WELCOME TO

HOTSPOT WAY
of
LEARNING

HOTSPOT Building, NSA Tower, Ambakkadan Junction,

St. Thomas College Road,Thrissur-680001
Ph: 9995921192, 7510959211
| [email protected] |

IAS HOTSPOT MGOCSM Civil Service Academy

OCSC Complex, Opp. AKG Centre, Palayam
Thiruvananthapuram
Ph: 9567 744 544 , 9946 944 544
| [email protected] |

Prepared By: AFSAL P

HISTORY OF INDIA
Afsal P
What is History?

• Ancient
• Medieval
• Modern
 Ancient Medieval Modern
 Portughese
 Stone Age
 Slave Dynasty  Dutch
 Indus Valley
 Khalji  Danish
Civilisation
 Thuglaq  French
 Vedic Period
 Syeds  English
 16
 Lodhis  Battle of Plassey
Mahajanapadas
 Mughal Empire 1757
 Mauryans
……………………………  Revolt of 1857
 Sunga
 Rajputs  Indian National
 Kanva
 Vijayanagara Congress-1885
 Satavahanas
 Bahmani  Bengal Partition
 IG-Sa-Pa-Ku
 Hyderabad -1905
 Gupta
 Awadh  NCMCDMQui
 Pushyabhukti
t India
 Independence
Ancient Indian History (13000 BCE – 650 CE)
Paleolithic Age ( Upto 10000 BCE)

• Hunters and Food Gatherers

• No knowledge of Agriculture,
pottery and metals
• Spread in all parts of India, except
the alluvial plains of the Indus and
Ganga River
• Eg : Bimbedka, Attirampakkam etc
Mesolithic Age (10000 – 6000 BCE)

• Also known as Micro-Liths

• Points, blades and scrapper
• Plant Cultivation
• Eg : Birbhanpur, Bagor
Neolithic Age (6000-3000 BCE)

• Cultivated land
• Domesticated Cattle, Sheep and
Goat
• Technique of making fire
• Made potteries (Potters Wheel)
• Settled life and Lived in Circular
and Rectangular houses made with
Mud
• Use of Gold (the only metal)
• Eg: Maski, Gharo, Barzahom etc.
Indus Valley Civilisation

Harappan Culture
Harappan Cilvilisation

• Because, Harappa- First site

discovered
• More than 1000 sites belong
to this civilization
• Citadel – Lower town,
Streets, Grid Plan, Drainage
System, Granary, Great Bath,
Bricks
• MOhenjodro, Chanhudaro,
Kalibangha etc.
• Priest, Artisans, Traders,
Cultivators and Fisheries
• Red and Black Potteries
• Silver, Copper, Bronze and
Gold but not Iron
• Use of Jewelry
• Internal and external trade –
Barter System
• Sea Trade, Ship and Boats,
Ports, Dockyards
• ‘Primitive animism’
• Animals : Goats, elephant,
tiger, Antelope
• Ritual Sacrifices
Rig Vedic Age (1500-1000 BCE)

• Pastoral Society – Cattle were

the main source of measure
of wealth
• ‘Godhuli’ – Measuring Time
• ‘Gavyuti’ – Measuring
distance
• Gotra, Gomat
• Shifting Agriculture
• Yava and Barley – Grains
• Jana – tribe
• Gopati – Chief
• Rajanya – Worrior
Later Vedic (1000 – 600 BCE)

 Surplus products collected in

the form of taxes
 Painted Grey ware pottery
 Nishka – Coin
 Use of Iorn, Gold, Tin &
Silver
 Compilation of Vedas ( Vedic
Literature
 Education
 Varna System : Brahmin-
Kshatriya-Vaishya-Shudra
Vedic Literature

1. Rigveda – 1028 Hymns

2. Samaveda - Songs
3. Yajurveda – procedure
forperformance of Sacrifice
4. Atharvaveda – Black Magic
Religious Movements

• Jainism
• Buddhism
Jainism (540 – 468 BCE)

 By Vardhamana Mahaveera
 24th Theerthankara – kevalya
at age 42 – sal tree
 Five Doctrines
 Satya
 Ahimsa
 Aparigriha
 Asteya
 Brahmacharya
Buddhism (563 – 483 BCE)

 By Gautham Buddha
 Nirvana at 35 years – peepal tree
 Buddhist Councils
 Four noble truth
 Eight fold path
 Buddhist Philosophy
 16 Mahajanapadas (600 – 320 BCE)

• The period of
second
urbanization
Mauryan Empire (321 – 180 BCE)

 Chanakya – Kautalya
(Arthashastra)
 Well structured
administrstion : 1. Chandragupta
Centralised and
Bureaucratic ruling 2. Bindusara
 Chandragupta Mauryan – 3. Ashoka
Jainism 4. Brihadratha
 Bindusara - Ajivika
 Ashoka : Buddhism
 Kalinga War
 Ashokas Inscriptions
 Sangam Age

• Chola – Chera – Pandya

• Post Mauryan – Pre-Gupta
period
Sunga Dynasty (73 BCE)

• Founded by Pushymutra
Sunga
Kanva Dynasty

• Founded by Vasudeva
Kanva
• 45 years reign
Satavahanas

• Deccan and Central India

• Fortified settlement developed in Deccan
• Gold as a bullion – did not issue gold coin
• Coins : tin-copper-potion-bronze
IG-Sa-Pa-Ku

• Indo-Greek Indo- Greek : Gandhara

• Sakas Architecture + Coinage

• Parthians Sakas : Saka Calender

• Kushanas
Parthians : ChristianitySt.
Thomas

Kushanas : Yue-Chi Tribe

Kaniska
Asvaghosha Buddhacharitha +
Charaka
Gupta Period

• Golden age of Indian History

• Rose from the ashes of Kushana
Empire 1. Sri Gupta
• King was the Central figure of the 2. Chandragupta
administration
• Gold Coins
3. Samudrgupta
• Nalanda University 4. Chandragupta II
• First example of Sati (Vikramadithya)
• Idol worship 5. Kumargupta
• Mathematics and Astronomy  6. Skandagupta
Aryabhatta
• Temple Architecture
Vakatakas Dynasty

• Founded by Vindhya Shakthi

• Caves XVI and XVII of Ajanta Caves
Age of HARSHA (CE 606 - 634)

• Pushyabhukthi Dynasty founded by Pushyabhukthi

• Feudal and Decentralised Administration
• Titled with King of Maghadha and maintained diplomatic relations
with China
• Hieung Tsang visited in his reign ( Si-Yu-Ki)
• Harshacharita & kadambari written by Banabhatta
• Shaiva in the beginning and Buddhism
• Defeated by Chalukyan King Pulakesin II (CE 634)
Chalukya of Badami (Vatapi)
Pallavas
Rashtrakudas
Gurjara Prathiharas
Palas
Senas
Cholas
Rajputs
Medieval India
Early Muslim Invasions

• Arabs :The first Muslims attack India  eyes on the Rich Land;
Mohammed Bin Qasim (CE 712)
• Ghasnavid Ruler Mohammed Ghasni (CE 1001)  Alberuni (Kitab-ul-hind)
• Battle of Waihind
• Muhammed Ghori  First Battle of Terrain  Second Battle of terrain
Defeated Prithviraj Chauhan
• Qutub-ud-din Aibak Slave of Mumd. Ghori  Founder of Slave Dynasty
• His General Bhakhtiyar Khalji Destroyed Nalanda and Vikramshila
Universties
Delhi Sultanate
Slave Dynasty /Ilbari-Turks/Yamini (1206- 1290)

