🇮🇳 Nationalism in India – Complete Notes
1) Timeline of Key Events (1857–1947)
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1857 | First War of Independence (Sepoy Mutiny) | First large-scale uprising against British rule |
| 1885 | Formation of the Indian National Congress | First all-India political organisation |
| 1905 | Partition of Bengal | Triggered the Swadeshi and Boycott movements |
| 1906 | Formation of the Muslim League | Separate political platform for Muslims |
| 1909 | Morley-Minto Reforms | Introduced separate electorates for Muslims |
| 1916 | Lucknow Pact | Congress-Muslim League unity |
| 1917 | Champaran Satyagraha | Gandhi's first major movement in India |
| 1919 | Rowlatt Act & Jallianwala Bagh Massacre | Turning point — Indians lost faith in British justice |
| 1920–22 | Non-Cooperation Movement | First mass movement under Gandhi |
| 1928 | Simon Commission & Lala Lajpat Rai's death | Boycotted by Indians; "Simon Go Back" |
| 1930 | Salt March (Dandi March) & Civil Disobedience Movement | Direct challenge to British monopoly on salt |
| 1931 | Gandhi-Irwin Pact | Congress agreed to attend Round Table Conference |
| 1935 | Government of India Act 1935 | Provincial autonomy; federal structure proposed |
| 1937 | Provincial elections — Congress ministries formed | Congress won in 7 out of 11 provinces |
| 1940 | Lahore Resolution (Pakistan demand) | Muslim League demanded separate nation |
| 1942 | Quit India Movement | "Do or Die" — mass uprising against British rule |
| 1943–45 | Subhas Chandra Bose & INA | Armed struggle with Japanese support |
| 1946 | Cabinet Mission & Direct Action Day | Failed talks; communal violence erupted |
| 1947 | Indian Independence Act & Partition | India free but divided into India and Pakistan |
2) The First War of Independence (1857)
The uprising of 1857 was the most significant challenge to British rule in India before the rise of organised nationalism. It is called many things — the Sepoy Mutiny (by British historians), the First War of Independence (by Indian nationalists), and the Great Rebellion (by modern scholars).
2.1) Causes of the Revolt
| Category | Cause | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Military | Greased cartridges | Enfield rifle cartridges rumoured to be greased with cow and pig fat — offensive to both Hindus and Muslims. Soldiers had to bite the cartridge open. |
| Military | Low pay & poor conditions | Indian sepoys were paid less than British soldiers; faced discrimination in promotions and facilities. |
| Political | Doctrine of Lapse | Lord Dalhousie's policy — annexed states whose rulers died without a natural heir (Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur, Awadh). |
| Political | Annexation of Awadh (1856) | Awadh was annexed on charges of "misgovernment." This angered both the nobility and sepoys (many sepoys were from Awadh). |
| Economic | Heavy taxation & revenue policies | Mahalwari and Ryotwari systems extracted maximum revenue; peasants were impoverished. |
| Social | Interference in social customs | British passed laws banning sati (1829), permitting widow remarriage (1856), and promoting Western education — seen as threat to traditional culture. |
| Religious | Christian missionary activity | British allowed missionaries to operate freely; Indians feared forced conversions. |
| Immediate | Mangal Pandey incident (March 1857) | A sepoy at Barrackpore attacked British officers; was executed. This sparked the wider revolt. |
2.2) Key Events of the Revolt
| Date | Place | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 29 March 1857 | Barrackpore (near Calcutta) | Mangal Pandey attacks British officers; executed 8 April |
| 9 May 1857 | Meerut | 85 sepoys court-martialled and publicly shackled for refusing to use greased cartridges |
| 10 May 1857 | Meerut | Indian regiments mutiny; march to Delhi |
| 11 May 1857 | Delhi | Rebels capture Delhi; proclaim Bahadur Shah Zafar as Emperor |
| May–June 1857 | Various | Uprisings in Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Bareilly, Allahabad, and many other centres |
| June 1857 | Kanpur | Nana Saheb leads the revolt; British garrison surrenders but is massacred (Satichaura Ghat massacre) |
| July 1857 | Jhansi | Rani Lakshmibai leads the defence of Jhansi against British forces |
| September 1857 | Delhi | British recapture Delhi after fierce fighting; Bahadur Shah Zafar exiled |
| March 1858 | Jhansi | Rani Lakshmibai dies in battle; Jhansi falls |
| June 1858 | Gwalior | Last major battle — Rani Lakshmibai killed; revolt suppressed |
| July 1858 | Awadh | Final suppression; British victory declared |
2.3) Consequences of the Revolt
| Consequence | Details |
|---|---|
| End of Company rule | The Government of India Act 1858 abolished the East India Company's rule. India came under the direct rule of the British Crown (the Raj). |
| Viceroy appointed | The Governor-General was now called the Viceroy — the personal representative of the British monarch. Lord Canning became the first Viceroy. |
| Reorganisation of the army | Proportion of Indian soldiers reduced; more British troops stationed in India. Artillery and key positions reserved for Europeans. Caste-based regiments abolished. |
| Policy of "Divide and Rule" | British began deliberately fostering divisions between Hindus and Muslims. Muslims were blamed for the revolt and initially persecuted — but later favoured as a counterweight to the Hindu majority. |
| End of the Mughal dynasty | Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Rangoon, where he died. Symbolically, the 300-year-old Mughal Empire ended. |
| New land and revenue policy | British became more cautious — stopped annexing states (Doctrine of Lapse withdrawn). Princes became loyal allies of the Crown. |
| Racial bitterness | The revolt deepened racial hatred between Britons and Indians. Britons became more suspicious and aloof; Indians lost trust in British justice. |
3) Growth of Indian Nationalism
Indian nationalism did not emerge suddenly — it grew gradually through a combination of political, economic, and social factors that made Indians realise they shared a common identity and a common enemy.
