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MODERN INDIAN HISTORY REFERENCE TO FREEDOM STRUGGLE
Latest history notes 2024 for various competitive exams like upsc, ssc, jkssb and other states exams
Partition of Bengal (1905)
* By Lord Curzon on 16 Oct. 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 government said that it was done to stimulate growth in eastern region.
* Actually, 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 partition. expression in the movement against the partition of Bengal in 1905.
Swadeshi Movement (1905)
* Had its origin in the anti-partition movement of bengal. The leaders of Bengal felt that mere demonstrations, public meetings and resolutions were not enough and something more concrete was needed and the answer they felt was Swadeshi and Boycott.
* An important aspect of Swadeshi movement was emphasis placed on self-reliance.
* lal, Bal, Pal and Aurobindo Ghosh played important roles.
* INC took the Swadeshi call first at the Banaras Session, 1905 presided over by GK Gokahle.]
* A resolution to boycott British goods was adopted on 7 August, 1905 at a meeting of INC at Calcutta.
* 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 of its community and a seperate electorate for Muslims.
Demand for Swaraj (1906)
In Dec, 1906 at Calcutta, the INC under Dadabhai Naroji adopted ‘Swaraj’ (Self-govt) as the goal of Indian People.
Surat Session of INC (1907)
* The Indian National congress split into two groups- The extremists and the moderates, at the
Surat session in 1907, Extremists were led by lal, Bal, Pal while the moderates by GK Gokale.
* Controversy rose over the elected president, Ras Bihari Ghosh, as extremists didn’t accept him. Extremists wanted Lal Lajpat Rai to be Chosen.
* The government after this launched a massive attacked on extremists by suppressing their newspaper and arresting their leaders.
Minto-Morely Reforms (1909)
* Besides other constitutional measures, it envisaged a separate electrate 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 Lal Hardayal, Taraknath das and Sohan Singh Bhakna
The name was taken from a weekly paper Ghadar, which had been started on 1 Nov, 1913 to commemorate the 1857 revolt.
* HQ was at San Francisco.
Home Rule Movement (1916)
* After Tilaks return, having served sentence of six years in Mandalay (in Burma), he tried securing the readmission of himself and other extremists into the Indian National Congress. With the need being felt for popular pressure to attain concessions, dissilusionment with Minto-Morley reforms and war-time inseries, Tilak and Annie Beasent redied to assume leadership.
* Started by BG Tilak (April 1916) at Poona and annie Besant and S Subramania Iyer at Adyar, near Madras (Sept. 1916)
* Tilaks league waqs to work in Maharashtra, Karnatka’s Central Province and Berar and Annie Besant’s in the resist of India.
* 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 cernacular language. He gave the slogan: Swaraj is my birth right and I will have it.
Lucknow (1916)
* Happened follwing a ara between Britian and Turkey leading to anti-British feelings among Muslims.
* Bthe INC and ML , conculuded it (Congress accepted the separate electorates and both jointly demanded for a representative governments and dominion status for the country).
* After the lucknow pact, a British policy was announced which amimed at ” increasing association of Indians in every branch of the administration for progressive realizaytion of responsible government in India as an integral part of the British empire:” This came to be called the August Declaration.
* Because of the Hindu-Muslim unity exhibited in Lucknow Pact.
* The Montague-Chelmsford reformed or the Act of 1919 was based on this declaration.
Government of India Act, 1919 or Montague-Chelmsford Reforms 1919
* Dyarchy System introduced in the provinces.
* Devolution Rules Subjects of administration were divided into two categories-Central and Provincial.
* The provincial Legislature was to consist of one House only (Legislative Council).
* The number of Indian in the Governor General’s Executive Council was raised to three in a Council of eight. The Indian members were entrusted with departments such as law, Education, Labour, Health and Industries.
* The Centre was now to have a Bicameral Legislature for the first time. It actually happened after 1935 act.
* Communal representation extended to Sikhs, Christians, Anglo-Indians, etc.
