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Quick History Of India Before 1900
India had been governed as a trading colony by the East India Company but was only ruled by the British government in the second half of 1800s.There were areas of India that were ruled by princes – princely states - who made treaties with the British to guarantee their security.British rule in India became known as the Raj.In 1900,there was little opposition to British rule in India, but within 40 years there was hatred of the British and a demand for independence -
Gandhi Is Born
Mohandas Gandhi was born in the Indian state of Gujarat in October 1869.His father was the Prime Minister of the small state of Porbander which was ruled by an Indian Prince.He was very clever and trained as a barrister in India -
Jinnah Is Born
Mohammed Ali Jinnah was a British Trained Barrister like Mohandas Gandhi,but was very different otherwise.He was born in the Muslim dominated area of the Sind in 1876,he went to London as a shipping apprentice before studying law. -
The Indian National Congress Is Founded
On 28 December 1885, 72 social reformers, journalists and lawyers congregated for the first session of the Indian National Union at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay; the conference was renamed as the Indian National Congress.This grew into the main movement arguing for an India independent of Britain.Apart from the struggle for independence Congress was active in campaigns against,alcoholism,poverty and ignorance.Economic and social reforms that would bring improvements were discussed -
Gandhi's Attitude Towards The British
At 18 Gandhi trained in London as a barrister.He stayed for a few years and got to know Britian well.Gandhi's experience in London gave him a well informed attitude towards the British.His campaigns demonstrate good understanding of how to put political pressure in the right place at the right time to achieve his aims on Indian matters in London.He didn't dislike the British ,he actually admired them in many ways,however he thought them wrong to believe that they could continue governing India. -
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Gandhi In London and South Africa
After completing his Law studies in Britain,Gandhi returned to India where he had an unspectacular career.He worked in South Africa in 1893 and he experienced the harsh treatment that Whites gave out to black South Africans and Asians.He became a spokesman for Indians in SA.He learnt how to demonstrate,organise and he developed his own views about non-violence.In SA,he had developed his philosophy which he called satyagraha,or soul-force which was a belief in non-violent civil disobedience. -
Jinnah Joins The Indian National Congress
After Jinnah had trained to become a successful barrister in London,he returned to India in 1896 and he joined the Indian National Congress -
India In 1900
India was the brightest jewel in the British crown.The cost of running India was paid for by the taxes collected from the Indians.In 1900 India had a population of 300000000 people.70% were Hindus,and 25% were Muslims.The white population of India was 120000.There were 6000 Europeans in public service and 1000 in the elite Civil Service.The British contributed to the development of India and ensured investment.Canals and railways had been constructed and hectares of land had been irrigated -
The Muslim League Is Founded
Muslim League, political organization of India and Pakistan, founded 1906 as the All-India Muslim League by Aga Khan III in Dhaka. Its original purpose was to safeguard the political rights of Muslims in India. An early leader in the League, Muhammad Iqbal, was one of the first to propose (1930) the creation of a separate Muslim India. -
Morley-Minto Reforms
[https://app.grammarly.com/docs/150224471]
Basically,Indians get etter representation on Provincial Councils and Imperial Legistlative Councils by increasing members and allowing Indians on.Also Muslims and minority groups bet representation too.However only 2% of the population is allowed to vote andthis is only the rich and priveliged. -
Hind Swaraj-Gandhi Outlines Him Aims
In 1909 Gandhi wrote a book,Hind Swaraj.He wanted Swaraj(self-rule)for India.However he wanted a different type of government and aimed to remove "the moral inadequacies of western civilisations".He felt that communities should be self governing from the grassroots up.He wanted to create conditions under which the British would leave India by organising a determined national campaign.He wanted to achieve independence without rivalries worsening.He wanted to tackle poverty by self sufficiency. -
