The Making of The National Movement
The Making of The National Movement
The Making of The National Movement
Nationalism Emerges
Britishers were exercising control on lives of Indian and India’s resources – so
need was to end this control
Political associations after 1850 depicted this clearly – especially those in 1870s
and 1880s
Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (of or for all people) – goal of all people of India
irrespective of region, community or class –with idea of Sovereign (act without
interference)
Reasons for intensification of dissatisfaction from British rule
Arms Act, 1878 – Indians couldn’t possess arms
Vernacular Press Act – silence those who were critical of government, confiscate
newspaper asset if the content was objectionable
Ilbert Bill, 1883 – trial of British persons by Indian and equality b/w Indian and
British judges (but was withdrawn as whites opposed) – racial attitude of
Britishers
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The Making of the National Movement
Freedom is Our Birth Right
Partition of Bengal
In 1905 by Lord Curzon
Bengal was biggest province of British India and included Bihar and Odisha
Tied to British interests
Rather than removing the non-Bengali areas from the province, government
separated East
Bengal and merged it with Assam
British wanted to curtail influence of Bengali politicians and split Bengali people
Both moderates and extremists opposed it
Public meetings and demonstrations were made
Swadeshi Movement
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The Making of the National Movement
Rowlatt Act
1919 – satyagraha against Rowlatt Act (it curbed freedom of expression and
strengthened police powers)
Criticized by Gandhi and Jinnah as devilish and 6th April as “day of humiliation
and prayer” with hartals (strikes)
Satyagraha sabhas were set up –against British government but was restricted to
cities
Jallianwala Bagh atrocities, inflicted by General Dyer in Amritsar on Baisakhi
day (13 April), were a part of this repression
Tagore renounced the knighthood (honor granted by British Crown for
exceptional achievement)
Hindus and Muslims were united against the fight
Khilafat Agitation
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The Making of the National Movement
Congress to campaign against Jallianwala massacre, Khilafat wrongs and demand
swaraj
Non-Cooperation Movement
People’s Mahatma
Considered messiah by some
Build class unity and not class conflict
Help in fight against zamindars
Peasants in Pratapgarh in United Provinces (UP) managed to stop illegal eviction
of tenants
Happenings of 1922-29
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The Making of the National Movement
Assembly on 8 April 1929. He was tried and executed at age of 23
1927 – Simon Commission by Lord Simon to decide India’s political future with
no Indian representative – created outrage in India – “Simon Go back”
1929 – Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) under Jawaharlal Nehru and 26
Jan 1930 was observed as Independence Day
Dandi March
1930 – March to break salt law (state has monopoly over manufacture and sale of
salt) as it was sinful to tax salt
240 miles from Sabarmati to the coastal town of Dandi
Sarojini Naidu (1st women president of INC) persuaded him to allow women to
join the movement
Participation of rich and poor, peasants and tribals
Govt. tried to crus action against peaceful satyagrahis
GoI Act 1935 – brought provincial autonomy
1937 – Govt. announced elections to provincial legislatures (Congress govt. was
formed in 7 of 11 provinces)
In 1939, WW-II broke out – Congress leaders were ready to support British
against Hitler but wanted independence which was refused by British
Veer Lakhan Nayak (a legendary tribal leader who defied the British) was
hanged.
Baji Mohammed, President of the Nabrangpur Congress in Orissa mobilized
20,000 people – participated in WW-II and Quit India Movement
Women in Freedom Struggle - Ambabai of Karnataka had been married at age
12. Widowed at 16, she picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops in Udipi. She was
arrested, served a sentence and was rearrested. Between prison terms she made
speeches, taught spinning, and organized prabhat pheris. Ambabai regarded these
as the happiest days of her life because they gave it a new purpose and
commitment.
In 1941 – Subhash Chnadra Bose founded INA (Indian National Army) – he left
secretly
from Calcutta to Singapore via Germany to raise fund for Azad Hind Fauj. In
1944, it entered India through Imphal and Kohima but campaign failed
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The Making of the National Movement
In March 1946 the British cabinet sent 3-member mission to Delhi to examine
this demand and to suggest a suitable political framework for a free India – India
must be united and must be a confederation with autonomy of Muslim majority
areas (but could not get Muslim
League to agree on specific details of proposal) – partition became inevitable now
After failure of Cabinet Misison – Muslim League decided for mass agitation to
win Pakistan demand
16 August 1946 – announced as “Direct Action Day” – riots in Calcutta and by
March 1947 to major parts of India
Joy of independence came with mixed pain and violence of Partition
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Badshah Khan) – Pashtun leader from NWFP &
founder of Khudai Khidmatgars (non-violent movement amongst Pathans) –
opposed partition & criticized Congress for agreeing for 1947 division
Maulana Azad (born in Mecca) – Bengali father and Arab mother – scholar of
Islam - exponent of the notion of wahadat-i-deen, the essential oneness of all
religions – Hindu Muslim unity and opposed Jinnah’s two-nation theory
C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) – member of Interim Govt. in 1946 & as free India’s
first Indian Governor General – Salt Satyagarha in south
Sardar Patel – Born in Karamsad, Gujarat – from peasant-proprietor family –
freedom movement and president of INC in 1931
Mohammad Ali Jinnah – Promoter of Hindu-Muslim unity till 1920 – main role
in Lucknow Pact but recognized Muslim league after 1934 & major spokesperson
for demand for Pakistan
Jawaharlal Nehru - leading architect of the national movement and of free
India’s economy and polity.
Nationalism in Africa
Colonial rule in Africa was dictatorial
Only “Chiefs” were allowed to rule on behalf of the foreign powers
Laws affecting Africans were created in all-white legislatures
Africans had no decision-making powers or representation, not until after WW-II
at least.
1957 – Ghana (Gold Coast) was 1st Sub-Saharan African nation to gain
independence –
movement led by Kwame Nkrumah’s Convention People’s Party
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