• Qutub-ub-din-Aibak • Quwat-ul-Islam
• Shamsuddin Iltumish • Qutub Minar
• Razia Begum • Arabic coinage in Silver
• Nasiruddin Mahmud • Diwani-i-arz  Military Dept.
• Balban • Iranian system of Sajda and
Paibos
• Blood and Iron Policy
• Zil-i-Illahi
• Persian Nauroz
Khalji Dynasty (1290- 96)

• Jalaluddin Khalji • Repelled and quashed Mangols

• Alauddin Khalji • Rattan Singh
• Mubharak Khalji • Tuti-i-Hind (Parrot of India) Amir Khusru
• Alauddin  Centralised Administration
• Spy System (Munhiyan  Spies)
• Barids  News Reporters
• Prohibited Matrimonial Alliance + Gabbling +
Wine
• Market Reforms + Fixed prices
• Al-wasiq-Billah
• NAsiruddin Khusrau Shah
Tughlaq Dynasty (1320 – 1414)

• Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq • Irrigation works

• Muhammed Bin Tughlaq • Tughlaqabad
• Firoz Shah Tughlaq • Capital shift from Delhi to Devgiri (Dualatabad)
• Token Currency  Bronze
• Agricultural Reforms
• Fixed land revenue  Half of the Produce
• Ashokas Pillars brought to Delhi
• Dalail-i-Firuz Shahi
• Diwan-i-Bandagan
• Charitable Hospitals

Later Tughalq
Saiyyad Dynasty (1414 – 51)

• Khizr Khan (1414 – 21) • Descendent from the prophet

• Mubarak Shah • Rebellious Leaders
• Alauddin Alam Shah
Lodhi Dynasty

• Bahlol Lodhi • First Afghan rule in India

• Sikandar Lodhi • Bahloli copper coin
• Ibrahim Lodhi • Measurement yard
• Founded Agra
• Battle of Panipat  Ibrahim
Lodhi + Babur
Contemporaries

• Malwa
• Jaunpur
• Gujarat
• Bengal
• Kashmir
• Mewar
• Marwar
• Bahmani Kingdom
Vijayanagara Empire
 Dynasty Year Founder

Sangam Dynasty 1336 -1485 Harihar & Bukka

Saluva Dynasty 1485 – 1505 Saluva Narasimha

Tuluv Dynasty 1505 – 1556 Vira Narsimha

Arvidu Dynasty 1556 - 1672 Tirumala

Mughal Empire (1526 -1707
• Babur
• Humayun
• Akbar
• Jahangir
• Shajahan
• Aurangazeb

Shersha Suri
Babur (1526 -1530)

• Founder of Mughal Empire

• Five punitive expeditions in India (1519 – 1525)
• Defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526
• Tuluguma System of Warfare
• Defeated Rana Sanga in Battle of Khanwah in 1527
• Battle of Chandheri, Battle of Ghagra
Humayun (1530 – 56)

• Dinahpanah – City
• Sher Shah defeated Humayun  Battle of Buxar
• Sher Shah defeated Humayun  Battle of Kanuaj
• 1555  Humayun Regained his Crown
• Death  fell from the step of his library
Akbar (1556-1599)

• @ age of 13
• Abolition of Slavery, Jaziya, Pilgrim Tax, etc.
• Ibadat Khana  House of Worship
• Din-i-illahi
• Transfer of Capital from Agra to Fathepur Sikri
• Birbal, Maharaji Rana, Purushotham Das, Harvijaya Suri,
Monserate and Aquaviva
• Akbars NAvaratana
Jahangir (1605-1626)

• Revolted against Akbar in 1599

• Annexed Kangra
• Chain of Justice  Hung outside his palace
• Lover of Art, Literature and Painting
Shajahan (1628-1658)

• Tajmahal
• Revolts from Khan Jahan Lodhi, Bundhelas under Jujhar Sing
• 1632  Defeated Portuguese near Hugli River
• 1636  Annexed Ahammed Nagar
• 1652  Sent his son to Deccan
Aurangazeb (1658-1707)

• Aurangazeb crowned himself at Delhi after Murad was arrested

and killed
• Death of Shajahan in 1666
• Re-imposed Jaziya
• Jaat Rebellion, Churaman Rebellion, Bundhelas etc.
• Marathas, Jai Singh, Bijapur, Kholkonda, Smapaji
• Death  1707
Decline of Mughals and Invasion of Europeans

Contemporaries Europeans

Marathas  Portughese
Sikhs  Dutch
Bengal
 Danish
Awadh
 French
Hyderabad
Carnatic  English
Mysore, Rajputs, Sind
MODERN INDIAN HISTORY
Battle of Plassey (1757)

• Bengal was a heavy industriased region and most fertile land in India.
• With the establishment of the British factory at Balasore in 1633, the
East India Company had begun its regular trade with Bengal and its
trading ambition increased subsequently.
• Royal Charter (Shahi Farman) was issued by Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar
in 1717.
• The Farman provided the right to grant ‘dastaks’ (permits to allow the
passage of duty free goods through port authorities) and this was
misused by the Company servants to carry out their private trade
illegally.
• It resulted in a loss of revenue to the royal exchequer.
• The accession of Siraz-ud-Daula was followed by a disturbance in Bengal which
was supported and propagated by the British in collusion with the likes of Jagat
Seth, Amirchand, Mir Jafar, and Rai Durlabh.
• The Nawab of Bengal asked the English to do away with the fortifications of
their factories located in the territory of Bengal but the English showed
resistance.
• Thereafter, the Nawab attacked the Calcutta fort of the English. Meanwhile the
“Black Hole tragedy” took place in which it was alleged that hundreds of British
soldiers perished as a result of being held in an inhuman confinement.
• While the Nawab retreated to his capital after appointing a Subedar at
Calcutta, Robert Clive initiated his march from Madras.
• The decisive Battle of Plassey took place on 23rd June 1757, between the
fifty thousand strong army of the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-daullah and the
small army of Clive consisting of 1100 Europeans, 200 Indians, and a few
irregulars.
• Before the battle, Clive had built a secret alliance with Mir Jafar, Jagat Seth,
and Rai Durlabh against the Nawab.
• Under this agreement, Mir Jafar was to be made the Nawab of Bengal and in
turn he will reward company for its services.
• As per the pre-Plassey transactions, Mir Jafar ordered the retreat of Bengal
forces in the thick of the battle.
• The retreating Bengal forces were attacked from behind by the
Company’s troops and defeated. Siraj was captured and executed
by Mir Jafar’s son Miran Bahadur. The defeat of the Nawab in the
battle changed the character of the English company. Therefore it
is said that ‘there is no other battle so short with consequences,
so vast, so immediate, and so permanent as the battle of Plassey’.
• Although the Battle of Plassey was not significant in military
terms, its political and economic significances were far reaching
for the fate of the East India company (EIC) in India.
• Political Significance
• From being a trading company, the EIC transformed itself into a ruling power.
• The EIC emerged as a kingmaker in the politics of Bengal as it chose to depose the
Nawab in favour of Mir Jafar and subsequently Mir Jafar in favour of Mir Kasim.
• As the Mughal emperor remained a mute spectator in the whole process, his claims over
sovereignty and control over affairs of Bengal received a setback.
• The EIC became strong enough, both in military as well as economic terms, to
decisively defeat other European powers like the French and the Dutch. Henceforth, it
could depend upon the huge resources of Bengal to fund its wars and defences.
• Economic Significance
• The battle paved the path for a continuous exploitation of Bengal. The
English not only received free trading rights in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa but
were also given the Zamindari rights of 24 paraganas.
• Several senior officials of the company received crores of rupees in gifts and
bribes from the Nawab
Mir Jafar and Mir Qasim

