# XLII: Its Rising Tide explained — The Story of My Experiments with Truth

> Chapter companion for The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi.

## What happens

Gandhi describes the spread of the noncooperation movement, focusing on the Khilafat agitation, the drafting and passage of the noncooperation resolution at the Calcutta Congress in September 1920, and the key figures involved. He reflects on the inclusion of swaraj in the resolution, the debates with leaders like Vijayaraghavachari and Motilal Nehru, and the deep impact of Lokamanya Tilak's death on the movement.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nonviolence and Satyagraha

Gandhi emphasizes the importance of nonviolence in the noncooperation resolution, correcting the omission of the word 'nonviolent' and discussing its compatibility with Islam.

### Social Justice and Anti-Colonialism

The noncooperation movement targets redress of Punjab and Khilafat wrongs, and the demand for swaraj as a broader anti-colonial goal.

### Truth and Self-Experimentation

Gandhi reflects on his evolving vocabulary for nonviolence and the spontaneous, experimental nature of his approach to the movement.

## Character check-ins

### Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Narrator and central figure; drafts the noncooperation resolution, corrects omission of 'nonviolent,' and incorporates swaraj demand.

### Pandit Motilal Nehru

First to join the movement; suggests including swaraj in the resolution and helps win over Deshbandhu.

### Chittaranjan Das

Deshbandhu; heart inclined toward noncooperation but skeptical about people's capacity; fully accepts at Nagpur Congress.

### Lokamanya Tilak

Deceased; Gandhi deeply feels his absence at the Calcutta session, calling him 'my strongest bulwark.'

### Sjt. Vijayaraghavachari

Argues that noncooperation should target the absence of swaraj, not just specific wrongs.

### Mahadev Desai

Sent by Gandhi to correct the omission of 'nonviolent' in the draft resolution.

## Key lines

> My object in writing these chapters is simply to describe how certain things, as it were spontaneously, presented themselves to me in the course of my experiments with truth.

Gandhi explains that his aim is to recount how ideas naturally emerged during his truth-seeking experiments.

_Reinforces the autobiographical and experimental nature of the narrative._

> Spontaneously the exclamation escaped my lips, 'My strongest bulwark is gone.'

Upon hearing of Tilak's death, Gandhi instinctively felt that his greatest support had been lost.

_Highlights Gandhi's personal grief and the perceived impact on the movement._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-v-xlii-its-rising-tide
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters