• 1912
    • March 16: Commends Gokhale’s attempts for abolition of indenture system.
    • September 12: Phoenix Trust is set up.
    • October 22: Accompanies Gokhale on tour of South Africa, Laurenco Marques, Mozambique, and Zanzibar. Gives up European dress and milk and restricts himself to a diet of fresh and dried fruit.
  • 1913
    • January 18: Refers in Indian Opinion to the possibility of return home to India by mid-year.
    • March 14: Indian marriages in South Africa invalidated by Searle’s Supreme Court judgment.
    • March 30: Indians in mass meeting protest against Searle judgment.
    • April 12: In Indian Opinion draws attention to new Immigration Bill’s failure to fulfill terms of Provisional Settlement of 1911. Kasturba decides to join Passive Resistance struggle.
    • May 19: Warns Government of certainty of revival of movement if it fails to grant promised relief.
    • June 7: Idea of return to India deferred in view of stringent application of discriminatory laws and likely resumption of Satyagraha.
    • June 28: Expresses readiness for negotiations.
    • September 13: Announces negotiations “proved abortive”.
    • September 15: Passive Resistance is revived.
    • September 16: Kasturba is arrested.
    • October 17: Visits Newcastle; urges indentured Indians to cease work till repeal of £3 tax. 3000 miners strike.
    • October 24: Proposes ‘March’ into Transvaal.
    • October 28: ‘March’ from Newcastle begins.
    • October 30: Reaches Charlestown.
    • November 3: Announces ‘March’ into Transvaal to court arrest.
    • November 5: Telephones Smuts seeking assurance of repeal of £3 tax.
    • November 6: Leads ‘Great March’.
    • November 7: At Volksrust, released on bail; rejoin Marchers.
    • November 8: Arrested at Standerton; released on recognizance; ‘March’ continues.
    • November 9: Arrested at Teakworth, taken to Balfour.
    • November 10: Takes ‘one meal a day’ pledge till repeal of tax.
    • November 11: Sentence, at Dundee, to 9 months’ rigorous imprisonment.
    • November 13: Removed to Volksrust gaol.
    • November 14: Sentenced to 3 months on fresh count at Volksrust.
    • December 18: Released unconditionally; from time of release till settlement take only one meal a day and puts on indentured labourer’s dress.
  • 1914
    • January 13,16: Interviews Smuts, submits proposals.
    • January 22: Suspends satyagraha following agreement with Smuts.
    • February: Fourteen days’ penitential fast for moral lapse of inmates of Farm.
    • June: Indian Relief Act is passed.
    • July 18: Sails for England, en route to India.
    • August 4: Reaches London. Raises Indian Volunteer Corps.
    • October: Volunteer Corps on duty. Offers satyagraha over administrative interference in corps.
    • December 19: Sails for India.
  • 1915
    • January 9: Reaches India. Awarded Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal for Ambulance services.
    • May 20: Founds Satyagraha Ashram (later known as Sabarmati Ashram after the name of the river) at Ahmedabad.
    • 1915-16: Tours India and Burma, travelling 3rd class on the railways.
  • 1917
    • April: Goes to Champaran (Bihar) to investigate conditions of labour in indigo plantations; arrested and later released; appointed by Bihar Government as member of committee set up to inquire into ryots’ grievances.
    • Successfully agitates against indentured Indian emigration; idea of making use of spinning-wheel to produce handmade cloth on large scale takes root in his mind.
  • 1918
    • Jan-March: Takes up cause of textile labourers of Ahmedabad and fasts to secure amicable settlement of dispute; initiates satyagraha in Kaira District (Bombay) to secure suspension of revenue assessment on failure of crops.
    • April 27: Attends Viceroy’s War Conference at Delhi and addresses it in Hindustani; subsequently tours Kaira District to raise recruits for army.
  • 1919
    • February 28: Signs Satyagraha Pledge to secure withdrawal of Rowlatt Bills.
    • April 6: Inaugurates all-India satyagraha movement; countrywide hartal.
