HISTORY NOTES
National
Movement of India:
·
1941 to 1950
The Cripps Mission 1942 In Dec. 1941, Japan entered the World War II and
advanced towards Indian borders. By March 7, 1942, Rangoon fell and Japan
occupied the entire S E Asia.
·
The British
govt. With a view to getting co-operation from Indians sent Sir Stafford
Cripps, leader of the House of Commons to settle terms with the Indian leaders.
·
He offered a
draft which proposed dominion status to be granted after the war.
·
Rejected by
the Congress as it didn't want to rely upon future promises.
·
Gandhiji
termed it as a post dated cheque in a crashing bank.
The
Revolt of 1942 & The Quit India Movement
·
Called the
Vardha Proposal and Leaderless Revolt.
·
The
resolution was passed on Aug. 8, 1942, at Bombay. Gandhiji gave the slogan ‘Do
or Die’ On Aug 9, the Congress was banned and its important leaders were
arrested.
·
The arrests
provoked indignation among the masses and, there being no program of action,
the movement became spontaneous and violent. Violence spread throughout the
country.
·
The movement
was however crushed. The Indian National Army Founded by Rasbehari Bose with
Captain Mohan Singh. S. C. Bose secretly escaped from India in Jain 1941, and
reached Berlin.
·
In July
1943, he joined the INA at Singapore. There, Rasbehari Bose handed over the
leadership to him.
·
The soldiers
were mostly raised from Indian soldiers of the British army who had been taken
prisoners by the Japanese after they conquered S. E. Asia.
·
Two INA head
quarters were Rangoon and Singapore (formed in Singapore).
·
INA had
three fighting brigades named after Gandhiji, Azad and Nehru. Rani Jhansi
Brigade was an exclusive women force.
·
Founded by Rasbehari
Bose with Captain Mohan Singh.
·
S. C. Bose
secretly escaped from India in Jain 1941, and reached Berlin. In July 1943, he
joined the INA at Singapore.
·
There,
Rasbehari Bose handed over the leadership to him. The soldiers were mostly
raised from Indian soldiers of the British army who had been taken prisoners by
the Japanese after they conquered S. E. Asia.
·
Two INA head
quarters were Rangoon and Singapore (formed in Singapore). INA had three
fighting brigades named after Gandhiji, Azad and Nehru.
·
Rani Jhansi
Brigade was an exclusive women force.
The Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)
·
The struggle
for freedom entered a decisive phase in the year 1945 − 46.
·
The new
Labour Party PM. Lord Attlee, made a declaration on March 15, 1946, that
British Cabinet Mission (comprising of Lord Pethick Lawrence as Chairman, Sir
Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander) will visit India. The mission held talks
with the INC and ML to bring about acceptance of their proposals.
·
On May 16,
1946, the mission put towards its proposals. It rejected the demand for
separate Pakistan and instead a federal union consisting of British India and
the Princely States was suggested. Both Congress and Muslims League accepted
it.
Formation of Interim Government (Sept 2, 1946)
·
Based on
Cabinet Mission Plan, an interim government consisting of Congress nominees was
formed on Sept. 2, 1946. J. L. Nehru was its Vice-President and the
Governor-General remained as its President.
Jinnah's Direct Action Resolution (Aug 16,
1946)
·
Jinnah was
alarmed at the results of the elections because the Muslim League was in danger
of being totally eclipsed in the constituent assembly.
·
Therefore,
Muslim League withdrew its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan on July 29,
1946.
·
It passed a
‘Direct action’ resolution, which condemned both the British Government and the
Congress (Aug 16, 1946). It resulted in heavy communal riots.
·
Jinnah
celebrated Pakistan Day on Mar 27, 1947.
Formation of Constituent Assembly (Dec 9, 1946)
·
The
Constituent assembly met on Dec 9, 1946 and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as
its president.
Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947)
·
On June 3,
1947, Lord Mountbatten put forward his plan which outlined the steps for the
solution of India's political problem. The outlines of the Plan were:
·
India to be
divided into India and Pakistan. Bengal and Punjab will be partitioned and a
referendum in NEFP and Sylhet district of Assam would be held.
·
There would
be a separate constitutional assembly for Pakistan to frame its constitution.
·
The Princely
states would enjoy the liberty to join either India or Pakistan or even remain
independent.
·
Aug. 15,
1947 was the date fixed for handing over power to India and Pakistan.
·
The British
govt. Passed the Indian Independence Act of 1947 in July 1947, which contained
the major provisions put forward by the Mountbatten plan.
Partition and Independence (Aug 1947)
·
All
political parties accepted the Mountbatten plan.
·
At the time
of independence, there were 562 small and big Princely States in India.
·
Sardar
Vallabh Bhai Patel, the first home minister, used iron hand in this regard. By
August 15, 1947, all the States, with a few exceptions like Kashmir, Hyderabad
and Junagarh had signed the Instrument of Accession. Goa was with the
Portuguese and Pondicherry with the French.
·
Founded by
Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828.
·
Criticized
Sati Pratha, casteism and advocated widow remarriage.
·
He was
opposed to Sanskrit system of education, because he thought it would keep the
country in darkness.
·
Other
important leaders were Devendranath Tagore (father of Rabindranath Tagore) and
Keshap Chandra Sen.
Arya Samaj
·
Founded by
Swami Dayanand (or, Moolshankar) in 1875.
·
His motto
was ‘Go back to the vedas’ & ‘India for the Indians’ He disregarded
Puranas, idol worship, casteism and untouchability. He advocated widow
remarriage.
·
Dayanand's
views were published in his famous work, Satyarth Prakash. He also wrote Veda
Bhashya Bhumika and Veda Bhashya.
·
Founded by
Vivekanand (earlier, Narendranath Dutta) (1863 − 1902) in 1897, 11 years after
the death of his guru Ram Krishna Paramhans.
·
Vivekanand
attended the Parliament of Religion at Chicago in 1893.
·
Irish woman
Margaret Nobel (Known as sister Nivedita) popularized it.
Young Bengal Movement
·
Founded by
Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809 − 31). He was a teacher in Hindu College in
Calcutta.
·
He urged the
students to live and die for truth. He also supported women's education and
their rights.
Veda Samaj
·
Veda Samaj
called Brahmo Samaj of South. Started by Sridharalu Naidu.
·
He
translated books of Brahmo Dharma into Tamil and Telegu.
·
Initiated by
Radhakant Deb in 1830.
·
Was opposed
to reforms and protected orthodoxy, but played an active role in promoting
western education even to girls.
Lokahitawadi
·
Started by
Gopal Hari Deshmukh. Advocated western education and a rational outlook. He
advocated female education for the upliftment of women.
·
As a votary
of national self-reliance, he attended Delhi durbar in 1876, wearing handspun
khadi cloth.
Servants of India Society
·
Formed by Gopal
Krishna Gokhale in 1915.
·
It did
notable work in providing famine relief and in improving the condition of the
tribal.
Radhaswami Movement
·
Founded in
1861 by a banker of Agra, Tulsi Ram, popularly known as Shiv Dayal Saheb or
Swami Maharaj.
·
The sect
preached belief in one supreme being, the Guru's supreme position and a simple
social life for the believers (the Satsangis).
Theosophical Society
·
Founded by
Westerners who drew inspiration from Indian thought and culture.
·
Madam H P
Blavatsky laid the foundation of the movement in US in 1875. Later, Col. MS
Olcott of the US Army joined her.
·
In 1882, it
was shifted to India at Adyar (Tamil Nadu).
·
Annie Besant
was elected its president in 1907. She founded the Central Hindu College in
1898, which became Banaras Hindu University in 1916.
