The Indian independence movement was spearheaded by
a man who was five foot three and weighed a mere 100 pounds. A man who showed
courage in the face of danger and looked death in the eyes multiple times. This
man was Mahatma Gandhi and he was the main reason India gained its independence
for Great Britain. In a time when India needed a leader to step up, Gandhi
stood straight up and fought for his people. The way Gandhi fought was much
different than many a man before him. He fought with peace. Gandhi’s fingerprints
were all over the movement for Indian independence, and this was made evident
through the Quit India civil disobedience movement. At the beginning of the Second World War, the
Indian National Congress Party demanded freedom of India after the war.[8]
The British did not agree to this proposal, but the Indian government still
demanded complete freedom.[9]
In response, the Indian people stopped following British law in an attempt to
gain independence. Gandhi was willing to risk his life by being the leader of
this revolution, and he was immediately thrown in jail. Gandhi implored the
people to keep the Quit India Movement as a peaceful, but in many locales, the
movement became violent. In response, Gandhi vowed to not eat until the
violence ended.[10]
Due to the respect that all Indians had for him, the violence quickly subsided.
The British action was very quick in their actions against the revolt. They
quickly arrested a myriad of people and punished anyone who was in opposition
of British rule.[11] At
the end of the Second World War, Britain was depleted, they realized the
strength India was gaining through revolutionary leaders like Gandhi, and
therefore, they set all political prisoners free that were being held in India.
On August 15th 1947, India won its freedom because of the little man
who was willing to put his life on the line.
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