India's Struggle for Freedom Flashcards

Impact of British Rule

Modern Indian nationalism emerged as a response to foreign domination and the exploitative nature of British rule.
British interests were prioritized, sacrificing the interests of the Indian people.
Exploitation was initially direct and harsh (before 1857) but became subtle and systematic afterward.
Before 1857, India was exploited by the British East India Company; after 1857, by the British nation.
The impact of exploitation affected almost all sections of Indian society, but it took time to understand the connection between British policies and India's poverty.
Armed revolts like the Kuka Rebellion occurred before and after 1857, expressing discontent against British rule.
- The Kuka Rebellion, led by Guru Ram Singh, protested against British policies that aimed to create divisions between Hindus and Muslims.
- The Kukas aimed to overthrow British rule in Punjab but were suppressed mercilessly, with rebels blown from cannons.
- The Santhal uprising in Bihar and indigo revolts in Bengal and Bihar were also suppressed.
These uprisings, though widespread, were regional, short-lived, and didn't pose a significant threat to British rule.
There was a need for an organized, all-India movement led by Indian nationalists to mobilize and unite the people.

Causes of the Rise of Nationalism

Nationalism is a patriotic feeling of love and loyalty for one's country, based on common history, culture, territory, and goals.
Several factors contributed to the birth of nationalism in India.

Impact of the Revolt of 1857

The Revolt of 1857 failed to end foreign rule but shook the foundations of British presence in India.
It inspired people, serving as an eye-opener, with heroes like Rani Lakshmibai becoming legends.

Western Education and Modern Ideas

The British introduced Western education to create loyal clerks and consumers of British goods.
Western education led to the introduction of modern knowledge and rational thinking, promoting ideas of humanism, nationalism, and democracy.
A new class of English-educated Indians emerged, who would become leaders and organizers of a national movement.
Western education freed minds from tradition and exposed the effects of British rule, fostering the dream of a modern, united, prosperous India.

The English Language

The English language served as a link between educated Indians from different regions, fostering unity.
It broke down language barriers and became a common medium of communication, enabling educated middle-class Indians to exchange ideas.
A common language fostered a sense of oneness and understanding of Indian identity.
Modern ideas and nationalism spread among common people through regional languages.

Common Code of Law and Administrative Unity

British rule indirectly created conditions for nationalism by unifying a fragmented India under a uniform administration.
Before British rule, India was divided into numerous states with different rulers and administrative systems.
The British introduced a uniform and modern system of government throughout British provinces, applying uniform laws to all subjects, leading to a shared national identity as Indians.

Modern Transport and Communication System

The British introduced roads, railways, and the post and telegraph system, strengthening unity and nationalism.
Social mobility and interaction increased, breaking down caste barriers.
People realized common problems, aspirations and goals, fostering a sense of belonging to one nation.

Rediscovery of India's Glorious Past

European scholars, such as William Jones, Alexander Cunningham, and James Prinsep, researched India's historical past, revealing its rich heritage.
These discoveries instilled feelings of national pride and self-confidence, inspiring Indians to dream of a resurgent India.

Socio-Religious Reformers

Interest from foreign scholars inspired Indians in their history.
Reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Dayanand, Mahadev Govind Ranade, and Swami Vivekananda rejuvenated Indian society, instilling pride and preparing the ground for the national spirit.

Vernacular Press and Literature

The vernacular press played a vital role in spreading modern ideas and creating national awareness.
Nationalist leaders used the press to criticize British policies and expose the evils of foreign rule, popularizing democracy ideas.
National literature like novels, essays, and patriotic poems stirred imagination and evoked patriotic feelings; Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya's Vande Mataram stirred powerful emotions.

Economic Exploitation

British economic policies transformed India into an agricultural colony, a supplier of raw materials and a market for British products.
The destruction of traditional industries and exploitation of resources to serve British interests exposed the true nature of British rule.
The drain of India's wealth to Britain, impoverishment of the masses, industrial decay, grinding poverty, frequent famines, and the indifference of the British government produced a nationalistic reaction.
Educated Indians realized the need to control economic policies.

Racial Arrogance and Racial Discrimination of British Rulers

Indians were regarded as inferior and uncivilized, subjected to contempt and humiliation, irrespective of their status.
Discriminatory policies prevailed despite Western ideas of equality taught in English schools and the Queen's Proclamation of 1858 promising equal opportunities.
Indians were barred from facilities reserved for the British, and important administrative positions were reserved for them.
Nominated Indian members in Legislative Councils had no power.

