10th Std. PDF: Gandhian Phase of Indian Nationalism - 1900-1947

www.tntextbooks.in Unit - 8 Nationalism: Gandhian Phase Learning Objectives To acquaint ourselves with „ Gandhian ph...

www.tntextbooks.in Unit - 8 Nationalism: Gandhian Phase Learning Objectives To acquaint ourselves with „ Gandhian phase of India’s struggle for independence „ Gandhi’s policy of ahimsa and satyagraha tried and tested for mobilisation of the masses in India „ Non-violent struggles in Champaran and against the Rowlatt Act „ The Non-Cooperation Movement and its fallout „ Emergence of radicals and revolutionaries and their part in the freedom movement „ Launch of Civil Disobedience Movement „ Issue of separate electorate and the signing of Poona Pact „ First Congress Ministries in the provinces and circumstances leading to the launch of Quit India Movement „ Communalism leading to partition of sub-continent into India and Pakistan Introduction  Gandhi and Mass 8.1 Mahatma Gandhi arrived in India in 1915 Nationalism from South Africa after fighting for the civil (a) Evolution of Gandhi rights of the Indians there for about twenty Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born years. He brought with him a new impulse on 2 October 1869 into a well to do family in to Indian politics. He introduced satyagraha, Porbandar, Gujarat. His father Kaba Gandhi which he had perfected in South Africa, that was the Diwan of Porbandar and later became could be practiced by men and women, young the Diwan of Rajkot. His mother Putlibai, and old. As a person dedicated to the cause influenced the young Gandhi. After passing the matriculation examination, Gandhi sailed to of the poorest of the poor, he instantly gained England in 1888 to study law. After becoming a the goodwill of the masses. In this lesson we barrister in June 1891 Gandhi returned to India shall see how Gandhi transformed the Indian as a firm believer in British sense of justice and National Movement. fair play. 89 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 89 21-12-2022 20:16:54  www.tntextbooks.in On returning to India, Gandhi’s attempt registration offices of immigrants were picketed. to practice in Bombay failed. It was during Even when the police let loose violence no this time that a Gujarati firm in South Africa, resistance was offered by the satyagrahis. Gandhi sought the services of Gandhi for assistance and other leaders were arrested. Indians, mostly in a law-suit. Gandhi accepted the offer and indentured labourers turned hawkers continued left for South Africa in April 1893. Gandhi the struggle despite police brutality. Finally, by faced racial discrimination for the first time in the Smuts-Gandhi Agreement the poll tax on South Africa. On his journey from Durban to indentured labourers was abolished. Pretoria, at the Pietermaritzburg railway station, 8.2  Gandhi’s Early he was physically thrown out of the first class compartment. Gandhi was determined to fight. Satyagrahas in India Gandhi regarded Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Gandhi called a meeting of the Indians in whom he had met on previous visits to India, the Transvaal and exhorted them to form an as his political guru. On his advice, Gandhi association to seek redress of their grievances. travelled the length and breadth of the country He continued to hold such meetings, petitioned before plunging into politics. This enabled him to the authorities about the injustices which to understand the conditions of the people. It is were in violation of their own laws. Indians on one of these journeys through Tamil Nadu in the Transvaal had to pay a poll tax of £ 3, that Gandhi decided to discard his following could not own land except in areas marked robes and wear a simple dhoti. for them, and could not move outdoors after 9 p.m. without a permit. He launched a struggle (a) Champaran Satyagraha against such unjust laws. In Champaran in Bihar the tinkathia system Gandhi was introduced to the works was practiced. Under this exploitative system the of Tolstoy and John Ruskin. He was deeply peasants were forced by the European planters influenced by Tolstoy’s The Kingdom of God is to cultivate indigo on three-twentieths of their Within You, Ruskin’s Unto this Last and Thoreau’s land holdings. Towards the end of nineteenth Civil Disobedience. Gandhi’s ideas were formed century German synthetic dyes had forced due to a blend of Indian and Western thought. indigo out of the market. The European planters Despite being deeply influenced by Western of Champaran, while realising the necessity of thinkers he was highly critical of Western relieving the cultivators of the obligation of civilisation and industrialisation. Inspired cultivating indigo, wanted to turn the situation by Ruskin, Gandhi established the Phoenix to their advantage. They enhanced the rent and Settlement (1905) and the Tolstoy Farm (1910). collected illegal dues as a price for the release Equality, community living and dignity of of cultivators from the obligation. Resistance labour were inculcated in these settlements. erupted. Rajkumar Shukla, an agriculturist They were training grounds for the satyagrahis. from Champaran who suffered hardships of the Satyagraha as a Strategy in South Africa Gandhi developed satyagraha (devotion to the truth, truth-force) as a strategy, in which campaigners went on peaceful marches and presented themselves for arrest in protest against unjust laws. He experimented with it for fighting the issues of immigration and racial discrimination. Meetings were held and Champaran Satyagraha Nationalism: Gandhian Phase 90 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 90 21-12-2022 20:16:55  www.tntextbooks.in system, prevailed on Gandhi to visit Champaran. General Dyer’s Brutality On reaching Chamaparan, Gandhi was asked by the police to leave immediately. When he On 13 April 1919 a refused he was summoned for trial. The news public meeting was arranged spread like wild fire and thousands swarmed at Jallianwala Bagh in the place in support of Gandhi. According to Amritsar. As it happened Gandhi, “The country thus had its first object- to be Baisaki day (spring harvest festival of Sikhs) the lesson in Civil Disobedience”. He was assisted villagers had assembled there in thousands. by Brajkishore Prasad, a lawyer by profession, General Reginald Dyer, on hearing of the and Rajendra Prasad, who became the first assemblage, surrounded the place with his President of independent India. The Lieutenant troops and an armoured vehicle. The only Governor eventually formed a committee with entrance to the park that was surrounded on Gandhi as a member which recommended all sides by high walls was blocked, and firing the abolition of the tinkathia system, thereby took place without any warning. The firing ending the oppression of the peasants by the lasted for ten minutes till the troops ran out Indigo Planters. of ammunition. According to official report The success of Champaran satyagraha, 379 were killed and more than thousand followed by his fruitful intervention in injured. Unofficial estimates put the toll at Ahmedabad mill strike (1918) and the Kheda more than a thousand. After the incident Satyagraha (1918) helped Gandhi establish martial law was declared and many people himself as a leader of mass struggle. Unlike in the Punjab especially Amritsar were earlier leaders, Gandhi demonstrated his flogged and forced to crawl on the streets. ability to mobilise the common people across The brutality enraged Indians. Rabindranath the country. Tagore returned his knighthood. Gandhi surrendered his Kaiser-i-Hind medal. (b) Rowlatt Satyagraha and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (c) Khilafat Movement The Government of India Act 1919, The First World War came to an end however, caused disappointment, as it did not in 1918. The Caliph of Turkey, who was transfer real power to the Indians. Besides, the considered the head of Muslims of the world, government began to enforce the permanent was given a harsh treatment. A movement extension of war time restrictions. The Rowlatt was started called Khilafat Movement led by Act was enacted which provided for excessive the Ali brothers, Maulana Mohamed Ali and police powers, arrest without warrant and Maulana Shaukat Ali. Gandhi supported the detention without trial. Gandhi called it a movement and saw in it an opportunity to ‘Black Act’ and in protest called for a nation- unite Hindus and Muslims. He presided over wide satyagraha on 6 April 1919. It was to be the All India Khilafat Conference held at a non-violent struggle with fasting and prayer, Delhi in November 1919. Gandhi supported and it was the earliest anti-colonial struggle Shaukat Ali’s proposal of three national spread across the country. The anti-Rowlatt slogans, Allaho Akbar, Bande Mataram protest was intense in Punjab, especially in and Hindu-Musslamanki Jai. The Khilafat Amritsar and Lahore. Gandhi was arrested and Committee meeting in Allahabad on 9 June prevented from visiting Punjab. On 9 April two 1920 adopted Gandhi’s non-violent non- prominent local leaders Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew cooperation programme. Non-Cooperation and Dr. Satyapal were arrested in Amritsar. was to begin on 1 August 1920. 91 Nationalism: Gandhian Phase 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 91 21-12-2022 20:16:55  www.tntextbooks.in 8.3  Non-Cooperation burnt the police station 22 policemen lost Movement and their lives. Gandhi immediately withdrew the movement. Its Fallout (b) Swarajists The Indian National Congress approved the non-cooperation movement in a special Meanwhile Congress was divided into session held in Calcutta on September 1920. It two groups viz. pro-changers and no-changers. was subsequently passed in the Nagpur Session Some of the Congressmen led by Motilal Nehru held on December 1920, Chaired by Salem and C.R. Das wanted to contest the elections C.Vijayaraghavachariar. The programme of and enter the legislature. They argued that the non-cooperation included: national interest could be promoted by working in the Legislative Councils under Dyarchy 1. Surrender of all titles of honours and and wrecking the colonial government within. honorary offices. They were called the pro-changers. Staunch 2. Non-participation in government followers of Gandhi like Vallabhbhai Patel, functions. C. Rajaji and others, known as no-changers, 3. Suspension of practice by lawyers, and wanted to continue non-cooperation with the settlement of court disputes by private government. Despite the opposition C.R. Das arbitration. and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party on 4. Boycott of government schools by children 1 January 1923, which was later approved by a and parents. special session of the Congress. Swaraj Party 5. Boycott of the legislature created under the members were elected in large numbers to the 1919 Act. Imperial Legislative Assembly and the various 6. Non-participation in government parties Provincial Legislative Councils. They effectively and other official functions. 7. Refusal to accept any civil or military post. 8. Boycott of foreign goods and spreading the doctrine of Swadeshi. (a) No-Tax Campaign and Chauri Chaura Incident Gandhi announced a no-tax campaign in Bardoli in February 1922. These movements greatly enhanced Gandhi’s reputation as a C.R. Das Motilal Nehru national leader, especially the peasants. Gandhi Dyarchy, a system of dual government made a nation-wide tour. Wherever he visited introduced under the Government of there was a bonfire of foreign cloth. Thousands India Act 1919, divided the powers of the left government jobs, students gave up their provincial government into Reserved and studies in large numbers and the lawyers gave Transferred subjects. The Reserved Subjects up thriving practices. Boycott of British goods comprising finance, defence, the police, and institutions were effective. The boycott of justice, land revenue, and irrigation were the Prince of Wales’ visit to India was successful. in the hands of the British. The Transferred On 5 February 1922 a procession of the Subjects that included local self-government, nationalists in Chauri Chaura, a village near education, public health, public works, Gorakhpur in present-day Uttar Pradesh agriculture, forests and fisheries were left provoked by the police turned violent. The under the control of Indian ministers. The police finding themselves outnumbered shut system ended with the introduction of themselves inside the police station. The mob provincial autonomy in 1935. Nationalism: Gandhian Phase 92 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 92 21-12-2022 20:16:55  www.tntextbooks.in used the legislature as a platform for propagation the Commission went there were protests, and of nationalist ideas. In Bengal, they refused to black flag marches with the slogan ‘Go Back take charge of transferred subjects, as they did Simon’. The protesters were brutally assaulted not want to cooperate with the government. by the police. In one such assault in Lahore, Lal They exposed the true nature of the colonial Lajpat Rai was seriously injured and died a few government. However, the Swaraj Party began days later. to decline after the death of its leader C.R. Das (e) Nehru Report in 1925. The Simon boycott united the different (c) Constructive Programme political parties in India. An all party conference of Gandhi was held in 1928 with the objective to frame a After the Chauri Chaura incident, Gandhi constitution for India as an alternative to the felt that the volunteers and the people had to Simon Commission proposals. A committee be trained for a non-violent struggle. As a part under the leadership of Motilal Nehru was of this effort he focused on promoting Khadi, formed to outline the principles on the basis of Hindu-Muslim unity and the abolition of which the constitution was to be drafted. The untouchability. He exhorted the Congressmen, committee’s report, known as the Nehru Report, “Go throughout your districts and spread the recommended, message of Khaddar, the message of Hindu- „ Dominion status for India. Muslim unity, the message of anti-untouchability and take up in hand the youth of the country and „ Elections of the Central Legislature and the make them the real soldiers of Swaraj.” He made Provincial Legislatures on the basis of joint it compulsory for all Congress members to wear and mixed electorates. khaddar. The All India Spinner’s Association „ Reservation of seats for Muslims in the was formed. Central Legislature and in provinces where they are in a minority and for the Hindus in (d) Boycott of Simon Commission North-West Frontier Province where they On 8 November 1927, the British were in a minority. Government announced the appointment of „ Provision of fundamental rights, and the Indian Statutory Commission. Composed universal adult franchise. of seven members headed by Sir John Simon Jinnah proposed it came to be widely known as the Simon an amendment to the Commission. It was an all-white commission reservation of seats in the with no Indian member. Indians were angered Central Legislature. He that they had been denied the right to decide demanded that one-third their own constitution. All sections of India of the seats be reserved for including the Congress and the Muslim League Muslims. Tej Bahadur Sapru decided to boycott the commission. Wherever supported him and pleaded Jinnah that it would make no big difference. However, it was defeated in the All Party Conference. Later he proposed a resolution which came to be known as Jinnah’s Fourteen Points. However, it was also rejected. Jinnah who was hailed as Ambassador of Hindu–Muslim Unity thereafter changed his stand and began to espouse the cause of a "Go back Simon" Demonstration separate nation for Muslims. 