3.1) Factors That Fostered Nationalism
| Factor | How It Contributed |
|---|---|
| British economic exploitation | Drain of wealth theory (Dadabhai Naoroji): India's resources were systematically taken to Britain. High land revenue, destruction of indigenous industries, and unfavourable trade policies created widespread poverty. This economic exploitation united Indians across regions. |
| Administrative unification | British brought the entire subcontinent under a single administration. Railways, telegraphs, and postal systems connected far-flung regions. Indians could now travel, communicate, and share ideas easily. |
| Western education & English language | English became a common language for educated Indians from different linguistic backgrounds. Ideas of liberty, equality, democracy, and self-government from the French and American Revolutions inspired Indian thinkers. |
| Role of the press | Newspapers and journals (The Hindu, Amrita Bazar Patrika, Kesari by Tilak) spread nationalist ideas. They exposed British exploitation and mobilised public opinion. |
| Revival of Indian heritage | Scholars rediscovered India's glorious past — the ancient universities of Nalanda and Takshashila, the Gupta Empire, the Mauryas. Indians felt pride in their civilisation and a desire to restore its greatness. |
| Social reform movements | Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Brahmo Samaj, 1828), Swami Vivekananda (Ramakrishna Mission, 1897), Dayanand Saraswati (Arya Samaj, 1875) — all revived Indian culture while calling for social reform. They created a sense of cultural pride that merged with political nationalism. |
| Unjust British policies | The Ilbert Bill controversy (1883), the Vernacular Press Act (1878), and the Arms Act (1878) showed Indians that the British did not trust or respect them. These injustices galvanised political consciousness. |
| International events | The Japanese victory over Russia (1905) showed an Asian nation defeating a European power. The unification of Italy and Germany inspired Indians that nationhood was achievable. |
4) The Indian National Congress (1885)
4.1) Formation of the Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded in December 1885 at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay. A retired British civil servant, A.O. Hume, played a key role in organising the first session. Seventy-two delegates from across India attended.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 28 December 1885 |
| Founding location | Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay |
| Key founder | Allan Octavian Hume (A.O. Hume) — retired British ICS officer |
| First President | Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee (W.C. Bonnerjee) |
| Delegates | 72 educated Indians (lawyers, journalists, teachers, landlords) |
| Original aim | To create a platform for dialogue between the British government and educated Indians; to reform the administration, not to overthrow British rule. |
| Early demands | Expansion of legislative councils, civil service examinations in India, reduction of military expenditure, protection of peasant rights. |
4.2) The Moderates (1885–1905)
The early leaders of the Congress are called the Moderates (or the Early Nationalists). They believed in constitutional methods — petitions, resolutions, and persuasion — rather than confrontation.
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Key leaders | Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Surendranath Banerjee, M.G. Ranade, W.C. Bonnerjee |
| Methods | Prayers, petitions, and protests (the "3 Ps"). They sent delegations to England and submitted memorandums to Parliament. |
| Beliefs | Believed the British wanted to be fair ("British justice"). Trusted that gradual reforms would lead to self-government. |
| Achievements | Spread nationalist consciousness, exposed economic exploitation (Naoroji's drain theory), forced the British to pass the Indian Councils Act 1892 (increased Indian representation in legislative councils). |
| Limitations | Limited to the educated elite — no mass following. Did not reach peasants, workers, or women. Methods too slow — achieved very little in 20 years. |
4.3) The Extremists (1905–1915)
By the early 1900s, a younger generation grew impatient with the Moderates' slow approach. They wanted Swaraj (self-rule) as a birthright and were willing to use more aggressive methods.
