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How did Mahatma Gandhi respond to Hindu-Muslim violence in 1946 and 1947?
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Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as the Mahatma (“Great Soul”), in London, 1931.
During the communal violence of 1946 and 1947, Mahatma Gandhi dedicated himself to healing the deep divisions between Hindus and Muslims, despite facing blame from partisans on both sides.123
His efforts included:
- Direct Engagement: He toured riot-torn areas in Bengal and Bihar, walking barefoot from village to village to mingle with both communities, console victims, rehabilitate refugees, and admonish those inciting hatred.123
- Nonviolent Protest: When his appeals for reason and tolerance failed to stop the violence, Gandhi utilized his practice of fasting as a moral tool.12
- Triumphs: His fasts achieved significant results, notably stopping the rioting in Calcutta in September 1947 and shaming the city of Delhi into a communal truce in January 1948.123
Gandhi viewed the partition of India as a "spiritual tragedy" and remained committed to his gospel of nonviolence until his assassination on January 30, 1948, by a Hindu fanatic who opposed his efforts to protect the Muslim minority.123