Mahadev Desai
Topic: The National Movement: Gandhian Era · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 3 "Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement"
Meaning
Mahadev Desai was Gandhi's personal secretary and one of his closest companions. He joined Gandhi in 1917 and stayed with him for 25 years. He was part of the group of leaders who gathered around Gandhi between 1917 and 1922. He kept a detailed daily diary of Gandhi's words and work. His diaries are an important source for historians studying Gandhi.
Example
Desai was arrested with Gandhi at the start of the Quit India movement in August 1942. Both were held at the Aga Khan Palace in Pune. Desai died there of a heart attack in August 1942, while still in detention.
Don't confuse with
- Morarji Desai: a Congress leader from Gujarat who later became Prime Minister of India (1977–79). He was not Gandhi's secretary.
Related concepts
- Satyagraha
- Rajkumar Shukla
- Champaran satyagraha
- Tinkathia system
- Ahmedabad mill strike
- Kheda satyagraha
- Rowlatt Act
- Rowlatt satyagraha
- Jallianwala Bagh massacre
- Michael O'Dwyer