National Movement of India: 1920 to 1930
Chauri Chaura Incident (1922)
·
A mob of
people at Chauri Chaura (near Gorakhpur) clashed with police and burnt 22
policemen on February 5, 1922.
·
This
compelled Gandhiji to withdraw the Non Cooperation movement on Feb. 12, 1922.
Simon Commission (1927)
·
Constituted
under John Simon, to review the political situation in India and to introduce
further reforms and extension of parliamentary democracy.
·
Indian
leaders opposed the commission, as there were no Indians in it.
·
The
Government used brutal repression and police attacks to break the popular
opposition. At Lahore, Lala Lajpat Rai was severely beaten in a lathi-charge.
He succumbed to his injuries on Oct. 30, 1928.
Lahore Session (1929)
·
On Dec. 19,
1929 under the President ship of J. L. Nehru, the INC, at its Lahore Session,
declared Poorna Swaraj (Complete independence) as its ultimate goal.
·
On Dec. 31,
1929, the newly adopted tri-colour flag was unfurled and an. 26, 1930 was fixed
as the First Independence Day, was to be celebrated every year.
Revolutionary Activities
·
The first
political murder of a European was committed in 1897 at Poona by the Chapekar
brothers, Damodar and Balkishan. Their target was Mr. Rand, President of the
Plague Commission, but Lt. Ayerst was accidentally shot.
·
In 1907,
Madam Bhikaiji Cama, a Parsi revolutionary unfurled the flag of India at
Stuttgart Congress (of Second international).
·
In 1908,
Khudiram Bose and Prafulla chaki threw a bomb on the carriage of kingford, the
unpopular judge of Muzaffapur. Khudiram, Kanhaiyalal Dutt and Satyendranath
Bose were hanged (Alipur Case).
·
In 1909, M L
Dhingra shot dead Col. William Curzon Whyllie, the political advisor of India
Office in London.
·
In 1912,
Rasbihari Bose and Sachindra Nath Sanyal threw a bomb and Lord Hardinge at
Delhi (Delhi Conspiracy Case).
·
In Oct,
1924, a meeting of revolutionaries from all parts of India was called at
Kanpur. They setup Hindustan Socialist Republic Association/Army (HSRA).
·
They carried
out a dacoity on the Kakori bound train on the Saharanpur-Lucknow railway line
on Aug. 9, 1925.
·
Bhagat
Singh, with his colleagues, shot dead Saunders (Asst. S. P. Of Lahore, who
ordered lathi charge on Lala Lajpat Rai) on Dec. 17, 1928.
·
Then Bhagat
Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb in the Central Assembly on Apr 8, 1929.
Thus, he, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged on March. 23, 1931 at Lahore Jall
(Lahore Conspiracy Case) and their bodies cremated at Hussainiwala near
Ferozepur.
·
In 1929 only
Jatin Das died in Lahore jail after 63 days fast to protest against horrible
conditions in jail.
·
Surya Sen, a
revolutionary of Bengal, formed the Indian Republic Army in Bengal. In 1930, he
masterminded the raid on Chittagong armoury. He was hanged in 1933.
·
In 1931,
Chandrashekhar Azad shot himself at Alfred Park in Allahabad.
Dandi March (1930)
·
Also called
the Salt Satyagraha. Along with 78 followers, Gandhiji started his march from
Sabarmati Ashram on March 12, 1930 for the small village Dandhi to break the
salt law.
·
He reached
the seashore on Apr. 6, 1930.
·
He picked a
handful of salt and inaugurated the Civil Disobedience Movement.
First Round Table conference (1930)
·
It was the
first conference arranged between the British and Indians as equals. It was
held on Nov. 12, 1930 in London to discuss Simon commission.
·
Boycotted by
INC, Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha, Liberals and some others were there.
National Movement of India: 1905 to 1920
The Indian National Congress
·
Formed in
1885 by A. O. Hume, an Englishman and a retired civil servant.
·
First
session in Bombay under W. C. Banerjee in 1885 (72 delegates attended it).
