Nationalism and Political Identities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America: Indian Independence Movement

Nationalism and Political Identities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America

• Focus on the Indian Independence Movement and general patterns in nationalist and anti-colonialist movements globally.

Emergence of Nationalist Movements

• Expansion of Modern Infrastructure: Colonial powers developed infrastructure such as ports and railroads to facilitate resource extraction and commerce.

  • Increased modern transportation and communication were crucial for imperial dominance.

• Industrial Economy: Large reliance on importing raw materials and exporting manufactured goods.

  • Industrialized countries needed access to pre-industrial societies for raw materials and markets.

• Role of Education: Western-style education was vital for the emergence of a local elite.

  • Colonizers encouraged elite families to send their children to British educational institutions.
  • Educated elites served as intermediaries between the local population and colonial authorities (e.g., Gandhi, Sun Yat-sen, Jomo Kenyatta).

Influential Figures in the Movement

• Mahatma Gandhi:

  • Studied law in London and previously practiced in South Africa, fighting for Indian rights during apartheid.
  • Returned to India in 1915 and transformed the Indian National Congress from an elitist to a populist movement.

• Sun Yat-sen and Jomo Kenyatta: Both educated in the West, they played significant roles in their respective nationalist movements after observing and opposing colonial rule.

• Ho Chi Minh: Worked in France and became involved in the communist movement, later returning to Vietnam to lead a nationalist movement.

Impact of Racism and Western Ideals

• Asian elites experienced racism in Western countries, later adopting ideas of democracy and individual rights as they returned home.

• This awareness fueled the nationalist movements as they observed the stark contrast between Western freedoms and their own colonial subjugation.

Indian National Congress (INC)

• Founded in 1885: Initially a political operation of the elite, seeking British support for self-rule.

  • Early members were educated elites with connections to British society.
  • INC initially sought to cultivate British support rather than mass support among Indians.

• Religious Tensions: Cooperation between Hindus and Muslims within INC deteriorated over time, culminating in the partition of India in 1947.

  • British encouraged divisions, leading to communal violence and eventual separation into India and Pakistan.

British Colonial Strategies

• Divide and Rule: British authorities fostered communal divisions to keep nationalist movements weak.
• The Muslim League formed in 1906, countering INC's vision for a united India.
• The Role of the British in WWI: Indians expected reward for support in the war but faced increased repressive measures instead.

Gandhi’s Resistance Methods

• Adopted Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (passive resistance) as foundational principles for the independence movement.

  • Critiqued the caste system and advocated for the rights of the untouchables, calling them ‘children of God’.

• Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922): Strategy of boycotting British institutions (education, military, etc.) to undermine colonial rule.

• Following events like the Amritsar Massacre (1919), non-violent protests escalated, leading to heightened tension but also strengthening the resolve for independence.

Salt March and Civil Disobedience

• Civil Disobedience Movement (1930): Components included the Salt March, where Gandhi and followers protested the British salt monopoly.

  • Thousands joined, successfully producing and distributing salt, challenging British authority directly.

• Impact of Global Events: The Great Depression and WWII weakened British control, leading to increased demands for independence.

Independence and Partition (1947)

• India gained independence amid the partition into Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan.
  • The mass displacement led to violence and significant casualties as communities that coexisted faced segregation.
  • Kashmir remains a disputed territory, exemplifying long-term conflicts stemming from that period.

Broader Context of Decolonization

• The Indian independence movement was part of a wider wave of decolonization throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America during the 20th century.
  • While sharing patterns, each independence struggle bore unique characteristics and contexts.