Repressive Policies of Lord Lytton

Lord Lytton’s discriminatory policies caused resentment among educated Indians.
- The Vernacular Press Act curbed the liberty of the Indian press, depriving people of freedom of speech.
- The Arms Act prohibited Indians from owning weapons without a license.
- Reduction in age for ICS examination reduced the chances of Indian candidates joining civil services.

The Ilbert Bill Controversy

Lord Ripon's Ilbert Bill, allowing Indian judges to try Europeans, faced violent opposition and was amended.
This incident exposed the racial arrogance of Europeans and highlighted the need for a national body to protect Indian interests.

The Indian National Congress

The Indian National Congress was established in 1885, reflecting national aspirations.
Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British official, initiated the organization with support from Indian nationalist leaders.
First session was held in Bombay in December 1885, presided over by W. C. Bonnerjee and attended by 72 delegates.

Aims of the Congress:

Promote friendly relations among nationalist workers.
Develop and strengthen national unity.
Formulate popular demands and present them to the government.
Train and organize public opinion.
Initially, the Congress affirmed loyalty to the British Crown and sought greater Indian involvement in the government.
Over time, its attitude transformed into a demand for complete independence ('Poorna Swaraj').

Phases of Indian National Movement

Early nationalist phase: 1885-1905
Assertive nationalist phase: 1905-1918
Gandhian phase: 1918-1947

The Early Nationalists (Moderates) (1885-1905)

Led by educated middle-class intellectuals like Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjea, and Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
Believed British rule conferred benefits on India and remaining under British was in their interest.
Convinced British would introduce reforms to suit Indian interests and had faith in British justice.

Objectives of Early Nationalists:

Proper Indian participation in government and gradual move towards self-government.

Methods of Early Nationalists:

Peaceful and constitutional methods, presenting grievances and waiting for government action.
Promoting unity, spreading political awareness, and building public opinion through meetings and the press.
Sending delegations to England to persuade reforms.

Demands of the Early Nationalists:

Desired British to introduce welfare reforms for all Indian society sections.

Contribution of the Early Nationalists:

Established a solid foundation for a more radical approach.
Spread awareness and instilled a sense of national unity.
Trained Indians in political affairs, ideas of freedom, democracy, secularism, and nationalism.
Beliefs in peaceful change and secularism remained relevant.
By the 20th century, new trends appeared, and leadership passed to assertive nationalists.

The Assertive Nationalists (Radicals) (1905-1918)

Led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Aurobindo Ghosh.
No faith in British justice, viewing British rule as a curse.
Believed British interests clashed with Indian interests, hindering progress.

Objectives of Assertive Nationalists:

Immediate freedom (Swaraj) from British rule.

Methods of Assertive Nationalists:

No faith in constitutional methods of early nationalists, advocating active opposition.
Swaraj achieved through political agitation with mass involvement.
Congress transformed into a regiment of freedom fighters.

The Partition of Bengal (1905)

British partitioned Bengal in 1905 to divide and rule.
Assertive nationalists adopted boycott, swadeshi, and national education.
Aimed to separate Hindus from Muslims.
British policy created a rift between Hindu and Muslim communities.

The Surat Split (1907)

Partition of Bengal brought early nationalists and assertive nationalists together briefly.
Failed to agree on swadeshi and boycott movement aspects.
In 1907, Surat session of Congress, early nationalists expelled assertive nationalists.
British crushed the swadeshi movement; Tilak was imprisoned.

The Muslim League (1906)

Established in December 1906, led by Nawab Salimullah Khan.

Objectives of the Muslim League:

Promote loyalty towards the British government.
Protect and promote political rights of Muslims.
Prevent hostility towards other communities.
Served as a political platform for upper-class Muslims.
Supported partition of Bengal and demanded safeguards in government service.
Appealed for separate electorates, sounding the death knell of national unity.

The First World War and India (1914-1918)

The First World War in 1914 had a significant effect on the national movement.
India was drawn into the war as a British colony.
Indian leaders initially supported the British government with men and money.
More than a million Indian soldiers were sent overseas, and millions of pounds were given.
British promised self-government, but continued to ignore the Indian demands for reform.

The Home Rule Leagues (1916)

Two Home Rule Leagues were formed in 1916, one under Tilak and the other under Annie Besant.
The main aim was to achieve self-government within the British Empire after the war.

The Lucknow Session of the Congress (1916)

The pro-British attitude of Indian Muslims became anti-British during the war.
Nationalist Muslims like the Ali brothers spread nationalist ideas.
The growing unity between the League and the Congress led to the signing of the Lucknow Pact in 1916, to pave the way for political reforms in India.