93 Nationalism: Gandhian Phase 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 93 21-12-2022 20:16:55  www.tntextbooks.in 8.4 T  he Struggle for Poorna the march. At the age of 61 Gandhi covered a distance of 241 miles in 24 days to reach Dandi Swaraj and Launch at sunset on 5 April 1930. The next morning, he of Civil Disobedience took a lump of salt breaking the salt law. Movement Salt Satyagraha in Provinces Meanwhile some congressmen were not In Tamil Nadu, C. Rajaji led a similar salt satisfied with dominion status and wanted to march from Tiruchirappalli to Vedaranyam. demand complete independence. In the Congress Salt marches took place in Kerala, Andhra and session held in Lahore in December 1929 with Bengal. In the North West Frontier Province Jawaharlal Nehru as the President, Poorna Swaraj Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan led the movement. was declared as the goal. It was also decided to boycott the Round Table Conference and launch He organized the Khudai Khidmatgar, also a Civil Disobedience Movement. 26 January 1930 known as the Red Shirts. was declared as Independence Day and a pledge was taken all over the country to attain Poorna Swaraj non-violently through civil disobedience including non-payment of taxes. The Indian National Congress authorised Gandhi to launch the movement. (a) Salt Satyagraha Movement A charter of demands presented to the Rajaji making salt in Vedaranyam Viceroy Lord Irwin with an ultimatum to The British enacted the first forest act comply by 31 January 1930 included: in 1865. This act restricted the access of the „ Reduction of expenditure on army and forest dwellers to the forest areas to collect civil services by 50% firewood, cattle fodder and other minor „ Introduction of total prohibition of forest produce such as honey, seeds, nuts, liquor medicinal herbs. The Indian Forest Act of „ Release of all political prisoners 1878 claimed that original ownership of „ Reduction of land revenue by 50% forests was with the state. Waste lands and „ Abolition of salt tax. fallow lands were included as forest. Shifting cultivation practiced by, the tribal people, was prohibited. Alienation of forests from local control was stiffly resisted by the aggrieved adivasis (tribals) and the nationalists. The most striking evidence of continuing struggles of the tribal groups was the one Gandhiji’s Dandi March waged by Alluri Sitarama Raju in Rampa. When the Viceroy did not respond to Raju’s efforts at fighting corrupt officials the charter of demands, Gandhi launched the to protect the interests of Rampa tribals Civil Disobedience Movement. The inclusion prompted the British to target his life. A of abolition of salt tax was a brilliant tactical special Malabar Police team was sent to quell decision. At the break of dawn on 12 March 1930 the uprisings (1922-24) of Rampa Adivasis. Gandhi set out from Sabarmati Ashram with 78 of its inmates. The procession became larger Alluri Sitarama Raju attained martyrdom for and larger when hundreds joined them along the cause of forest dwellers. Nationalism: Gandhian Phase 94 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 94 21-12-2022 20:16:55  www.tntextbooks.in Gandhi was arrested at midnight and separate electorates for minorities. As a result, sent to Yeravada Jail. Jawaharlal Nehru, Khan the second conference ended without any result. Abdul Ghaffar Khan and other leaders were swiftly arrested. Soon other forms of protests (d) R  enewal of Civil Disobedience such as boycott of foreign cloth, picketing of Movement. liquor shops, non-payment of taxes, breaking of On returning to India, Gandhi revived forest laws etc. were adopted. Women, peasants, the Civil Disobedience Movement. This time tribals, students, even children and all sections the government was prepared to meet the participated in the nation-wide struggle. It was resistance. Martial law was enforced and Gandhi the biggest mass movement India had ever was arrested on 4 January 1932. Soon all the witnessed. Congress leaders were arrested too. Protests and picketing by the people were suppressed (b) Round Table Conferences with force. In the midst of the movement the First In the meantime, the Third Round Table Round Table Conference was held at London in Conference was held from 17 November to November 1930. Ramsay Macdonald, the British Prime Minister, proposed a federal government 24 December 1932. The Congress did not with provincial