After his release from Yeravda Prison, on 20 September 1932, Gandhi started a fast unto death from food of any kind, save water with or without salt and soda.
On 26 September 1932, at 5 pm, Mahatma Gandhi broke his death fast after 6 days and 5 hrs, after the British Government had approved most of the compromise plan on the privileges of Indian untouchables in the legislative elections.
Gandi started the fast to protest against the British movement for a new Indian constitution, which gave the country’s lowest class – known as untouchables – their own separate political representation for a period of 70 years. Gandhi believed this would permanently and unfairly divide India’s social class.
Gandhi advocated for the emancipation of the untouchables, whom he called Harijans or Children of God. He said from his prison cell at Yerovda: “This is a God-given opportunity that has come to me to offer my life as a final sacrifice to the downtrodden.” His fast ended after the British government accepted the principal terms of a settlement between higher caste Indians and the untouchables that reversed the separation decision.
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