• Mir Jafar promised huge money and territories to the English

Company for being installed as the Nawab.
• When Mir Jafar failed to honour his promises, he was deposed and
his son-in law Mir Qasim was installed as the Nawab of Bengal.
• Mir Qasim cleared all the dues to the Company, re-organized the
army and administration of Bengal and began to assert his
authority. He shifted his capital to Munger in Bihar, started an
ordinance factory and attempted to model his troops on European
lines. The Nawab also removed all the taxation on the internal
trade in Bengal.
Battle of Buxar(1764)

• When Mir-Qasim raised the issue of misuse of Dastaks by the private English
merchants known as ‘Interlopers’, the company was annoyed. Mir Qasim was
defeated by the English in the battle of Giria near Vardhaman after which Mir
Qasim escaped to Awadh and formed a common front against the English ud-
with the Nawab of Awadh Shuja-daula and the later Mughal Emperor Shah Alam
II who was living at Patna. This led to the Battle of Buxar.
• The above actions of Mir Qasim made the Company wage a war against him and
reinstate Mir Jafar as the Nawab of Bengal. The combined forces of these rulers
were defeated by the Company army led by Hector Munro at the Battle of Buxar
fought on 22nd October, 1764.
• The Battle of Buxar was one the most significant victories of the British East
India Company since their very advent in India.
• Significance:
• The Company secured its victory on the basis of superior
military tactics and not with the help of court politics as in the
Battle of Plassey.
• It transformed EIC from a ‘de jure’ to a ‘de facto’ power in
Bengal.
• The victory brought more prestige to the company as a
formidable power in Indian politics. After the victory of the
Company, Lord Clive signed two treaties with the defeated
powers known as the First and Second Treaty of Allahabad.
Anglo Mysore Wars

Another important state to make its appearance in the

eighteenth century was that of Mysore. This territory located
at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats was ruled
by the Wodeyars. Various powers, interested in this territory,
turned the area into a constant battlefield. In the end the
Mysore state was brought under the rule of Haider Ali who ruled the
state but not without trouble. He was involved in constant warfare
with the British and so was his son Tipu Sultan.
First Anglo-Mysore War (1767-69)

After their easy success in Bengal, the English were confident

of their military strength. They concluded a treaty with the Nizam
of Hyderabad (1766) persuading him to give them the
Northern Circars (region) in lieu of which they said they
would protect the Nizam from Haidar Ali. Haidar already had
territorial disputes with the Nawab of Arcot and differences
with the Marathas.
Changing Alliances
The Nizam, the Marathas, and the English allied together
against Haidar Ali. Haidar acted with considerable tact and
diplomatic skill. He paid the Marathas to turn them neutral
and, promising to share conquered territories with the Nizam,
converted the Nizam into his ally. He then joined the Nizam
to attack the Nawab of Arcot.
Course of War
The war continued for a year-and-a-half without any conclusion.
Haidar changed his strategy and suddenly appeared before the
gates of Madras. There was complete chaos and panic at
Madras forcing the English to conclude a very humiliating
treaty with Haidar on April 4, 1769—Treaty of Madras. The
treaty provided for the exchange of prisoners and mutual
restitution of conquests. Haidar Ali was promised the help
of the English in case he was attacked by any other power.
Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84)

• Haidar Ali accused the English of breach of faith and non observance of the
Treaty of Madras when in 1771 he was attacked by the Marathas, and the
English failed to come to his aid. Also, he found that the French were much
more helpful than the English in meeting his army’s requirement of guns,
saltpetre and lead. Consequently, through Mahe, a French possession on the
Malabar coast, some French war material was brought to Mysore. Meanwhile,
the American war of independence had broken out in which the French were
on the side of the rebels against the English. Under the circumstances, Haidar
Ali’s friendship with the French caused even more concern to the English.
They therefore tried to capture Mahe, which Haidar regarded to be under his
protection. Haidar considered the English attempt to capture Mahe a direct
challenge to his authority.
• Treaty of Mangalore :
• Haidar Ali died of cancer on December 7, 1782. Now his son, Tipu
Sultan, carried on the war for one year without any positive
outcome. Fed up with an inconclusive war, both sides opted for
peace, negotiating the Treaty of Mangalore (March, 1784) under
which each party gave back the territories it had taken from the
other.
Third Anglo-Mysore War

• A dispute arose between Tipu and the state of Travancore.

Travancore had purchased Jalkottal and Cannanore from the Dutch
in the Cochin state.
• As Cochin was a feudatory of Tipu, he considered the act of
Travancore as a violation of his sovereign rights. So, in April 1790,
Tipu declared war against Travancore for the restoration of his
rights.
Course of War
The English, siding with Travancore, attacked Tipu. In 1790, Tipu defeated
the English under General Meadows.
In 1791, Cornwallis took the leadership and at the head of a large army
marched through Ambur and Vellore to Bangalore (captured in March 1791)
and from there to Seringapatam.
Coimbatore fell to them, but they lost it again, and at last with the
support of the Marathas and the Nizam, the English attacked
Serirangapatam for the second time. Tipu offered serious opposition, but
the odds were against him. Consequently, he had to pay heavily under the
Treaty of Seringapatam.
Treaty of Serirangapatam:
Under this treaty of 1792, nearly half of the Mysorean territory was taken over
by the victors.
Baramahal, Dindigul and Malabar went to the English, while the Marathas got the
regions surrounding the Tungabhadra and its tributaries and the Nizam acquired
the areas from the Krishna to beyond the Pennar.
Besides, a war damage of three crore rupees was also taken from Tipu. Half of
the war indemnity was to be paid immediately while the rest was to be given in
installments, for which Tipu’s two sons were taken as hostages by the English.
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War

• The English as well as Tipu Sultan used the period 1792 to 1799 to recoup their losses.
Tipu fulfilled all the terms of the Treaty of Seringapatam and got his sons released.
• In 1796, when the Hindu ruler of Wodeyar dynasty died, Tipu refused to place Wodeyar’s
minor son on the throne and declared himself sultan. He also decided to avenge his
humiliating defeat and the terms put by the Treaty of Seringapatam.
• In 1798, Lord Wellesley succeeded Sir John Shore as the new Governor General. An
imperialist to the core, Wellesley was concerned about Tipu’s growing friendship with
the French and aimed at annihilating Tipu’s independent existence or force him to
submission through the system of Subsidiary Alliance. So the chargesheet against Tipu
mentioned that he was plotting against the English with the Nizam and the Marathas and
that he had sent emissaries to Arabia,Afghanistan, Kabul and Zaman Shah, as also to Isle
of France (Mauritius) and Versailles, with reasonable intent. Tipu’s explanation did not
satisfy Wellesley.
Course of War
The war began on April 17, 1799 and ended on May 4, 1799 with the fall of
Seringapatam.
Tipu was defeated first by English General Stuart and then by General Harris.
Arthur Wellesley, the brother of Lord Wellesley, also participated in the war.
The English were again helped by the Marathas and the Nizam. The Marathas had
been promised half of the territory of Tipu and the Nizam had already signed the
Subsidiary Alliance.
Tipu laid down his life fighting bravely; his family members were interned at
Vellore, and his treasures were confiscated by the English.
The English chose a boy from the earlier Hindu royal family of Mysore as the
maharaja and also imposed on him the subsidiary alliance system.
The Regulating Act of 1773

