Chronology

Chronology
Year/Month	Date	Event
1869 Oct	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; attend 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.
1887		Passes matriculations examinations; joins Samaldas College at Bhavnagar (Kathiawar), but gives up studies at close of first term.
1888 Sept	4	Sails for England
Oct	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 anddecides 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
Sept		joins Vegetarian Society.
1891 June	10	Called to the Bar
	12	Sails for India.
July		Reaches Bombay.
Nov		Applies for admission to Bombay High Court.
1892		struggles with legal practice at Rajkot and Bombay; later settles down at former place as legal draftsman.
1893 April		leaves for South Africa, being engaged by a Muslim firm for legal work
May-June		Experience colour bar in various forms; decides to remain and fight race prejudice.
1894 Aug	22	Founds Natal Indian Congress
Sept		Enrolled as Advocate of Supreme Court of Natal, being first Indian to be so enrolled. Studies religious literature including the Bible, the 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.
Aug	14	Publishes The Green Pamphlet at Rajkot, Tours Bombay, madras, Poona and Calcutta educating Indians in regard to grievances of south African Indians
Nov	30	Sails for South Africa with wife and children.
1897 Jan	13	20 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 Indian’s trading rights.
1899		Raises Indian Ambulance Corps in Boer War, which goes into action and is mentioned in dispatches; awarded war medal.
1990		Sends Dadabhai Naoroji draft resolution on South African Indian problem, for Congress session
1901 Oct	18	Sails for India
Dec	14	Reaches Rajkot via Porbunder.
	27	Moves resolution on South Africa at congress
1902 Jan, 28 Feb	1	Visits Rangoon Stays for a month with Gokhale at Calcutta. Returns to Rajkot, settles down to Practice.
July		Shifts to and sets up practice at Bombay
Nov		Is called to south Africa to champion Indian’s cause against anti-Asiatic legislation in Transvaal.
Dec		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 statement to treat India, ‘an integral part of the Empire’, with consideration. Leads deputation to Lord Selborne, British High Commissioner, concerning Transvaal Indian problem.
1906 May	12	Support ‘home rule’ for India ‘ in the name of justice and for good of humanity’
	27	Writes to brother, Lakshmidas, 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 Indian’s case to Colonial Secretary
Dec.	18	Returns to South Africa.
1907 Jan- Feb.		Writes series of 8 articles in Gujarat on "Ethical Religion", published weekly in Indian Opinion and later, as a book
March		Asiatic Registration Act passed in Transvaal Parliament. Indians hold protect meetings.
April		Sees smuts at Pretoria, acquaints him with resolutions adopted at mass meeting. Pledge, in Indian Opinion, opposition to‘ Black Act’.
May		‘Black Act’ receives royal assent
July		Address mass meeting opposing 'Black Act’
Aug		Writes to Smuts criticizing Registration Act, suggesting amendments. Passive resistance, picketing of Permit Offices; defends passive resisters in court.
Dec		Smuts decides to prosecute Gandhiji
1908 Jan	8	Asks Government for suspension of Registration act, offers voluntary registration.
	10	Adopt 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.
Feb	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 interests; refuses to prosecute his assailants.
March-June		Negotiates with Smuts for fulfillment of promise of repeal of Act which Smuts denies;
July		Corresponding with Smuts released; Indians in mass meeting decide to refuse thumb impression and burn registration certificates
Aug		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
Sept		Royal assent is given to amended Registration Act. Smuts refuses Indian terms for settlement
Oct	15	Arrested and sentenced sentenced to 2 months rigorous imprisonment
Dec	12	Released from Volker's Jail. 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 Jan	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
Feb	25	Arrested at Volksrust; sentenced to 3 months
May	2	Transferred to Pretoria Central Jail
	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.
Oct	1	Writes to Tolstoy regarding Passive Resistance movement.
Nov	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
Dec	29	Congress at Lahore adopts resolution praising Indian’s struggle in South Africa, urging ban on indenture.
1910 April	4	Sends Tolstoy copy of Indians Home Rule, seeks comments
May	8	Tolstoy replies; question of passive Resistance of greatest importance not only for India but for humanity.