Germany Uses Indian Nationalists During WW1
The Germans saw a chance to hurt Britain by encouraging revolution in her empire,so they supported revolutionary Indian Revolutionary groups.Many of these were overseas such as the Ghadr party in the USA.Another group was formed in 1914 by students in Germany called the Berlin Committee.It later called itself the Indian Independence committee,but despite support from the German Govermnentit had little support.These groups were partly responsible for the Defence of India Act of 1915 -
WW1 Highlights British Views On Indian Religions
The British in India found it harder to understand Hindu ways that those of the Muslim community.The Muslims of India had always seemed to the British a more warlike group and were respected for that.Many Indian Muslims and Sikhs had joined the British Indian Army.Muslim Religious Beliefs seemed easier to undertand than those of the Hindu's with their many gods and caste system -
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The First World War
1 million Indians fought in the British army on several fronts and 65,000 were killed. The contribution that Indians made during the war, and grew the idea that Indians should be given a greater say in the running of governmental affairs.India had not been asked if it has been prepared to fight.The Declaration of War made by Britain in 1914 had been for "Britain and the British Empire".Questions began as Indians saw the self governing members of the British Empire -
Gandhi Returns To India
He returned to India in 1915 and was invited to help in the Congress Party. He supported the war against Germany and believed that it would lead to Home Rule. Touring around India in 1915-16, he came to see that many people wanted to break free from British rule. He began to live his life like an Indian peasant and many ordinary people began to identify with him. When Bal Tilak, the leader of Congress, visited Britain in 1918-19, Gandhi emerged as a leading spokesman for the party. -
Defence Of India Act
The Defence of India Act 1915 was an emergency criminal law enacted by the Governor-General of India in 1915 with the intention of curtailing the nationalist and revolutionary activities during and in the aftermath of the First World War.It was similar to the British Defence of the Realm Acts, and granted the Executive very wide powers of preventive detention, internment without trial, restriction of writing, speech, and of movement.It suspended Indian's civil liberties during the war -
Lucknow Pact
Then in 1916, the Muslim League and Congress made the Lucknow Pact by which it was agreed that Muslims would have a fixed proportion of seats in an Indian parliament and additional ones where they were in a minority. Both the Muslims and Congress aimed to create a new India which would have Dominion status within the British Empire. -
The Lucknow Pact-How it Affected The Muslim League
In 1916 Jinnah had been one of the Muslim leaders who had reached the agreement with Congress called the Lucnow Pact.Under this agreement,Congress and the Muslim League would work together to put pressure on the Government of India to grant further freedoms for Indians.This was a considerable change for the Muslim League as it meant recognizing the legitimacy of British India and to work towards its end -
Montagu Declaration
Edwin Montagu issued the Montagu Declaration which stated:
‘The policy of His Majesty’s Government is that of increasing association of Indians in every branch of the administration and the gradual development of self-governing institutions with a view to the progressive realisation of responsible government in India as part of the British Empire.’Following the Declaration, reforms were announced in August 1918.However the Montagu Declaration had a lukeward reception due to lack of immediacy. -
Home Rule Leagues
In WW1 Indians could look to the dominions of Canada, Australia and South Africa and claim to be their equal. For many Indians, the war had opened a box which could not be closed. Home Rule Leagues were being established and there were efforts to put over the independence message by holding rallies, publishing papers, pamphlets and using preachers in order to get the message over to as wide an audience as possible. By 1917, the Home Rule Leagues had more than 60,000 members. -
Rowlatt Committee
Some in the British Government of India wanted the emergency wartime powers(Defence of India)to stay,for fear that revolutionary groups would become powerful once they nulled.The reforms promised by the Govt of India in 1917 promised that in future more Indians would decide on laws.An enquiry,chaired by Judge Sir Sidney Rowlatt,began in 1917.Its task to investigate revolutionary conspiracies.The committee noted Bengal,Bombay and Punjab as dangerous areas.This resulted in the Rowlatt Acts -