Rowlattt Act (1919)
* It gave unbridled powers to the government 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 Britian.
* 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.
* Durinng March and April 1919, the country witnessed a remarkable political awakening in India. There were hartals, processions and demonstrations everywhere.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
(13 April, 1919)
* People were agitated over the arrest of Dr, Kichlew and Dr. Satyapal on 10 April, 1919.
* General O’Dyer fired 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 13 March, 1940, Sardar Udhan Sigh Killed O’ Dyer when the latter was addressing a meeting in Caxton Hall, London.
Khilafat Movement (1920)
* Muslims were agitated by the treatment meted to Turkey by the British in the treaty that following the First World War.
* Two brothers, Mohd Ali and Shaukat Ali started this movement, along with Mulana Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan and Hsrat Mohani. It was jointly led by the Khilafat leaders and the Congress.
* Gandhiji viewed the Khilafat agitation as a golden opportunity for bringing the Hindus and Muslims together.
* On 31 August, 1920, the Khilafat Committee launched a non-cooperation movement.
* Gandhiji now pressed the Congress to adopt a similar plan of action. Although it was initially opposed by CR Dass, but was later passed unopposed.
Non-Cooperation Movement ( 1920 )
* It was the first mass-based political movement under Gandhiji.
* Congress passed the resolution in its Calcutta session in September, 1920
* The movement envisaged
* Surrender of titles and honorary offices.
* Resigination from nominated offices and posts in the local bodies.
* Refusal to attend Govt. darbars and boycott of British courts by the lawyers.
* Refusal of general public to offer themselves for military and other Govt. Jobs and boycott of foreign goods etc.
* CR Das and Motilal Nehru gave up their legal practice and Subhash Chandra Bose resigned from the Civil Service.
* The Prince of Wales was greeted with empty streets and downed shutters when he visited India ( 17 Nov, 1921 ) came.
Chauri-Chaura Incident (1922)
* The Congress session at Allahabad in Dec, 1921, decided to launch Civil Disobedience Movement. Gandhiji was appointed its leader.
* But before it could be launched, a mob of people at Chauri-Chaura (near Gorakhpur) clashed with police and burnt 22 police men on 5 Fed, 1922.
* This compelled Gandhiji to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement on 12 Feb, 1922.
Swaraj Party (1923)
* Motill Nehru, CR Das and NC Kelakar (called pro-changers) demanded that the nationalists should end the boycott of the legislative councils, enter them and expose them. But the no-changers like Rajendra Prasad and Rajgopalchari adhered to the Gandhian program of boycott of legislatures. The pro-changers formed the Swaraj party on 1 Jan 1923, Contested the elections and embarrassed the government by opposing its measures.
* In the 1923 elections, the Swarajists got a majority in Bengal and Central Province.
* The two sections were reunited in 1930 after the lahore session.
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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.
* Congress turned the boycott into a movement.
* Simon and his colleagues landed in Bombay on 3 Feb, 1928, and were greeted with hartals and black-flag demonstrations.
* The Government used brutal repression and police attacks to break the popular opposition.At lahore, lal Lajpat Rai was severely beaten in a lathi-charge. He succumbed to his injuries on 17 Nov., 1928.
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 accidently shot.
* In 1907, Madam Bhikaji Cama, a parsi revolutionary unfurled the flag of India at Stuggart Congress (of Second International).
* In 1908, Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki threw a bomb on the carriage of Kinford, the unpopular judge of Muzaffarpur, Khudiram, Kanhaaiyalal Dutt and Satyenderanath 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, Rashibhari Bose and Sachindra Nth Sanayal threw a bomb at Lord Hardinge at Delhi. (Delhi Conspiracy Case).
* In Oct, 1924, a meeting of revolutionaries from all parts of India was called at Kanpur.
* The meeting was attended by old revolutionary leaders like Sachindra Nath Sanyal, Jogesh Chndra Chatterjee and Ram Prasad Bismil and some young revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Shiv Verma, Sukhdev, Bhagwati Charan Vohra and Chandrashekhar Azad.
