Gandhi And Jainism

Author(s): Shugan C Jain
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

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stay in South Africa, he moved higher in his spiritual pursuits also by advancing from an ordinary/casual householder to a serious holder by strict adherence to the vows. He referred to The Gita several times in his autobiography. His interpretation of The Gita and the eleven vows will be discussed in Chapter V.
Chapter IV: Fruits of Satyagraha: Freedom to India and assassination of Gandhi 1914-1948. Immediately on arrival in India, Gandhi toured the country as an ordinary poor Indian to experience their plight. He set up Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad as his headquarter for Satyagraha. He kept the same eleven vows to be observed by inmates of the ashram. To demonstrate efficacy of Satyagraha, he participated successfully in three movements, namely Champaran struggle, Kheda dispute, and Mill-owners dispute in Ahmedabad. He became actively involved in Indian National Congress to gain political involvement in his movement. He opposed the British repressions and their Rowlatt Bill simultaneously supporting them in World War I also. He joined Muslims in their Khilafat movement to gain their involvement as well. He also involved untouchables in his movement as he wanted an all inclusive struggle to end the discrimination between upper caste and lower caste Hindus and present a united front against the British rulers. Afterwards he started several movement, termed them as Satyagrahas, such as Non Cooperation movement, Dandi March for abolition of salt tax, Civil disobedience, Swadeshi, Swaraj and finally Quit India movement. India became independent on August 15th, 1947. He was assassinated on January 30th 1948 by a hardcore Hindu.
All through his struggle, he became stronger in his philosophical ideals like observance of vows, dietetic habits, celibacy, equality, Ahimsa and truth. These are again analyzed with Jain perspective in this chapter. He published Yerawada Mandir as handbook of
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