Gandhi or Jinnah [audio 15min]

"Empire" 87th of 90: Between the wars, the British were forced to change their approach to the raj. The 1935 India Act meant more self-government but Gandhi wanted the British out altogether. Gandhi and the Indian National Congress represented nominally the Hindus. There was also the Muslim League and the princes, who still ruled much of India. Gandhi insisted that the Indian National Congress should rule all India, including Muslims and the princes. The only other person apart from Nehru, who emerged as a major political figure outside India, was Mohamed Ali Jinnah - the man who became President of Pakistan. Jinnah was a Muslim who had been the most powerful man in Indian politics until the return of Gandhi from South Africa. Until the end of 1918, the British had to know exactly what Jinnah was thinking. After that, the rise of Gandhi partially eclipsed Jinnah. "This Sceptred Isle: Empire" is a narrative history of the British Empire from Ireland in the 12th century to the independence of India in the 20th, told in 90 programmes written by historian Christopher Lee and narrated by actor Juliet Stevenson. ~Visit website to listen again to 5 most recent episodes, plus interactive maps and timeline, biographical dictionary, image galleries, quizzes, sources, resources, listeners' comments.