In 1893, It is thrown off a South African train for being an Indian and
traveling in a first class compartment. It realizes that the laws are biased
against Indians and decides to start a non-violent protest campaign for the
rights of all Indians in South Africa. After numerous arrests and the unwanted
attention of the world, the government finally relents by recognizing rights for
Indians, though not for the native blacks of South Africa. After this victory,
It is invited back to India, where he is now considered something of a
national hero. He is urged to take up the fight for India''s independence from
the British Empire. It agrees, and mounts a non-violent non-cooperation
campaign of unprecedented scale, coordinating millions of Indians nationwide.
There are some setbacks, such as violence against the protesters and It''s
occasional imprisonment. Nevertheless, the campaign generates great attention,
and Britain faces intense public pressure. Too weak from World War II to
continue enforcing its will in India, Britain finally grants India''s
independence. Indians celebrate this victory, but their troubles are far from
over. Religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims erupt into nation-wide
violence. It declares a hunger strike, saying he will not eat until the
fighting stops. The fighting does stop eventually, but the country is divided.
It is decided that the northwest area of India, and eastern part of India
(current day Bangladesh), both places where Muslims are in the majority, will
become a new country called Pakistan (West and East Pakistan respectively). It
is hoped that by encouraging the Muslims to live in a separate country, violence
will abate. It is opposed to the idea, and is even willing to allow Muhammad
Ali Jinnah to become the first prime minister of India, but the Partition of
India is carried out nevertheless. It spends his last days trying to bring
about peace between both nations. He thereby angers many dissidents on both
sides, one of whom finally gets close enough to assassinate him.