Why do you think Mahatma Gandhi was not arrested?
Mahatma Gandhi was not arrested immediately because the colonial officials were uncertain about whether to arrest him or what the consequences of such an arrest would be.
The British government was anxious about the spread of the movement and worried about the basis of its rule. The officials were unable to control the movement and feared that arresting Gandhi might escalate the situation further. The colonial state kept a close watch on public activities, but the reports reflected their fears and anxieties rather than providing a clear solution.
Explanation
The textbook context clearly explains that colonial officials were in a dilemma about arresting Gandhi. The Fortnightly Reports and police reports reflected the confusion and anxiety of the colonial administration. They feared that arresting a leader of Gandhi's stature, who was seen as 'a great patriot and a leader' even by those who differed from him politically, could intensify the movement rather than suppress it. The context mentions that officials 'did not know whether to arrest Mahatma Gandhi or what an arrest would mean' and were 'anxious about its spread'.