    • April 8-11: Arrested on way to Delhi for refusal to comply with order not to enter Punjab; escorted back to Bombay; outbreaks of violence in several towns.
    • April 13: Jallianwala Bagh tragedy at Amritsar, troops firing on an unarmed crowd and killing over 400. Addresses public meeting near Sabarmati Ashram and declares three days’ penitential fast.
    • April 14: Confesses at Nadiad his ‘Himalayan miscalculation’ regarding satyagraha martial law declared in Punjab.
    • April 18: Suspends satyagraha.
    • September: Assumes editorship of the Gujarati monthly, Navajivan, later published weekly in Hindi also.
    • October: Assumes editorship of the English weekly, Young India; joins non-official committee of inquiry into official excesses in Punjab.
    • November 24: Presides over All-India Khilafat Conference at Delhi.
    • December: Advises acceptance of Montague-Chelmsford Reforms by Congress at Amritsar.
  • 1920
    • January: Leads deputation to Viceroy to press on British Government not to deprive Sultan of Turkey (who was also Khalifa of Muslims) of his suzerainty over Holy Places of Islam.
    • August 1: Addresses letter to Viceroy surrendering Kaiser-I-Hind Medal, Zulu War Medal and Boer War Medal.
    • September: Special session of Indian National Congress at Calcutta accepts his programme of non-co-operation to secure redress of Punjab and Khilafat wrongs.
    • November: Founds Gujarat Vidyapith at Ahmedabad.
    • December: Nagpur Congress session adopts his resolution declaring object of Congress to be attainment of Swaraj by the people of India by all legitimate and peaceful means.
  • 1921
    • April: Launches programme of enlisting a crore of members in Congress, raising a crore of rupees for Tilak Swaraj Fund and setting up 20 lakhs of charkhas in the country in furtherance of national constructive movement.
    • August: Leads campaign for complete boycott of foreign cloth and lights monster bonfire of foreign cloth in Bombay.
    • December: Invested with full dictatorial powers by Congress session at Ahmedabad.
  • 1922
    • February 1: Gives notice to Viceroy of intention to launch satyagraha campaign in Bardoli (Gujarat).
    • February 5: Following Chauri Chaura (U.P.) tragedy, in which 21 police constables and one sub-inspector were burnt to death by a mob, fasts for five days and abandons plan of satyagraha movement.
    • March 10: Arrested for sedition at Sabarmati and sentenced (March 18) to six years’ imprisonment.
  • 1924
    • January-February: Operated on for appendicitis in Sassoon Hospital, Poona (January 12) and released on February 5.
    • April: Resumes editorship of Young India and Navajivan.
    • September 18: Begins 21 days’ fast for Hindu-Muslim unity.
    • December: Presides over Congress session at Belgaum.
  • 1925
    • September: Founds All-India Spinners’ Association.
    • November: Seven days’ vicarious fast for misdeeds of Ashram inmates. Commences writing his autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth.
  • 1927
    • November: Visits Ceylon.
  • 1928
    • December: Moves resolution at Calcutta Congress session in favour of Independence if Dominion Status is not granted by end of 1929.
  • 1929
    • December: At his instance Lahore Congress session declares that Swaraj in Congress creed shall mean Purna Swaraj (complete independence).
  • 1930
    • February: Appointed by A.I.C.C. as Congress Disobedience movement.
    • March 2: Addresses letter to Viceroy intimating his intention to break Salt law if Congress demands are not conceded.
    • March 12: Commences march to Dandi sea-beach, where he ceremoniously picks up salt (April 6).
    • May 5: Arrested and imprisoned without trial; hartal all over India; over 100,000 are jailed before close of year.
  • 1931
    • January 26: Unconditionally released from prison.
    • February-March: Has series of talks with Viceroy resulting in Irwin-Gandhi Pact.
    • August 29: Sails for England as sole Congress delegate to Second Round Table Conference.
    • September-December: Attends sessions of Conference.
    • December 5: Leaves England for India.
    • December 28: Lands in Bombay.

