The End of Kheda Satyagraha

The campaign came to an unexpected end. It was clear that the people were exhausted, and I hesitated to let the unbending be driven to utter ruin. I was casting about for some graceful way of terminating the struggle which would be acceptable to a Satyagrahi. Such a one appeared quite unexpectedly. The Mamlatdar of the Nadiad Taluka sent me word, that if well-to-do Patidars paid up, the poorer ones would be granted suspension. I asked for a written undertaking to that effect which was given. But as a Mamlatdar could be responsible only for his Taluka, I inquired of the Collector, who alone could give an undertaking in respect of the whole district, whether the Mamlatdar’s undertaking was true for the whole district. He replied that orders declaring suspension in terms of the Mamlatdar’s letter had been already issued. I was not aware of it, but if it was a fact, the people’s pledge had been fulfilled. The pledge, it will be remembered, had the same things for its object, and so we expressed ourselves satisfied with the orders.

The campaign came to an unexpected end. The people were clearly exhausted, and I hesitated to let those who refused to yield face complete ruin. I was looking for a graceful way to end the struggle that a Satyagrahi could accept. One appeared quite unexpectedly. The Mamlatdar of the Nadiad Taluka sent me a message. If the well-to-do Patidars paid, the poorer ones would be granted a suspension. I asked for a written promise to that effect, and he gave me one. But a Mamlatdar could speak only for his Taluka. So I asked the Collector whether the Mamlatdar’s promise applied to the whole district. Only the Collector could make such a promise for the whole district. He replied that orders granting suspension on the terms in the Mamlatdar’s letter had already been issued. I had not known about the orders. But if they had been issued, the people’s pledge had been fulfilled. The pledge, as you will remember, had the same aims. So we said we were satisfied with the orders.

However the end was far from making me feel happy, inasmuch as it lacked the grace with which the termination of every Satyagraha campaign ought to be accompanied. The Collector carried on as though he had done nothing by way of a settlement. The poor were to be granted suspension, but hardly any got the benefit of it. It was the people’s right to determine who was poor, but they could not exercise it. I was sad that they had not the strength to exercise the right. Although, therefore, the termination was celebrated as a triumph of Satyagraha, I could not enthuse over it, as it lacked the essentials of a complete triumph.

However, I was far from happy with the outcome. It lacked the grace that should accompany the end of every Satyagraha campaign. The Collector acted as though he had done nothing to bring about a settlement. The poor were to be granted a suspension, but hardly any benefited from it. The people had the right to decide who was poor, but they could not exercise that right. I was sad that they lacked the strength to exercise it. So, although the end of the campaign was celebrated as a triumph of Satyagraha, I could not share the enthusiasm. It lacked the essential elements of a complete triumph.

The end of a Satyagraha campaign can be described as worthy, only when it leaves the Satyagrahis stronger and more spirited than they are in the beginning.

A Satyagraha campaign can end worthily only if it leaves the Satyagrahis stronger and more spirited than when they began.

The campaign was not, however, without its indirect effective results which we can see today and the benefit of which we are reaping. The Kheda Satyagraha marks the beginning of an awakening among the peasants of Gujarat, the beginning of their true political education.

The campaign, however, did have indirect but effective results. We can see those results today and are benefiting from them. The Kheda Satyagraha marked the beginning of an awakening among the peasants of Gujarat. It also marked the beginning of their true political education.

Dr. Besant’s brilliant Home Rule agitation had certainly touched the peasants, but it was the Kheda campaign that compelled the educated public workers to establish contact with the actual life of the peasants. They learnt to identify themselves with the latter. They found their proper sphere of work, their capacity for sacrifice increased. That Vallabhbhai found himself during this campaign was by itself no small achievement. We could realise its measure during the flood relief operations last year and the Bardoli Satyagraha this year. Public life in Gujarat became instinct with a new energy and a new vigour. The Patidar peasant came to an unforgettable consciousness of his strength. The lesson was indelibly imprinted on the public mind that the salvation of the people depends upon themselves, upon their capacity for suffering and sacrifice. Through the Kheda campaign Satyagraha took firm root in the soil of Gujarat.

Dr. Besant’s brilliant Home Rule movement had certainly reached the peasants. But it was the Kheda campaign that compelled educated public workers to connect with the peasants’ actual lives. They learned to identify with the peasants and found their proper field of work. Their capacity for sacrifice grew. The fact that Vallabhbhai found himself during this campaign was itself no small achievement. We could see the full measure of this achievement during last year’s flood relief operations and this year’s Bardoli Satyagraha. Public life in Gujarat was filled with new energy and vigor. The Patidar peasant gained an unforgettable awareness of his strength. The public learned a lasting lesson: the salvation of the people depends on themselves and their capacity for suffering and sacrifice. Through the Kheda campaign, Satyagraha took firm root in the soil of Gujarat.

Although therefore I found nothing to enthuse over in the termination of the Satyagraha, the Kheda peasants were jubilant, because they knew that what they had achieved was commensurate with their effort, and they had found the true and infallible method for a redress of their grievances. This knowledge was enough justification for their jubilation.

So, although I found nothing to celebrate in the outcome of the Satyagraha, the Kheda peasants were overjoyed. They knew they had achieved as much as their efforts warranted. They had also found the true and infallible method for resolving their grievances. This knowledge was enough to justify their joy.

Nevertheless the Kheda peasants had not fully understood the inner meaning of Satyagraha, and they saw it to their cost, as we shall see in the chapters to follow.

Still, the Kheda peasants had not fully understood the deeper meaning of Satyagraha. They learned this at a cost, as we shall see in the following chapters.