Final answer:
Gandhi's main argument in 'The Story of My Experiments with Truth' centers on non-violence, self-sufficiency, and cultural integrity as key to India's independence. He emphasizes reviving local industries and maintaining Indian identity over adopting Western institutions. His approach inspired many global civil rights movements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The development of Gandhi's main argument in The Story of My Experiments with Truth reflects his lifelong pursuit of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (truth-force or firmness in truth). Through his autobiography, Gandhi documents how these principles guided his actions and formed the core strategy in his struggle for India's independence. He believed in the power of non-violent civil disobedience and self-sufficiency as means to achieve social and political goals. Gandhi's vision was not just about ejecting British colonial rule but also about rebuilding Indian society on the foundations of self-reliance and traditional values.
His famous promotion of Khadi, the spinning of homespun cloth, exemplified his argument that India needed to revive its local industries to gain economic independence. Additionally, Gandhi recognized the importance of an indigenous cultural identity, a sentiment strongly emphasized in his response to Chesterton's ideas in Hind Swaraj.
Overall, Gandhi's argument evolved around the imperative for moral and cultural integrity in the fight for self-rule, avoiding the imitation of Western institutions which would result in a loss of Indian identity, aptly described as a transformation from Hindustan to Englistan. His philosophy influenced not only the Indian independence movement but also civil rights movements around the world, making him a central figure for global struggles against colonialism and oppression.