Question

Describe the conditions observed by Gandhiji in India after returning from Africa.

Answer 1

When Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915, he discovered a country that had changed significantly since his absence in 1893:

1. Despite being under British colonial rule, India has become more politically active.
2. The Indian National Congress had branches in the majority of the country's main cities and towns.
3. The Swadeshi Movement of 1905–07 increased the Congress's influence in the middle classes.
4. Prominent nationalist leaders included Bal Gangadhar Tilak of Maharashtra, Bipin Chandra Pal of Bengal, and Lala Lajpat Rai of Punjab. Despite their geographically different origins, these commanders, collectively known as "Lal, Bal, and Pal," represented the countrywide nature of their battle.
5. While some leaders campaigned for forceful opposition to colonial control, "Moderates" preferred a more cautious and persuasive approach.