‘‘Many scholars have written of the months after Independence as being Gandhiji’s finest hour.’’ Analyse the statement.

OR

Analyses the significance of the ‘Salt Satyagraha’ in the Indian National Movement.

Many scholars have written of the months after Independence as being

Gandhi's finest hour. Mahatma Gandhi was one of the major force in gaining Independence of India and was known by ‘Father of nation’, in the country. After bringing back peace in Bengal, Gandhiji shifted to Delhi to look after the riots happening between Hindus/Sikhs and Muslims in the area of Punjab. While travelling there, many refugees blocked him saying he did not speak much about the atrocities faced by the Hindus/Sikhs in Punjab. He was concerned about the well being of the minority in the Punjab area of Pakistan. Despite being two divided nation, he wanted peace and brotherhood to flourish among the two nations. On 20^th January’ 1948 there was an attempt on Gandhi’s life. But he still kept on working for ensuring equality of people belonging from different faiths and social class. But on the evening of 30^th January’1948 a young man known as Nathuram Godse, shot Gandhi, as he believed that Gandhiji was supporting Muslims more than the Hindus and Sikhs. People all over the country and National leaders mourned for him. Many influential leaders and people like Albert Einstein, George Washington sent their prayers and even the Time magazine who once criticized Gandhi for his size and ideals compared his death to Abraham Lincoln.

OR

The British had a monopoly over the production of salt and production salt by anyone even for domestic purposes was made punishable by law. The British sold these salt by imposing high taxes on it, which means it was sold at a value that was ten-fold of it’s actual value. Gandhiji saw it as a an symbol of oppression of people. On 1930, he started Salt Satyagraha, where he marched for three weeks from his Ashram in Sabarmati to the coast of Dandi. While traveling to Dandi, he passed many villages where he urged people to unite and fight for independence. The British wasn’t much interested in this march however, parallel marches were being organized in different parts of the country. On March’1930 Gandhi became a criminal in the eyes of law as he made a fist of salt. This became a one of the major movements in uniting people to fight against Independence.