·
In the first
two decades (1885 1905), quite moderate in its approach and confided in British
justice and generosity.
·
But the
repressive measures of the British gave rise to extremists within Congress like
Bipin Chandra Pal, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai (Lal, Bal, Pal).
Partition of Bengal
·
By Lord
Curzon on Oct 16, 1905, through a royal Proclamation, reducing the old province
of Bengal in size by creating East Bengal and Assam out of rest of Bengal.
·
The
objective was to set up a communal gulf between Hindus and Muslims.
·
A mighty
upsurge swept the country against the partition. National movement found real
expression in the movement against the partition of Bengal in 1905.
Swadeshi Movement (1905)
·
Lal, Bal,
Pal, and Aurobindo Ghosh played the important role.
·
INC took the
Swadeshi call first at the Banaras Session, 1905 presided over by G. K.
Gokhale.
·
Bonfires of
foreign goods were conducted at various places.
Formation of Muslim League (1906)
·
Setup in
1906 under the leadership of Aga Khan, Nawab Salimullah of Dhaka and Nawab
Mohsin-ul-Mulk.
·
It was a
loyalist, communal and conservative political organization which supported the
partition of Bengal, opposed the Swadeshi movement, demanded special safeguards
to its community and a separate electorate for Muslims.
Demand for Swaraj
·
In Dec 1906
at Calcutta, the INC under Dadabhai Naoroji adopted ‘Swaraj’ (Self-govt) as the
goal of Indian people.
·
Surat
Session of Indian National Congress (1907): The INC split into two groups The
extremists and The moderates, at the Surat session in 1907.
·
Extremists
were led by Bal, Pal, Lal while the moderates by G. K. Gokhale.
Indian Councils Act or Minto Morley Reforms
(1909)
·
Besides
other constitutional measures, it envisaged a separate electorate for Muslims.
·
Aimed at
dividing the nationalist ranks and at rallying the Moderates and the Muslims to
the Government's side.
Ghadar Party (1913)
·
Formed by
Lala Hardayal, Taraknath Das and Sohan Singh Bhakna.
·
HQ was at
San Francisco.
Home Rule Movement (1916)
·
Started by
B. G. Tilak (April, 1916) at Poona and Annie Besant and S. Subramania Iyer at
Adyar, near Madras (Sept, 1916).
·
Objective:
Self government for India in the British Empire.
·
Tilak linked
up the question of Swaraj with the demand for the formation of Linguistic
States and education in vernacular language. He gave the slogan: Swaraj is my
birth right and I will have it.
Lucknow Pact (1916)
·
Happened
following a war between Britain and Turkey leading to anti-British feelings
among Muslims.
·
Both INC and
Muslim League concluded this (Congress accepted the separate electorates and
both jointly demanded for a representative government and dominion status for
the country).
August Declaration (1917)
After the Lucknow Pact,
a British policy was announced which aimed at increasing association of Indians
in every branch of the administration for progressive realization of
responsible government in India as an integral part of the British empire. This
came to be called the August Declaration.
Rowlatt Act (March 18, 1919)
·
This gave
unbridled powers to the govt. To arrest and imprison suspects without trial for
two years maximum. This law enabled the Government to suspend the right of
Habeas Corpus, which had been the foundation of civil liberties in Britain.
·
Caused a
wave of anger in all sections. It was the first country-wide agitation by
Gandhiji and marked the foundation of the Non Cooperation Movement.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919)
·
People were
agitated over the arrest of Dr. Kitchlu and Dr. Satyapal on April 10, 1919.
·
General
O'Dyer fires at people who assembled in the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar.
·
As a result
hundreds of men, women and children were killed and thousands injured.
·
Rabindranath
Tagore returned his Knighthood in protest. Sir Shankaran Nair resigned from
Viceroy's Executive Council after this.
·
Hunter
Commission was appointed to enquire into it. On March 13, 1940, Sardar Udham
Singh killed O'Dyer when the later was addressing a meeting in Caxton Hall,
London.
