List of fasts by Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi or The Father of the Nation in India, undertook 18 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 Ahinsa (non-violence) as well as satyagraha.


English

South Africa
No.	Year	Dates	Fast (Place)	Fast (Reason)
1	1912	June 16- November 20	Johannesburg/Durban	One meal a day
2	1913	June 27-29	Durban/	One meal a day (To atone for the misbehaviour of a female teacher and school children of Phoenix Ashram)
On the way
3		July 12 – November 11	Johannesburg,Durban,	One meal a day (Due to immoral relationship between a male and a female living in the Phoenix Ashram)
Phoenix Ashram
4		November 12 -December 31	In Jail	Decided to take one meal a day until the £ 3 tax was abolished
	1914	January to May 1		One meal a day for the above said reason
5		May 2 – June 26	Durban, Capetown	To atone for the breach of vow of a Phoenix Ashramite
India
1	1915	June 1	Ahmedabad	Detection of untruth among Ashram boys.
2		September 11	Ahmedabad	Because some of the Ashramites observed a fast because a Harijan family was admitted to the Ashram.
3		Sep-12	Ahmedabad	To atone for smoking of a bidi by an ashramite
4	1916	May or June 12	Ahmedabad	Fasted for 3 days in protest against Manilal’s financial help to Harilal, without his knowledge.
5	1918	March 15-17	Ahmedabad	To keep the resolve of the Mill-hands of Ahmedabad.
6	1919	April 6*	Mumbai	To mark the first day of the Satyagraha struggle
	*and thereafter every year on this date
7		April 13 to 15	Ahmedabad	Against disturbances at Bombay, Ahmedabad and other places
	and thereafter on each April 13 of every year
8	1921	November 19 to 21	Mumbai	Against disturbances at Bombay.
9		November 28* ……….	Ahmedabad	Agitated with Bombay riots, took a vow to fast on every Monday for 24 hours until independence was achieved; the vow implemented from this day
	*and thereafter on every Monday
10	1922	February 12 to 16	Bardoli	Due to the killing of policemen in Chauri Chaura
11	1924	September 17 to 30	Delhi	For Hindu-Muslim unity.
		October 1 to 7
12	1925	November 24 to 30	Ahmedabad	Detection of sexual aberrations in some boys and girls of the Ashram.
13	1928	June 22 to 24	Ahmedabad	Moral lapse of an Ashram inmate.
14	1932	September 20 to 25	Yeravda Jail	Against the Communal Award
15		03-Dec	Yeravda Jail	In protest against Government not allowing a fellow-prisoner to do scavenging work.
16	1933	May 8 to 28	Parna Kuti, Pune	For self-purification.
17		August 16 to 22	Yeravda Jail	In protest against Government decision not to grant all the facilities for Harijan work which he was granted previousely.
18	1934	August 7 to 13	Wardha	To atone for the injury caused to Pundit Lalnath in collision between him and
the Sanatanists on one side and the public on the other.
19	1939	March 3 to 6	Rajkot	Against breach of promise by the Rajkot ruler.
20	1940	November 12 to 13	Sevagram	Suspicion of theft by an Ashram inmate.
21	1941	April 25 to 27	Sevagram	72 hours’ fast. Probably because of communal riots in Bombay and Ahmedabad.
22		Jun-29	Sevagram	For communal unity.
23	1943	February 10 to 28	Aga Khan	In protest against Government propaganda that the responsibility for disturbances after arrest of leaders (after the ‘Quit India’ resolution was passed) was that of the Congress.
		March 1 to 2	Palace, Jail
24	1944	November 30 ?	Sevagram	Fasted or thought of fasting for one or more days. Details and reasons could not be traced.
25	1946	October 20 ……..	Delhi	About four days. Probably on account of an error by the person who prepared the fair
copy of a letter written during negotiations with the Muslim League.
26	1947	15-Aug	Calcutta	Against partition of the country.
27		September 1 to 3	Calcutta	Against communal riots
28		Oct-11	Delhi	Fasted on Birth date according to Vikram Calendar.
29	1948	January 13 to 17	Delhi	Against Communal disturbances.