autonomy. The Congress did not participate in the conference as it had revived attend it as its leaders were in jail. The Conference the Civil Disobedience Movement. closed without any decision on the question. (c) Gandhi-Irwin Pact Lord Irwin held talks with Gandhi which resulted in the Gandhi–Irwin Pact on 5 March 1931. The British agreed to the demand of immediate release of all political prisoners not involved in violence, return of confiscated land and lenient treatment of government employees who had resigned. It also permitted the people Call for Civil Disobedience of coastal villages to make salt for consumption (e) Communal Award and and non-violent picketing. The Congress agreed Poona Pact to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement and attend the conference. Gandhi attended the On 16 August 1932, Ramsay MacDonald, Second Round Table Conference which began announced the Communal Award. It provided on 7 September 1931. Gandhi refused to accept separate electorates to the minorities, viz. Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo- Indians and women and the “depressed classes”. B.R. Ambedkar, the leader of the depressed classes, strongly argued for the separate electorate, as it, according to him, would give them political representation and power. On 20 September 1932, Gandhi went on a fast unto death against the separate electorates for the depressed classes. Madan Mohan Malaviya, Rajendra Prasad and others held talks with Ambedkar and M.C. Rajah the leaders of the Second Round Table Conference - London depressed classes. After intense negotiations 95 Nationalism: Gandhian Phase 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 95 21-12-2022 20:16:55  www.tntextbooks.in an agreement was arrived between Gandhi and foisting a series of cases in the 1920s. In a further Ambedkar. Known as the Poona Pact, its main attempt to eliminate the threat of communism terms were: M.N. Roy, S.A. Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, M. „ The principle of separate electorates was Singaravelar among others were arrested and abandoned. Instead, the principle of joint tried in the Kanpur Conspiracy Case of 1924. electorate was accepted with reservation of (a) Foundation of Communist Party seats for the depressed classes. The communists used „ Reserved seats for the depressed classes it as a platform to propagate were increased from 71 to 148. In the their views and to expose Central Legislature 18 percent of the seats the ‘true colour of British were reserved. rule in India’. In an attempt (f) Campaign Against to form a party an All India Untouchability Communist Conference was held at Kanpur in Gandhi devoted S.A. Dange 1925. Singaravelar gave the the next few years Presidential Address. It led towards abolition of to the founding of the Communist Party of untouchability. His India in Indian soil. Their efforts eventually led engagement with to the establishment of the All India Workers’ Dr. B.R. Ambedkar made and Peasants’ Party in 1928. a big impact on his ideas about the caste system. (b) Revolutionary Activities He shifted his base to the Satyagraha Ashram at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar The youths who were disillusioned with Wardha. He undertook the sudden withdrawal of the Non Cooperation an all-India tour called the Harijan Tour. He Movement by Gandhi took to violence. In started the Harijan Sevak Sangh to work for 1924 Hindustan Republican Army (HRA) was the removal of discriminations. He worked to formed in Kanpur to overthrow the colonial promote education, cleanliness and hygiene and rule by an armed rebellion. In 1925 Ram Prasad giving up of liquor among the depressed class. Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan and others held up a An important part of the campaign was the train carrying government money and looted Temple Entry Movement. 8 January 1933 was in Kakori, a village near Lucknow. They were observed as ‘Temple Entry Day’. arrested and tried in the Kakori Conspiracy Case. Four of them were sentenced to death while the others were sentenced to imprisonment. 8.5  Beginnings of Socialist Movements Inspired by the Russian Revolution of 1917 the Communist Party of India (CPI) was founded at Tashkent, Uzbekistan in October 1920. Bhagat Singh Rajguru Sukhdev M.N. Roy, Abani Mukherjee, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and their comrades and M.P.T. Acharya were some reorganized the HRA in Punjab. Influenced by of its founding members.The M.N. Roy socialist ideas they renamed it as Hindustan British government in India made vigorous Socialist Republican Association in 1928. efforts to suppress the communist movement by Sanders, a British police officer, responsible for Nationalism: Gandhian Phase 96 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 96 21-12-2022 20:16:55  www.tntextbooks.in the lathi charge that led to Lala Lajpat Rai’s workers hit by loss of income and wage death was assassinated. Bhagat Singh along with reduction, and problems of unemployment B.K. Dutt threw a smoke bomb inside the