Shankarlal Ghelabhai Banker (1889 – 1985)[1] was anIndian independence activist. He was one of the early associates ofMahatma Gandhi.
Banker and his friendIndulal Yagnik had establishedYoung India andNavjivan publications respectively. They had handed over these publications toMahatma Gandhi when he entered public life in India. He was one of the early associates of Gandhi.[1]
In 1911 he travelled to London, England for four years to learn about the leather trade. Despite being raised as a vegetarian Vaishnava, when he was in Great Britain he ate meat. Upon returning to India he refused to perform theprayashchitta ceremony demanded by his caste, which led to his family's expulsion by the caste council. Despite this, he and his family were accepted back into the community by the caste at large.[2]
On 10 March 1922, Gandhi and Banker, as publisher and editor of Gandhi's newspaperYoung India, were accused of treason and arrested.[3][4] Both Banker and Gandhi pleaded guilty and the trial was set for 18 March. It was held at the Circuit House and many leading Congressmen likeJawaharlal Nehru,Sarojini Naidu andMadan Mohan Malaviya attended. Judge C. N. Broomfield delivered his judgement and Banker was sentenced to a year and a half in jail.[5]
Banker had played a major role in Gandhi's activities inAhmedabad. He participated in thetextile mill workers’ strike in Ahmedabad, the1918 Kheda Satyagraha and theprotests against theRowlatt Act. He was the secretary of the Bharatiya Charkha Sangh which promotedkhadi andCharkha.[1]
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