* They setup Hindustan Socialist Republic Association/Army (HSRA). Their three objectives were
* To raise the consciousness of people against the futility of Gandhian movement of non-volience.
* To perform direct action and revolution t attain complete independence.
* To set up a republic of the United States of India on the federal Structure.
* They carried out a dacoity on the Kakori bound train on the Sharanpur-Luknow railway line on 9 August, 1925. the Conspirators were later arrested and hanged (Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla, Roshan lal and Rajendra Lahiri).
* Bhagat Sigh, with his colleagues shot dead Saunders (Assistant SP of Lahore, who ordered lathi charge on Lala Lajpat Rai) on 17 Dec, 1928.
* Then Bhagat Sigh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb in the Central Assembly on 8 April, 1929. Hence, he , Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged on 23 Mar., 1931 at Lahore jail (Lahore Conspiracy Case) and their bodies cremated at Hussaiwala near Ferozpur.
* In 1929 only Jatin Das died in Lahore jail after 63 days fast to protest against horrible conditoins in jail.
* Merrut Conspirac Case started in 1929 and contined for four years against 31 communists accused of conpiracy against the British sovereign. In this, Muzaffar Ahmed received transportation for life.
* Surya Sen, a revolutionary of Bengal, formed the Indian Republic Army in Bengal. In 1930, he mastermind the raid on Chittgong armoury. He was hanged in 1933.
* In 1931, Chandrashekhar Azad shot himself at Alfred Park in Allahabad.
Lahore Session (1929)
* On 19 December, 1929, under the Presidentship of J L Nehru, the INC, at its Lahore session, declared Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) as its ultimate goal.
* On 31 Dec., 1929, the newly adopted tri-colour flag was unfurled and 26 Jan., 1930 was fixed as the First Independence Day, which was to be celebrated every year.
Dandi March (1930)
* Also called the Salt Satyagraha. Along with 78 followers, Gandhiji started his march from Sabarmati Ashram on 12 Mar., 1930 for the small village of Dandi to break the salt law. He reached the sea shore on 6 Apr., 1930.
* He picked a handful of salt and inaugurated the Civil Disobedience Movement.
* The salt satyagraha sparked off other forms of defiance. In the North-West, the Pathans under Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as the Frontier Gandhi, organized the society of ‘Khudai Khidmadgars’ (Servants of God), also known as Red Shirts.
First Round Table Conference (1930)
* It was the first conference arranged between the British and Indians as equals. It was held on 12 November, 1930 in London to discuss Simon commission.
* Boycotted by INC Muslim league, Hindu Mahasabha, Liberals and some others attended.
* Postponed to 2 January, 1931, in the absence of any major political party.
Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931)
* Moderate statesman, Sapru, Jaikar and Srinivas Shastri initiated efforst to break the ice between Gandhiji and the government.
* The two (government represented by Irwin) signed a pact 5 March, 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 rights to make salt for consumption of villages along the coast.
* The Karachi session of 1931 endorsed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. The Karachi session is also memorable for its resolution on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Program.
Second Round Table Conference (1931)
* Gandhiji represented the INC and went to London to meet British PM Ramsay MacDonald.
* In the conference, Gandhiji demanded immediate established of a full responsible government at the Centre as well as in the Provinces with complete control over defence, external affairs and finance.
* However, the session was soon deadlocked on the minorities issues and this time seperate electorates was demanded not only by Muslims but also by Depressed Classes, Indian Christians and Anglo-Indians.
* MacDonald ended the session with an address which announced the creation of two new Muslim majority provinces, North West Frontier Province and Sindh, set up a committee on franchise, finance and states and held out the humiliating and the dangerous prospect of a unilateral British Communal Award if the Indians failed to agree among themselves. On Gandhiji’s arrival in Bombay, the Congress Working committee decided to resume the Civil Disobedience Movement. In 1932, INC was declared an illegal organization and all its leaders were arrested Gandhiji was sent to Yeravada jail in Poona.
