Summary of Historical Arguments - 010 LT WEEK 2

These flashcards cover key arguments, figures, and legislative acts related to Indian nationalism and the historical context surrounding it.

Zamindar

Argues that state actions following independence confirmed communal categories as the chief factor in citizenship, especially through the Ministries of Relief and Rehabilitation and the Custodian of Evacuee Property. Methodology: Compilation of oral histories in towns either side of the border, use of transnational historical sources. Statistic: Delhi and Karachi would become the capitals of the two independent states. In 1946, Delhi had a Muslim population of 33% and Karachi had a Hindu population of 46%.

Bayly

Argues that the Indian national movement drew on forms of regional patriotism, such as the argument made by cow protectionists that British influence was polluting the way of life of India, and the local swadeshi movement of the Pune Sabha in the 1870s, rather than Western ideas of independence. Methodology: Comparison of speeches by leaders in both periods, e.g., the Bombay Nationalists and Saiyyid Ahmad Khan of the 1870s to the INC and Muslim League in the early 20th century. Fact: Despite the Cambridge school’s insistence that the peasants were deceived by agitators, they had longstanding animosity towards their landowners, e.g., the Dumri family of Sikhs in 1859.

Khan (Yasmin)

Gandhi’s death and the following mourning period worked as a bridge from the colonial state to Nehruvian sovereignty. The funeral and political impact of Gandhi’s death consolidated the power of the Congress Party across the nation. Methodology: Examine the route of the funeral and its imperial echoes, the cordoning of who would be allowed to approach the pyre, the distribution of ashes along India’s “arteries”, etc. Statistic: Around 200,000 RSS members were arrested as the state moved strongly against Hindu nationalism, allowing them to remove factional rivals.

Jalal

Argues that Jinnah promoted himself as 'the sole spokesman' of Muslim India, initially campaigning for regional autonomy in the Muslim-majority states, but then leading to the Partition of India and Pakistan in August 1947. Methodology: Examines the process of the creation of a constitution for independent India (and Pakistan), counterweighing the desires of the INC, AIML, other Muslim leadership, and the British Mission at each stage. Concept: April 1946, three-tier proposal – at the top level the central government, at the second level the governments of Hindustan and Pakistan, and at the third level the individual states who picked whether they wanted to be part of Hindustan or Pakistan. Primary source: Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s first Presidential Address.

Amin

Argues that the main influence of Gandhi on the peasantry wasn’t him, the man, but the concept of the Mahatma. He became mythologised, and his doctrine was radically misinterpreted as a call to violence. Methodology: Reviews local newspaper reports, examining both those publishing the gossip and those sponsored by local landowners to disprove such gossip and quell a potential peasant rebellion. Periodisation: Start of the Non-Cooperation movement in 1920 and the Chauri Chaura riot (protesters set fire to a police station in Gorakhpur, killing 22 civilians and 3 policemen).

Government of India Acts

Creation of Presidencies in India – Indian Councils Act 1781: Bengal presidency, Madras presidency, Bombay Presidency. 1909 Morley Minto Reforms: Establishes a separate electorate for Muslims, dividing them away from Hindus. 1919 Government of India Act: Montague Chumsford reforms – separates central and regional government more strongly; continues communal electorates and separate seats for rulers of princely states. 1935 Government of India Act: Key inspiration for the independent constitution, extending the idea of reserved seats to the 'scheduled castes' in Delhi. Franchise is small; electorate is still only 10% of the population; over 40% of seats in Delhi are for Princes and traditional rulers.

Kamtekar

Argues that in making wars, states increase demands on resources and therefore on the labour of their people, making them active participants in their nationalism, illuminating the structure of the state. Methodology: Compares India and Britain in quantitative changes in agricultural and industrial productivity and quality of life, as well as qualitative changes in state relief/welfare programs. Statistic: In 1943, the Famine Enquiry Commission estimated a mortality of 1.5m; statistical revisions by A.K. Sen show that this figure was probably approaching 3m.

Tripathi

Argues that the founding of the INC was mostly elite and there were struggles to unify one singular nationalism, particularly due to a lack of mass appeal to the 'impoverished, caste-ridden masses'. Methodology: Analyses the formation of the INC in 1885 from constituent associations e.g., All-Poona Union, Bombay Association, Madras Native Association, and Indian Association (more peasant-focused) in Calcutta, Bengal. Fact: Curzon wrote to Secretary of State Hamilton on 18 November 1900: 'I am convinced that the Congress is on the verge of dissolution and my endeavour will be to give it a peaceful demise.'

Sherman

Focuses on how the princely state of Hyderabad was a necessity for India’s national identity, revealing weaknesses in the inherited colonial state, and alternate nationalist visions by Mir Osman Ali Khan and the Razakars, and the Telangana communists. Methodology: Reviews government and newspaper sources of the situation in Hyderabad, its invasion, and its division into surrounding territories. Statistic: Attempt to contain communal violence in which 5000 Muslims were killed in 1948.

Chatterji

Unlike Zamindar, she focuses on the agency of evacuees in adopting nationalities and clashing with state actors on the field, fundamentally reshaping the basis of citizenship. Methodology: Analyses both state rhetoric and their responses to the challenges of migration and squatters in evacuee property, participation of state actors (e.g., Punjab Boundary Forces in communal violence), and views of Indians in the diaspora, especially in South Africa. Statistic: Key legislation passed from 1947-72 directly mirrored between India and Pakistan despite formation of states on 'separate' bases.

Primary source – Nateson, speeches of Gokhale

Home charges in 1893 under Bombay Presidency Association – support in parliament by Lord Northbrook, excessive and unnecessary growth over time, demands repayment for use of the Indian army in campaigns. Swadeshi movement in 1907 in Lucknow – promotes study of agriculture abroad, industrial capital investment, and commitment to buying swadeshi products as a way to end the industrial drain, 1/3 of the total financial drain of India. Hindu-Mahomedan question 1909 in Poona to the Deccan Sabha – argues that before the Government of India Act, divisions between communities were only over cow killing and street music, and now it involves urges by the Muslim League for more than their share.

Primary source – Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s first Presidential Address

Speech given by Jinnah as the first Governor-General of Pakistan in August 1947. Says that Partition rather than regional autonomy was unprecedented; urges the people to maintain law and order; makes parallels between the Hindu-Muslim division and that of Catholics and Protestants in Europe.