• The 1773 Regulating Act brought about the British government’s

involvement in Indian affairs in the effort to control and regulate
the functioning of the East India Company.
• It recognised that the Company’s role in India extended beyond
mere trade to administrative and political fields, and introduced
the element of centralized administration.
• The directors of the Company were required to submit all
correspondence regarding revenue affairs and civil and military
administration to the government. (Thus for the first time, the
British cabinet was given the right to exercise control over Indian
affairs.)
• In Bengal, the administration was to be carried out by governor-
general and a council consisting of 4 members, representing civil
and military government. They were required to function
according to the majority rule. Warren Hastings and four others
were named in the Act, later ones were to be appointed by the
Company.
• A Supreme Court of judicature was to be established in Bengal
with original and appellate jurisdictions where all subjects could
seek redressal. In practice, however, the Supreme Court had a
debatable jurisdiction vis-a-vis the council which created various
problems.
• The governor-general could exercise some powers over Bombay and
Madras—again, a vague provision which created many problems. The
whole scheme was based on checks and balances. Amendments
(1781)
• The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court was defined—within Calcutta,
it was to administer the personal law of the defendant.
• The servants of the government were immune if they did anything
while discharging their duties.
• Social and religious usages of the subjects were to be honoured.
Pitts India Act, 1784

• Board of Control : 6 members was established ;

Members : Commissioners
• Members of the Council of the Governor General was reduced
from 4 to 3
• Clear cut Subordination of the Bombay, Madras Presidencies :
under Governor General in Council
Charter Act, 1793

• Monopoly in Trade for 20 more years (EEIC)

• Laws translated into Indian Languages
• Provided foundation of some sort of Modern Government
Charter Act, 1813

• Monopoly of Company reduced in India(East), but continued in

China and trade in Tea
• Funds for spread education
• Pre-Service Training
• Christian Missionaries works allowed legally
Charter Act, 1833 (Govt. of India Act)

• Extended operations of the Company for another 20 years

• Introduced Free Trade in India by abolishing Company’s Monopoly
of trade completely
• Governor General of Fort William (Bengal)  Governor General of
India
• Introduction of Law Member in the Council - Lord Macaulay
• Law Commission was appointed
• Elimination of Legislative Decentralisation
Charter Act, 1853

• Members of Court of Directors was reduced

• First Lieutenant Governor for Bengal : James Haliday
• Indian Civil Service through Competitive Exam
• First Real Governor General - Dalhousie
Birth of Nationalism (1857- 1885)
Moderate Phase of Indian Nationalism (1885-1906)
Extremist Phase of Indian Nationalism (1906 – 1916)
 Gandhian Era (1917 – 1947)
INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT

• Indian national movement: One of the biggest. Inspired many

others.
• Gandhian Political Strategy very important.
WHY IS THE INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT UNIQUE

• In the Indian national movement, the Gramscian perspective of war of

position was successfully practiced.
• It provides the only historical example of a semi‐democratic or
democratic type of political structure being successfully replaced or
transformed.
• State power was not seized in a moment of revolution, but through
prolonged popular struggle on moral, political and ideological reserves.
• It is also an example of how the constitutional space offered by the
existing structure could be used without getting coopted by it.
• Diverse perspectives and ideologies.
OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF THE FREEDOM
STRUGGLE

• Values and modern ideals on which it was based .

• Vision of the leaders: democratic, civil libertarian and secular India,
based on a self‐reliant, egalitarian social order and an independent
foreign policy.
• The movement popularized democratic ideas and institutions in India.
• The strong civil libertarian and democratic tradition of the national
movement was reflected in the constitution of independent India.
• Pro‐poor orientation.
• Secular
• A non‐racist, anti‐imperialist outlook which continues to
characterize Indian foreign policy was the part of the legacy of
the anti‐imperialist struggle.
• India‘s freedom struggle was basically the result of fundamental
contradiction between the interests of the Indian people and that
of British colonialism.
Revolt of 1857

• The revolt of 1857 was the conscious beginning of the

Independence struggle against the colonial tyranny of the British.
There are various names for the revolt of 1857 – India’s First War
of Independence, Sepoy Mutiny, etc.
• The revolt began on May 10, 1857, at Meerut as a sepoy mutiny. It
was initiated by sepoys in the Bengal Presidency against the British
officers.
• This war of Independence marked the end of rule by the British
East India company. Post this, India was directly ruled by the
British government through representatives known as Governor-
General.
Immediate Reason of Revolt of 1857

• The immediate factor was the introduction of the ‘Enfield’ rifle.

The cartridge had to be bitten off before loading it into the gun.
Indian sepoys believed that the cartridge was greased with either
pig fat or made from cow fat. This was against the Hindu and
Muslim sentiments and religious ideologies. Thus they were
reluctant to use the ‘Enfield’ rifle. This was a flashpoint to enrage
the soldiers against the Britishers. This was believed to be
the immediate factor for the revolt of 1857.
The revolt of 1857 was initiated due to
various factors

• Religious & Social Causes – racism or racial discrimination was

believed to be a major reason for the revolt of 1857 wherein
Indians were exploited and were kept away from mixing with
Europeans. The whites also started interfering in the religious and
cultural affairs of Indians and tortured them as well.
• Economic Factors -There were various reforms in the taxation and
revenue system that affected the peasants’ heavily. British
Government had imposed and introduced various administrative
policies to expand their territory.
• Political Causes – The British expansion had led to the propagation
of unjust policies that led to the loss of power of the Nawabs and
Zamindars residing at various places of India. The introduction of
unfair policies like the policy of Trade and Commerce, the policy
of indirect subordination (subsidiary alliance), the policy of war
and annexation, the policy of direct subordination (doctrine of
lapse), the policy of misgovernance (through which Awadh was
annexed) greatly hampered the interests of the rulers of the
native states, and they one by one became victims of British
expansionism. Therefore, those rulers, who lost their states to the
British, were naturally against the British and took sides against
them during the revolt.
The major policies are listed below:
• Permanent Settlement in Bengal
• Mahalwari settlement in Central India & Ryotwari settlement in
southern India.
These three settlements were highly exploitative, and in particular,
the Permanent settlement had created a devastating impact. Thus
the peasants were greatly encouraged to overthrow the British
Government from India and led to their active participation in the
revolt of 1857.
Military Causes of Revolt of 1857

