In the year 1924, there were communal riots at various places in our country. These riots took place mainly in Delhi, Gulbarga, Nagpur, Lucknow, Shahjahanpur, Allahabad, and Jabalpur. Most of the riots took place in Kohat (now in Pakistan). A committee of Gandhi and Mohammad Shaukat Ali was appointed regarding the causes and circumstances of the riots. Both of them presented the report but unfortunately, both of them had differences.
In such a situation, it is no wonder that Gandhi took a fast of 21 days. He held himself responsible for this anger, hysteria, and murderous tendency and decided to make atonement through fasting. Gandhi started the fast at Maulana Mohammad Ali's house but later he was taken to a house outside the city. Leaders of all communities were brought together to the location of fasting. This unity council was held from 26 December to 2 October 1924. The members of the Council pledged that they would make maximum efforts to follow the principle of freedom of religion and opinion and would leave no stone unturned in condemning the conduct against them even if provoked. A Central National Panchayat was formed, whose convener and president were Gandhi and Hakim Ajmal Khan and Lala Lajpat Rai, K. F. Nariman, Dr. S.K. Dutt and Master Sundar Singh of Raipur were members. The council recognized the equal right of everyone to obey religious principles, express religious views, and follow religious customs. Leading newspapers were warned to write sensibly on communal matters and the public was requested to pray throughout the country during the last week of Gandhiji's fast.
Source: Prakash Sangwan, DRP, CCRT