The Story of My Experiments with Truth · Chapter
The Kheda Satyagraha explained
Immediately after the Ahmedabad mill-hands' strike, Gandhi becomes involved in the Kheda Satyagraha, a struggle by Patidar farmers against revenue collection during a near-famine.
What happens
Immediately after the Ahmedabad mill-hands' strike, Gandhi becomes involved in the Kheda Satyagraha, a struggle by Patidar farmers against revenue collection during a near-famine. Despite petitions and deputations, the government refuses to suspend assessment. Gandhi advises the cultivators to resort to satyagraha, leading to a pledge of nonpayment and forfeiture of lands rather than compromising self-respect.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak of Gandhi’s physical…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Nonviolence and Satyagraha
Gandhi advises the Patidars to resort to satyagraha—nonviolent resistance—by refusing to pay revenue and accepting legal consequences.
- Social Justice and Anti-Colonialism
The struggle challenges the colonial government's unjust revenue policy during a famine, advocating for the poor and asserting self-respect.
Characters to notice
- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
President of the Gujarat Sabha; advises the Patidars to resort to satyagraha after petitions fail.
- Vallabhbhai Patel
Principal comrade in the struggle; suspends his legal practice to join.
- Shankarlal Banker
Principal comrade in the Kheda Satyagraha.
- Anasuyabehn
Principal comrade in the struggle.
- Mahadev Desai
Principal comrade in the Kheda Satyagraha.
Key passages
“Hardly was the Ahmedabad mill-hands’ strike over, when I had to plunge into the Kheda Satyagraha struggle.”
No sooner had the Ahmedabad mill strike ended than I became deeply involved in the Kheda Satyagraha.
Gandhi transitions directly from one major struggle to another.
“We shall rather let our lands be forfeited than that by voluntary payment we should allow our case to be considered false or should compromise our self-respect.”
We will allow our lands to be taken rather than pay voluntarily and thereby admit our claim is false or lose our self-respect.
The satyagrahis' pledge emphasizes self-respect over material loss.
