“I am proud that my grandfather had met Mahatma Gandhiji and had conversation with him on the current scenario of the time”, says Nitin Trivedi who runs a printing press in Pola Ground locality, Chhindwara. His father Devendra Govind Ram Trivedi started it.
Nitin Trivedi heard a lot from his father how his grandfather Govind Ram Trivedi, a leading lawyer, joined Congress on the call of Mahatma Gandhi. He cheerfully shares what he heard from his father about how Govind Ram Trivedi purchased a silver plate from Gandhiji offering Rs 501. Gandhiji came to Chhindwara second time in 1933. He was raising funds and collecting donations in support of the freedom movement. He auctioned the silver plate. The auction price was the lowest Rs 11, but Govind Ram Trivedi offered Rs 501 for the noble task.
Inspired by Gandhij, Govindram Trivedi joined Congress. Nitin Trivedi proudly shows a wooden swing on which Gandhiji sat and his grandfather had a few dialogues on the current political scenario. Nitin feels proud of his grandfather and continues to cherish the legacy.
Gandhiji reached Chhindwara in the afternoon of 6th January 1921 after attending the Nagpur Session of the Congress, which passed a resolution to continue non cooperation movement against the British rule. He was accompanied by the great revolutionary Ali Brothers. The Chhindwara Speech still remains fresh and vivacious.
Today is 99th anniversary of Gandhiji’s Chhindwara Speech. The Nagpur session passed a resolution that Gandhiji and other prominent leaders of the
Congress would go to the masses appealing to them not to cooperate with the British Government. The non-cooperation movement remains the most significant part of freedom struggle. Though, it took a violent shape, which was against the philosophy of non– violence but it infused confidence into the masses that they could get freedom very soon.
The movement witnessed participation of every section of the society responding to the call of Mahatma Gandhi, who was the architect of the movement. In such a tumutous scenario, Gandhiji’s Chhindwara speech on January 6, 1921 remains the most significant. Gandhiji elaborated the objectives of non-cooperation movement among the masses. It received tremendous public response.
Gandhiji’s Chhindwara Speech has three major highlights, which have universal appeal. They were- Patriotism is far superior, Hindu Muslim Unity and Liberation lies in Charkha – a symbol of self dependence.
The Chitnavisganj, which is known as Gandhi Ganj was chosen as the venue of public meeting according to historic documents available. Around 10,000 people attended the public meeting. Gandhiji’s Chhindwara speech gives a glimpse of the greatness of Gandhiji, his clarity of vision and universal appeal.
Gandhiji explained the duty of the people towards complete Swaraj. He made an appeal to surrender government services and titles and stop going to government schools and colleges. In the same speech Gandhiji appealed to the lawyers to stay away from practices and give more time to the freedom struggle.
The most remarkable part of the speech was Gandhiji’s statement that the Congress party would financially help the lawyers who could not have enough savings to sustain their families.
Gandhiji urged them not to waste time and energy in courts and devote fully to the immediate task of achieving freedom. He also appealed to the parents of students to stop sending them to Government schools and make alternative arrangements. He clearly asked students above 15 years of age not to go to Government schools and colleges.
An appeal was also made to the soldiers to be duteous towards the Nation and not the Rule. He said that patriotism is superior than idolatry of the Government.