Gandhi's Legacy for Indian Politics After Independence.

¶ … Gandhi's personal popularity among the Indian peasantry from 1915-22?

Mahatma Gandhi rose to popularity in the Indian political space especially among the peasantry population. Various factors related to his early and late political life played some role in catapulting his popularity among the Indian peasantry. During that period, the peasants suffered massively from the ruling political regime. The Indian population was subjected to unfair treatment by the British colonial government. During this period, the peasants had one goal of eliminating the famous Tinkhathia system. The system represented the obligatory involvement the peasants where they would surrender part of their farm holdings and proceeds to the Britons without any proper form of proper compensation. Besides, they also sought to initiate an uprising that would end the exploitation by the British planters in the form of tax payments. Not only was their suffering limited to the exploitation by the British colonial government but also the peasant's quality of life was poor. The need to improve their situations was inevitable (Gandhi 662).

In 1916, a farmer from Champaran who was unable to handle the oppressions approached Gandhi. Gandhi promised Shukla to visit Champaran and provide a solution after he had seen the situation himself. Gandhi visited Champaran in 1917. Gandhi consulted lawyers who were willing to help him in relieving the peasant farmers from their oppression. It is during his visit at Champaran that his popularity grew among the Indian peasant farmers of Champaran peasants. Gandhi interacted with over 2000 villages at Champaran. His works spread everywhere among the Indian farmers. Gandhi's involvement in the activities of the peasant population was mainly centred on seeking of truths regarding the exploitations in Champaran region. Gandhi confronted officials like the Secretary of the Planters' Association known as Mr. Wilson. Although he hesitated responding to Gandhi's effort, Gandhi did not give up. He strongly proclaimed that he had the right to fight for the rights of the Indian people in whatever capacity he could. Gandhi popularity rose among the peasants because of his open confrontations techniques with officials of the plantations (Gandhi 707).

Gandhi's arrival in his hometown while seeking education marked the beginning of his popularity especially among the peasant populations who regarded him as a saviour in times of need. Gandhi's core objective was to come up with the most appropriate steps to help him eradicate the problems and situations that faced his people. During the given period, the peasants especially in the Bihar region faced huge exploitation from the British farmers in the form of indigo cultivation. The British government had taken control of the land and cultivation of sugar cane that was originally a possession of the Indians in the region. The British government ignored any previous pleas and legislation originating from the Indians. The government continued to favour the planters. In fact, the government established even more laws to exploit the peasants, which required the peasants to increase the portion of their plantations to benefit the government. As the situations of suffering increased among the population, the local leaders of the peasants had to seek ways to resolve their issues (Gandhi 671).

Gandhi was among the few learned and politically sensitive individuals in India at his time. Gandhi's existence as the only source of hope for the peasants raised his popularity among the peasants. The level of success that Gandhi had experienced while in South Africa acted as an inspiration to the peasants in India even in the midst of the difficult situations they faced at that moment. Gandhi is remembered for his success in campaigning for the rights of different peasant across India. The peaceful means by which he handled the situation of the peasants contributed greatly to his perceived popularity. Gandhi held the power, which was strategic in capturing the attention of the press. This would eventually propel his popularity and approval from the peasants (Gandhi 686).

The peasant textile workers at Ahmadabad remember Gandhi for his involvement in the arbitration process that saw them gain their rights. Gandhi particularly came in and removed all the forms of violent means of fighting for the rights of the farmers. The peasants in Kheda also recognised Gandhi for his participation in the Satyagraha where led the appeal of a national wide protection of the Barbarous Act. Gandhi increased his popularity among the peasants when he immediately called off the Syatgraha upon the breakout of violence. Gandhi's involvement in the civil disobedience of 1922 also raised his level of popularity among the peasants. The operation led to his imprisonment, which further mad him recognised by every member of the Indian peasant community (Gandhi 707).