gained influence and was therefore banned in Central Legislative Assembly in 1929. They 1934. The Congress, as a movement with a wide shouted ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ and ‘Long Live the spectrum of political leanings, ranging from Proletariat’. He along with Rajguru was arrested the extreme Left to the extreme Right, welded and sentenced to death. Bhagat Singh’s daring together by the goal of Swaraj, emerged as a and courage fired the imagination of the youth powerful organisation. In 1934 the Congress across India, and he became popular across Socialist Party was formed by Jayaprakash India. Narayan, Acharya Narendra Dev and Minoo In April 1930, the Masani. Chittagong Armoury Raid ‘Real Swaraj will come not by acquisition was carried out by Surya of authority by a few, but by the acquisition Sen and his associates. They of the capacity by all to resist authority, when captured the armories in abused.’ - M. K. Gandhi Chittagong and proclaimed a provisional revolutionary Surya Sen government. They survived 8.6  First Congress Ministries for three years raiding government institutions. under Government of In 1933 Surya Sen was caught and hanged after India Act, 1935 a year. The Government of India Act 1935 was (c) Left Movement in the 1930s one of the important positive outcomes of the Civil Disobedience Movement. The key features By the 1930s the Communist Party of India of the Act were provincial autonomy and had gained strength in view of the economic dyarchy at the centre. The Act provided for an crisis caused by world-wide Great Depression. all India Federation with 11 provinces, 6 Chief Britain transmitted the effects of Depression commissioner’s provinces and all those Princely to its colonies. The effects of Depression were states which wished to join the federation. The reflected in decline in trade returns and fall in Act also provided autonomy to the provinces. agricultural prices. The governmental measures All the subjects were transferred to the control of included forcible collection of land revenue Indian ministers. Dyarchy that was in operation which in real terms had increased two-fold due in provinces was now extended to the central to a 50% fall in agricultural prices, the withdrawal government. The franchise, based on property, of money in circulation, retrenchment of staff was extended though only about ten percent of and expenditure on developmental works. the population enjoyed the right to vote. By this Act Burma was separated from India. (a) Congress Ministries and their Work The Government of India Act 1935 was implemented with the announcement of elections in 1937. The Congress immensely Jayaprakash Acharya Minoo Narayan benefitted because of the Civil Disobedience Narendra Dev Masani Movement. The Congress called off its In this context, the Communist Party, programme of boycott of legislature and fighting for the cause of peasants and industrial contested elections. It emerged victorious in 97 Nationalism: Gandhian Phase 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 97 21-12-2022 20:16:55  www.tntextbooks.in seven out of the eleven provinces. It formed 8.7  Developments ministries in 8 provinces – Madras, Bombay, leading to Quit India Central Provinces, Orissa, Bihar, United Movement Provinces, North West Frontier Province. In Assam it formed a coalition government (a) Individual Satyagraha with Assam Valley Muslim Party led by Sir Muhammad Sadullah. The Congress In August 1940 Ministries functioned as a popular government Viceroy Linlithgow made and responded to the needs of the people. an offer in return for The salaries of ministers were reduced from Congress’ support for the Rs. 2000 to Rs. 500 per month. Earlier action war effort. Hence Gandhi taken against nationalists were rescinded. They declared limited satyagraha repealed the Acts which vested emergency which would be offered by powers in the government, lifted the ban a few individuals. Vinobha imposed on political organisations except the Bhave was the first to offer Vinobha Bhave Communist Party, and removed the restrictions satyagraha on 17 October on the nationalist press. Police powers were 1940. The satyagraha curbed and reporting by the CID on political continued till the end of the year. During this speeches discontinued. Legislative measures period more than 25,000 people were arrested. were adopted for reducing indebtedness of (b) Cripps Mission the peasantry and improving the working conditions of the industrial labour. Temple On 22 March 1942, the British government entry legislation was passed. Special attention sent a mission under Cabinet Minister Sir was paid to education and public health. Strafford Cripps. The negotiations between the Cripps Mission and the Congress failed (b) Resignation of Congress as Britain was not willing to transfer effective Ministries power immediately. The Cripps Mission offered: In 1939 the Second World War broke out. 1. Grant of Dominion Status after the War The colonial government of India entered the 2. Indian Princes could sign a separate War on