	30	Founds Tolstoy Farm
Dec	4	Pays memorial tribute to Tolstoy
1911 Jan		Communicates with Smuts regarding amendments to Immigrants’ Restrictions Bill; latter assures; no color 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: ‘ProvisionalSettlement" arrived on Smuts’ promise of repeal of Asiatic Registration and Immigrations’ Restriction Acts’
June	24	Pledges loyalty to King-emperor on coronation
Dec	8	Invites Gokhale to South Africa
1912 March	16	Commends Gokhale’s attempts for abolition of indenture system
Sept	12	Phoenix Trust is set up
Oct	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 Jan	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
	27	Express readiness for negotiations
Sept	13	Announces negotiation" proved abortive
	15	Passive Resistance is revived
	16	Kasturba is arrested
Oct	17	Visits Newcastle; urges indentured Indians to cease work till repeal of �3 tax. 3000 minor strike
	24	proposes ‘March’ into Transvaal
	28	March’ form Newcastle begins
	30	Reaches Charlestown
Nov	3	Announces ‘March" into Transvaal to court arrest
	5	Telephones Smuts seeking assurance of repeal of � 3 tax
	6	Leads ‘ Great March’ Arrested at Palm ford
	7	At Volksrust, released on bail; rejoin Marchers
	8	Arrested at Standert on; released on recognizance; ‘March’ continues
	9	Arrested at Teak worth, taken to Balfour
	10	Takes ‘one meal a day’ pledge till repeal of tax
	11	Sentenced, at Dundee, to 9months’ rigorous imprisonment
	13	Removed to Volksrust gaol
	14	Sentenced to 3 months on fresh count at Volksrust
Dec	18	Released unconditionally; from time of release till settlement take only one meal a day and puts on indentured labourer’s dress.
1914 Jan	13,16	Interviews Smuts, submits proposals
	22	Suspends satyagraha following agreement with Smuts. Fourteen day’s penitential fast for moral lapse of inmates of Farm
June		Indian Relief Act is passed
July	18	Sails for England, EN ROUTE to India
Aug	4	Reaches London. Raises Indian Volunteer Corps
Oct		volunteer corps on duty
Dec	19	Sails for India
1915 Jan	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, travelling3^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 t o 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 secures 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 Feb	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 co, ply 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 day’s penitential fast
	14	Confesses at Nadiad his ‘Himalayan miscalculation’ regarding satyagraha martial law declared in Punjab.
	18	Suspends satyagraha.
Sept		Assumes editorship of the Gujarati monthly, Navajivan, later published weekly in Hindi also
Oct		Assumes editorship of the English weekly, Young India; joins non-official committee of inquiry into official excesses in Punjab
Nov	24	presides over all-India Khilafat Conference at Delhi
Dec		Advises acceptance of Montague-Chelmsford Reforms by Congress at Amritsar.
1920 Jan		Leads deputation to Viceroy to press on British Government not to deprive Sultan of Turkey (who was also Khalifa of Muslim) of his suzerainty over Holy Places of Islam.
Aug	1	Address letter to Viceroy surrendering Kaiser-I-Hind Medal, Zulu War Medal and Boer War Medal
Sept		Special session of Indian National Congress at Calcutta accepts his programme of non-co-operation to secure redress of Punjab and Khilafat wrongs
Nov		Founds Gujarat Vidyapeeth at Ahmedabad
Dec		Nagpur Congress session adopts his resolution declaring object of Congress to be attainment of Swaraj by the people of India by all legitimate and peacefully 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
Aug		Leads campaign for complete boycott of foreign cloth and light s monster bonfire of foreign cloth in Bombay
Dec		Invested with full dictatorial powers by Congress session at Ahmedabad
1922 Feb	1	Gives notice to Viceroy ofIntention to launch satyagraha campaign in Bardoli (Gujarat).
	5	Following Chauri Chaura (UP) 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.
Sept	18	Begins 21 day’s fast for Hindu-Muslim unity.
Dec		Provides over Congress session at Belgaum.
1925 Sept		Founds All-India Spinner’s Association
Nov		Seven days vicarious fast form is deeds of Ashram inmates. Commences writing his autobiography The story of my Experiments with Truth.
