Mahatma Gandhi's impactful journey in Bombay: From lawyer to freedom fighter

While many historians often view Mahatma Gandhi as someone who primarily focused on rural India its important to understand that he spent a significant part of his life in Mumbai previously known as Bombay His journey in this city went through several phases from his early ambition as a lawyer to a successful legal practice and finally over three decades as a leader in Indias journey to independenceGandhis arrival in BombayIn 1891 a 21yearold Gandhi arrived in Bombay fresh from his legal training in London with dreams of establishing a legal career Bombay was a smaller city back then Gandhis start in his legal career however didnt go as planned It wasnt until he moved to South Africa in 1893 that he took on his first legal caseDespite his shaky start Gandhi diligently attended the Bombay High Court every day His commute from Girgaum to the court took around 45 minutes and once inside he struggled to grasp the complexities of the cases After six months he joined his brother in Porbandar for minor legal work before leaving for South Africa to work for a trading companyReturning to BombayTen years later Gandhi returned to Bombay after spending time in Calcutta By 1902 he was working at the offices of Payne Gilbert and Sayani and he rented a house in Charni Road Unfortunately his second son Manilal fell seriously ill with typhoid during their stay leading the family to move to a betterventilated bungalow in Santacruz Gandhi began taking the train to the city often walking to Bandra to catch a fast train to Churchgate By the end of 1902 he was called back to South AfricaA joyous return to BombayOn January 9 1915 a joyous crowd welcomed Gandhi and his wife Kasturba as they arrived at Apollo Bunder on the SS Arabia Gandhi expressed immense joy upon seeing Bombays coast The Bombay Chronicle reported a huge gathering and they had trouble reaching their car due to the numerous people who wanted to greet them with garlands Gandhi delivered his first speech the following day at Hira Baug hall in GirgaumAlso read Gandhi Gora and GodAfter returning to Bombay in 1915 Gandhi embarked on journeys across India to better understand the political and economic conditions of its people His experiences and interactions in Bombay profoundly influenced his strategies and approach during Indias fight for freedomWhy BombayOne might wonder why Gandhi chose Bombay as the epicentre for iconic movements like the NonCooperation Movement 1920 Khilafat Movement 1919 and Quit India Movement1942 instead of Delhi Indias new capital since 1911 The answer lies in Bombays unique characterBombays diversity and economic activityBombay was a bustling hub of commerce trade banking and manufacturing particularly in textile mills It attracted diverse communities from presentday Gujarat and Maharashtra including Parsis Hindu trading groups and Muslim traders who were essential to the citys economy These communities were among Gandhis strongest supportersThe citys multicultural environment fostered an open and cosmopolitan ethos During the NonCooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements women known as the Desh Sevikas took the lead in picketing liquor shops and vendors selling foreign clothGandhis choice of BombayGandhis choice of Bombay as the launching point for these movements can be attributed to the citys vibrant and diverse nature It provided fertile ground for his ideas of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience to take root drawing strength from the support of the citys multicultural population As we celebrate Gandhis 150th birth anniversary its crucial to acknowledge the pivotal role Bombay played in Indias quest for freedomSeveral historic venues in Bombay serve as reminders of Gandhis significant role in Indias struggle for independenceMani BhavanMani Bhavan located on Laburnum Road in Girgaum served as Mahatma Gandhis home and headquarters in Bombay from 1917 to 1934 This historic mansion played a crucial role in Gandhis activities and the Indian freedom struggleCentral gathering place Mani Bhavan was a central gathering place where Gandhi held meetings and discussions with a wide range of people including Congress leaders millworkers local traders and merchants who supported his cause for Indias independenceWatch Gandhi Jayanti 2023 Inside Mahatma Gandhirsquos home in Mumbai Mani BhavanSatyagraha movement In March 1919 Gandhi launched his first nationwide Satyagraha Movement against the Rowlatt Act from Mani Bhavan This act granted the British Indian government extensive powers to suppress political dissent target individuals suspected of sedition and control the pressBoycott of foreign cloth On July 31 1921 Gandhi issued a call for the boycott of foreign cloth from Mani Bhavan This move aimed to undermine British imperialism as British cloth had severely impacted Indias traditional handloom industries Many traders from Bombay supported this boycott and even picketed shops selling foreign clothSelfreliance and khadi Gandhi personally engaged in activities like carding raw cotton and spinning on the charkha a spinning wheel at Mani Bhavan This aligned with his philosophy of selfreliance and the promotion of Khadi handspun and handwoven clothAugust Kranti MaidanAugust kranti maidan located near Mani Bhavan holds historical significance as the site where the Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8 1942 This movement marked a crucial moment in Indias struggle for independenceQuit India Movement On August 8 1942 Mahatma Gandhi initiated the Quit India Movement from Gowalia Tank Maidan now known as August Kranti Maidan His call was Do or Die symbolising the final push to make the British leave India The movement aimed at demanding an end to British colonial rule and achieving complete freedom for IndiaFactors leading to the movement Several factors contributed to the launch of the Quit India Movement including dissatisfaction with the promises of the Sir Stafford Cripps Mission opposition to Indias involvement in the Second World War and the threat of a Japanese invasionKhilafat HouseKhilafat House located in Byculla is historically significant due to its association with the Khilafat Movement aimed at defending Islams holy places and the future of the Ottoman SultanGandhi wholeheartedly embraced the Khilafat Movement despite facing some opposition within the Indian National Congress He saw it as an opportunity to forge HinduMuslim unity and channel the collective anger and frustration arising from the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the British governments response to itIn 1920 Gandhi launched the First NonCooperation Movement which became a symbol of HinduMuslim unity This movement was a response to the Khilafat issue as well as other grievances against British rule It encouraged Indians to withhold their cooperation with British authorities through nonviolent meansIn 1919 when Gandhi was elected president of the first AllIndia Khilafat Conference he led the first IdeMilad procession from Chhotani House the Khilafat headquarters in the Masjid area to Haj House behind Crawford Market This tradition continues today even a century later with the annual procession starting at Khilafat House in BycullaGandhi left his mark in various public spaces across the city Some of these include Chowpatty Beach Azad Maidan cinema halls like Excelsior and Empire Congress Hall located in Congress House Lamington Road and Harijan colonies like Walpakhadi in Worli where he lived and worked alongside residents Additionally he briefly stayed at Rungta House a seafacing bungalow on Nepean Sea Road and Birla House which served as his headquarters during the GandhiJinnah talks of 1944