behalf of the Allies without consulting agreement with the British implying the the Congress ministries. The Congress acceptance for the demand of Pakistan. ministries resigned in protest. By 1940 he was 3. British control of defence during the War. demanding a separate state for the Muslims. Both the Congress and the Muslim League (c ) National Movement during rejected the proposal. Gandhi called the proposals the Second World War, as a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank. 1939–45 In 1939 Subhas (c) "Do or Die" Call by Gandhi Chandra Bose became the President of the The outcome of the Cripps Mission Congress by defeating caused considerable disappointment. Popular Pattabhi Sitaramayya, discontent was intensified by war time shortages the candidate of Gandhi. and steep rise in prices. The All India Congress When Gandhi refused Committee that met at Bombay on 8 August to cooperate, Subhas 1942 passed the famous Quit India Resolution Chandra Bose resigned demanding an immediate end to British rule in his post and started the Pattabhi India. Gandhi gave a call to do or die. Gandhi Forward Bloc. Sitaramayya said, ‘We shall either free India or die in the Nationalism: Gandhian Phase 98 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 98 21-12-2022 20:16:55  www.tntextbooks.in attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation Powers which included Great Britain, he went of our slavery.” A non-violent mass struggle to Germany. In February 1943, he made his under Gandhi was to be launched. But early way to Japan on a submarine and took control next morning on 9 August 1942 Gandhi and the of the Indian National Army. The Indian entire Congress leadership was arrested. National Army Captain Lakshmi Sahgal headed it (Azad Hind Fauj) had earlier been (d) Role of Socialists organized by Gen. Mohan Singh with Indian With Gandhi and prisoners of war with the support of Japanese other prominent leaders in Malaya and Burma. Bose reorganised it of the Congress in jail, into three brigades: Gandhi Brigade, Nehru the Socialists provided Brigade and a women’s brigade named after the leadership for the Rani of Jhansi. Subhas Chandra Bose formed movement. Jayaprakash the Provisional Government of Free India in Narayan and Ramanand Singapore. He gave the slogan ‘Dilli Chalo’. Misra escaped from INA was deployed as part of the Japanese prison and organised an forces. However, the defeat of Japan stopped underground movement. Aruna Asaf Ali the advance of INA. The airplane carrying Women activists like Aruna Asaf Ali played a Subhas Chandra Bose crashed bringing to an heroic role. Usha Mehta established Congress end his crusade for freedom. Radio underground which successfully functioned till November 1942. (e) People’s Response As news spread to different parts of India, a spontaneous protest broke out everywhere. The people protested in whatever form that they could, such as hartals, strikes, picketing. The government suppressed it with brute force. People attacked government buildings, railway stations, telephone and telegraph Subhas Chandra Bose’s INA lines and all that stood as symbols of British The British government arrested the INA authority. This was particularly widespread officers and put them on trial in the Red Fort. in Madras. Parallel governments were The trial became a platform for nationalist established in Satara, Orissa, Bihar, United propaganda. The Congress set up a defence Provinces and Bengal. committee comprising Nehru, Tej Bahadur (f) Subhas Chandra Bose and INA Sapru, Bhulabhai Desai and Asaf Ali. Though the INA officers were convicted they were Subhas Chandra Bose released due to public pressure. The INA who had left the Congress exploits and the subsequent trials inspired the was now under house arrest. Indians. He wanted to strike British hard by joining its enemies. In March 1941, he made a 8.8 Towards Freedom dramatic escape from his (a) Royal Indian Navy Revolt house in disguise and reached Afghanistan. Initially he wanted to get the support of Soviet The Royal Indian Navy ratings revolted Union. After the Soviet Union joined the Allied at Bombay in February 1946. It soon spread 99 Nationalism: Gandhian Phase 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 99 21-12-2022 20:16:55  www.tntextbooks.in Indian National Movement (1900 - 1947) N Kashmir W E S Lahore Jallianwalabagh (Amritsar) Meerut Delhi Lucknow Kanpur Chauri Chaura Gorakhpur Champaran Assam Allahabad Patna Jhansi Sabarmati Ashram Kheda (Ahmedabad) Bengal Calcutta Bardoli Chittagong Dandi Nagpur Wardha Orissa Bombay Poona Satara Arabian Bay of Sea Bengal Anda man and Nicobar I Madras Lakshad (India) (India) weep Islands Vedaranyam sl a ds n Not to Scale Indian Ocean Nationalism: Gandhian Phase 100 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 100 21-12-2022 20:16:56  www.tntextbooks.in to other stations involving more than 20,000 and foreign affairs. The provinces were divided ratings. Similar strikes occurred in the Indian into three groups viz. Non-Muslim Majority Air Force and the Indian Signal