far areas.

Reasons for acceptance of Gandhian Philosophy and political program–

1. Demonstrated results in Africa. – Gandhiji by the use of Satyagraha and ahimsa as tools was able to secure major demands relating to a poll tax, Registration certificates, etc. from the British government. Tolstoy’s form illustrated the peacetime utility of the ashram in helping the masses through constructive work and preparing them for popular struggles.
2. Early success in India. – Through Champaran Satyagraha, Ahmedabad mill strike and Kheda Satyagraha stated the utility of Satyagraha and ahimsa in the struggle.
3. Gandhi Ji’s Appeal headed maximum outreach because it demonstrated becomes for struggle– Satyagraha and ahimsa could be used by every section of society, especially the masses. These methods like petitioning constitutional struggle were not possible to be followed by the masses.
4. Belief in masses. – used to say India lives in villages and it is only through masses that freedom can be achieved. the early Nationalist leaders did not involve the masses on a large scale in the freedom struggle.
5. Identification with masses. – develop a sense of belongingness with the masses. he followed the philosophy of “practice what you preach”. enunciated his clothes and 4 others as the millions of poor workers wearing.
6. Secular leadership – his every program and strategy were secular and operated by members of all religions. for example, it supported the Khilafat movement, Akali movement Temple entry movement, etc.
7. Social issues are included in political programs. – Its political program of Gandhi included upliftment and poverty. He gave the philosophy of Sarvodaya and Antodaya.
8. This time constructive work. – promotion of khadi helped Indian producers. establishment of local schools provided alternatives to students who left British schools for participating in struggles. Ashrams provided a way to help those who participated in the struggle and build the momentum of public support.
9. Effective use of newspapers and journals. – Gandhi Ji popularized his philosophy through narojivan and Harijan. the use of local dialect helps in spreading his message to a large number of people.
10. He supported local issues like the demand of linguistic provinces, Viakom Satyagraha, Malabar Muslim protest, etc. which made him a true leader of the masses.

Gandhi was without a doubt the undisputed head of millions of opportunity cherishing Indians. He stepped like an unmatched monster changing the opportunity development to a wide-based mass development through his strategy of
peacefulness based on non-collaboration and common insubordination development, and at last, his trademark ‘Sink or swim’ propelled the Quit India development.

Gandhiji’s leadership in fused coherence in the isolated mass movements across the country and unified them. he was widely respected and followed because he provided the masses with a simple philosophy and simple tools. who was earlier confused with diverse pictorial ideologies i.e., Moderates, extremists, revolutionaries? He not only unified different factories but lead and focused on constructive serial programs. his ways and means to achieve both were simple and hence found wide appeal among the masses.

Gandhi Ji’s desire to return India to its customary and country roots, with help from many chiefs of industry, his obligation to concordance between the Hindus and the Muslims while focusing on Hinduism as an unmistakable power, and his expectations, through Satyagraha, of controlling the savagery which lies simply under the delicate hull of request in Indian culture, all recommend that Gandhi’s commitment has been as questionable as India’s checkered past and its unsure future.