Gandhiji was a guiding force during India's struggle for freedom. In the light of this statement, explain:

(a) Gandhiji and the mass movements.

(b) Gandhiji's views on Satyagraha and Swadeshi.

(a) Gandhiji transformed the Indian freedom struggle from a movement led by the educated elite into a mass movement. He involved peasants, workers, women, students, and common people in the fight against the British rule. Two mass movements started and led by Gandhiji are given below:

1. Non-Cooperation Movement (1921-22) — Common people, women, peasants, students, and workers, all participated on a large scale.
2. Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34) — This movement started with the famous Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, a village on the sea coast of Gujarat, to break the Salt law. People were asked to defy the laws and orders of the British Government.

(b) Satyagraha — To Gandhiji, satyagraha was a moral force born of truth and non-violence. It meant to be fearless, truthful as well as peaceful, suffering willingly while refusing to submit to what is wrong. But even while resisting evil, it would not involve hatred towards the evil-doer.

Swadeshi — Swadeshi emphasized self-reliance and the use of local goods and industries. Gandhiji believed that Swadeshi was a crucial aspect of Satyagraha, fostering both economic and moral independence, and that both concepts were essential for achieving India's self-rule.