• The Indian military was not professional military- they were just
peasants in uniform. Thus every impact on peasantry had large
repercussions in the form of military discontentment.
• Also, the policies followed by Lord Dalhousie and Lord Canning
greatly hurt the sentiments of the Indian military.
• The Indian military was already largely discriminated against in
terms of salaries, pensions, promotions. Indians were subjugated
in the military while their European counterparts faced no such
discrimination. During the time of Lord Canning, two important
laws were passed: Both these acts were passed in 1856, i.e. on
the eve of revolt.
• General Service Enlistment Act: This act meant that if Indian
military personnel were posted abroad, they wouldn’t be
entitled to get extra allowances. Thus this act was a jolt to the
prospects to the Indian military personnel serving under the
East India Company.
• Religious Disabilities Act: For Indian soldiers, the belief was
that if they crossed the ocean, they would lose their religion.
They would thus be socially ostracized. Thus, Hindu soldiers
skipped appointments that involved serving in a foreign land.
But, after the passing of the “Religious Disabilities Act”, they
would have to take the appointment compulsorily. Otherwise,
they would lose their job. At the same time, the use of
religious symbols in the military were also restricted.
Vellore Mutiny
• The Vellore Mutiny took place even before the revolt of 1857 (50
years before). It erupted on 10th July 1806 in Vellore, present-day
Tamil Nadu, and lasted only for a day, but it was brutal and it was
the first major mutiny by the Indian sepoys in the East India
Company.
Impact of Revolt of 1857

• 100 years of the rule of the EIC marked the zenith of exploitation
in India. And this exploitation was in all directions, i.e. social,
economical, and political life of Indians.
• The intensity of the revolt of 1857, although confined in certain
pockets, was so high that it shook the backbone of British rule in
India, and it also proved the fact that the EIC which was basically
a trading organization was not efficient enough in tackling Indian
administration.
• The revolt exposed the hollowness of the company’s rule in India.
The British Government couldn’t afford to lose India at any cost,
so, therefore, the British Government decided to abolish the rule
of the EIC, and direct Government was installed, guided by the
British Parliament.
Immediate Impact

• Government of India Act, 1858: Under this Act, the rule of the
EIC was abolished and the British Parliament had taken direct
responsibility towards ruling India. The EIC returned to being just
a trading organization.
• The role of the Governor-General became more pronounced and
his profile was now counted as the Viceroy as well.
• The difference between Governor-General and Viceroy was that
the Viceroy would act as the representative of the Queen and the
Governor-General was the representative of the British Parliament
whose authority was restricted to that of British India itself and
not on the Princely States.
• The Board of Control (established under the 1784 Pitt’s India
Act) was abolished. A new ministry was created known as ‘India
House’, headed by the Secretary of State for India who was a
minister of cabinet rank.
• There were 15 advisors to the ‘India House’, who had wide
experience of working in India. Thus the British Parliament was
trying to create a mechanism to avoid any further chances of
revolt. The India House was the apex body to govern India and was
a connecting link between the British Parliament and the Indian
governing system.
• Ever since the EIC transformed itself from a trading organization
to a political organization, the attitude of the British Parliament
also went under subjective assessment. And thereafter, various
rules and regulations were passed from time to time. By the
passing of the Charter Acts, the power of the EIC was gradually
curtailed, and at the same time, the control of the British
Parliament over them gradually kept increasing.
• The successive passing of various Charter Acts in different years-
1813, 1833, 1853 implies that the abolition of the East India
Company (EIC) wasn’t an immediate action and was a long-drawn-
out policy of the British Parliament and that the revolt of 1857
gave the British Parliament the perfect opportunity to abolish the
rule of the EIC in India.
• 100 years of the rule of the EIC marked the zenith of exploitation
in India. And this exploitation was in all directions, i.e. social,
economical, and political life of Indians.
• The intensity of the revolt of 1857, although confined in certain
pockets, was so high that it shook the backbone of British rule in
India, and it also proved the fact that the EIC which was basically
a trading organization was not efficient enough in tackling Indian
administration.
• The revolt exposed the hollowness of the company’s rule in India.
The British Government couldn’t afford to lose India at any cost,
so, therefore, the British Government decided to abolish the rule
of the EIC, and direct Government was installed, guided by the
British Parliament.
THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE
INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT
• BENGAL PRESIDENCY ASSOCIATION
• BOMBAY PRESIDENCY ASSOCIATION
• MADRAS PRESIDENCY ASSOCIATION
• FOUNDATION OF INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
• THE FIRST PHASE 1885-1905
• SWADESHI MOVEMENT
• THE SECOND PHASE 1905-1919
• RISE OF EXTREMISM
• THE HOME RULE MOVEMENT
• THE GHADR MOVEMENT
• THE THIRD PHASE OR GANDHIAN ERA1919-1947
• THE NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT
• THE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT
• QUIT INDIA MOVEMNT
THE FOUNDATION OF INDIAN NATIONAL
CONGRESS

• The INC was established in 1885, by A.O. Hume, a retired civil

servant who was staying in Shimla post-retirement.
• He invited many Indian leaders regarding the Indian cause, and he
laid the foundation of the ‘Indian National Union’.
• But, after the suggestion of Dadabhai Naoroji, its name was
changed to ‘Indian National Congress’. The word ‘Congress’ was
taken from the American Constitution.
There are two broad theories behind this:

• a) Mythical Theory: This suggested that it was the humanistic

approach of A.O. Hume that was cited as one of the factors that
led to the establishment of the INC. In fact, it was said that Hume
was deeply moved by the political plight of the Indians, and he
wanted to establish a political platform for Indians that could
serve as the ‘voice for Indians’ so that the grievances could reach
the British and the discontentment which was gradually growing
between the British ruling system and the Indians could be
minimized.
• The biographer of A.O. Hume, William Wedderburn, who later on
also became the President of the INC as well, deeply believed in
the humanistic approach of A.O. Hume.
• b) Realistic Theory:
• The extremist elements in India like Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin
Chandra Pal, etc. laid down the theory known as ‘Safety- valve’ theory.
• Lala Lajpat Rai wrote two books, ‘Unhappy India’, and ‘Punjabi’. In these two
books, he explained and criticized the policy of the British regarding the
establishment of the INC.
• According to him, it was a conspiracy of Lord Dufferin, and A.O. Hume, that
lead to the establishment of the INC. In the second half of the 19th Century
with the growing tide of nationalism, the aggression of Indians kept on
increasing against the British policies, thus the British think-tanks derived a
concept by which it was said that in between the British Government in India
and the Indian public, there would be a buffer organization known as the Indian
National Congress (INC).
• Thus the INC would work as a buffer organization, or in other words, it would
work as a safety-valve.
• The safety-valve theory got a strong momentum in the political circles of India.
• But, on the basis of modern analysis, the INC was a result of many a
regional consciousness uniting together under the context of
commonality of interests. In fact, with the beginning of the 19th Century
itself, there were many cultural organizations which were established by
social reformers. And cultural organizations always lead to political and
social awareness.
• Thus, in this regard, we find that immediately after the socio-cultural
movement in India (i.e. 19th-century renaissance), we find various
political organizations being established like:
• The Landholders Society, which was established by Dwarakanath
Tagore. This was also known as Zamindar Sabha.
• There were many other organizations like, East India
Association, Bengal British East India Association, Poona Sarvajanik
Sabha, and the Indian League, established by Sisir Kumar Ghosh.
THE FIRST PHASE 1885-1905

