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 THE ROWLATT BILLS & SATYAGRAHA

During the debate on the Rowlatt Bills in the Im- perial Legislative Council in 1919 Mr. Gandhi toured round the country organising an effective opposition to the passing of the Bills. Despairing of the efficacy of mere Non-official opposition in the Council, Mr, Gandhi inaugurated what is known as the Satyagraha Movement as the only legitimate weapon in the hands of the people, to make their opposition felt. In this connection he pub- lished several contributions and spoke on many occasions. An attempt is made in the following pages to record them in the order of dates.

MANIFESTO TO THE PRESS

[In commending tht Satyagraha Pledge, Mr. M. K. Gandhi wrote to the Press under date, February 28, 1919 : ]

The step taken is probably the most momentous in the history of India. I give my assurance that it has not been hastily taken. Personally I have passed many sleepless nights over it. I have endeavoured duly to appreciate Government's position, but I have been unable to find any justification for the extraordinary Bills. I have read the Rowlatt Committee's Report. I have gone through the narrative with admiration. Its reading has driven me to conclusions just the opposite of the Committee's* I should conclude from the report that secret violence is confined to isolated and very small parts of India, and to a microscopic body of people. The existence of such men is truly a danger to

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