Chronology of Events | Chronology of Mahatma Gandhi

Year	Month	Date	Event
1869	October	2	Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi born of a Bania (Vaishya or trading caste) family at Porbunder, Kathiawar, the youngest of the three sons of Karamchand alias Kaba Gandhi, Prime Minister successively in Porbunder, Rajkot and Vankaner States, and his fourth wife Putlibai
1876			Goes to Rajkot with parents; attends primary school there till twelfth year; is betrothed to Kasturbai, daughter of Gokuldas Makanji, merchant.
1881			Enters High School at Rajkot
1883			Marries Kasturbai
1884-85			Takes to meat-eating in secret, but abandons habit after about a year to avoid deceiving his parents. Father dies, aged 63.
1887			Passes Matriculation examination; joins Samaldas College at Bhavnagar (Kathiawar), but gives up studies at close of first term.
1888	September	4	Sails for England.
	October	28	Reaches London. Lives on vegetarian diet. Takes lessons in dancing and music for a short time, thinking they are necessary parts of a gentleman’s equipment.
1889			Reads books on simple living and decides to reduce expenses by half; studies religious literature; reads Gita for first time and is deeply impressed
1890			Cultivates contacts with vegetarian movement; for short while conducts vegetarian club.
	June		Passes London Matric.
	September		Joins Vegetarian Society.
1891	June	10	Called to the Bar.
		12	Sails for India.
	July		Reaches Bombay.
	November		Applies for admission to Bombay High Court.
1892			Struggles with legal practice at Rajkot and Bombay; later settles down at former place as legal draftman.
1893	April		Leaves for South Africa, being engaged by a Muslim firm for legal work.
	May-June		Experiences colour bar in various forms; decides to remain and fight race prejudice.
1894	August	22	Founds Natal Indian Congress.
	September		Enrolled as Advocate of Supreme Court of Natal, being first Indian to be so enrolled. Studies religious literature including the Bible, he Koran and Tolstoy’s The Kingdom of God is Within You.
1895			Gets more committed to South African Indian cause. Issues The Indian Franchise: An Appeal to Every Briton in South Africa.
1896	July		Returns to India and starts agitation on behalf of South African Indians.
	August	14	Publishes The Green Pamphlet at Rajkot. Tours Bombay, Madras, Poona and Calcutta educating Indians in regard to grievances of South African Indians.
	November	30	Sails for South Africa with wife and children.
1897	January	13	Mobbed on landing at Durban by crowd excited by reports of his speeches in India on conditions of indentured Indian labour in South Africa.
		20	Declines to prosecute assailants.
	April	6	Submits long memorial to Chamberlain, Secretary of State for Colonies, regarding landing incidents, background. Carries on programme of petitioning local and Imperial authorities, as well as of communicating with British and Indian public men regarding discriminatory laws.
1898-99			Represents to Indian National Congress, Colonial and Imperial authorities, against Locations and restrictions on Indians’ trading rights.
1899			Raises Indian Ambulance Corps in Boer War, which goes into action and is mentioned in dispatches; awarded war medal.
1900			Sends Dadabhai Naoroji draft resolution on South African Indian problem for Congress session.
1901	October	18	Sails for India.
	December	14	Reaches Rajkot via Porbunder.
		27	Moves resolution on South Africa at Congress.
1902	Jan28-Feb	1	Visits Rangoon. Stays for a month with Gokhale at Calcutta. Returns to Rajkot, settees down to practise.
	July		Shifts to and sets up practice at Bombay.
	November		Is called to South Africa to champion Indians’ cause against anti-Asiatic legislation in Transvaal.
	December		Arrives in Durban: leads delegation to Chamberlain.
1903			Enrolled as Attorney of Supreme Court of Transvaal; founds Transvaal British Indian Association. Sends weekly statements regarding situation to Dadabhai Naoroji.
	June		Indian Opinion commences publication.
1904			Reads Ruskin’s Unto This Last : founds Phoenix Settlement near Durban (Natal); organizes hospital during outbreak of plague in Johannesburg; writes series of articles in Gujarati on dietetics which are later translated into English and published under the title Guide to Health.
1905			Opposes Bengal Partition, supports boycott of British goods. During Gokhale- Lajpat Rai deputation to Britain, appeals to Colonial statesmen to treat India, ‘an integral part of the Empire’, with consideration.
1906	May	12	Support ‘home rule’ for India ‘I the name of justice and for good of humanity’.
		27	Writes to brother, Lakshimidas, declaring disinterestedness in worldly possessions.
	June-July		Raises Indian Stretcher-bearer Corps in Zulu Rebellion; takes vow of brahmacharya for life.
	Sept	11	Addresses mass meeting of Indians at Johannesburg, which takes oath of passive resistance against newly promulgated Transvaal Asiatic Law Amendment Ordinance.
	Oct 21-Nov	30	In England on deputation to present Indians’ case to Colonial Secretary.
	December	18	Returns to South Africa
1907	Jan-Feb		Writes series of 8 articles in Gujarati on "Ethical Religion", published weekly in Indian Opinion and later, as a book.
	March		Asiatic Registration Act passed in Transvaal Parliament. Indians hold protest meetings.
	April		Sees Smuts at Pretoria, acquaints him with resolutions adopted at mass meetings. Pledges, in Indian Opinion, opposition to ‘Black Act’.
	August		Writes to Smuts criticizing Registration Act, suggesting amendments. Passive resistance, picketing of Permit Offices; defends passive resisters in court.
	December		Smuts decides to prosecute Gandhiji.
1908	January	8	Asks Government for suspension of Registration Act, offers voluntary registration.
		10	Adopts word : ‘Satyagraha’ in place of ‘Passive Resistance’. Sentenced to 2 months’ imprisonment for failure to leave Transvaal.
		21	Agrees to settlement on basis of voluntary registration, if Registration Act is repealed.
		30	Summoned to see General Smuts at Pretoria and released, on reaching a compromise.
	February	10	Nearly killed by Pathans who regard the compromise, under which Indians are expected to give their finger-prints voluntarily, as a betrayal of Indian interest; refuses to prosecute his assailants.
	March-June		Negotiates with Smuts for fulfillment of promise of repeal of Act which Smuts denies.
	July		Correspondence with Smuts released; Indians in mass meeting decide to refuse thumb impressions and burn registration certificates.
	August		Declares use of violence ‘harmful, even useless to uproot British rule’ in India. Appeals to Smuts to repeal ‘Black Act’. Registration certificates burnt at meetings; passive resistance resumed.
	September		Royal assent is given to amended Registration Act. Smuts refuses Indian terms for settlement.
	October	15	Arrested and sentenced to 2 months’ rigorous imprisonment.
	December	12	Released from Volksrust Gaol Indian National Congress adopts resolution on South Africa, criticizing the harsh, humiliating and cruel treatment of British Indians in South Africa as injurious to British Empire.
1909	January	16	Arrested at Volksrust for failing to produce registration certificate; on deportation, returned and is re-arrested, but released on bail.
		20	Writes to Press calling on Indians to prepare for final phase of struggle.
	February	25	Arrested at Volksrust; sentenced to 3 months.
	May	2	Transferred to Pretoria Central Gaol.
		24	Released.
	June	21	Leaves with Haji Habib, on deputation to England to represent Indian case.
	July	10	Arrives in London. With the assistance of Lord Ampthill, works ceaselessly to educate influential British leaders, the public, and to move Imperial authorities.
	October	1	Writes to Tolstoy regarding Passive Resistance movement.
	November	9	The Times reports failure of Gandhi Government negotiations on Transvaal laws.
		10	Replies to Tolstoy, sends his biography by Doke.
		13	Leaves England for South Africa. Writes Hind Swaraj on board "s. s. Kildonan Castle".
		30	Reaches South Africa.
	December	29	Congress at Lahore adopts resolution praising Indians’ struggle in South Africa, urging ban on indenture.
1910	April	4	Sends Tolstoy copy of Indian Home Rule, seeks comment.
	May	8	Tolstoy replies: question of Passive Resistance of greatest importance not only for India but for humanity.
		30	Founds Tolstoy Farm.
	December	4	Pays memorial tribute to Tolstoy.
