On October 2, the entire nation is going to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. He leads India towards Independence from the British rule of over 250 years. His birth date is observed as the ‘International Day of Non-Violence’.

Mahatma Gandhi or Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 02, 1869 in coastal Gujarat. He was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist and political ethicist. 

Mahatma Gandhi along with other freedom fighters constrained the Britishers to leave India. 

Here you will get to know about the major movements and campaigns led by Mahatma Gandhi for India’s Independence.

1. Champaran Movement (1917)

The Champaran Movement in 1917 was the first Satyagraha movement inspired by Gandhi and a major revolt in the Indian Independence Movement. Farmers of Bihar were protesting against the farming of indigo with barely any payment for it. The farmers oppressed Mahatma Gandhi when he returned to India from Sout Africa in 1915. They wanted Mahatma Gandhi to use the same methods that he had used in South Africa to organize mass uprisings by people to protest against injustice.

Champaran Movement is the first popular movement which gave direction to India's youth and freedom fighters.

2. Kheda Movement (1918)

The Kheda Movement of 1918 was a major revolt in the Indian independence movement. The movement was started in the Kheda district of Gujarat by the Mahatma Gandhi during the period of the British Raj. People of Kheda were unable to pay the high taxes levied by the British due to crop failure and a plague epidemic.
Therefore, Mahatma Gandhi organised this movement to support the peasants of Kheda district.

It was the third Satyagraha movement led by Mahatma Gandhi after Champaran Satyagraha and Ahmedabad mill strike.

3. Khilafat Movement (1919)

The Khilafat Movement of 1919 is also known as the Indian Muslim movement (1919–24). The Ottoman Empire, having sided with the Central Powers during World War I, suffered a major military defeat. The Muslims were protesting for the safety of their Ottoman Caliphate. The Muslim Community launched the khilafat movement under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi to fight against the British government to restore the collapsing status of the Caliph in Turkey. 

The success of this movement made Mahatma Gandhi the national leader in no time. He became a notable spokesperson of the All India Muslim Conference. 

Also Read: Mahatma Gandhi: A Leader of South Africa Before India

4. Non-cooperation Movement (1920)

The Non-cooperation movement was launched on 1 August 1920 by Mahatma Gandhi. Following the Rowlatt Act of 17 March 1919, and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 13 April 1919, Indian National Congress withdrew its support for British reforms. Mahatma Gandhi launches the Non-cooperation movement with the aim of self-governance and obtaining full independence. His main motive was to establish non-cooperation, non-violence and made this non-violent movement as his weapons against Britishers.

Through Non-cooperation movement Mahatma Gandhi urged the protestors to boycott Britisher's goods and services and wearing Khadi. Since then the movement became the motto of the Indian freedom movement.

5. Salt Satyagraha Movement – Dandi march (1930)

The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagraha, Dandi Satyagraha began with Dandi march in the year 1930. Dandi march was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience in colonial India led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi started this march with 80 of his trusted volunteers. Walking ten miles a day for 24 days, the march spanned over 240 miles, from Sabarmati Ashram, 240 miles (384 km) to Dandi formerly known as Navsari. 

Many people joined them along the way. After reaching Dandi, Gandhi and his followers violated the salt laws by making salt from the salted seawater. 

6. Quit India Movement (1942)

The Quit India Movement or the August Movement was launched at the Bombay session of the All-India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on 8 August 1942, during World War II, demanding an end to British Rule of India. Gandhi made a call to 'Do or Die' in his Quit India speech delivered in Bombay session of the All-India Congress. As a consequence, the entire leadership of the Indian National Congress was imprisoned by the British officials without trial. 

Soon British officials realized that their days of the rule in India were over. By the end of World War II, they made clear indications of handing over the powers to India.

Also Read: Lal Bahadur Shastri: All the Interesting Facts You Need to Know on His 115th Birth Anniversary