What was the impact of Gandhi's arrival in Indian politics .

And Then Gandhi Came       - Jawaharlal Nehru.

India was in a difficult condition at the end of the First World. Repressive legislation was imposed by the British. People suffered from shame and anger because of strict laws, unemployment, hopelessness, poverty etc. Gandhi came into public life during this state of affairs. 

According to Nehru,  Gandhi's timely arrival served as a powerful current of fresh air that made Indians stretch ourselves and take deep breaths. He rose up from among the millions of Indian citizens,  speaking their language. He was like a beam of light that removed the darkness around the Indians. Gandhi gave a new shape and content to India's freedom movement. He wanted to remove poverty and exploitation of the people. He taught fearlessness and truth and fearless action for the welfare of the masses. India under the British rule had been in the grip of fear in all walks of life. Gandhi raised his voice against the grip of fear over Indian minds. He lifted the burden of fear off the minds of people. Along with this, Gandhi promoted truth. He effected a psychological change over the Indian masses. People did not become truthful overnight. But they looked upon him as a symbol of uncompromising truth. They felt ashamed about their degradation and submission. Truth for Gandhi was all what he felt and knew to be true.

Gandhi influenced the people of India in varying degrees. He changed the life of some people completely. Some were only partially influenced.

Gandhi's call for action was two-fold. He challenged and resisted foreign rule on one hand. He also fought against our own social evils. The objectives of the congress became not only freedom of India, but also peaceful action, national unity, solution of minority problems and raising of depressed classes.

Gandhi attacked the foundations which supported the British rule in India. These foundations were fear,  prestige, the co-operation of the people etc. Gandhi prompted people to give up titles given by the British. New standards and values were established.

When Gandhi  travelled  throughout the villages of India, he realized that the real India lives in its villages. Gandhi shook the peasant in the villages up into action. He believed that villages ought to be self-sufficient. For this, agricultural prosperity should be ensured. Each village should have self-sustenance in food.

Gandhi dreamt of an India in which even the poorest had a sense of belonging. India should be a classless country with communal harmony, equality of women, prohibition etc. He believed that Indian culture was a mixture of all cultures and wanted to assimilate the best in all of them.

Gandhi attracted the masses like a magnet. He effected a psychological revolution on all people -both his followers and his opponents.

 

Gandhi possessed several amazing qualities. He was full of self-confidence, which provided him with an unusual kind of power. He stood for equality and freedom for each individual. Above all, he possessed a charisma that attracted the masses.

Thus, Nehru makes a detailed assessment of the impact of Gandhi's arrival in Indian politics through this extract.