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India’s Freedom Movement (Part – 2)

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Bengal Partition-

It was announced in December 1903 and realized on 16 October 1905. The reason was an administrative inconvenience as Bengal, with a total population of 78 million, was too big to be administered. It was also done to weaken the heartthrob of Indian Nationalism
On basis of language, they reduce Bengali to a minority – 17 million Bengali and 37 million Hindi & Oriya speakers.

Surat Split in 1907-

It was the result of strategically shifting the session from Nagpur to Surat to hamper Bal Gangadhar Tilak from becoming President of the INC session and  Rashbehari Ghosh became the President of this session.
Moderates think that some issues with the government should be solved with discussions, but extremists believed in agitation, strikes, and boycotts.

Lucknow Pact

It is the agreement between Congress and Muslim League signed in Lucknow Session, in 1916. It was an understanding of two parties to come together and present common demands to the British government. The pact provides separate electorates for Muslims and 1/3rd representation for Muslims in Central Government.
 

Morley-Minto Reforms 1909:

In 1896, the Nawab of Dhaka, Aga Khan asked for separate electorates for the Muslim population. In 1906, Muslim League under Aga Khan was set up to safeguard Muslim interests in India [Jinnah took leadership from 1913 until Pakistan was established]. It provides for separate electorates for Muslims in Imperial Legislative Council [only Muslims can vote for Muslims].
 

Indian Home Rule Movement, 1916-1918

The reason to set up the Home Rule League was that the Nationalists believed that popular pressure was required to attain concessions from the government. Tilak, after his release in 1914, was ready to assume nationalist leadership and was inspired by the Irish home rule league. It was an Indian response to World War First, inspired by Irish Home Rule Leagues.

1. April 1916-Tilak’s Home Rule League:
Present in the area of Maharashtra [excluding Bombay], Kerala, Central Province, and Berar. Its headquarter was – Poona.
 

2. Annie Besant September 1916:
It was present in the area of Madras [including Bombay]. Its headquarter was at Adyar. George Arundale was its organizing secretary. Besides Arundale, the main work was done by B.W. Wadia and C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer.

Gandhian Phase:

Champaran movement: 

It was the first Civil disobedience movement (because Gandhi was not allowed, but he arrived & thus break the law)
Rajkumar Shukla invited Gandhi to look into the problems of farmers in the context of Indigo planters in Bihar. Peasants were forced to grow indigo on the 3/20th part of the land (Tinkathia System) – not remunerative due to the demand for synthetic dye from Europe. Other leaders related to the movement were Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Mazharul Haque, Mahadev Desai, Narhari Parikh, and J.B. Kripalani.
 

Ahmedabad Mill Strike – 1st Hunger strike

It was the result of a dispute between cotton mill owners and workers over the issue of discontinuation of the plague bonus. Workers demanded a rise of 50% in wages, but owners agreed to a 20% increase. Gandhi demanded a 35% hike and took a fast unto death. Anasuyaben Sarabhai was a social worker who invited Gandhi to fight for workers. The British intervened and ordered the mill owners to accept the award of a tribunal, set up to resolve the issue. Tribunal accepted a 33% increase, complied by mill owners. After that, Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association was founded in 1917 by Gandhi. Another associated leader was Ambalal Sarabhai.

Kheda satyagraha– 

It was the first Non-Cooperation movement. The main region was the crops that failed in the Kheda district of Gujarat. Farmers are entitled to remission as per the revised code if the yield is less than 1/4th of normal production. Other associated leaders with this movement were Sardar Patel, Narhari Parikh, Mohanlal Pandya, and Indulal Yagnik.

Rowlatt Satyagraha:

it was the first mass movement. The Rowlatt Act of 1919 was also known as the Anarchical & Revolutionary Crime Act. It recommended imprisonment of activists without trial for two years — ‘No vakil, no dalil, no appeal’. Gandhi Ji launched Rowlatt Satyagraha at all India levels using different organisations. A Satyagraha Sabha (1919) was established and Gandhiji was elected as the first President. 

Khilafat movement
The movement was the result of the Ill-treatment of Turkey in World war first. Sykes-Picot Agreement was a secret agreement between Britain & France against the resentment of Russia to divide among themselves spoil of war [territory in West Asia]. It provides for the dismemberment & disintegration of Turkey. The Treaty of Sevres was signed to stop this war. This treaty took away the power of the caliphate [in charge of religious places] which enraged Muslims. 
 

Non-cooperation movement (NCM)

This movement is launched from the Khilafat Platform. Khilafat Conference started a campaign for the Non-cooperation movement in August 1920 [the same day Tilak died]. Indians were in belief that for extensive support of manpower to Britishers in World War, they would be rewarded by autonomy. However, the Government of India in 1919 was unsatisfactory, and the British passed restrictive legislation such as the Rowlatt Act, which enraged Indians and made them feel misled.
 

Dandi March [March, 12-April 6, 1930]

Gandhi, along with 78 members of Sabarmati Ashram marched from his headquarters at Ahmedabad through villages of Gujarat for 240 miles. The salt prohibition was to be disobeyed by gathering salt from the shore when they got to Dandi’s beach. He commanded that civil disobedience of the salt law be launched wherever possible, including picketing foreign liquor and cloth stores, non-payment of tax, boycotting court, resigning from government service, and so forth.

