Individual Satyagraha

India got its independence in 1949 and 2021, and we celebrate 75 beautiful years of that independence. But, what about the real and extreme struggle that the freedom fighters and leaders of India did at that time to bring this day into our lives. Even the most miniature fights and movements contributed to tremendous results for the people. That is why making this massive country like India free from British rule became possible for all the leaders. 

One such movement was called the Individual Satyagraha that was started by Mahatma Gandhi, who eventually paved the way for India's final & complete independence from foreign rule. From the first individual satyagrahi to the late participating leader, almost all the freedom fighters took active participation in this movement and constructed many branches of independence for the country.  

What was Individual Satyagraha?

Individual Satyagraha was a movement that was started to offer the British a final opportunity to accept Congress rule in India. This movement took place in the year 1940 and was thought and implemented by Mahatma Gandhi. Many leaders and freedom fighters of that time participated in this movement and came in front of the British authorities with their demands & expectations. 

The British government was criticized but in a calm and non-violent manner. Also, all the leading members of Congress took part in this movement, which eventually made it a success. The repeated rejection of British plans and offers forced them to change their approach towards India and its citizens. This was the start of the great revolution of freedom of India from the British authorities. 

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Reasons that Led to the Launch of Individual Satyagraha

Following are some reasons that led to the launch of the individual satyagraha and provided a revolution in the history of India.

Achieving independence without embarrassing the British: 

This is one of the most prominent reasons for the launch of individual satyagraha. British rule in India was something through which they gained a reputation and good political impression worldwide. Gandhiji, along with the first and the second individual satyagrahi, wanted to make the British government accept their demands without disturbing that image. They didn't want to embarrass the British authorities in the political world and succeed in their demands. 

That is why Gandhi chose this way of revolting against the British government and getting their rights of rejecting any offer presented by the government back to the Indian government. 

To stop the Harassment of the Working Section of people:

The working section of India was harassed very brutally for providing more labour and yield to the British authorities. This needed immediate awakening, and the satyagraha paved its way through the same. It was much similar to revolting silently, and still, its impact was much more prevalent and long-lasting than even a major war. 

For the same reason, the arising of the satyagraha movement was a very rational and necessary decision taken by the expert leaders of India at that time. 

Showing Disapproval towards Double Autocracy and Nazism:

Double autocracy and Nazism were very popular when Gandhiji and other leaders took a stand for the people of India. The individual satyagraha movement was started so that both these brutal actions or policies halt immediately. With constant improvement in the financial status of the British company, the Indian situation was degrading with each passing day. Some action was immediately required, which is why all the leaders came together to start this satyagraha as a symbol of resistance to the brutal or cruel British policies against the people of India. 

Showing Resistance towards the British Policies:

British policies were ruthless & some immediate actions were required to stop these people from degrading the quality of life of the Indian people. Showing resistance towards the British policies became crucial, especially after the August offer that considered Indian people as trash and most unworthy. 

That is why taking some immediate decision against the British, and that too without picking any fight or war was very important in the views of the freedom fighters and leaders. All this came together to become the individual satyagraha movement that led India to get many rights that were previously denied to the people. 

All the above reasons have created a much greater revolution in the world, and all those people who had the fire of independence sparkling inside them and wanted a source to burst it out. People came one step closer to independence when individual satyagraha took place in India. 

Aims and Objectives of the Individual Satyagraha

Following are the objectives or aims of individual satyagraha that forced the British government to take some severe actions in favour of Indian citizens and made us come closer towards getting complete independence for themselves and their future generations-

• Protecting the Freedom of Speech of people:

Every person in the world has the right to speak their thoughts. Without the freedom to say what they feel, people get claustrophobic in the world and lose their belief in the system that exists in that particular country. 

The same started happening with the people of India, and this has to be stopped at some point in time. Otherwise, people would have lost their freedom of action and their freedom to express their thoughts and ideas. That is why Indian leaders such as Gandhiji came ahead with the solution of individual satyagraha to lead India towards something they fully deserved: their freedom of speech. 

• Avoiding the Forceful Employment of Indian people into the Wars:

War situations were very prominent in ancient times. But, the British authorities were so cruel that they forcefully recruited Indian soldiers to lead such wars, and their troops were kept behind for safety. This caused the loss of many Indian soldiers, and this had to be stopped by the Indian leaders themselves. That is why Gandhiji started the individual satyagraha movement and demanded that the Indian soldiers remain away from these war situations, especially not to get forcefully admitted to the British troops. 

• Achieve the Motives of Indian people without Declaring War against the British:

The British government was a significantly stronger group as compared to the freedom fighters of India. That is why fighting with them was not acceptable for the Indian people, both financially and politically. If any war between India and the British would have approached, then there were 100% chances of India losing it miserably. 

To prevent such a war situation from taking place, it became mandatory for the leaders of India like Gandhiji to claim something that would be against the government but without any violence taking place in their actions. This was when individual satyagraha paved its way. 

All the above objectives and aims of individual satyagraha led to a great freedom struggle that included many great leaders in it in the future. This satyagraha movement became huge when almost 70-80% of Indian citizens took part in it and thus brought great success to this movement for sure. 

The individual satyagraha movement took place with a tiny spark that became a great revolution in the future. With immediate effect, the British government made a lot of changes in their plans and their approach for the Indian citizens, which paved the way for much greater independence in the future.

Apart from Vinoba Bhave, even Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru took part in the movement and became the second individual satyagrahi for making India a better place for all the people living in it. Many people joined this movement and brought great success to it. Therefore, individual satyagraha created a huge and long-lasting impact on the existing conditions of India and brought a ray of hope for a better future in the eyes of every leader and freedom fighter for sure.