Satyagraha
Gandhi's basic philosophy can be summed by the Sanskrit word: Satyagraha.In Sanskrit,satya means truth and agraha means holding firmly to,so satyagraha means insistince on truth.In India from 1918 satyagraha meant a method of protest that was determined but non-violent.Campaigns involved mass marches,peaceful demonstrations and news coverages.If Gandhi or his followers (known as satyagrahis) were imprisoned,this was an opportunity for demonstraton.However some protests did spiral into violence. -
Gandhi's Self Sufficiency -Swadeshi Campaign
Gandhi's third aim was to return India to a time when she was self sufficient as a way to tackle the poverty problem.To lead by example,he lived a simple life on his ashram.The state of Gujarat,once famous for its cotton weaving industry,was now ruined by competition from the Lancanshire cotton mills.Gandhi hand wove his own clothes.He started the swadeshi movement in which indian khadi cloth was used to wear traditional garments and British products were rejected.India did not follow this path. -
Gandhi's First Prominent Campaign In India
The first prominent campaigns that Gandhi led were in 1918 in Champaran, in Bihar and Kedar in Gujarat.In both places,Gandi argued,the villagers were treated badly by the government and heavily taxed.These taxes were on property and income and in Kheda were due for a substantial increase that same year,despite the famine conditions that affected the area.When the villagers could not pay,thugs weresent to seize property instead -
The Rowlatt Acts are Passed
They extended the emergency measure of the 1915 Defence of IndiaAct.They gave the government the right to imprison for a max period of 2 years,without trial, anyone suspected of terrorism.Suspects could be tried by only a judge,placed under house arrest.There government had powers of censorship.
The Rowlatt Acts were opposed by all Indian members of the Imperial Legislative Council. Jinnah,protested along with other leaders of Indian politics by storming out of the Legislative Assembly. -
Rowlatt Satygraha
The Acts provoked unrest on an unparalleled scale.Congress leaders were highly critical of the Rowlatt Acts.On 6 April 1919 Mohandas Gandhi organised a hartal (a form of strike action) when all Indians would suspend business and fast as a sign of their hatred for the legislation.This event is known as the Rowlatt Satyagraha. Though this demonstration was meant to be peaceful,there wasrioting,especially in the Punjab and in the town of Amritsar,because of the violence,Gandhi called it off. -
The Rowlatt Hartal Turns Violent In Amritsar
In Amritsar,Gandhi's pacifist ideals were ignored and the authorities were unable to control the demonstrators.Buildings were destroyed and 3 Europeans died.A British doctor,was beaten by Indian youths which prompted local British women+children to seek refuge in the army’s fort.Governor of the Punjab,Michael O’Dwyer interpreted the trouble as the 1st stage in an attempt to overthrow British rule.He despatched Brigadier-General Dyer and a force of men to go to Amritsar and resolve the trouble. -
Tensions Increase In Amritsar
Protests against the Rowlatts Acts continued in Punjab.The authorities kept troops oon the streets.On April 10th two leaders of the Indian National Congress,Dr Satyapal and Dr Kitchlew were arrested and detained under the Rowlatt Acts.The arrest caused further unrest.The authorities declared Martial law.Dyer announced that there must be no assembly of people in Amritsar on 13 April a religious festival in the Punjab and a day when it had been decided to hold a meeting against the Rowlatt Acts. -
Amritsar Massacre
In Jallianwala Bagh 5000-15000 Indians convened on April 13th for the Sikh festival of Baisakhi.The crowd was unarmed and there were many women and children.The Bagh was an enclosed area with high walls and narrow entrances.As the festival progressed speakers criticised the Rowlatt Acts,troops entered the Bagh and Dyer ordered them to fire on the crowd.British figures say that 379 people were killed and 1200 were wounded.In the days after the massacre,500 students and teachers were arrested. -
Cover Up Of The Amritsar Massacre
Dyer declared martial law in Amritsar.He ordered:All forms of transport to be seized from Indians for the army.Censorship was forced to prevent knowledge of the massacre spreading.All 3rd-class train tickets were removed making travel outside Amritsar impossible for Indians.If an Indian wished to use the street where Dr Sherwood had been beaten,they had to crawl.Those in breach of martial law were flogged.Soldiers slaughtered sacred animals.The massacre did not become known in UK until December. -