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Key leaders | Bal Gangadhar Tilak ("Lokmanya"), Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai (Lal-Bal-Pal), Aurobindo Ghosh |
| Methods | Boycotts, Swadeshi, national education, passive resistance. Tilak used Ganpati festival (1893) and Shivaji festival (1895) to mobilise masses. |
| Beliefs | "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it" (Tilak). Did not trust British intentions. Believed in direct action and mass mobilisation. |
| Slogans | "Swaraj", "Swadeshi", "Boycott", "National Education" |
| Key event | Surat Split (1907) — Congress split into Moderates and Extremists at the Surat session (reunited in 1916 at Lucknow). |
| Limitations | Sometimes communal in appeal (Tilak's Ganpati and Shivaji festivals were Hindu-oriented). Not all Extremists agreed on the role of violence. |
5) Partition of Bengal (1905) and Swadeshi Movement
5.1) The Partition
In October 1905, Viceroy Lord Curzon ordered the partition of Bengal — the largest province of British India. The official reason was administrative efficiency (Bengal was too large to govern). But the real motive was to weaken the growing nationalist movement by dividing the Bengalis on religious lines: East Bengal (Muslim-majority) and West Bengal (Hindu-majority).
| Aspect | West Bengal | East Bengal & Assam |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Calcutta | Dacca (Dhaka) |
| Population | ~54 million (Hindu-majority) | ~31 million (Muslim-majority) |
| Official aim | Better administration | Better administration |
| Real motive | Weaken Bengali nationalism by dividing it | Create a Muslim-majority province loyal to the British |
5.2) The Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
Indians reacted with unprecedented anger. The Swadeshi Movement (use of Indian-made goods) and the Boycott Movement (boycott of British goods) were launched to protest the partition.
- Boycott: Indians boycotted British cloth, salt, sugar, and other goods. Bonfires of foreign cloth became a powerful symbol.
- Swadeshi: Indians pledged to use only Indian-made goods. This gave a huge boost to Indian industries — mills, handlooms, and small-scale industries flourished.
- National education: Students boycotted government schools and colleges. National schools and colleges were set up (e.g., Bengal National College, founded by Aurobindo Ghosh).
- Revolutionary activity: A more radical wing turned to violence. Secret societies like Anushilan Samiti and Yugantar carried out bomb attacks and assassinations. Revolutionaries like Khudiram Bose were hanged.
- Raksha Bandhan: Rabindranath Tagore organised Raksha Bandhan as a symbol of unity between Hindus and Muslims of Bengal.
5.3) Annulment of Partition (1911)
Due to massive and sustained agitation, the British were forced to annul the partition in 1911. However, they also shifted the capital of British India from Calcutta to Delhi — a move that reduced Calcutta's political importance and rewarded Delhi's Muslim aristocracy (who had been loyal during 1857).
6) The Muslim League (1906) and Lucknow Pact (1916)
6.1) Formation of the Muslim League
The All-India Muslim League was founded in December 1906 at Dacca (now Dhaka), during a conference of Muslim leaders. The League's formation was encouraged by the British as part of their "divide and rule" strategy following the 1905 Partition of Bengal.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 30 December 1906 |
| Location | Dacca (Ahsan Manzil, the Nawab of Dacca's palace) |
| Founding leaders | Nawab Salimullah of Dacca, Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk, Aga Khan III (first president), Viqar-ul-Mulk |
| Initial aim | To protect the political rights and interests of Muslims; to promote loyalty to the British Crown. |
| Key demand | Separate electorates for Muslims (granted in Morley-Minto Reforms 1909) |
6.2) Lucknow Pact (1916)
The Lucknow Pact was a significant moment of Hindu-Muslim unity during the freedom struggle. At the Congress session in Lucknow (December 1916), both the Congress and the Muslim League agreed on a common set of political demands. The Moderates and Extremists also reunited at the same session.
| Feature | Terms of the Pact |
|---|---|
| Separate electorates | Congress accepted separate electorates for Muslims (a major concession — Congress had opposed separate electorates before). |
| Weightage | Muslims would get more seats than their population warranted in provinces where they were a minority (e.g., Bombay, Madras, United Provinces). |
| Self-government | Both parties demanded self-government for India at an early date. |
| Legislative councils | Demanded expansion of legislative councils — at least 4/5th of members to be elected. |
| Executive | Demanded that at least half the members of the Viceroy's Executive Council be Indians. |
7) Mahatma Gandhi's Arrival and Philosophy
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in January 1915. He had already become a leader of the Indian community in South Africa, where he developed his philosophy of Satyagraha (truth-force) and Ahimsa (non-violence). His arrival transformed the Indian freedom struggle from an elite movement into a mass movement.