1911	January		Communicates with Smuts regarding amendments to Immigrants’ Restriction Bill; latter assures; no colour bar taint in laws.
	March	27	Interviews Smuts at Cape town.
	April	22	Smuts agrees to assurances demanded by Indians in reciprocation of suspension of Passive Resistance movement.
	May	3	Meets Smuts: ‘Provisional Settlement’ arrived on Smuts’ promise of repeal of Asiatic Registration and Immigrants’ Restriction Acts.
	June	24	Pledges loyalty to King-Emperor on coronation.
	December	8	Invites Gokhale to South Africa

Year	Month	Date	Event
1912	March	16	Commends Gokhale’s attempts for abolition of indenture system.
	September	12	Phoenix Trust is set up.
	October	22	Accompanies Gokhale, on tour of South Africa, Laurenco Marques, Mozambique and Zanzibar. Gives up European dress and milk and restricts himself to diet of fresh and dried fruit.
1913	January	18	Refers in Indian Opinion to the possibility of return home to India by mid-year.
	March	14	Indian marriages in South Africa invalidated by Searle’s Supreme Court judgment.
		30	Indians in mass meeting protest against Searle judgment.
	April	12	In Indian Opinion draws attention to new Immigration Bill’s failure to fulfill terms of Provisional Settlement of 1911. Kasturba decides to join Passive Resistance struggle.
	May	19	Warns Government of certainty of revival of movement if it fails to grant promised relief.
	June	7	Idea of return to India deferred in view of stringent application of discriminatory laws and likely resumption of Satyagraha.
		28	Expresses readiness for negotiations.
	September	13	Announces negotiations "proved abortive".
		15	Passive Resistance is revived.
		16	Kasturba is arrested.
	October	17	Visits Newcastle; urges indentured Indians to cease work till repeal of £3 tax. 3000 miners strike.
		24	Proposes ‘March’ into Transvaal.
		28	‘March’ from Newcastle begins.
		30	Reaches Charlestown.
	November	3	Announces ‘March’ into Transvaal to court arrest.
		5	Telephones Smuts seeking assurance of repeal of £3 tax.
		6	Leads ‘ Great March’.
		7	At Volksrust, released on bail; rejoin Marchers.
		8	Arrested at Standerton; released on recognizance; ‘March’ continues.
		9	Arrested at Teakworth, taken to Balfour.
		10	Takes ‘one meal a day’ pledge till repeal of tax.
		11	Sentence, at Dundee, to 9 months’ rigorous imprisonment.
		13	Removed to Volksrust gaol.
		14	Sentenced to 3 months on fresh count at Volksrust
	December	18	Released unconditionally; from time of release till settlement take only one meal a day and puts on indentured labourer’s dress.
1914	January	13,16	Interviews Smuts, submits proposals.
		22	Suspends satyagraha following agreement with Smuts. Fourteen days’ penitential fast for moral lapse of inmates of Farm.
	June		Indian Relief Act is passed.
	July	18	Sails for England, en route to India.
	August	4	Reaches London. Raises Indian Volunteer Corps
	October		Volunteer Corps on duty. Offers satyagraha over administrative interference in corps.
	December	19	Sails for India.
1915	January	9	Reaches India Awarded Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal for Ambulance services.
	May	20	Founds Satyagraha Ashram (later known as Sabarmati Ashram after the name of the river) at Ahmedabad.
1915-16			Tours India and Burma, travelling 3^rd class on the railways.
1917			Successfully agitates against indentured Indian emigration; idea of making use of spinning-wheel to produce handmade cloth on large scale takes root in his mind.
	April		Goes to Champaran (Bihar) to investigate conditions of labour in indigo plantations; arrested and later released; appointed by Bihar Government as member of committee set up to inquire into ryots’ grievances.
1918	Jan-March		Takes up cause of textile labourers of Ahmedabad and fasts to secure amicable settlement of dispute; initiates satyagraha in Kaira District (Bombay) to secure suspension of revenue assessment on failure of crops.
	April	27	Attends Viceroy’s War Conference at Delhi and addresses it in Hindustani; subsequently tours Kaira District to raise recruits for army.
