Banaras Hindu University speech
Also called: BHU speech of 1916 · Topic: The National Movement: Gandhian Era · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 3 "Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement"
Meaning
This was Gandhi's first major public appearance in India after he came back from South Africa. He gave it at the opening of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in February 1916. The audience was full of princes and rich donors. Gandhi said the "millions of the poor" were missing from the hall. He declared that "our salvation can only come through the farmer". The speech stated a fact: Indian nationalism was then a movement of the elite. It also stated his plan: to make nationalism stand for the whole Indian people.
Example
At the opening in February 1916, Gandhi criticised the "richly bedecked noblemen" sitting before him. He contrasted them with the poor peasants who were absent. Many of the invited guests were shocked. Within two years he led peasants in Champaran (1917) and Kheda (1918), which turned his words into action.
Related concepts
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Gandhi in South Africa
- Natal Indian Congress
- Indian Opinion
- Phoenix Settlement
- Tolstoy Farm
- Indian National Congress
- Moderates
- Extremists
- Lal Bal Pal