7.1) Gandhi's Philosophy
| Concept | Meaning | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Satyagraha | "Truth-force" or "soul-force" — holding on to truth through non-violent resistance. Not passive submission, but active non-violent opposition to injustice. | Gandhi used Satyagraha in South Africa (1906–1914) against discriminatory laws. In India, it became the core method of all his movements. |
| Ahimsa | Non-violence — not just refraining from physical violence but also from hatred, anger, and verbal violence. Based on Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions. | All Gandhi's movements were strictly non-violent. If violence broke out, Gandhi would call off the movement (as he did after Chauri Chaura, 1922). |
| Swadeshi | Self-reliance — economic independence through use of Indian goods and rejection of foreign goods. Central to Gandhi's vision. | Gandhi promoted khadi (hand-spun cloth) and the charkha (spinning wheel) as symbols of self-reliance. |
| Sarvodaya | "Welfare of all" — an inclusive vision where economic and social development benefits the poorest, not just the elite. | Gandhi's constructive programme included removal of untouchability, promotion of Hindi, rural development, and women's uplift. |
| Ram Rajya | Gandhi's ideal of a just society — based on moral values, decentralised governance, and village self-sufficiency. Not a religious concept but a moral-political ideal. | Used to inspire people with a vision of a free India based on Indian values rather than Western models. |
7.2) Early Movements by Gandhi in India
| Movement | Year | Place | Issue | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champaran Satyagraha | 1917 | Bihar (Champaran district) | Indigo farmers forced by British planters to grow indigo under the tinkathia system (3/20th of land). | Gandhi forced the government to abolish the tinkathia system. His first successful Satyagraha in India. |
| Ahmedabad Mill Strike | 1918 | Ahmedabad (Gujarat) | Textile mill workers demanded a 35% wage increase; mill owners refused. | Gandhi went on a hunger strike (first in India). The workers got a 35% wage increase. |
| Kheda Satyagraha | 1918 | Kheda district (Gujarat) | Farmers demanded remission of land revenue due to crop failure (famine). | Government suspended revenue collection and returned confiscated property. |
8) The Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)
8.1) The Rowlatt Act (March 1919)
During World War I, the British had passed the Defence of India Act (1915) giving them broad powers to arrest and detain. When the war ended, the government wanted to extend these powers in peacetime. The Rowlatt Act (officially the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919) allowed detention without trial for up to two years, suspension of habeas corpus, and secret trials with no right to appeal.
- Gandhi called the Act "The Black Act" — it destroyed civil liberties.
- He organised a nationwide hartal (strike) on 6 April 1919 as a protest.
- The protest was peaceful in most places, but violence erupted in some cities (Ahmedabad, Delhi, Amritsar).
- In Amritsar, the situation was particularly tense — leaders were arrested, and a crowd gathered in Jallianwala Bagh to protest peacefully.
8.2) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13 April 1919)
On 13 April 1919, Baisakhi day, a large crowd of unarmed men, women, and children gathered at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, to protest the arrest of their leaders and the imposition of martial law. Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer arrived with 50 soldiers and, without warning, ordered them to open fire on the crowd.
8.3) Consequences of the Massacre
- Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood (Sir title) in protest — the first Indian to do so.
- Shocked the entire nation: Indians lost all faith in British justice and fair play. The illusion of a "benevolent British rule" was shattered.
- Radicalised the nationalist movement: Many moderates turned extremists. Even those who had believed in constitutional methods now supported mass struggle.
- Hunter Commission: The British set up a commission to investigate. Dyer was censured but never prosecuted. The British public actually raised money for Dyer (the "Jewel in the Crown" fund) — further enraging Indians.
- Led directly to the Non-Cooperation Movement: Gandhi realised that cooperating with such a government was immoral. He launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920.
9) The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922)
9.1) Background and Launch
Inspired by the public outrage against Jallianwala Bagh and the Rowlatt Act, and with the added resentment against the Khilafat issue (the British abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate angered Indian Muslims), Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in August 1920. It was the first mass movement under Gandhi's leadership.
9.2) Programme of Non-Cooperation
| Stage | Action |
|---|---|
| Surrender of titles | Indians were asked to surrender British titles and honorary positions. |
| Boycott of legislatures | Members were asked to resign from the Imperial Legislative Council and provincial councils. |
| Boycott of courts | Lawyers were asked to give up legal practice and stop attending British courts. |
| Boycott of government schools & colleges | Students and teachers were asked to leave government institutions. |
| Boycott of foreign goods | British cloth and goods were to be boycotted in favour of swadeshi. |
| Promotion of khadi & charkha | Spinning and weaving became patriotic duties. |
| Civil disobedience | Peaceful defiance of unjust laws (at a later stage). |
9.3) Spread and Impact
- The movement spread rapidly across the country — from cities to villages, from students to peasants.
- Peasants in Awadh (Eka Movement), tribals in Andhra (Rampa Rebellion), and workers in urban centres joined the struggle.
- Sales of British cloth dropped dramatically. Imports of foreign cloth fell by nearly 50%.
