Previous Year Question

The expression ‘political blackmail’ in reference to Gandhiji was used by Lord Linlithgow.

Lord Linlithgow was the Viceroy of India when Gandhiji and other Congress leaders were arrested after the Quit India Movement. Gandhiji was detained at the Aga Khan Palace in Pune.

In January 1943, Gandhiji wrote to Viceroy Linlithgow explaining his position and informing him of his decision to undertake a fast. In his reply dated 5 February 1943, Linlithgow described the use of a fast for political purposes as “a form of political blackmail (himsa)”.

In his reply of 7 February 1943, Gandhiji directly referred to this expression. He stated that despite Linlithgow's description of it as “political blackmail”, he regarded the fast as an appeal to the highest tribunal for justice.

An important factual nuance should be noted here. The question broadly uses the expression Gandhiji's “movements”, whereas the surviving historical correspondence shows that Linlithgow specifically described Gandhiji's proposed political fast as “political blackmail”.