Freedom Movement in India

Summary:

History of Indian Independence

Britishers came to India as traders.

With the downfall of Mughal empire they established political supremacy through wars and diplomacy.

This prolonged process started with occupation of Bengal to annexation of Punjab.

A revolt against British rule in northern and central India was made which is called as First war of Indian Independence in 1857.

Indians began to feel that British Government was ignoring their welfare but the government kept assuring that their welfare was its primary objective. Indeed they would leave the country when the Indians are fit for self-government.

Indian National Congress

With the emergence of national consciousness after 1857 need for an organization that could safeguard national interests which led the foundation of INC.

Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 largely through the efforts made by a retired civil servant A.O. Hume under the presidentship of W.C. Banerjee. Its first session held in Mumbai with 85 delegates. It provided a platform to gather people who were committed for welfare and freedom of India.

W.C. Bonnerjee (first president of INC)

Moderate Phase of Congress (1885-1905)

Initial reforms

1. Representative government

2. Indianization of administration

Dadabhai-naoroji (Grand-old-man-of-india)

Bal-gangadhar-tilak

Emergence of Nationalism

1. When the political activities were slow and dissatisfaction was growing Balgangadhar Tilak emerged as National leader. He gave the slogan "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it". He started Ganpati and Shivaji festival to popularize nationalism.

Bal-gangadhar-tilak

2. Aurbindo Ghosh (Passive Resistance)

3. Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai

Lala-lajpat-rai

Bipin-chandra-pal

Nationalism became religion Indian became Mother (Bharatmata)

Emergence of Extremists

Leaders who were not satisfied with moderate leadership of congress were called extremists. They got their chance after partition of Bengal in 1905 by Lord Curzon. This was seen as a move to separate Bengali, Hindu and Muslims to weaken the rising power of Indian nationalism. With their influence congress adopted the three resolution of Swadeshi, boycott and national education.

But in 1907 the moderate threw them out of congress in 1907.

Government took heavy action and at the same time announced Morle Minto reforms in 1909 (separate electorate of Muslims).

When the first World War started in 1914 Britain asked Indian to help saying they were fighting to save the democracy.

All India Muslim League founded in in Dacca (1906)

Home Rule League started by Tilak and Annie Besant.

Lucknow session in 1996 and union of Congress and Muslim League and Congress accepted back the extremists. (Lucknow pact)

After the war government decided to retain some emergency power to curb the revolutionaries and passed Rowlatt Act, or the Black Act. By a call of Mahatma Gandhi thousands of people were gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. General Dyer ordered a virtual massacre and thousands of people died.

Jallianwala-bagh-massacre

The whole country was shocked and Gandhiji was convinced that British rule was satanic.

Government announced Montagu Chelmsford Reforms in 1919. Indians found it inadequate, unsatisfactory and disappointing.

Uniting the Khilafat Movement Gandhiji launched Non Co-operation movement in 1920, which was great success.

Gandhiji withdrew the movement in February 1922 after Chauri Chaura (Gorakhpur, UP) case in which 22 policeman were burnt alive by the Satyagrahis.

Simon Commission formed in 1927 to review the constitutional situation in India. But Indians boycott it as there was no Indian member in it.

Demand of Purna Swaraj in Lahore session in 1929 under the presidentship of Nehru. 26 January was celebrated as Independence day after that.

Civil Dis-obedience started in 1930 by Dandi March. The government was in great difficulty to handle the revolutionaries as well as the satyagrahis. So Viceroy Irwin was forced to negotiate with Gandhiji and Gandhiji in turn ended the civil disobedience movement.

Gandhi Irwin Pact 1931 and Round table Conference.

Government of India act passed in 1930. Congress fought the elections and won in six provinces in 1937.

During Second World War (1939-1945) British made India a party without consulting Indian leaders.

Quite India Movement (August 1942)

Congress wanted to help the Britishers if they handed over power after the war but the talk failed and Gandhiji started Quite-India Movement which spread like a wild fire.

Subhas Chandra Bose wanted that India should use Britisher's crisis to get freedom. During the war he secretly went out of the country and formed Azad Hind Fauz INA-Indian National Army in Singapore 1943.

India got freedom but it came with partition of India (Resolution of separate Pakistan was led by Jinnah at its Lahore session 1940.

Question and Answers:

Q.1  How were the British able to establish their empire in India?

Ans. The British were able to establish their empire in India through diplomacy and  battle.

Q.2  What happened in 1857?

Ans. In 1857 central and northern India people revolted against the British.

Q.3  What did the British say about their primary objective?

Ans. The British said that the welfare of the people was their primary objective.

Q.4  When was the need for an organization that could safeguard national interest felt?

Ans. Soon after the first war of independence 1857, the need for an organization that could safeguard national interest felt.

Q.5  When as the dream of having a national organization finally fulfilled?

Ans. In 1885, when the Congress was formed the dream of having a national organization finally fulfilled.

Q.6  How many delegates attended the first session of the Indian National Congress?