1933

  • February 11: Founds the weekly paper Harijan, published in English and Hindi.
  • May 8: Commences at noon a 21-day fast for self-purification; released unconditionally at 9 p.m.
  • May 9: Announces suspension of Civil Disobedience movement for six weeks and calls on the Government to withdraw its Ordinances.
  • May 29: Breaks fast.
  • July 26: Disbands Satyagraha Ashram.
  • July 30: Informs Government of Bombay of his decision to march from Ahmedabad to Ras with 33 followers to revive Civil Disobedience movement.
  • July 31: Arrested and imprisoned without trial.
  • August 4: Released and rearrested for breaking a restraint order.
  • August 16: Goes on fast on being denied facilities to carry on anti-untouchability propaganda.
  • August 23: Released and reasserted for breaking a restraint order.
  • November 7: Commences Harijan-uplift tour.

1934

  • September 17: Announces decision to retire from politics from October 1 to engage himself in development of village industries, Harijan service, and education through basic crafts.
  • October 26: Inaugurates All-India Village Industries Association.

1936

  • April 30: Settles down at Sevagram, a village near Wardha in the Central Provinces, making it his headquarters.

1937

  • October 22: Presides over Educational Conference at Wardha and outlines his scheme of education through basic crafts.

1939

  • March 3: Commences ‘fast unto death’ at Rajkot to secure Ruler’s adherence to promise given to reform administration, and ends it on March 7 on Viceroy’s intervention.

1940

  • July & September: Meets Viceroy by invitation in connection with war situation.
  • October: Sanctions individual civil disobedience; suspends Harijan and allied weeklies following official demand for pro-censorship of reports and writings in Harijan on the subject of satyagraha.

1941

  • December 30: At his own request is relieved of his leadership of Congress by Working Committee.

1942

  • January 18: Restarts Harijan and allied weeklies.
  • March 27: Meets Sir Stafford Cripps in New Delhi; later declares Cripps proposals to be a ‘post-dated cheque’.
  • May: Appeals to British Government to quit India.
  • August 8: Addresses A.I.C.C. session in Bombay on implications of Quit India resolution.
  • August 9: Arrested and interned in Aga Khan’s Palace at Poona.
  • August 15: Death of Mahadev Desai, Gandhiji’s personal secretary, from heart failure, in Aga Khan’s Palace.
  • August-December: Corresponds with Viceroy and Government of India regarding disturbances.

1943

  • February 10: Commences 21 days’ fast, which he breaks on March 3.

1944

  • February 22: Kasturba Gandhi dies in Aga Khan’s Palace.
  • May 6: Released unconditionally.
  • September 9-27: Carries on talks with M. A. Jinnah regarding Pakistan.
  • October 2: Presentation of purse of 110 lakhs of rupees (£ 8,25,000) for Kasturba Memorial on occasion of 75th birthday.

1945

  • April 17: In a statement regarding the ensuing San Francisco Conference says that peace is impossible without equality and freedom of India. Also demands a just peace for Germany and Japan.
  • December 19: Lays foundation stone of C. F. Andrews’ Memorial Hospital at Shanti Niketan.

1945-46

  • December-January: Tours Bengal and Assam.

1946

  • January & February: Tours Southern India for anti-untouchability and Hindustani propaganda.
  • February 10: Revives Harijan and allied group of weekly journals.
  • April: Participates in political talks with Cabinet Mission in Delhi.
  • May 5-12: In Simla; Simla Conference in session; deliberations prove infructuous.
  • May 16: Cabinet Mission announces Plan.
  • May 18-19: Discusses Plan with Cabinet Mission.
  • May 26: Considers Plan best document produced by British Government under circumstances.
  • June 6: In Missouri.
  • June 7: Returns to Delhi.
  • June 10: Refuses to enthuse over Allied victory as not being ‘victory of truth over falsehood’.
  • June 11: Viceroy interviews Gandhiji, moots proposal of Coalition Government at Centre.
  • June 16: Cabinet Mission negotiations discontinued; Viceroy proposes Interim Government.
  • June 18: Congress Working Committee decides to accept Interim Government scheme.
  • June 20-21: Attends Working Committee meeting. Gandhiji is seen by Cripps.
  • June 23: Advises Congress not to enter Interim Government, but only Constituent Assembly.
  • June 24: Meets Cabinet Mission.
  • June 28: Leaves Delhi for Poona; attempts made to derail train en route.
  • July 7: Addresses A.I.C.C. meeting at Bombay; Congress accepts Cabinet Mission plan of May 16.
  • July 31: Jinnah threatens sanctions of ‘Direct Action’.
  • August 12: Viceroy announces invitation to Congress to form provisional Government.
  • August 16-18: The ‘Great Calcutta Killing’.
  • August 24: Viceroy Wavell broadcasts Plan.
  • August 27: Gandhiji cables warning to British Government against repetition of ‘Bengal tragedy’; also writes to Wavell.
  • September 4: Interim Government formed.
  • September 26: Has interview with Wavell.
  • October 9: Jinnah’s 9-point demands conveyed to Congress.
  • October 10: Noakhali Massacre.
  • October 15: Muslim League agrees to enter Interim Government.
  • October 28: Leaves for Calcutta. Riots break out in Bihar.
  • November 6: Leaves for Noakhali; issues statement on ‘Partial Fast’. Noakhali tour begins.
  • November 20: Starts tour without party.
  • December 20: Completes month-long sojourn at Srirampur.
  • December 25: At Noakhali, says: “I am being tested through and through….”
  • December 30: Jawaharlal Nehru calls on Gandhiji, who says: “My reason wholly supports my heart”.