1919	February	28	Signs Satyagraha Pledge to secure withdrawal of Rowlatt Bills.
	April	6	Inaugurates all-India satyagraha movement; countrywide hartal.
		8-11	Arrested on way to Delhi for refusal to comply with order not to enter Punjab; escorted back to Bombay; outbreaks of violence in several towns.
		13	Jallianwala Bagh tragedy at Amritsar, troops firing on an unarmed crowd and killing over 400. Addresses public meeting near Sabarmati Ashram and declares three days’ penitential fast.
		14	Confesses at Nadiad his ‘Himalayan miscalculation’ regarding satyagraha martial law declared in Punjab.
		18	Suspends satyagraha.
	September		Assumes editorship of the Gujarati monthly, Navajivan, later published weekly in Hindi also.
	October		Assumes editorship of the English weekly, Young India; joins non-official committee of inquiry into official excesses in Punjab.
	November	24	Presides over All-India Khilafat Conference at Delhi.
	December		Advises acceptance of Montague-Chelmsford Reforms by Congress at Amritsar.
1920	January		Leads deputation to Viceroy to press on British Government not to deprive Sultan of Turkey (who was also Khalifa of Muslims) of his suzerainty over Holy Places of Islam.
	August	1	Addresses letter to Viceroy surrendering Kaiser-I-Hind Medal, Zulu War Medal and Boer War Medal.
	September		Special session of Indian National Congress at Calcutta accepts his programme of non-co-operation to secure redress of Punjab and Khilafat wrongs.
	November		Founds Gujarat Vidyapith at Ahmedabad.
	December		Nagpur Congress session adopts his resolution declaring object of Congress to be attainment of Swaraj by the people of India by all legitimate and peaceful means.
1921	April		Launches programme of enlisting a crore of members in Congress, raising a crore of rupees for Tilak Swaraj Fund and setting up 20 lakhs of charkhas in the country in furtherance of national constructive movement.
	August		Leads campaign for complete boycott of foreign cloth and lights monster bonfire of foreign cloth in Bombay.
	December		Invested with full dictatorial powers by Congress session at Ahmedabad.
1922	February	1	Gives notice to Viceroy of intention to launch satyagraha campaign in Bardoli (Gujarat).
		5	Following Chauri Chaura (U.P.) tragedy, in which 21 police constables and one sub-inspector were burnt to death by a mob, fasts for five days and abandons plan of satyagraha movement.
	March	10	Arrested for sedition at Sabarmati and sentenced (March 18) to six years’ imprisonment.
1924	Jan-Feb		Operated on for appendicitis in Sassoon Hospital, Poona (Jan. 12) and released on Feb. 5
	April		Resumes editorship of Young India and Navajivan.
	September	18	Begins 21 days’ fast for Hindu-Muslim unity.
	December		Presides over Congress session at Belgaum.
1925	September		Founds All-India Spinners’ Association.
	November		Seven days’ vicarious fast for misdeeds of Ashram inmates. Commences writing his autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth.
1927	November		Visits Ceylon.
1928	December		Moves resolution at Calcutta Congress session in favour of Independence if Dominion Status is not granted by end of 1929.
1929	December		At his instance Lahore Congress session declares that Swaraj in Congress creed shall mean Purna Swaraj (complete independence).
1930	February		Appointed by A.I.C.C. as Congress Disobedience movement.
	March	2	Addresses letter to Viceroy intimating his intention to break Salt law if Congress demands are not conceded.
		12	Commences march to Dandi sea-beach, where he ceremoniously picks up salt (April 6).
	May	5	Arrested and imprisoned without trial; hartal all over India; over 100,000 are jailed before close of year.
1931	January	26	unconditionally released from prison.
	Feb-March		Has series of talks with Viceroy resulting in Irwin-Gandhi Pact.
	August	29	Sails for England as sole Congress delegate to Second Round Table Conference.
	Sept-Dec		Attends sessions of Conference.
	December	5	Leaves England for India.
		28	Lands in Bombay.
1932	January	4	Arrested and imprisoned without trial.
	September	20	Commences ‘fast unto death’ in jail to secure abolition of separate electorates for Harijans in Communal Award.
