List of fasts undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi or The Father of the Nation in India, undertook 17 fasts during India's freedom movement. His longest fasts lasted 21 days. Fasting was a weapon used by Gandhi as part of his philosophy of Ahimsa or Non Violence.^[1]

Fasts

Number	Date	Duration	Place	Reason and demands	Reaction to fast	Result
1	1913 (Nov 10-16)	7 days	Phoenix, South Africa	First penitential fast[2]
2	1914 (April)	14 days		Second penitential fast[2]
3	1918 (February)	3 days	Ahmdabad	In the interest of striking mill workers in Ahmedabad	First fast in India	Mill workers agreed to arbitration[3]
4	1919 (Apr 14-16)	3 days		First anti-violence fast: against the attempted derail of a train at Nadiad[2]
5	1921 (Nov 19-22)	4 days		Second anti-violence fast: against the anarchists' activities on the occasion of the Prince of Wales arrival[2]
6	1922 (Feb 2-7)	5 days	Bardoli	Third anti-violence fast: for atonement for violence done in Chauri Chaura
7	1924 (Sep 18-Oct 8)	21 days	Delhi	First Hindu-Muslim unity fast	Interest of Hindu - Muslim unity after the first non-cooperation movement	Ended fast while listening to the Quran and Gita being read.[4]
8	1925 (Nov 24-30)	7 days		Third penitential fast[2]
9	1932 (Sep 20-26)	6 days	Poona	First anti-untouchability fast: Communal Award of separate electorates and separate reservation of seats for depressed classes	Fast undertaken at Yerwada Central Jail. When released a few days later, Gandhi continued his fast at a private house in Poona, with the result that all national leaders assembled in Pune.	British Government withdrew the clauses in the Communal Award against which Gandhi was protesting[4]
10	1932 (Dec 3)	1 day		Second anti-untouchability fast: sympathetic to Appasaheb Patwardhan[2]
11	1933 (May 8-May 29)	21 days		Third anti-untouchability fast: for the improvement of Harijans' condition[5]
12	1933 (Aug 16-23)	7 days		Fourth anti-untouchability fast: to obtain privileges (while in prison) that would enable him to carry on his fight in behalf of the Harijans[5]	Released unconditionally from prison on 23 August 1933, for health reasons[6]
13	1934 (Aug 7-14)	7 days		Fourth anti-violence fast: against a violent young Congressman[2]
14	1939 (March)	3 days[7]	Rajkot
15	1943 (Feb 12-Mar 4)	21 days	Delhi	Stopping of communal riots.[8][9]
16	1947 (Sep 1-4)	4 days		Second Hindu-Muslim unity fast[2]
17	1948 (Jan 12-18)	6 days		Third Hindu-Muslim unity fast: restoration of communal peace		A large number of important politicians and leaders of communal bodies agreed to a joint plan for restoration of normal life in the city

References

1. "National hunger strike?". Gulf Daily News. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
2. O.P. Dhiman. Betrayal of Gandhi. ISBN 978-81-78-35-746-1.
3. Jack, Homer A. (2005). "Short Chronology of Gandhi’s Life". Mahatma.com. Worldview.com. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
4. "The Previous Fasts". The Indian Express. 4 March 1943. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
5. "Mohandas K. Gandhi: The Indian Leader at Home and Abroad". New York Times. 31 January 1948. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
6. Rajmohan Gandhi. Gandhi: The Man, His People, and the Empire. p. 361. ISBN 978-0-520-25570-8.
7. "Rajkot dispute settled - Gandhi breaks his fast". The Advocate. 8 March 1939.
8. "Anna a man of stamina, his longest fast lasted 12 days". Daily News and Analysis. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
9. "Gandhiji Breaks Fast". The Indian Express. 4 March 1943. Retrieved 30 December 2013.

139 fast days total.

External links

• List of fasts done by Mahatma Gandhi