Page 48 - NIS English February 01-15,2023

Nation Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav

'CHHOTA GANDHI' WHO WAS THE HERO
ABBAS TYABJI OF DANDI MARCH

Born: February 1, 1854, Death: June 9, 1936

ABBAS TYABJI IS
SAID TO HAVE BEEN VERY

CLOSE TO THE FATHER OF THE
NATION, MAHATMA GANDHI.
THIS IS THE REASON WHY HE

WORKED WITH MAHATMA
GANDHI FOR YEARS AND
PEOPLE FONDLY CALLED HIM
'CHHOTA GANDHI'

his great freedom fighter and patriot was born to lead it in case of his arrest was none other than
Ton February 1, 1854 in Vadodara, Gujarat. Abbas Tyabji.
Abbas Tyabji went to England for studies and After the arrest of Abbas Tyabji, Sarojini Naidu
returned to India with a law degree from there. was nominated to lead the Satyagraha. Abbas
After this he started his law practice and later Tyabji strongly opposed the British government
became the Chief Justice of Vadodara. In 1919, by actively participating in the Dandi March Salt
the Congress formed an inquiry committee to Satyagraha. Not only this, on the call of Mahatma
investigate the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and Gandhi, Abbas Tyabji actively participated in
appointed Abbas Tyabji as its chairman. He all the small and big movements in the country
came from an affluent family but the impact of and kept fighting against the British till the last
the Jallianwala Bagh massacre was so high on moments of his life. He also supported Sardar
him that he burnt all his western clothes. He also Vallabhbhai Patel in the Bardoli Satyagraha in
boycotted the goods made by the British and 1928. He always advocated for Hindu-Muslim
jumped into the national movement. unity and that is why he always emphasized on
It is said about Abbas Tyabji that he was their unity. This great freedom fighter breathed
very close to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma his last on 9 June 1936 at Mussoorie. Mahatma
Gandhi. This is the reason why he worked closely Gandhi wrote an article in his memory in the
with Mahatma Gandhi for years and people "Harijan" newspaper with the heading "Grand Old
fondly called him 'Chhota Gandhi'. He resolved Man of Gujarat" in which he was called a rare
to spread the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi. With servant of humanity.
his resolution of spreading Gandhian ideas, he 'Eleven Statues' were installed at the Delhi's
started traveling by bullock cart and even sold Sardar Patel Marg-Mother Teresa Crescent to
Khadi clothes. Mahatma Gandhi's trust in him can commemorate the Dandi March. The eleven
be gauged from the fact that when he decided to statues depict Mahatma Gandhi, Matangini
take out the Dandi March, the person nominated Hazra, Sarojini Naidu as well as Abbas Tyabji.

46 New India Samachar February 1-15, 2023