 

Individual Satyagraha or Delhi Chalo Movement [1940-41]
 

The salt prohibition was to be disobeyed by gathering salt from the shore when they got to Dandi’s beach. Under it, alone satyagrahi would observe civil disobedience & upon his/her arrest it will be carried out by the next Satyagrahi, so to not to embarrass British war efforts. The aim was not to seek independence but to follow Speech & Expression.

 

Cripps Mission (March 1942)

As the USSR invaded in June 1941 – the Socialist & Communist Party of India (CPI) started supporting the British. As a result, socialists & CPI are in favour of supporting the British. It was the result of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and Japan at India’s door. To counter the Japanese threat, nationalists felt the need to take control of the country. Cripps Mission came to gain India’s support in war efforts. Dominion Status with India free to decide its relation with Commonwealth & free to participate in United nation & other International bodies. After the war, the elected body charged to make a constitution for India comprised only Indians – elected members from the province & nominated members from Princely State.

 

Quit India Movement: August 1942
 

The movement was ratified by congress in 1942 in Bombay, in which Gandhi Ji was appointed as leader. Gandhi gave a slogan – “Do or Die” at Gowalia tank Maidan in Bombay. Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted India’s National flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan. Congress working committee met at Wardha and passed a resolution that demanded the Immediate end of British rule in India and If the British do not accept the demand then INC will launch Civil Disobedience Movement and the movement was ratified in the All India Congress Committee at Bombay on August 7, 1942.

 

Royal Indian Mutiny: 

It started in Bombay in February 1946 when Naval ratings of HMS Talvar overpower the ship in protest against racial discrimination, unpalatable food, poor pay & allowances and INA trials. Naval ratings of Cochin & Calcutta also joined and Royal Indian Air Force at Bombay, Ambala, and Poona later.

 

Cabinet Mission (March 1946)
 

Attlee’s government in March 1946 sent Secretary of State Pethick-Lawrence to lead a 3-man cabinet deputation to Delhi to resolve Congress–Muslim League deadlock and transfer British power to a single Indian admin.
The mission was sent as the Labour Party under Attlee sympathetic to India’s cause. Erosion of military support in form of the Army, Navy and Air Force. World War II weakened the British military politically & economically.
The members of the cabinet mission are all part of the British Cabinet.
a. Sir Pethick Lawrence, Secretary of State.
b. Stafford Cripps, President of Board of Trade.
c. A V Alexander, 1st Lord of the Admiralty.

The objective was to obtain agreement with Indian leaders as to the framing of a Constitution for India. To formulate a constitution-making body and to establish an Executive Council with the support of major Indian parties.

Attlee Announcement (February 20, 1947)

It was also known as February Declaration. British Government to grant full self-government to British India by 30 June 1948. The British would relinquish power to some form of central government or in some areas to the existing provincial government if the constituent assembly was not fully representative, i.e., if the Muslim-majority provinces did not join. British sovereignty vis-a-vis princely states lapse with the transfer of power, but would not be transferred to any successor government in British India. Lord Mountbatten would replace Wavell as the Viceroy.

Important Questions Related to the Freedom movement:

Q1: When was the partition of Bengal took place?
A. 1905
B. 1885
C. 1910
D. 1907
Answer: A

Q2: Which incident took place when the INC session shifted from Nagpur to Surat?
A. Bengal partition
B. Lucknow pact
C. Surat Split
D. Poona Pact
Answer: C

Q3: Who was the president of INC in the Surat session of 1907?
A. Bal Gangadhar Tilak 
B. Lala Lajpat Rai
C. Rash Behari Ghosh
D. Sachin Sanyal
Answer: C

Q4: Between whom the Lucknow pact was signed?
A. Nehru ji and Gandhiji
B. Muslim league and congress
C. Gandhiji and Subhas Chandra Bose
D. Anusilan samiti and INC
Answer: B

Q5: When did the Morley-Minto reforms take place?
A. 1909
B. 1935
C. 1919
D. 1906
Answer: A

Q6: Which of the following member play a lead role in setting up Muslim League at Dhaka?
A. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
B. Badruddin Tyabji
C. Nawab of Dhaka
D. Syed Ahmad Khan
Answer: C
Q7: The separate electorates for Muslims are provided by which of the following reforms?
A. Montague Chelmsford reform 1919
B. Morley Minto reform 1909
C. Government of India act 1935
D. Lucknow pact 1916
Answer: B

Q9: Match the following incident with the years:
 

Incident
 
Year
 
a. Bengal Partition
 
1. 1917
 
b. Surat Split
 
2. 1905
 
c. Home Rule league
 
3. 1907
 
d. Ahmedabad Textile labour Association
 
4. 1916
 

Code: a. b. c. d.
A. 1, 2, 3, 4
B. 2, 3, 4, 1
C. 4, 3, 1, 2
D. 3, 1, 4, 2
Answer: B

Q10: Which of the following incident known as February Declaration?
A. Attlee Announcement
B. Cabinet mission
C. Cripps Mission
D. Hang of Bhagat singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru 
Answer: A
 



Last Updated : 02 Dec, 2022
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