American Vehicles Used By Mahatma Gandhi During India's Independence Movement

During the nationwide observance of the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, historical records highlight a lesser-known aspect of his travels across British-ruled India: the use of American-made cars provided by his supporters. While he frequently traveled by train and walked long distances to lead protests, his followers offered vehicles when long journeys made walking or other transport difficult.

The Three Cars

Three specific US-made vehicles are linked to his travels, none of which he personally owned. The first was a Ford Model T, which he drove after his release from a prison in Uttar Pradesh in 1927. Recognized as the first mass-produced car globally, it featured a 2.9-liter reverse flow engine generating 20 horsepower and a top speed of 72 km/h. The second vehicle was a Packard 120 saloon, offered during his 1940 trip to Delhi by industrialist Ghanshyam Das Birla and Delhi Cloth & General Mills founder Lala Shri Ram. This saloon utilized an inline eight-cylinder engine delivering 100 horsepower. The third vehicle was a 1929 Studebaker President used during his visit to Mysore, powered by a 5.5-litre inline eight-cylinder petrol engine producing 100 PS, though its specific ownership details remain unrecorded.

Context

Automobiles during the British Raj were rare luxuries accessible mainly to industrialists, high-ranking officials, and wealthy supporters. Mahatma Gandhi relied entirely on vehicles gifted or loaned by his followers for specific legs of his journeys rather than purchasing transport with movement funds.