- National schools and colleges were set up across the country (e.g., Jamia Millia Islamia, Kashi Vidyapith).
- The movement demonstrated that the Indian masses could be mobilised on an all-India scale.
9.4) Withdrawal — Chauri Chaura Incident (1922)
On 5 February 1922, in the village of Chauri Chaura (Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh), a violent clash broke out between protesters and police. The police opened fire; the angry mob retaliated, set the police station on fire, and killed 22 policemen.
Gandhi was horrified. He called off the Non-Cooperation Movement on 12 February 1922, saying the nation was not yet ready for non-violent mass action. This decision shocked many leaders — including Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose, who disagreed with the withdrawal.
10) The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930) — Dandi March
10.1) Background
After the withdrawal of Non-Cooperation, the freedom struggle went through a period of relative quiet (the "Gandhi era" lull). In 1928, the Simon Commission (a British commission to review constitutional reforms) arrived in India — with no Indian members. The entire nation boycotted it with the slogan "Simon Go Back." Lala Lajpat Rai was killed in a lathi charge during a protest in Lahore.
The Congress, under Nehru's presidency (1929 Lahore session), passed the Purna Swaraj (complete independence) resolution — declaring 26 January 1930 as the first Independence Day.
10.2) The Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha)
Gandhi chose salt as the symbol of protest — salt was a basic necessity, but the British monopoly on salt production and the salt tax affected every Indian. On 12 March 1930, Gandhi began his famous march from Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad) to Dandi (a coastal village in Gujarat) — a distance of 386 km (240 miles).
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Start date | 12 March 1930 |
| Start point | Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad |
| End point | Dandi, Gujarat (Arabian Sea coast) |
| Distance | 386 km |
| Duration | 24 days (12 March — 6 April 1930) |
| Number of marchers | 78 initially (grew to thousands along the way) |
| Action at Dandi | Gandhi picked up a lump of natural salt — breaking the salt law |
| Symbolism | Salt — used by every Indian daily — became the symbol of resistance |
10.3) Spread of the Movement
- Salt law violations across the country — people made salt illegally and sold it openly.
- Boycott of foreign cloth and liquor shops.
- Refusal to pay taxes — especially land revenue in Gujarat and the North-West Frontier Province.
- Women's participation: Thousands of women came out for the first time — picketing liquor and foreign cloth shops. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Sarojini Naidu, and Kasturba Gandhi played key roles.
- Peasant movements: In Bardoli (Surat), peasants refused to pay land revenue under the leadership of Vallabhbhai Patel ("Sardar").
- NWFP: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan ("Frontier Gandhi") led the Khudai Khidmatgars (Servants of God) in the North-West Frontier Province — one of the most remarkable mass movements in the region.
10.4) Government Response and End
The British responded with mass arrests — over 100,000 people were imprisoned. Gandhi was arrested on 5 May 1930. The movement continued under the leadership of others but began to decline after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (March 1931), where Gandhi agreed to suspend the movement and attend the Second Round Table Conference in London.
11) The Round Table Conferences (1930–1932)
Three Round Table Conferences were held in London to discuss constitutional reforms for India. The most significant were:
| Conference | Date | Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| First Round Table Conference | November 1930 – January 1931 | Congress did not attend (most leaders were in jail). Attended by British officials, princely rulers, and representatives of various Indian groups (Muslim League, depressed classes, etc.). No agreement reached. |
| Second Round Table Conference | September – December 1931 | Congress participated (Gandhi represented Congress). Gandhi demanded immediate responsible government. Disagreements over separate electorates for minorities (especially the Communal Award for depressed classes). Ended without agreement. |
| Third Round Table Conference | November – December 1932 | Congress did not attend (had resumed Civil Disobedience). Discussions were mostly among British and Indian conservative groups. Limited outcomes. |
12) The Government of India Act 1935
Based on the Round Table Conferences, the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act 1935 — the longest act passed by the British Parliament at that time. It was a major constitutional reform, though far from what the Congress wanted (complete independence).
Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Provincial Autonomy | Provincial governments were now run by elected Indian ministers responsible to the provincial legislatures. The Governor (appointed by the British) retained emergency powers — but in normal times, the ministers were in charge. |
| Federal Structure | Proposed an all-India federation (British provinces + princely states). But the federation never came into effect because princely states did not join. |
| Dyarchy at the Centre | At the federal level, defence and foreign affairs remained with the British; other subjects were to be transferred to Indian ministers. |
| Separate Electorates | Extended separate electorates — not just for Muslims but also for Dalits (Scheduled Castes), women, labour, and other groups. |
| Reserved Powers | Governors and the Viceroy retained special powers (veto, certification of bills, suspending constitution). |
| Establishment of RBI | The Reserve Bank of India was established under this act. |
| Provincial elections | Elections were held in 1937 under the new act — Congress won in 7 out of 11 provinces. |
13) The Quit India Movement (1942)
13.1) Background
World War II broke out in September 1939. The British Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, declared India at war on the side of Britain without consulting any Indian leaders. The Congress ministries resigned in protest (October 1939).