• ERA OF MODERATES
• DADABHAI NAOROJI.PHEROZSHAH MEHTA,D.E.WACHA,W.C.
BANERJEA,S.N. BANERJEA WERE STAUNCH BELIEVERS IN LIBERALISM
AND MODERATE POLITICS AND CAME TO BE LABELLED AS
MODERATES TO DISTINGUISH THEM FROM THE NEO NATIOANLIST OF
THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY WHO WERE REFFERD TO AS
EXTREMIST.
• RESOLUTIONS,PETITIONS,MEETINGS,
• 2 PRONGED METHADOLGY
• 1.CREATE A STRONG PUBLIC OPINION TO AROUSE CONSCIOUSNESS AND
NATIONAL SPIRIT AND THEN EDUCATE AND UNIT PEOPLE ON COMMON
POLITICAL QUESTIONS
• ‘PRAYER AND PETITION’ METHODE
• DADBHAI NAOROJI IN LONDON.
• THE MODERATE LEADRS BELIVED THAT POLITICAL CONNECTIONS WITH
BRITAIN WERE IN INDIA’S INTEREST AT THAT THE TIME WAS NOT RIPE FOR
A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO THE BRITISH RULE.THERE FOR,IT WAS
CONSIDERED TO BE APPROPRIATE TO TRY AND TRANSFORM THE COLONIAL
RULE TO BE AS CLOSE TO A NATIONAL RULE AS POSSIBLE.
• ECONOMC CRITIQUE OF BRITISH IMPERIALISM.
• CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS AND PROPAGANDA IN LEGISLATURE.
• FROM 1885-1892,THE NATIONALIST DEMANDS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
WRE CENTRED AROUND-EXPANSION OF COUNCIL-REFORM OF COUNCIL1892
INDAOIN COUNCILS ACT.
.
• NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
• CAMPAIGN FOR GENERAL ADMINISTRRATION REFORMS
• IDIANISATION OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE
• CALL FOR SEPERATION OF JUDICIAL FROM EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS.
• CRITICISM OF AN OPPRESIVE AND TYRANNICAL BUREAUCRACY AND AN
EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
• ALL AGGRESSIVE FOREIGN POLICY WHICH RESULTED IN INDAIN TREASURY .
• CALL FOR INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE.
• DEMAND FOR BETTER TREATMENT FOR INDIAN LABOUR ABROAD.
SWADESHI MOVEMENT (1905-19011)

• This was a comprehensive movement that lasted 6 years.

• Although this was regarded as a cultural movement celebrating
the rich harvest of history- the rich traditions like folk music,
paintings, the culture of Bengal was highlighted. But very soon, it
got integrated with the political upheavals that followed after the
partition of Bengal. Krishna Kumar Mitra, in his
newspaper, ‘Sanjivani’ highlighted the prospects of national
education and ‘Economic Swadeshi’.
• Very soon, this movement started gaining momentum with the
help of the entire Bengali middle-class intelligentsia.
• After the partition of Bengal, the Swadeshi movement got a big boost,
because of the integration of the boycott movement with the Swadeshi
movement.
• Tilak called this movement “Bahishkar Yoga“ and most of the Bengali
intelligentsia that was initially not in favour of the boycott movement
got integrated with the Swadeshi movement.
• This was primary learning for the national movement. According to Bal
Gangadhar Tilak, and Lala Lajpat Rai, it was training in ‘self-
determination’, ‘self-help’, and ‘self-reliance’.
• In fact, the Swadeshi movement can be called as a nursery of the further
course that the Indian National Movement was to take. The programmes
and ideas that were practised during the Swadeshi movement became
the hallmark of the Gandhian movement as well.
• Surendranath Bannerjee said that it is a ‘protectionist movement’. And
that it ‘generates the material prosperity of the masses’.
• Very soon, the Swadeshi movement spread to different parts of India,
like Bihar, U.P., C.P., Bombay and Madras.
• Radicalism also became a part of the Swadeshi movement after the
partition of Bengal. After the partition of Bengal, industrial strikes
became the hallmark of the Swadeshi movement.
• There were strikes carried out in various cotton and jute factories of
Bengal. Railway workers also went on strike. The Burnpur mill also went
on strike.
• But, the context of the anti-partition movement made it a very
aggressive movement.
Problems with the Swadeshi Movement

• But the problem with the Swadeshi movement was that it was not
properly directed and it failed to unite the Hindus and Muslims because
of the work of Nawab Salimullah of Dhaka and the establishment of the
Muslim league.
• The demand of separate electorates became an issue to seek political
mileage for the Muslims. Thus, the Swadeshi movement lacked having a
large mass-base. The grievances of the peasants were not at all taken
into consideration- such as lack of uniformity of the land revenue
system, rights of the tenants, prevention of land grabbing, were not
taken up by the Swadeshi movement, and thus the peasants did not
become a part of the Swadeshi movement.
• But, overall, the period of 1903-1908, the partition of Bengal served as a
catalyst for the Swadeshi Movement.
THE SECOND PHASE 1905-1919

• RISE OF EXTREMISM AND RADICAL POLITICS

• RECOGNIION OF THE TRUE NATURE OF BRITISH RULE
• REACTION TO INCREASING WESTERNIZATION.
• DISSATISFACTION WITH THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE CONGRESS
• DERERIORATING ECONOMIC CONDITION OF INDIA
• CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE
• CURZON’S REACTIONARY POLICIES
• THE PARTITION OF BENGAL
• LAL-PAL-BAL
Home Rule Movement

• Between the years 1916 and 1918, the Indian independence movement
witnessed the growth and spread of the home rule movement
spearheaded by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant. The
aim of the home rule movement was the attainment of home rule or a
dominion status for India under the British Empire along the lines of
countries like Canada and Australia. This movement was carried out
through the two home rule leagues.
• There were two home rule leagues launched.
• Tilak launched the Indian Home Rule League in April 1916 at Belgaum.
• Annie Besant launched the Home Rule League in September 1916 at
Madras.
• They had the common objective of achieving self-government in
India.
• There was an informal understanding between both the leagues
where in Tilak’s league worked in Maharashtra (except Bombay),
Karnataka, Berar and the Central Provinces. Besant’s league
worked in the rest of the country.
• Tilak’s league had its headquarters in Delhi. It had 6 branches.
Besant’s league had 200 branches and was a looser organisation
compared to Tilak’s.
• The two leagues worked closely with one another. However, they
did not merge to avoid friction between both the leaders.
THE LUCKNOW SESSION 1916

• THE LUCKNOW SESSION OF THE CONGRESS IS MEMORABLE FOR IT

MARKED THE RE UNION OF THE MODERATE AND EXTREMIST PARTIES
AFYER THE SURAT SPLIT(1907).TILAK AND ANNIE BESANT
DOMINATED THE LUCKNOW SESSION.
• The Lucknow Pact is an agreement between the Indian National
Congress (INC) and the All India Muslim League reached at a joint
session of both the parties held at Lucknow in 1916. The pact was
important in that it enhanced the League’s power in Indian politics
and established communalism as an unavoidable part of Indian
politics despite the apparent bonhomie between the two
communities at the session.
THE GHADR MOVEMENT