		26	Breaks fast on Government of India’s acceptance of his demand regarding Harijans.

Year	Month	Date	Event
1933	February	11	Founds the weekly paper Harijan, published in English and Hindi.
	May	8	Commences at noon 21 days’ fast for self-purification; released unconditionally at 9 p.m.
		9	Announces suspension of Civil Disobedience movement for six weeks and calls on the Government to withdraw its Ordinances.
		29	Breaks fast.
	July	26	Disbands Satyagraha Ashram.
		30	Informs Government of Bombay of his decision to march from Ahmedabad to Ras with 33 followers to revive Civil Disobedience movement.
		31	Arrested and imprisoned without trial.
	August	4	Released and rearrested for breaking a restraint order.
		16	Goes on fast on being denied facilities to carry on anti-untouchability propaganda.
		23	Released and reasserted for breaking a restraint order.
	November	7	Commences Harijan-uplift tour.
1934	September	17	Announces decision to retire from politics from October I to engage himself in development of village industries, Harijan service and education through basic crafts.
	October	26	Inaugurates All-India Village Industries Association.
1936	April	30	Settles down at Sevagram, a village near Wardha in the Central Provinces, Making it his headquarters.
1937	October	22	Presides over Educational Conference at Wardha and outlines his scheme of education through basic crafts.
1939	March	3	Commences ‘fast unto death’ at Rajkot to secure Ruler’s adherence to promise given to reform administration, and ends it on March 7 on Viceroy’s intervention.
1940	July & Sept		Meets Viceroy by invitation in connection with war situation.
	October		Sanctions individual civil disobedience; suspends Harijan and allied weeklies following official demand for pro-censor-ship of reports and writings in Harijan on the subject of satyagraha.
1941	December	30	At his own request is relieved of hi leadership of Congress by Working Committee.
1942	January	18	Restarts Harijan and allied weeklies.
	March	27	Meets Sir Stafford Cripps in New Delhi; later declares Cripps proposals to be a ‘post-dated cheque’.
	May		Appeals to British Government to quit India.
	August	8	Addresses A.I.C.C. session in Bombay on implications of Quit India resolution.
		9	Arrested and interned in Aga Khan’s Palace at Poona.
		15	Death of Mahadev Desai, Gandhiji’s personal secretary, from heart failure, in Aga Khan’s Palace.
	Aug-Dec		Corresponds with Viceroy and Government of India regarding disturbances.
1943	February	10	Commences 21 days’ fast, which he breaks on March 3.
1944	February	22	Kasturba Gandhi dies in Aga Khan’s Palace.
	May	6	Released unconditionally.
	September	9-27	Carries on talks with M. A. Jinnah regarding Pakistan.
	October	2	Presentation of purse of 110 lakhs of rupees (£ 8,25,000) for Kasturba Memorial on occasion of 75^thbirthday.
1945	April	17	In a statement regarding the ensuing San Francisco Conference says that peace is impossible without equality and freedom of India. Also demands a just peace for Germany and Japan.
	December	19	Lays foundation stone of C. F. Andrews’ Memorial Hospital at Shanti Niketan.
1945-46	Dec-Jan		Tours Bengal and Assam.
1946	Jan & Feb		Tours Southern India for anti-untouchability and Hindustani propaganda.
	February	10	Revives Harijan and allied group of weekly journals.
	April		Participates in political talks with Cabinet Mission in Delhi.
	May	5-12	In Simla; Simla Conference in session; deliberations prove infructuous.
		16	Cabinet Mission announces Plan.
		18-19	Discusses Plan with Cabinet Mission.
		26	Considers Plan best document produced by British Government under circumstances.
	June	6	In Missouri.
		7	Returns to Delhi.
		10	Refuses to enthuse over Allied victory as not being ‘victory of truth over false-hood’.
		11	Viceroy interviews Gandhiji, moots proposal of Coalition Government at Centre.
		16	Cabinet Mission negotiations discontinued; Viceroy proposes Interim Government.
		18	Congress Working Committee decides to accept Interim Government scheme.
		20-1	Attends Working Committee meeting. Gandhiji is seen by Cripps.
