India 4.1 (Origins and Rise of Indian Nationalist/Independence Movements)

Mughal Empire

The Mughal Empire was the Muslim power that ruled India from the 16th century through the mid-19th century. When it began to weaken in the 18th century, the British took advantage and began colonization.

Viceroy

The Viceroy was the British representative in India and was responsible for overseeing colonial rule. Many of his decisions were met with nationalist resistance.

Indian Uprising (1857)

The Indian Uprising or Sepoy Mutiny was a rebellion against British rule that was started by Indian soldiers in the EIC. It was suppressed but helped the nationalist movement gain popularity.

British East India Company

The British EIC was a trading company that controlled most of India. They employed many Indians for cheap labor and their goal in controllinjg the country was to turn a profit.

Indian National Congress (INC)

The Indian National Congress originally advocated for more Indian representation in British colonial rule. It was an elite group with majority Hindu members and eventually switched to advocate for full independence.

Muslim League

The Muslim League was a political party that wanted to protect Muslim interests in India. Where Congress only had Hindue members and seemed to favor their own interests, the Muslim League aimed to keep Indian Muslims happy as well.

Diaspora

The Indian diaspora is the communities of Indians living outside of India, in areas like the Caribbean, Africa and Southeast Asia. Their experiences of colonialism and support for independence helped spread global awareness in support of India’s freedom.

Indian Civil Service

The Indian Civil Service was an elite administration that governed British India. It implemented British colonial policies and controlled the law, taxation and public services. There weren’t Indians in the service ie. no representation.

Partition of Bengal (1905)

Bengal was partitioned by the divide and rule strategy. The province was divided into Bengal (mostly Hindu) and East Bengal (mostly Muslim). Hindus thought it was an attempt to undermine their influence and Muslims thought it was to protect their interests.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was an advocate of radical nationalism. He aimed for more active opposition to British colonial rule in India. He supported Britain’s war effort, however, despite being a radical.

Caste System

The caste system was a traditional social hierarchy in India. The British took advantage of this system to create further divide between the people and prevent a collective mass movement in their strategy of divide and rule.

Amritsar Massacre (1919)

The Amritsar Massacre was ana attack on unarmed Indian civilians by British troops under General Dyer’s command. The massacre was aturning point that galvanized a lot of anger in the Indian independence movement. Dyer was forced to retire but was still given a large pension by the British government.

Mohandas Gandhi

He was a leader of the Indian National Congress. He was outspoken against colonial rule, especially after the Amritsar Massacre. Following the massacre, he became the prominent leader in the Indian independence movement.

Influence of Nationalism and Political Ideology

Nationalism became one of the biggest factors in India's independence movement because it united people across the very diverse country. More radical nationalists like Bal Gangadhar Tilak emphasized the importance of self-rule and wanted to challenge British policies. Then, organizations like the Indian National Congress advocated for constitutional reform and more Indian participation in government. The difference in political ideologies ranged from moderate demands for reforms and more representation, to more radical demands for complete independence.

Influence of Religious and Social Factors

The British used religious and social diversity to maintain control over India through their divide and rule strategy. They strategically tried to emphasize these divisions in order to prevent unity and a centralized movement from forming. They created more tension between Hindus and Muslims, especially, through events like the 1905 Partition of Bengal.

Influence of Economic Factors

Economic exploitation, especially through policies that exploited Indian resources and helped Britain, was also common. The British taxed heavily which deindustrialized India and led to a lot of poverty, especially in rural areas.

Influence of War

During World War I, a lot of Indian soldiers fought for the British, and Indian resources were used for the war effort. But the British response after the war was to offer only very minor reforms, which led to widespread anger and a push for more radical activism. The economic consequences of World War II, as well as the British government's pressure for more contributions by India, led to more dedication to the independence movement. The wars also showed the vulnerability of British colonial rule and revealed their dependence on India, both for labor and raw materials, as it was unlikely they would have won without Indian support and soldiers on their side.

Influence of Internal Factors

Internal factors like the rise of the nationalist middle class and the spread of ideas like liberty and equality contributed a lot to the independence movement. The start of modern education, as well as media coverage, helped spread nationalist ideas that were against the British colonial rule. This was especially common among the more elite communities. The Amritsar Massacre also galvanized a lot of anger and pushed many Indians toward more radical resistance.

Influence of External Factors

External factors like the global rise of anti-colonialism and self-determination also were important. Leaders like Mohandas Gandhi, who fought for Indian independence, added to global pressure on Britain to end colonial rule as well.