Corps at Provinces, Muslim Majority Provinces in Jabalpur. Thus the British hegemonic control the Northwest and the Muslim Majority ceased even in the armed forces. Provinces in the Northeast. A Constituent Assembly was to be elected and an interim government set up with representation for all the communities. The Congress and the Muslim League accepted the plan. However, both interpreted it differently. (d) Direct Action Day Call by Muslim League Difference arose between Congress and Muslim League when the former nominated a Muslim member. The League argued it was Royal Indian Navy Revolt to be the sole representative of the Muslims (b) Negotiating Independence: and withdrew its approval. Jinnah declared Simla Conference 16 August 1946 as the ‘Direct Action Day’. Hartals and demonstrations took place which The Wavell Plan was announced on soon turned into Hindu-Muslim conflict. 14 June 1945. It provided for an interim It spread to other districts of Bengal. The government, with an equal number of Hindus district of Noakhali was the worst affected. and Muslims in the Viceroy’s Executive Council. All portfolios, except war portfolio, (e) Mountbatten Plan was to be held by Indian ministers. However, in the Simla Conference, the Congress and The interim government headed by the Muslim League could not come to an Jawaharlal Nehru was formed in September agreement. Jinnah demanded that all the 1946. After some hesitation the Muslim Muslim members should be from the Muslim League joined it in October 1946. Its League and they should have a veto on all representative Liaqat Ali Khan was made important matters. In the provincial elections the Finance Member. In February 1947, held in early 1946 the Congress won most of Clement Atlee declared that power would be the general seats and the Muslim League won transferred by June 1948. Lord Mountbatten most of the seats reserved for the Muslims was sent as Viceroy to India with the specific thus bolstering its claim. task of transfer of power. On 3 June 1947 (c) Cabinet Mission the Mountbatten Plan was announced. It In Britain, the Labour Party had won a proposed: landslide victory and Clement Atlee became „ Power would be transferred on the basis the Prime Minister. He declared that he of dominion status to India and Pakistan. wanted to transfer power at the earliest. He sent a Cabinet Mission comprising „ Princely states would have to join either Pethick Lawrence, Sir Strafford Cripps and India or Pakistan. A.V. Alexander. Rejecting the demand for Pakistan, it provided for a Federal government „ Boundary commission was to be set up with control over defence, communications under Radcliffe Brown and the award 101 Nationalism: Gandhian Phase 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 101 21-12-2022 20:16:56  www.tntextbooks.in would be announced after the transfer of power. „ Punjab and Bengal Legislative Assemblies would vote on whether they should be partitioned. (f) Independence and Partition The Mountbatten Plan was given effect by the enactment of the Indian Independence Act on 18 July 1947 by the British Parliament. The Act abolished the sovereignty of the British Parliament over India. India was partitioned into two dominions – India and Pakistan. On 15 August 1947 India won independence. Arrival of refugees in the wake of Partition SUMMARY „ Gandhiji’s experiments with truth, ahimsa and satyagraha in South Africa and his evolution as a mass leader are explained. „ His call for Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience and Quit India Movements and the fallout of these mass struggles in the form of legislation such as Government of India Act, 1919 and Government of India Act, 1935 and Independence Act, 1947 are detailed. „ Role played by Socialists and Communists and Revolutionaries represented by Bhagat Singh, Subhas Chandra Bose and outcome of their activities are highlighted. „ Use of religion for political mobilisation by Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim League leading to partition is discussed. GLOSSARY passive political resistance advocated by satyagraha அறப்போர், சத்தியாகிரகம் Mahatma Gandhi அரசியல் சட்ட விதிகளைப் constitutionalist adherent of constitutional methods பின்பற்றுபவர் unjust or differential treatment of different ஜாதி, க ொள்கை ப ோன்றவற்றின் discrimination categories of people, especially on grounds அடிப்படையில் வேறுபாடு காட்டுகிற of caste, creed, etc exhort strongly encourage or urge to do something வற்புறுத்து, நற்செயலுக்கேவு allegiance to one’s own ethnic, religious or communalism வகுப்புவாதம் caste group rather than to wider society தன்னாட்சியுரிமையுடைய குடியேற்ற dominion self-governing territory நாடு all the people in a country or area who are electorate வாக்காளர் த ொகுதி entitled to vote in an election ultimatum a final demand or statement of terms கடைசி அறிவிப்பு, இறுதி எச்சரிக்கை alienation Isolation தனிமைப்படுதல் a secret plan by a group to do something conspiracy கூட்டுச்சதி செய்தல், சதித்திட்டம் unlawful or harmful Nationalism: Gandhian Phase 102 08_History_Unit_8_EM.indd 102 21-12-2022 20:16:56