1947

  • January 2: Says: “All around me is utter darkness”. Leaves Srirampur on walking tour.
  • January 3-29: In Bihar, touring riot-affected areas.
  • January 30: Leaves Patna for Delhi. Mountbatten, new Viceroy, arrives in Delhi.
  • April 1-2: Gandhiji addresses Asian Relations Conference in Delhi.
  • April 15: Issues with Jinnah joint appeal for communal peace.
  • April 29: In Bihar.
  • May 1: Congress Working Committee accepts Partition in principle.
  • May 5: In interview, Gandhiji denies that communal division of India is inevitable.
  • May 24: Leaves Bihar for Delhi.
  • May 31: Declares peace must precede partition; he would not be party to India’s vivisection.
  • June 2: Viceroy’s Partition plan revealed; Congress Working Committee conveys acceptance.
  • June 3: Indian leaders broadcast on Mountbatten Plan.
  • June 6: Gandhiji writes to Mountbatten, with Pakistan conceded, to persuade Jinnah to amicably settle all outstanding points with Congress.
  • June 12: Addresses Congress Working Committee.
  • July: ‘Independence of India Bill’ passed.
  • July 27: Appeals to Princes to regard people’s paramountcy as a privilege.
  • August 14: Hails following day as one of rejoicing for deliverance from British bondage; but deplores Partition. Pakistan is born.
  • August 15: Hindu-Muslim fraternization in Calcutta.
  • August 16: Hails ‘Miracle of Calcutta’.
  • September 1: Considers Calcutta peace nine-day’s wonder; decides on fast.
  • September 2: Is mobbed in Calcutta house; gives up idea of Noakhali visit. Peace efforts intensified.
  • September 4: Breaks fast.
  • September 7: Leaves Calcutta for Delhi; commences daily visits to riot-racked areas.
  • September 24: Pakistan raiders invade Kashmir.
  • September 25: Kashmir accedes to Indian Union.
  • September 26: Criticizes Churchill’s ‘holocaust in India’. Statement.
  • November 1: Indian troops enter Junagadh.
  • November 8: Junagadh accedes to India. Addresses A.I.C.C.
  • November 11: ‘Defends Junagadh’s accession to India.
  • December 25: Pleads for amicable settlement between India and Pakistan.
  • December 30: India refers Kashmir dispute to U.N.

1948

  • January 12: Decides to fast for communal peace in Delhi; Mountbatten fails to dissuade Gandhiji.
  • January 15: Enters ‘danger zone’. Hails Indian Cabinet’s decision to release Pakistan dues of Rs. 550 million. Fast continues for establishment of communal peace.
  • January 17: Doctors warn fast must be ended. Central Peace Committee formed, decides on ‘Peace Pledge’.
  • January 18: Peace Committee signs, presents ‘Peace Pledge’ to Gandhiji, who breaks fast.
  • January 20: Bomb explodes in Delhi; Gandhiji’s prayers disrupted; pleads for communal amity.
  • January 22: Gandhiji appeals for communal peace in Delhi; moves to Birla House. Killed in Delhi by Nathuram Godse on January 30.