• At the beginning of the 20th century, the burgeoning Indian

Independence Struggle had lead to a rise of nationalist sentiments
not just in the Indian subcontinent but also among students and
emigres around the world belonging to the same region.
Revolutionary intellectuals like Lala Har Dayal (Born on October
14, 1884) and Taraknath Das attempted to organize these students
while imparting nationalist ideas
• The Ghadar Party, initially named the Pacific Coast Hindustan
Association was formed in was formed on 15 July 1913 in the
United States under the leadership of Lala Har Dayal, Sant Baba
Wasakha Singh Dadehar, Baba Jawala Singh, Santokh Singh and
Sohan Singh Bhakna as its president. The Ghadar party found a
large support base among Indian expatriates living in the United
States, Canada, East Africa and Asia.
• The Ghadar Movement began to lose steam following the heavy-
handed British crackdown. Upon the conclusion of World War I,
1917 the Ghadar Party fractured into a Communist and a Socialist
faction. Despite this setback, the Ghadar Part was a source of
inspiration for many revolutionaries of the freedom struggle, the
most notable among them being Bhagat Singh.
• The Ghadar movement can be described as a tale of extreme
valour, hard-work, toil which touched the heart of every Indian
settled in distant shores. The powerful speeches by its leaders did
shape the expatriate opinion against the misrule of British in
India. It truly qualifies for a major struggle which aroused the
people to fight for freedom and sowed seeds for any other future
course of action.
THE THIRD PHASE OR GANDHIAN ERA1919-
1947

• The third and final phase of the Nationalist Movement [1917-

1947] is known as the Gandhian era. During this period Mahatma
Gandhi became the undisputed leader of the National Movement.
His principles of nonviolence and Satyagraha were employed
against the British Government.
THE NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT

• Mahatma Gandhi was the main force behind the non-cooperation

movement. In March 1920, he issued a manifesto declaring a
doctrine of the non-violent non-cooperation movement. Gandhi,
through this manifesto, wanted people to:
• Adopt swadeshi principles
• Adopt swadeshi habits including hand spinning & weaving
• Work for the eradication of untouchability from society
Gandhi travelled across the nation in 1921 explaining the tenets of
the movement
CAUSES OF NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT

• Resentment at the British after the war: Indians thought that in return
for the extensive support of manpower and resources they had provided
to Britain during the First World War, they would be rewarded by
autonomy at the end of the war. But the Government of India Act
1919 was dissatisfactory. In addition, the British also passed repressive
acts like the Rowlatt Act which further angered many Indians who felt
betrayed by the rulers despite their wartime support.
• Home Rule Movement
• Economic hardships due to World War I: India’s participation in the war
caused a lot of economic hardships to the people. Prices of goods began
to soar which affected the common man. Peasants also suffered because
the prices of agricultural products did not increase. All this led to
resentment against the government.
• The Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre: The repressive
Rowlatt Act and the brutal massacre at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar had a
profound effect on the Indian leaders and the people. Their faith in the
British system of justice was broken and the whole country rallied
behind its leaders who were pitching for a more aggressive and firm
stance against the government.
• The Khilafat Movement: During the First World War, Turkey, which was
one of the Central Powers, had fought against the British. After Turkey’s
defeat, the Ottoman caliphate was proposed to be dissolved. Muslims
regarded Sultan of Turkey as their Caliph (religious head of the Muslims).
The Khilafat movement was launched under the leadership of Ali
Brothers (Maulana Mohammed Ali and Maulana Shaukat Ali), Maulana
Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Hasrat Mohani. It got the support from
Mahatma Gandhi to persuade the British government not to abolish the
caliphate. The leaders of this movement accepted the non-cooperation
movement of Gandhiji and led a joint protest against the British.
Why was the Non-Cooperation Movement
suspended?

• Gandhiji called off the movement in February 1922 in the wake of

the Chauri Chaura incident.
• In Chauri Chaura, Uttar Pradesh, a violent mob set fire to a police
station killing 22 policemen during a clash between the police and
protesters of the movement.
• Gandhiji called off the movement saying people were not ready
for revolt against the government through ahimsa. Several leaders
like Motilal Nehru and C R Das were against the suspension of the
movement only due to sporadic incidents of violence.
Features of the Non-Cooperation Movement

• The movement was essentially a peaceful and non-violent protest

against the British government in India.
• Indians were asked to relinquish their titles and resign from nominated
seats in the local bodies as a mark of protest.
• People were asked to resign from their government jobs.
• People were asked to withdraw their children from government-
controlled or aided schools and colleges.
• People were asked to boycott foreign goods and use only Indian-made
goods.
• People were asked to boycott the elections to the legislative councils.
• People were asked not to serve in the British army.
• It was also planned that if the above steps did not bring results, people
would refuse to pay their taxes.
• The INC also demanded Swarajya or self-government.
• Only completely non-violent means would be employed to get the
demands fulfilled.
• The non-cooperation movement was a decisive step in the
independence movement because, for the first time, the INC was
ready to forego constitutional means to achieve self-rule.
• Gandhiji had assured that Swaraj would be achieved in a year if
this movement was continued to completion.
 Civil Disobedience movement

• The Salt Satyagraha was a mass civil disobedience movement

initiated by Mahatma Gandhi against the salt tax imposed by the
British government in India. He led a large group of people from
Sabarmati Ashram on 12th March 1930 till Dandi, a coastal village
in Gujarat, to break the salt law by producing salt from seawater.
• By 1930, the Congress Party had declared that Poorna Swarajya or
complete independence was to be the sole aim of the freedom struggle.
• It started observing 26 January as Poorna Swarajya Day, and it was
decided that civil disobedience was to be the means employed to
achieve it.
• Mahatma Gandhi was asked to plan and organise the first such act.
Gandhiji chose to break the salt tax in defiance of the government.
• Some members of Congress were skeptical of the choice and other
Indians and the British dismissed this choice of salt with disdain.
• The then Viceroy, Lord Irwin was hardly perturbed by the threat of a salt
protest and the government did nothing to prevent the salt march from
taking place.
• But Gandhiji’s choice of using salt was nothing short of brilliant because
it touched a chord with every Indian.
• It was a commodity required by all and the poor people were hurt
because of the salt tax.
• Indians had been making salt from seawater free of cost until the passing
of the 1882 Salt Act that gave the British monopoly over the production
of salt and authority to impose a salt tax. It was a criminal offence to
violate the salt act.
• Gandhiji also hoped to unite Hindus and Muslims as the cause was
common to both groups.
• The salt tax accounted for 8.2% of the British Raj revenue from tax and
Gandhiji knew that the government could not ignore this.
The course of the Salt Satyagraha

• Gandhiji informed Lord Irwin of his plan on 2nd March 1930.

