List of fasts undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi or The Father of the Nation in India, undertook 17 fasts during India's freedom movement. His longest fasts lasted 21 days. Fasting was a weapon used by Gandhi as part of his philosophy of Ahimsa or Non Violence.[1]
Fasts
| Number | Date | Duration | Place | Reason and demands | Reaction to fast | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1913 (Nov 10-16) | 7 days | Phoenix, South Africa | First penitential fast[2] | ||
| 2 | 1914 (April) | 14 days | Second penitential fast[2] | |||
| 3 | 1918 (February) | 3 days | Ahmdabad | In the interest of striking mill workers in Ahmedabad | First fast in India | Mill workers agreed to arbitration[3] |
| 4 | 1919 (Apr 14-16) | 3 days | First anti-violence fast: against the attempted derail of a train at Nadiad[2] | |||
| 5 | 1921 (Nov 19-22) | 4 days | Second anti-violence fast: against the anarchists' activities on the occasion of the Prince of Wales arrival[2] | |||
| 6 | 1922 (Feb 2-7) | 5 days | Bardoli | Third anti-violence fast: for atonement for violence done in Chauri Chaura | ||
| 7 | 1924 (Sep 18-Oct 8) | 21 days | Delhi | First Hindu-Muslim unity fast | Interest of Hindu - Muslim unity after the first non-cooperation movement | Ended fast while listening to the Quran and Gita being read.[4] |
| 8 | 1925 (Nov 24-30) | 7 days | Third penitential fast[2] | |||
| 9 | 1932 (Sep 20-26) | 6 days | Poona | First anti-untouchability fast: Communal Award of separate electorates and separate reservation of seats for depressed classes | Fast undertaken at Yerwada Central Jail. When released a few days later, Gandhi continued his fast at a private house in Poona, with the result that all national leaders assembled in Pune. | British Government withdrew the clauses in the Communal Award against which Gandhi was protesting[4] |
| 10 | 1932 (Dec 3) | 1 day | Second anti-untouchability fast: sympathetic to Appasaheb Patwardhan[2] | |||
| 11 | 1933 (May 8-May 29) | 21 days | Third anti-untouchability fast: for the improvement of Harijans' condition[5] | |||
| 12 | 1933 (Aug 16-23) | 7 days | Fourth anti-untouchability fast: to obtain privileges (while in prison) that would enable him to carry on his fight in behalf of the Harijans[5] | Released unconditionally from prison on 23 August 1933, for health reasons[6] | ||
| 13 | 1934 (Aug 7-14) | 7 days | Fourth anti-violence fast: against a violent young Congressman[2] | |||
| 14 | 1939 (March) | 3 days[7] | Rajkot | |||
| 15 | 1943 (Feb 12-Mar 4) | 21 days | Delhi | Stopping of communal riots.[8][9] | ||
| 16 | 1947 (Sep 1-4) | 4 days | Second Hindu-Muslim unity fast[2] | |||
| 17 | 1948 (Jan 12-18) | 6 days | Third Hindu-Muslim unity fast: restoration of communal peace | A large number of important politicians and leaders of communal bodies agreed to a joint plan for restoration of normal life in the city |
References
- ^ "National hunger strike?". Gulf Daily News. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|newspaper=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h O.P. Dhiman. Betrayal of Gandhi. ISBN 978-81-78-35-746-1.
- ^ Jack, Homer A. (2005). "Short Chronology of Gandhi's Life". Mahatma.com. Worldview.com. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ a b "The Previous Fasts". The Indian Express. 4 March 1943. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|newspaper=(help) - ^ a b "Mohandas K. Gandhi: The Indian Leader at Home and Abroad". New York Times. 31 January 1948. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- ^ Rajmohan Gandhi. Gandhi: The Man, His People, and the Empire. p. 361. ISBN 978-0-520-25570-8.
- ^ "Rajkot dispute settled - Gandhi breaks his fast". The Advocate. 8 March 1939.
- ^ "Anna a man of stamina, his longest fast lasted 12 days". Daily News and Analysis. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|newspaper=(help) - ^ "Gandhiji Breaks Fast". The Indian Express. 4 March 1943. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|newspaper=(help)
139 fast days total.