* The Civil Disobedience Movement was withdrawn in 1934, because after that Gandhiji decided to make Harijan work the central plank of his new rural constructive program.
The Communal Award (16 August, 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 (Poona) at that time, started fast unto death against it.
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Poona Pact (25 September, 1932)
* After the announcement of communal award and susequent fast of Gandhiji, mass meeting took place almost everywhere.
* Political leaders like Madan Mohan Malviya, BR Ambedkar and MC Rajah Became active.
* Eventually Poona pact was reached and Gandhiji broke his fast on the sixth day ( September 25, 1932).
* In this, the idea of seperate electorate for this depressed classes was abandoned, but seats reserved to them in the provincial legislature were increased.
* Thus, the Poona Pact agreed upon a joint electroate for upper and lower castes.
* Harijan upliftment now became the principal concern of Gandhiji. An all India Anit-Untouchability League was started in September 1932, and a weekly Harijan in January 1933. On 8 May, 1933. Gandhiiji decided to begin a 21 day fast for the purification of himself and his associates for the Harijan Cause.
* He started the Individual Civil Disobedience on 1 Aug, 1933.
Third Round Table Conference ( 1932 )
It proved furitless as most of the national leaders were in prison. The discussion led to the passing of the Government of India Act, 1935.
* The Government of India Act (1935).
* Based on the Simon Commission report. It provided for the establishment of All-India. Federation consisting of the British provinces and the Princley States was voluntary and as a result the federation did not come into existence.
* Dyarchy was introduced at the Centre (e.g, Department of Foreign Affirs and Defence were reserved for the Governor General).
* The Federal Legislature (Central Legislature) was to have two chambers (Bicameral)- The Council of State and the Federal Assembly.
* Provincial autonomy replaced Dyarchy in Provinces ie, the distinction between Reserved and Transferred subjects was abolished and full repsonible government was established, subject to certain safeguards. They were granted separate legal identity.
* The Congress rejected the 1935 Act and demanded the convening of a Consitituent Assembly elected on the basis of adult franchise to frame a constitution for an independent India J L Nehru described it as “we provided with a car, all breaks and no engine”.
* Yet, Inc fought the election in 1937, when the consittution was introduced and formed ministers in seven out of eleven provinces. Later, congress formed coalition governmets in two others, only Bengal and Punjab hd non-congress ministers. Punjab was under the Uniionist Party and Bengal
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under the Krishak Praja Party-Muslim league coalition.
Demand for Pakistan.
* In 1930, Iqbal suggested that the Forntier Province, Blucistan, Sindh and Kshmir be made the Muslims state within the federation.
* Chaudhary Rehmat Ali gave the Term Pakistan in 1933.
* Mohd Ali Jinnah of Bombay gave it practically.
* Muslim League first passed the proposal of separate pakistan in its Lahore session in 1940 ( called jinnah’s Two-Nation Theory). It was drafted by Sikander Hayat Khan, moved by Fazlul Haq and seconded by Khaliquazzam.
* In December, 1943, the Karchi session of the Muslim League adopted the slogan – “Divide” and Quit”.
August Offer (8 August, 1940).
* It offered (i) Dominion status in the unspecified future; (ii) A post-war to enact eh constitution: (iii) to expand the Governor-General’s Executive Council to give full weightage to minority opinion.
* Rejected by the INC because there was no suggestion of the national government and because the demand for the dominion status was already discarded in favour of Poorna Swaraj. It was accepted by the Muslim League.
* The Cripps Mission (1942).
* In Dec, 1941, Japan entered the World War-II and advanced towards Indian borders. By 7 May, 1942, Rangoon fell and Japan occupied the entire south East Asia.
* The British govt. with a view to get co-operation from Indians sent Sir Stafford Cripps, leader of the House of Commons to settle terms with Indian Leaders.
* He offered a draft which contained the following proposals:
* Dominion status to be granted after the war.