The British offered vague promises of post-war reforms (the August Offer 1940, the Cripps Mission 1942) but refused to transfer power immediately. Gandhi called the Cripps Mission "a post-dated cheque on a failing bank."
13.2) Launch of Quit India
On 8 August 1942, the All India Congress Committee (at Gowalia Tank, Bombay) passed the Quit India Resolution — demanding an immediate end to British rule. Gandhi gave the famous call: "Do or Die" (Karo Ya Maro).
13.3) The Movement
- Immediate arrests: The British arrested Gandhi, Nehru, and all Congress leaders on 9 August 1942 — before the movement could even begin. The Congress was declared an illegal organisation.
- Leaderless uprising: Despite the arrests (or because of them), the movement exploded spontaneously. There was no central leadership — people led themselves.
- Forms of protest: Strikes, processions, destruction of government property, attacks on police stations, railway lines, post offices, and telegraph lines.
- Underground activity: Leaders like Jaya Prakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Aruna Asaf Ali led an underground resistance. Aruna Asaf Ali is remembered as the "Heroine of the 1942 movement" for hoisting the flag at the Gowalia Tank maidan.
- Parallel governments: In several areas, people set up parallel governments — Satara (Maharashtra), Ballia (UP), Talcher (Odisha), Midnapore (Bengal).
- British repression: The movement was brutally suppressed. Over 60,000 people were arrested. The British used machine guns, bombing from aircraft, and collective fines.
14) Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army (INA)
Subhas Chandra Bose was one of the most charismatic and radical leaders of the freedom struggle. He disagreed with Gandhi's non-violence and believed that armed struggle was necessary to free India. He resigned as Congress President in 1939 (after differences with Gandhi) and formed the Forward Bloc.
14.1) Escape and the Indian National Army
Bose was placed under house arrest by the British in 1940. In January 1941, he escaped from his Calcutta home, travelled through Afghanistan and the Soviet Union, and reached Germany in April 1941. He sought Axis support to fight the British.
In 1943, Bose went to Singapore (then under Japanese occupation) and took command of the Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj. The INA was initially formed by Indian prisoners of war (POWs) captured by Japan in Southeast Asia.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Formation of INA | First formed in 1942 by Captain Mohan Singh (Indian POWs in Singapore). Revived by Bose in 1943. |
| Bose's title | Netaji (Respected Leader) |
| Government-in-exile | Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind Government) proclaimed in Singapore, 21 October 1943. |
| Headquarters | Rangoon (Yangon), Burma |
| Strength | About 40,000–50,000 soldiers (POWs and Indian civilians in Southeast Asia) |
| Slogans | "Delhi Chalo" (March to Delhi), "Jai Hind", "Tum Mujhe Khoon Do, Main Tumhe Aazadi Doonga" (Give me blood, I will give you freedom). |
| INA trials | After the war, the British tried INA officers at Red Fort (1945–46). The trials sparked massive protests across India and became a rallying point for nationalism. |
| Rani of Jhansi Regiment | Women's regiment of the INA led by Captain Lakshmi Sehgal. |
15) Towards Partition and Independence (1947)
15.1) The Road to Partition
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Lahore Resolution (Pakistan Resolution) | Muslim League, led by Jinnah, demanded separate states for Muslim-majority areas. The word "Pakistan" was not officially used, but the idea was clear. |
| 1942 | Cripps Mission | Offered post-war self-government with the right of provinces to secede — essentially conceding the possibility of Pakistan. Congress rejected it. |
| 1944 | Gandhi-Jinnah Talks | Failed. Gandhi offered Jinnah a plebiscite in Muslim-majority areas after independence. Jinnah insisted on Pakistan before independence. |
| 1945 | INA Trials & Royal Indian Navy Mutiny | Widespread protests. The British realigned Indian soldiers could no longer be relied upon. |
| 1946 | Cabinet Mission | Proposed a united India with a loose federal structure. Both Congress and League accepted initially — but then disagreed. Jinnah called for Direct Action Day (16 August 1946), which led to the Great Calcutta Killings (thousands dead). |
| 1946–47 | Communal violence | Riots spread across Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, and the North-West Frontier Province. Thousands killed; millions displaced. |
| February 1947 | Attlee announces British withdrawal by June 1948 | Britain realised it could no longer hold India. Lord Mountbatten appointed as Viceroy to oversee the transfer of power. |
| 3 June 1947 | Mountbatten Plan (Partition Plan) | Announced partition of India along religious lines. Punjab and Bengal would be divided. Referendums held in NWFP and Sylhet. |
| 14–15 August 1947 | India and Pakistan become independent | India at midnight, 14 August. Pakistan on 15 August (celebrated a day earlier). |
15.2) Why Did Partition Happen?