1927 Nov		Visits Ceylon
1928 Dec		Moves resolution at Calcutta Congress session in favour of Independence if Dominion Status in not granted by end of1929.
1929 Dec		At his instance Lahore Congress session declares that Swaraj in Congress creed shall mean Purna Swaraj (complete independence).
1930 Feb		Appointed by A. I. C. C. as Congress Dictator to launch Civil Disobedience movement.
March	2	Addresses letter to Victory 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 Jan	26	Unconditionally released from prison
Feb-march		Has series of talks with Viceroy resulting in Irwin-Gandhi Pact
Aug	29	sails for England as sole Congress delegate to Second Round Table Conference.
Sept-Dec		Attends session of Conference
Dec	5	Leaves England for India
	28	lands in Bombay
1932 Jan	4	Arrested and imprisoned without trial
Sept	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
1933 Feb,	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
Aug	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 unconditionally
Nov	7	commences Harijan-uplift tour
1934 Sept	17	Announces decision to retire from politics from October 1 to engage himself in development of village industries, Harijan service and education through basic crafts
Oct	26	Inaugurates All-India VillageIndustries Association.
1936 April	30	Settles down at Sevagram, a village near Wardha in the Central Provinces, making it his headquarters
1937 Oct	22	Presides over Educational Conferences at Wardha and outlines his scheme of education through basis 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
Oct		Sanctions individual civil disobedience; suspends Harijan and allied weeklies following official demand for pre-censorship of reports and writing in Harijan on the subject of Satyagraha.
1941 Dec	30	At his own request is relieved of his leadership of Congress by Working Committee.
1942 Jan	18	Restarts Harijan and allied weeklies
March	27	Meets Sir Stafford Cripps in NewDelhi; later declares Cripps proposals to be a ‘post-dated cheque’.
May		Appeals to British Government to quit India
Aug	8	Addresses A.I.C.C. session in Bombay on implication of Quit India resolution.
	9	Arrested and interned in Agakhan’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 Feb	10	Commences 21 days fast, which he breaks on march 3
1944 Feb	.22	Kasturba Gandhi dies in Aga khan palace
May	6	Released unconditionally
Sept	9-27	Carries on talks with M.A. Jinnah regarding Pakistan
Oct	2	Presentation of purse of 110lakhs 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.
Dec	19	Lays foundation stone of C.F.Andrews’ Memorial Hospital at Santi niketan.
1945-46 Dec-Jan		Tour Bengal and Assam
1946 Jan & Feb		tours Southern India for anti-untouchability and Hindustani Propaganda.
Feb	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 in fructuous
	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 Mussoorie
	7	Returns to Delhi.
	10	Refuses to enthuse over Allied Victory as not being ‘Victory of truth over falsehood’.
	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	Advices 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	Address A.I.C.C. meeting at Bombay; Congress accepts Cabinet Mission Plan of May 16.
	31	Jinnah threatens sanctions of ‘Direct Action’
Aug	12	Viceroy announces invitation to Congress to form Provisional Government.
Aug	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
Sept	4	Interim Government formed
	26	Has interview with Wavell
Oct	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 breaks out in Bihar
Nov	6	Leaves for Noakhali; issues statement on ‘Partial Fast’. Noakhali tour begins.
	20	Starts tour without party
Dec	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 Jan	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
April	1-2	Gandhiji addresses Asian Relation 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 leader broadcast on Mountbatten Plan
	6	Gandhiji writes to Mountbatten, with Pakistan conceded to persuade Jinnah to amicable 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
Aug	15	Hindu-Muslim fraternization in Calcutta
	16	Hails ‘Miracle of Calcutta’
Sept	1	Considers Calcutta peace nine-days 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-raced areas.
	24	Pakistan raiders invade Kashmir.
	25	Kashmir accedes to Indian Union
	26	Criticises Churchill's holocaust in India’ statement
Nov	1	Indian troops eater Junagadh
	3	Junagadh accedes to India. Address A.I.C.C
	11	Defends Junagadh’s accession to India
Dec	25	Pleads for amicable settlement between India and Pakistan
	30	India refers Kashmir dispute to U.N.
1948	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