Khilafat Movement (1920)
·
Muslims were
agitated by the treatment done with Turkey by the British in the treaty that
followed the First World War.
·
Two
brothers, Mohd. Ali and Shaukat Ali started this movement.
Non-cooperation Movement (1920)
·
It was the
first mass-based political movement under Gandhiji.
·
Congress
passed the resolution in its Calcutta session in Sept 1920.
·
Jainism
founded by Rishabha.
·
There were
24 Tirthankaras (Prophets or Gurus), all Kshatriyas. First was Rishabhnath
(Emblem: Bull).
·
The 23rd
Tirthankar Parshwanath (Emblem: Snake) was the son of King Ashvasena of
Banaras. The 24th and the last Tirthankar was Vardhman Mahavira (Emblem: Lion).
·
He was born
in kundagram (Distt Muzaffarpur, Bihar) in 599 BC. His father Siddhartha was
the head of Jnatrika clan.
·
His mother
was Trishla, sister of Lichchavi Prince Chetak of Vaishali.
·
Mahavira was
related to Bimbisara. Married to Yashoda, had a daughter named Priyadarsena,
whose husband Jamali became his first disciple.
·
At 30, after
the death of his parents, he became an ascetic.
·
In the 13th
year of his asceticism (on the 10th of Vaishakha), outside the town of
Jrimbhikgrama, he attained supreme knowledge (kaivalya).
·
From now on
he was called Jaina or Jitendriya and Mahavira, and his followers were named
Jains. He also got the title of Arihant, i.e.. worthy.
·
At the age
of 72, he attained death at Pava, near Patna, in 527 BC.
·
Mahavira
preached almost the same message as Parshvanath and added one more, Brahmcharya
(celibacy) to it.
Gandhi Irwin Pact (1931)
·
Moderate Statesman, Sapru, Jaikar and Srinivas
Shastri initiated efforts to break the ice between Gandhiji and the government.
·
The two (government represented by Irwin and
INC by Gandhiji) signed a pact on March 5, 1931.
·
In this the INC called off the civil
disobedience movement and agreed to join the second round table conference.
·
The government on its part released the
political prisoners and conceded the right to make salt for consumption for
villages along the coast.
Second Round Table Conference (1931)
·
Gandhiji
represented the INC and went to London to meet British P. M. Ramsay Macdonald.
·
However, the
session was soon deadlocked on the minorities issue and this time separate
electorates was demanded not only by Muslims but also by Depressed Classes,
Indian Christians and Anglo Indians.
The Communal Award (Aug 16, 1932)
·
Announced by
Ramsay McDonald. It showed divide and rule policy of the British.
·
Envisaged
representation of Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo Indians, women and
even Backward classes.
·
Gandhiji,
who was in Yeravada jail at that time, started a fast unto death against it.
Poona Pact (September 25, 1932)
·
After the announcement of communal award and
subsequent fast of Gandhiji, mass meeting took place almost everywhere.
·
Political leaders like Madan Mohan Malviya, B.
R. Ambedkar and M. C. Rajah became active.
·
Eventually Poona pact was reached and Gandhiji
broke his fact on the sixth day (Sept 25, 1932).
·
In this, the idea of separate electorate for
the depressed classes was abandoned, but seats reserved to them in the
provincial legislature were increased.
Third Round Table Conference (1932)
·
Proved
fruitless as most of the national leaders were in prison. The discussions led
to the passing of the Government of India Act, 1935.
Demand For Pakistan
·
In 1930,
Iqbal suggested that the Frontier Province, Baluchistan, Sindh and Kashmir be
made the Muslim State within the federation.
·
Chaudhary
Rehmat Ali gave the term Pakistan in 1923.
·
Mohd. Ali
Jinnah of Bombay gave it practicality.
·
Muslim
League first passed the proposal of separate Pakistan in its Lahore session in
1940.