Ans. There were 85 delegates attended the first session of the Indian National Congress.

Q.7  What sort of platform was provided by the Indian National Congress?

Ans. The Indian National Congress provided a platform where the people who wanted freedom could come.

Q.8  Which period is known as the moderate phase of the Indian National Congress?

Ans. From 1885 to 1905 was the periods known as the moderate phase of the Indian National Congress.

Q.9  Which were the two basic issues on which the Congress petitioned to the British?

Ans. The political and administrative were the two basic issues on which the Congress petitioned to the British.

Q.10 When did Lokmanya Tilak emerge as apolitical leader?

Ans. When the political activities were slow, Lokmanya Tilak emerge as apolitical leader.

Q,11 What was the slogan Tilak gave to the Indian masses?

Ans. “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it” was the slogan Tilak gave to the Indian masses.

Q.12 Who preached the message of passive resistance to the British in the beginning?

Ans. In the beginning Shri Aurubindo Ghosh, preached the message of passive resistance to the British.

Q.13 Which two major festivals were popularized by Lokamanya Tilak?

Ans. Ganesh festival and Shivaji festival were two major festivals popularized by Lokamanya Tilak.

Q.14 Who were called the extremists?

Ans. Congress members like Tilak, Vipin Chandra Pal and Lajpat Rai were called the extremists.

Q.15 Who was responsible for the partition of Bengal?

Ans. Lord Curzon was responsible for the partition of Bengal.

Q.16 What was sought to be achieved by the British in partitioning Bengal?

Ans. By partitioning Bengal, the British divided Hindus and Muslims in Bengal and there by weakened the independence movement.

Q.17 Why did the moderates throw the extremists out of the Congress?

Ans. Soon after the partition of Bengal, it was difficult for the moderates to control the extremists, hence they were thrown out.

Q.18 When were the extremists harassed and jailed?

Ans. When they were thrown out of congress, the extremists were harassed and jailed.

Q.19 When was the All-India Muslim League founded and where?

Ans. The All-India Muslim League was founded in 1906 in Dacca.

Q.20 What arguments did the British advance asking Indians to support their cause in World War I? and what was the response of Indians to this appeal by the British?

Ans. The British said that they were fighting for democracy. In response to this appeal, the Indian said that they should also get some democracy.

Q.21 Who started the Home Rule League?

Ans. Mrs. Annie Besant started the Home Rule League.

Q.22 When were the extremists re-admitted to the Congress fold?

Ans. The extremists were re-admitted to the Congress fold in 1916 at Lucknow session.

Q.23 Why were the Rowlatt Acts known as the “Black Acts”?

Ans. The Rowlatt Acts were known as the Black Acts because of its emergency powers.

Q.24 Who organized Satyagraha against the Rowlatt Acts?

Ans. Gandhiji organized Satyagraha against the Rowlatt Acts.

Q.25 Who ordered the firing at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar?

Ans. General Dyer ordered the firing at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar.

Q.26 After the massacre of Jallianwala, who was convinced that the British rule was satanic?

Ans. Gandhiji was convinced that the British rule was satanic.

Q.27 Why was the dismemberment of the Turkish empire resented in India?

Ans. The dismemberment of the Turkish empire resented in India because for the majority of Muslims the Turkish sultan was their Khalifa.

Q.28 Under what circumstances did Gandhi launch his Non-cooperation Movement of 1920?

Ans. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the dismemberment of the Turkish empire and the Montague Reforms forced Gandhiji to launch his Non-cooperation Movement of 1920.

Q.29 When were the people asked to renounce titles offered by the   British?

Ans. During the non-cooperation Movement in 1920, the people asked to renounce titles offered by the British.

Q.30 When was the Non-cooperation Movement, launched by Gandhi in 1920 withdrawn?

Ans. After the incident of Chaori-Chaura in 1922 the non-cooperation Movement was withdrawn.

Q.31 What was the immediate reason for the withdrawal of the Non-cooperation Movement?

Ans. An angry mob set fire a police station where 22 policemen were burnt alive at Chauri-Chaura. This was the immediate reason for the withdrawal of the Non-cooperation Movement.

Q.32 Why was the Simon Commission appointed by the British?

Ans. The Simon Commission was appointed by the British to review the constitutional situation in India.

Q.33 When was the resolution to ask for Purna Swarajya made by the Congress?

Ans. At the Lahore session of Congress, the resolution to ask for Purna Swarajya was made by the Congress.

Q.34 What was the signal of the Dandi March?

Ans. The Dandi March was the signal for the people to make token salt without paying the taxes.

Q.35 What was the result of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931?

Ans. The Civil disobedience movement was suspended as a result of Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931.

Q.36 In which year the Congress formed ministries in six Indian provinces?

Ans. In 1931 the Congress formed ministries in six Indian provinces.

Q.37 When was the Quit India Movement launched?

Ans. The Quit India Movement was launched in 1942.

Q.38 What was the immediate result of Indian independence?

Ans. The immediate result of Indian independence was the partition of India.

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