| Factor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| British "Divide and Rule" policy (post-1857) | From 1858 onwards, the British deliberately fostered Hindu-Muslim divisions to prevent a united nationalist front. This sowed the seeds of separatism. |
| Separate electorates (1909) | The Morley-Minto Reforms gave Muslims separate electorates — institutionalising communal identity in politics. |
| Muslim League's demand for Pakistan (1940) | Jinnah and the League argued that Hindus and Muslims were two separate nations (Two-Nation Theory) and could not live together in one country. |
| Congress failure to accommodate Muslim concerns | Some historians argue that Congress was seen by many Muslims as a Hindu-dominated organisation. The Congress rejection of the Cabinet Mission plan (1946) is cited as a missed opportunity for a united India. |
| Post-war British weakness | After WWII, Britain was economically and militarily exhausted. It could not hold India by force and wanted a quick exit — even if it meant partition. |
| Communal violence (1946–47) | The cycle of riots and killings made the idea of a united India seem impossible. Many leaders accepted partition as the lesser evil compared to civil war. |
16) Role of Different Social Groups in the Freedom Struggle
16.1) Women
| Period / Movement | Contribution | Key Figures |
|---|---|---|
| Swadeshi Movement (1905–08) | Women picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. They organized meetings and raised funds. | Sarala Devi Chaudhurani, Sister Nivedita |
| Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) | Large-scale participation in picketing, spinning khadi, and attending public meetings. Thousands courted arrest. | Kasturba Gandhi, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Mithuben Petit |
| Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34) | Women participated in salt satyagraha, broke salt laws, and picketed foreign goods. For the first time, women from conservative families joined the struggle. | Sarojini Naidu (led the Dharasana Salt Works raid), Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Kamini Roy |
| Quit India Movement (1942) | Women led protests, went underground, and operated secret radio stations. Many were imprisoned and tortured. | Aruna Asaf Ali ("Heroine of 1942"), Sucheta Kripalani, Usha Mehta (ran Congress Radio) |
| INA (1943–45) | The Rani of Jhansi Regiment was a women's combat unit — the first of its kind in Asia. | Captain Lakshmi Sehgal |
| Revolutionary activity | Several women were involved in revolutionary activities and armed resistance. | Bhikaiji Cama (unfurled Indian flag at International Socialist Conference, Stuttgart 1907), Kalpana Datta, Bina Das, Pritilata Waddedar |
16.2) Peasants
| Movement / Region | Year | Issue | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaran Satyagraha (Bihar) | 1917 | Forced indigo cultivation (tinkathia system) | Tinkathia system abolished |
| Kheda Satyagraha (Gujarat) | 1918 | Revenue remission during crop failure | Revenue collection suspended |
| Bardoli Satyagraha (Gujarat) | 1928 | Unjust increase in land revenue | Revenue assessment rolled back; Sardar Patel emerged as national leader |
| Eka Movement (Awadh, UP) | 1921–22 | High rents, illegal exactions, oppression by landlords | Suppressed by British but peasant consciousness was raised |
| Mappila Rebellion (Malabar) | 1921 | Tenant grievances against Hindu landlords + Khilafat sentiments | Violent uprising; brutally suppressed |
| Forest Satyagrahas (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Central Provinces) | 1930s | Forest laws restricted access to forest resources for tribal and peasant communities | Partial concessions |
16.3) Workers (Industrial Working Class)
- Workers participated actively in the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) and the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34) — strikes, boycotts, and hartals.
- Trade union movement: The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was founded in 1920. Leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai, N.M. Joshi, and Subhas Chandra Bose were involved in labour organising.
- Bombay Textile Strike (1928): Led by the Girni Kamgar Union (communist-influenced) — 150,000 workers struck for 6 months over wage cuts and working conditions.
- Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Mutiny (1946): 20,000 sailors in Bombay, Karachi, and Calcutta rose in protest against racial discrimination and poor conditions. The mutiny showed that even the British military could no longer be fully trusted.
- Labour and nationalism: Workers' struggles merged with the national movement. However, there was tension between class-based politics (communists) and the nationalist movement (Congress) — especially after the Congress opposed the 1928 strike as untimely.