The Indian National Movement (1917-1934)

Milestone

Following the Lucknow Pact, the British passed the Government of India Act, 1919.
The reforms failed to appease the people.
A new era of struggle began—the Gandhian era.

Emergence of Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in 1869.
Gandhiji studied law in England.
The racial discrimination and conditions under which Indians lived in South Africa shocked Gandhiji.
He evolved a technique known as satyagraha.

Gandhian Methods

Satyagraha is based on the twin principles of truth and non-violence.
A satyagrahi was one who believed in truth and non-violence.
Gandhiji insisted on non-violent methods of struggle.
Non-violent methods consisted of non-cooperation with the British government.
Gandhiji was a believer in social justice.
He championed the cause of the poor and the downtrodden.
He worked tirelessly to remove prejudices and change the mindset of the people.
He believed that political freedom was meaningless without social reforms.

Gandhiji's Early Campaigns

Gandhiji returned to India in 1915.
Champaran Satyagraha: tenant farmers of Champaran district against British indigo planters.
Ahmadabad Mill Strike: Workers’ strike against exploitative Indian mill owners.
Kheda Satyagraha: cultivators of Kheda district to stop paying land revenue to the government because the crops had failed.
The success of these movements had proved the efficiency of the Gandhian techniques of non-violence and satyagraha.
By 1919, Gandhiji had become the most important leader of the national movement.
He became very popular among the masses and led a number of mass movements.

Circumstances Leading to the Non-Cooperation Movement

Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy (1919):
- The British government adopted the policy of repression to crush the anti-British movement against the Rowlatt Act.
- 400 people were killed, and over 1,000 were injured.
- Gandhiji was horrified.
Khilafat Movement (1919):
- Turkey had been defeated in the First World War, which caused great resentment among Muslims all over the world, including India.

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920)

On 31 August 1920, under Gandhi's leadership, the Non-Cooperation Movement was launched.
People resigned from government services.
The ultimate goal of the Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Gandhiji in 1920 was the attainment of swaraj by peaceful and legitimate means.
The Non-Cooperation Movement had ended in failure, but the national spirit had been strengthened.

Lahore Session of the Congress (1929)

In December 1929, the Indian National Congress met in Lahore under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru.
The Congress passed a resolution declaring 'Poorna Swaraj' or 'Complete Independence' as its goal.
26 January 1930 was declared as 'Independence Day'.
The Congress also resolved to launch a Civil Disobedience Movement under the leadership of Gandhiji.

Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1934)

The Civil Disobedience Movement was a form of non-cooperation, involving the breaking of government laws.
The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched by Gandhiji in March 1930, with the Salt Satyagraha.
The Salt Satyagraha began with the historic Dandi March.
The movement spread rapidly.
The government suppressed the movement with force and brutality.

The Indian National Movement (1935-1947)

The Last Phase of Freedom Struggle

The Second World War started in 1939 and ended in 1945.
Japan joined the Second World War against Britain in 1942.
The British sent the Cripps Mission to India to resolve the political deadlock.

Quit India Movement (1942)

The menacing presence of the Japanese army posed a serious threat to India's security.
Gandhiji declared, 'Do or Die'.
The Congress passed the Quit India Resolution.
On 9 August, Gandhiji and other leaders were arrested.
The movement was savagely crushed.

The Indian National Army

Nationalist activity surfaced outside India's borders under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose.
Subhash Chandra Bose had resigned from the Congress in 1939 and formed a new party called the Forward Bloc.
Subhash Chandra Bose took over the leadership of the Indian Independence Movement in East Asia from Rash Behari Bose.
Captain Mohan Singh had organized the Azad Hind Fauj or the Indian National Army (INA).
Subhash Chandra Bose became the supreme commander of the INA.
In 1944, Netaji took an oath to liberate India, 'Give me blood and I will give you freedom.'
Japan was defeated by Allied Powers.
Japan surrendered after the atom bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose lives on in the memories of successive generations of Indians.

Indian Independence and Partition of India (1947)

In February 1947, the British government declared that power would be transferred to the Indians by June 1948.
Lord Mountbatten, the new Viceroy, arrived in India to prepare a plan for the transfer of power.
Mountbatten announced his plan for the division of British India into India and Pakistan.
The British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act in July 1947.
British rule in India finally came to an end on 15 August 1947.
With the unfurling of the Indian tricolour on the historic Red Fort, a new phase began in the history of India—the birth of a new dawn.
On 30 January 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated.
The Constitution of India was enacted and adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949.
It was introduced on 26 January 1950.
The Indian dominion was transformed into a sovereign, democratic republic.