• He would lead a group of people from his Ashram at Sabarmati
on 12th March 1930 and walk through the villages of Gujarat.
• On reaching the coastal village of Dandi, he would make salt from
seawater thereby breaking the salt act. Gandhiji started the
march as planned with 80 of his followers. They were given strict
instructions not to resort to any kind of violence.
• Thousands of people thronged the path from Sabarmati Ashram to
Ahmedabad to witness the historic event.
• At the end of every day, Gandhiji would address thousands of
people and attack the government in his speeches.
• Gandhiji talked to foreign journalists and wrote articles for
newspapers on the way. This pushed the Indian independence
movement into the forefront of world media. Gandhiji became a
household name in the West.
• Sarojini Naidu joined him on the way. Every day more and more
people joined him and on 5th April 1930, they reached Dandi.
• At this time, there were about 50,000 people participating in the
march.
• On the morning of 6th April 1930, Gandhiji broke the salt law by
making salt. Thousands of people followed suit.
Effects of Salt Sathyagraha

• Around 60,000 people including Gandhiji himself were arrested by the

government.
• There was widespread civil disobedience carried on by the people. Apart from
the salt tax, other unpopular tax laws were being defied like the forest laws,
chowkidar tax, land tax, etc.
• The government tried to suppress the movement with more laws and
censorship.
• The Congress Party was declared illegal. But this did not deter the satyagrahis
who continued the movement.
• There were some incidents of violence in Calcutta and Karachi but Gandhiji did
not call off the movement, unlike the previous time with the non-cooperation
movement.
• C Rajagopalachari led a similar march on the southeast coast from Trichy to
Vedaranyam in Tamil Nadu. He too was arrested for making salt.
• K Kelappan led a march in the Malabar region from Calicut to Payyanur.
• There were similar marches and salt was produced illegally in Assam and Andhra
Pradesh.
• In Peshawar, the Satyagraha was organised and led by Gandhiji’s disciple, Khan
Abdul Ghaffar Khan. In April 1930 he was arrested. Khan’s followers (called
Khudai Khidmatgars) whom he had trained in Satyagraha had gathered in a
marketplace called the Qissa Khwani Bazaar. There they were fired at by the
British Indian Army despite being unarmed.
• Thousands of women also took part in the Satyagraha.
• Foreign clothes were boycotted. Liqueur shops were picketed. There were
strikes all over.
• On May 21, 1930, there was a protest against the Dharasana Salt Works by
peaceful non-violent protestors led by Sarojini Naidu. The police lathi-charged
the protestors brutally and it resulted in the deaths of 2 people with several
others being injured. This event was reported in the international media and
there was a condemnation of British policies followed in India.
• The British government was shaken by the movement. Also, its non-
violent nature made it difficult for them to suppress it violently.
• This movement had three main effects:
• It pushed Indian freedom struggle into the limelight in western media.
• It brought a lot of people including women and the depressed classes
directly in touch with the freedom movement.
• It showed the power of the non-violent Satyagraha as a tool in fighting
imperialism.
• Gandhiji was released from prison in 1931 and he met with Lord Irwin
who was keen to put an end to the civil disobedience movement and the
media attention it had caught.
• As per the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, the civil disobedience movement would be
ended and Indians, in return, would be allowed to make salt for
domestic use. Lord Irwin also agreed to release the arrested Indians.
Gandhiji attended the Second Round Table Conference in London as an
‘equal’.
QUIT INDIA 1942

• Mumbai’s Gowalia Tank Maidan also known as August Kranti Maidan

is the place where the quit India movement was launched by
Mahatma Gandhi. He along with other leaders gathered here on
August 8 and 9, 1942.
• The outcome of the movement was that Congress was declared an
unlawful association and its offices all over the country were
raided. The leaders were arrested and there rose a chaotic
moment with this incident.
• Also known as the India August Movement or August Kranti.
• It was officially launched by the Indian National Congress (INC) led by
Mahatma Gandhi on 9 August 1942.
• The movement gave the slogans ‘Quit India’ or ‘Bharat Chodo’. Gandhi
gave the slogan to the people – ‘Do or die’.
• In line with the Congress ideology, it was supposed to be a peaceful non-
violent movement aimed at urging the British to grant India
independence.
• The Quit India Resolution was passed by the Congress Working
Committee on 8 August 1942 in Bombay. Gandhi was named the
movement’s leader.
• The resolution stated the provisions of the movement as:
• An immediate end to British rule over India.
• Declaration of the commitment of free India to defend itself against all
kinds of imperialism and fascism.
• Formation of a provisional government of India after British withdrawal.
• Sanctioning a civil disobedience movement against British rule.
•
• Gandhi’s instructions to various sections of the public:
• Government servants: do not resign your job but proclaim loyalty to the
INC.
• Soldiers: be with the army but refrain from firing on compatriots.
• Peasants: pay the agreed-upon rent if the landlords/Zamindars are anti-
government; if they are pro-government, do not pay the rent.
• Students: can leave studies if they are confident enough.
• Princes: support the people and accept the sovereignty of them.
• People of the princely states: support the ruler only if he is anti-
government; declare themselves as part of the Indian nation.
Causes of Quit India Movement – Why was it
launched?

• The Second World War had started in 1939 and Japan, which was
part of the Axis Powers that were opposed to the British in the war
were gaining onto the north-eastern frontiers of India.
• The British had abandoned their territories in South-East Asia and
had left their population in the lurch. This act did not garner
much faith among the Indian population who had doubts about the
British ability to defend India against Axis aggression.
• Gandhi also believed that if the British left India, Japan would not
have enough reason to invade India.
• Apart from hearing news about British setbacks in the war, the
war-time difficulties such as high prices of essential commodities
fostered resentment against the British government.
• The failure of the Cripps Mission to guarantee any kind of a
constitutional remedy to India’s problems also led to the INC
calling for a mass civil disobedience movement.
Response to Quit India Movement

• The British government responded to the call of Gandhi by arresting all

major Congress leaders the very next day. Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, etc.
were all arrested. This left the movement in the hands of the younger
leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia. New leaders
like Aruna Asaf Ali emerged out of the vacuum of leadership.
• Over 100000 people were arrested in connection with this movement.
The government resorted to violence in order to quell the agitation.
They were mass floggings and lathi charges. Even women and children
were not spared. About 10000 people died in police firing in total.
• There was no communal violence.
• The INC was banned. Its leaders were jailed for almost the whole of the
war. Gandhi was released on health grounds in 1944.
• The people responded to Gandhi’s call in a major way. However, in the absence
of leadership, there were stray incidences of violence and damage to
government property. Many buildings were set on fire, electricity lines were cut
and communication and transport lines were broken.
• Some parties did not support the movement. There was opposition from
the Muslim League, the Communist Party of India (the government revoked the
ban on the party then) and the Hindu Mahasabha.
• The League was not in favour of the British leaving India without partitioning
the country first. In fact, Jinnah asked more Muslims to enlist in the army to
fight the war.
• The Communist party supported the war waged by the British since they were
allied with the Soviet Union.
• Subhas Chandra Bose, was by this time, organizing the Indian National Army and
the Azad Hind government from outside the country.
• C Rajagopalachari, resigned from the INC since he was not in favour of
complete independence.
• In general, the Indian bureaucracy did not support the Quit India
Movement.
• There were strikes and demonstrations all over the country.
Despite the communist group’s lack of support to the movement,
workers provided support by not working in the factories.
• In some places, parallel governments were also set up. Example:
Ballia, Tamluk, Satara.
• The chief areas of the movement were UP Bihar, Maharashtra,
Midnapore, and Karnataka. The movement lasted till 1944.
Importance of Quit India Movement

• Despite heavy-handed suppression by the government, the people

were unfazed and continued their struggle.
• Even though the government said that independence could be
granted only after the end of the war, the movement drove home
the point that India could not be governed without the support of
the Indians.
• The movement placed the demand for complete independence at
the top agenda of the freedom movement.
• Public morale and anti-British sentiment were enhanced.