16.4) Dalits (Depressed Classes / Scheduled Castes)
| Issue / Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Social discrimination | Dalits faced extreme social oppression — untouchability, segregation, denial of temple entry, and restrictions on education and public spaces. |
| Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's leadership | Ambedkar emerged as the most powerful leader of the Dalit movement. He argued that political rights were essential for social emancipation. |
| Round Table Conference (1931–32) | Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for Dalits at the Second Round Table Conference. This led to the Communal Award (1932). |
| Poona Pact (1932) | Gandhi's fast forced Ambedkar to accept reserved seats within a joint electorate rather than separate electorates. A compromise — but many Dalits felt Ambedkar was pressured. |
| Temple Entry Movement (1930s) | Gandhi and the Congress campaigned for temple entry for Dalits and against untouchability. The Temple Entry Authorization Act (1947) was passed after independence. |
| All India Depressed Classes League | Founded by Ambedkar in 1930 to organise Dalits politically and fight for their rights. |
| Dalits and the freedom struggle | Many Dalits participated in the national movement, but they had a dual struggle — against British rule AND against upper-caste Hindu oppression. This dual struggle is often called the "Dalit dilemma": should they prioritise national freedom or social liberation? |
17) Previous Year Questions (PYQs) — AMU Class 11
Short Questions (2–3 Marks)
- What was the "Doctrine of Lapse"? Who introduced it?
- Name the leaders of the revolt of 1857 in Kanpur, Jhansi, and Delhi.
- What was the immediate cause of the First War of Independence (1857)?
- Who founded the Indian National Congress? When and where was it founded?
- Name any three leaders of the Moderate phase of the Indian National Congress.
- What was the "Drain of Wealth Theory"? Who propounded it?
- Why was Bengal partitioned in 1905? When was the partition annulled?
- What do you understand by Swadeshi and Boycott?
- When and why was the Muslim League founded?
- What was the Lucknow Pact (1916)? Why is it significant?
- What was the Rowlatt Act? Why did Indians oppose it?
- What happened at Jallianwala Bagh on 13 April 1919?
- Why did Gandhi call off the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922?
- What was the Dandi March? What did Gandhi do at Dandi?
- What was the Quit India Movement? Who gave the "Do or Die" call?
Long Questions (5–8 Marks)
- Discuss the causes of the First War of Independence (1857). Why did the revolt fail, and what were its major consequences?
- Analyse the factors that contributed to the growth of Indian nationalism in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Compare and contrast the Moderate and Extremist phases of the Indian National Congress. Which approach was more effective in the long run?
- Explain the causes, events, and impact of the Partition of Bengal (1905). How did it lead to the Swadeshi Movement?
- Evaluate the role of Mahatma Gandhi in the Indian freedom struggle from 1915 to 1947. Why is he called the "Father of the Nation"?
- What was the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22)? Describe its programme, achievements, and limitations. Why did Gandhi withdraw it?
- Describe the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34). Why did Gandhi choose salt as the symbol of protest? What was the significance of the Dandi March?
- Analyse the various reasons that led to the Partition of India in 1947. Could partition have been avoided? Justify your answer.
- Discuss the role of Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army (INA) in the freedom struggle. How did the INA trials impact the national movement?
- "The Indian freedom struggle was not just a movement for political independence — it was also a social movement." Discuss this statement with reference to the role of women, peasants, workers, and Dalits in the national movement.
1. Master the chronological narrative: I created a timeline of all major events from 1857 to 1947 on a single A4 sheet. I practised recounting the story of the national movement in my own words every day — connecting causes to events to consequences. History is a story — learn it as one.
2. Comparison tables are your best friend: For every pair (Moderates vs Extremists, Congress vs League, Non-Cooperation vs Civil Disobedience, Gandhi vs Bose), I made a comparison table with 5–7 criteria. In the exam, I could reproduce the table in 2 minutes and then expand each point. This structure gets you high marks.
3. The "Why" is more important than the "What": Instead of memorising that Jallianwala Bagh happened on 13 April 1919, understand why it happened (Rowlatt Act, British fear of uprising, General Dyer's personality) and what its consequences were (radicalisation, Non-Cooperation). "Why" questions are what examiners test in long answers.
4. Balance and nuance: For any controversial question (partition, withdrawal of NCM, Poona Pact, Gandhi-Irwin Pact), I always presented BOTH sides of the argument before giving my own conclusion. Examiners reward balanced, well-reasoned answers — not one-sided rants.
5. Practise PYQs under timed conditions: I wrote answers to all 15 short questions (2 minutes each) and all 10 long questions (15 minutes each) at least once before the exam. On exam day, I was never surprised — the questions were almost identical to ones I had already practised.
6. For long answers, use the PEEL method: Point → Evidence → Explanation → Link. Each paragraph follows this structure. State your point clearly, give specific historical evidence (date, person, place), explain why it matters, and link it back to the main question. This keeps answers organised and ensures you never go off-topic.
Most importantly, remember that Indian nationalism is a story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things — peasants walking miles to hear Gandhi speak, women picketing shops despite the risk of arrest, students boycotting schools they loved, and millions of Indians believing that a free India was worth fighting for. If you understand that story, the marks will follow.