Explain the valiant efforts of Gandhiji in restoring communal harmony.
After the turmoil of partition of the country in 1947, Mahatma Gandhi took the following steps to restore communal harmony in the country. All his efforts bore fruit in no time: 1. He believed in the path of non-violence. He was convinced that non-violence could change the heart of any person. So he moved from the village of Noakhali in East Bengal and villages in Bihar. He also went to the slum-dwellers in Delhi and Calcutta. Everywhere he stopped Hindus and Muslims from killing each other. In fact, he made a heroic effort to stop communal violence. 2. Gandhiji assured protection to all the members of minority communities. In October 1946, he went to East Bengal where majority of Muslims were killing the minority Hindus. He valiantly persuaded the local Muslims to guarantee the safety of Hindus.3. He acted as a mediator between the Hindus and the Muslims and strengthened mutual trust and confidence between the two. 4.(iv) He exhorted the people of Delhi on 28 November 1947 to protect all the Muslims. He also began his fast to bring about a change of heart. Many Hindus and Sikhs also observed fast along with Gandhiji. According to Maulana Azad, the effect of this fast was electric. He strengthened Hindu-Muslim unity even by sacrificing his life. In other words, Gandhiji had miraculous power. In all turmoiled areas, his arrival was as welcome as is the rain after a long and harsh summer.