		23	Advises Congress not to enter Interim Government, but only Constituent Assembly.
		24	Meets Cabinet Mission.
		28	Leaves Delhi for Poona; attempts made to derail train en route.
	July	7	Addresses A.I.C.C. meeting at Bombay; Congress accepts Cabinet Mission plan of May 16.
		31	Jinnah threatens sanctions of ‘Direct Action’.
	August	12	Viceroy announces invitation to Congress to form provisional Government.
	August	16-18	The ‘Great Calcutta Killing’.
		24	Viceroy Wavell broadcasts Plan.
		27	Gandhiji cables warning to British Government against repetition of ‘Bengal tragedy’; also writes to Wavell.
	September	4	Interim Government formed.
		26	Has interview with Wavell.
	October	9	Jinnah’s 9-point demands conveyed to Congress.
		10	Noakhali Massacre.
		15	Muslim League agrees to enter Interim Government.
		28	Leaves for Calcutta. Riots break out in Bihar.
	November	6	Leaves for Noakhali; issues statement on ‘Partial Fast’. Noakhali tour begins.
		20	Starts tour without party.
	December	20	Completes month-long sojourn at Srirampur.
		25	At Noakhali, says: "I am being tested through and through…."
		30	Jawaharlal Nehru calls on Gandhiji, who says: "My reason wholly supports my heart".
1947	January	2	Says: "All around me is utter darkness". Leaves Srirampur on walking tour.
		3-29	In Bihar, touring riot-affected areas.
		30	Leaves Patna for Delhi. Mountbatten, new Viceroy, arrives in Delhi.
	April	1-2	Gandhiji addresses Asian Relations Conference in Delhi.
		15	Issues with Jinnah joint appeal for communal peace.
		29	In Bihar.
	May	1	Congress Working Committee accepts Partition in principle.
		5	in interview, Gandhiji denies that communal division of India is inevitable.
		24	Leaves Bihar for Delhi.
		31	Declares peace must precede partition, he would not be party to India’s vivisection.
	June	2	Viceroy’s Partition plan revealed; Congress Working Committee conveys acceptance.
		3	Indian leaders broadcast on Mountbatten Plan.
		6	Gandhiji writes to Mountbatten, with Pakistan conceded, to persuade Jinna to amicably settle all outstanding points with Congress.
		12	Addresses Congress Working Committee.
	July		‘Independence of India Bill’ passed.
		27	Appeals to Princes to regard people’s paramountcy as a privilege.
	August	14	Hails following day as one of rejoicing for deliverance from, British bondage; but deplores Partition. Pakistan is born.
	August	15	Hindu-Muslim fraternization in Calcutta.
		16	Hails ‘Miracle of Calcutta’.
	September	1	Considers Calcutta peace nine-day’s wonder, decides on fast.
		2	Is mobbed in Calcutta house; gives up idea of Noakhali visit. Peace efforts intensified.
		4	Breaks fast.
		7	Leaves Calcutta for Delhi; commences daily visits to riot-racked areas.
		24	Pakistan raiders invade Kashmir.
		25	Kashmir accedes to Indian Union.
		26	Criticizes Churchill’s ‘holocaust in India’. Statement.
	November	1	Indian troops enter Junagadh
		8	Junagadh accedes to India. Addresses A.I.C.C.
		11	‘Defends Junagadh’s accession to India.
	December	25	Pleads for amicable settlement between India and Pakistan.
		30	India refers Kashmir dispute to U.N.
1948	January	12	Decides to fast for communal peace in Delhi; Mountbatten fails to dissuade Gandhiji.
		15	Enters ‘danger zone’. Hails Indian Cabinet’s decision to release Pakistan dues of Rs. 550 million. Fast continues for establishment of communal peace.
		17	Doctors warn fast must be ended. Central Peace Committee formed, decides on ‘Peace Pledge’.
		18	Peace Committee signs, presents ‘Peace Pledge’ to Gandhiji, who breaks fast.
		20	Bomb explodes at prayer meeting.
		27	Visits Mehrauli Muslim Fair.
		29	Angry refugees ask Gandhiji to retire to the Himalayas.
		30	Drafts constitution of a Congress transformed into Lok Sevak Sangh. Is assassinated on way to evening prayer.