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* Setting up a constitution-making body for India after the war whose members would be elected by the Provincial assemblies and nominated by the rulers in case of the Princely states.
* 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 8 Aug,. 1942, at Bombay. Gandhiji gave the solgan ‘Do or die’.
* On 9 Aug., the Congress was banned and its important leaders were arrested. Gandhiji was kept at the Aga Khan Palace, Pune.
* The arrest provoked indignation among the masses and, there being no program of action, the movement became spontaneous and violent. Violence spread throughout the country. Several Govt. Offices were destroyed, telegraph wires were cut and communication paralyzed.
* The trend of underground revolutionary activities also started during the phase. JP Narayan, RM Lohia and Aruna Asaf Ali started consolidating underground networks. The most daring act of the underground movement was the establishment of Congress Radio with Usha Mehta as its announcer.
* Paralled governments were set-up at various places. The first one was in Ballia in eastern Up underr the leadership of Chittu Pande. Others were in Satara, Talcher, parts of eastern UP and Bihar.
* The movement was however crushed.
Wavell Plan ( June-July 1945)
* Given by Lord Wavell.
* The plan was tht the viceroy’s Executive Council should be so reconstituted that its members, except the Governor General and the Commander-in-Chief, were to be Indians (from various parties). Simla conference was concened in this regard, but was rejected by Jinnah.
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 declartion on 15 mar., 1946, tha British Cabinet Mission (comprising of Lord Pethick Lawerence 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 16 May, 1946, the mission put forward its proposals.
* Rejected the demand for separate Pakistan and instead a federal union consisting Princely states was suggested. The union would deal into the following subjects. Foreign affairs, Defence and communication and would have the powers to raise the finances required for the above subjects. Full autonomy would be enjoyed by the provinces in respect of all subjects other than the union subjects.
* There were to be three groups of Provinces: Group A with six Hindu majority provinces ( Bombay United Province, Bihar, Central Province, Orissa, Madras); Group B with three Muslim majority provinces (Sind, NWFP, Punjab) and group C (Assam nd Bengal). After the first general elections, a province could come out of the group and after 10 years a province could call for reconsideration of the group or union constitution.
* The union would consist of an executive and a legislature. The legislature would not be directly elected by the people but by the provincial legislatures on the basis of communal electorates. Members of the Princely states would be appointed by the rulers of the princely states.
* The elections of the Constituent Assembly were held in july 1946. The congress got 209 of the total 273 seats.
Interim Government (1946)
* Based on Cabinet Mission Plan, an interim government consisting of Congress nominees was formed on 2 Sept., 1946. JL Nehru was its Vice-President and the governor-general remained as its President. Muslim League did not join it initially but finally Wavell succeeded in having five members of the League join the government on 26 October, 1946.
Jinnah’s Direct Action Resolution
* 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, muslims League withdrew its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan on 29 July, 1946.
* It passed a ‘Direct Action’ resolution, which condemned both the British Government and the Congress (16 Aug, 1946).
* it resulted in heavy communal riots.
* Jinnah celebrated Pakistan Day on 27 Mar., 1947.
Formation of Constituent Assembly
The constituent assembly met on 9 December, 1946. and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as its president.
Mountbatten Plan (1947).
*On 3 June, 1947, Lord Mountbatten, put forward his plan which outlined the steps for the solution of India’s political problem. The outlines of Plan were
* India to be divided into Inda 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 assemble for Pakistan to frame its constitution.
* The Princely states would enjoy the liberty to join either India or Pakistan or even remian independent.
* 15 Aug, 1947, was the date fixed for handing over the power to India and Paksitan.
* The British government passed the Indian Independece Act of 1947, which contained the major provisions put forward by the Mountbatten plan.
Partition and Independence
All political parties accepted the Mountbatten plan. Two Commissions were appointed by the British Government with Sir Cyril Redcliffe as chairman of both the see the though the partioned and fix the international boundaries of the two nation-to-be.
* 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 15 August, 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.
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