Gandhi Solves the Problems In Kheda and Bihar
Gandhi,in reaction to the upcomming tax raise,and the cruel taxes in the famine stricken areas,sep tup an ashram or community near Kheda and organised surveys of the area and demonstrations against what he saw as ujust treatment of the villagers.When Gandhi was arrested in 1919 a huge crowd gathered outside the court.He was released and so were all the others who had been detained.The payment of taxes was suspended for two years and the projected increase in Kheda was abandoned -
Results of the Amritsar Massacre- Apart From Overshadowing the Govt of India Act
Montagu called for an enquiry and the Hunter Committee was set up. Dyer was summoned to Britain to give evidence to it.The Committee censured Dyer ‘General Dyer acted beyond the necessity of the case,beyond what any reasonable man would have thought to be necessary.’They also reprimanded Governor Michael O’Dwyer.The Morning Post raised £26000 for Dyer and said he had saved the Punjab’.Many previously moderate and loyal Indians lost faith in the British.Nationalism and British hatred spread. -
Government Of India Act
The Government of India Act,was also known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms after Secretary of State For India(Montagu) and Viceroy Lord Chelmsford.The effect of these reforms was to give Indians more say in their affairs.It applied for 10 years.A dycharcy was established,the Indians majorities in the Provincial Councils dealt with Education,Agricultre,Health,Public Works etc.The British Majority Councils of State controlled Defence,Foreign Relations and Taxes.Only 3% of people could vote -
Congress's and Gandhi's Campaigns Against Untouchables
Hindu's were born and died inside a caste system.Congress campaigned agaist untouchability and Gandhi was committed to the campaign's aims.Outside the Hindu caste system were the untouchables or as Gandhi walled the harijans (sons of god) who did the most menial jobs - cleaning,sweeping etc.Gandhi and many in Congress thought this system very unfair and condemned harijans to a life of poverty and discrimination.The term harijan has since been changed to Dalit meaning crushed. -
Jinnah Resigns from INC
In 1920,Jinnah resigned from the Indian National Congress mainly because he thought that Gandhi's methods would lead to tensions between the Muslim and Hindu communities in India. -
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Gandhi's Satyagraha Campaign With Congress
At the annual Congress meeting 1920,Gandhi persuaded delegates to support his policy of non-cooperation with the British.He wanted a situation where the British couldn't govern in India and would leave.He suggested that:All elections be boycotted,Taxes unpaid,Indian lawyers boycott courts,Indians surrender titles/honours given by British,Refuse to send children to school,buy foreign goods or go to official state meetings.The British ignored the protests and hopes of governmental breakdown died -
Indian's Cause the Satyagraha Campaign To Fail
The British ignored the satyagraha protests and hopes of governmental breakdown died.But it was the Indians who caused satyagraha to fail.Many didn't appreciate Gandhi’s ideas and for some they were means of settling scores.However,by mid 1921, some demonstrations led to violence.During a hartal in Bombay the demonstration turned into an orgy of looting/rioting and 53 died.As soon as violence increased,the British called off non-interference and began arresting 30,000 Congress supporters. -
Gandhi's Beliefs On Religion
Gandhi's fear was that tensions in India between Hindu majority and the large Muslim minority would break in violence.He was a Hindu,but his personal philosophy made no distinction between people bases on religion or caste.Whenever hsi campaignes seemed to encourage violence,they were abandoned.Gandhi believed that all religions should work together for and Independent India.Tensions between Hindu and Muslim Communities had never been far below the surface and could easily break out in violence. -
Protests in Chauri Chaura End In Violence
In 1922,Gandhi led a campaign in Chauri Chaura,a town in the United Provinces around Delhi.Here in early February a nationalist mob captured a police station and set it on fire.Twenty Three policemen were killed inside.This violence was just what Gandhi had feared and he called off the protests -
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Gandhi Is Arrested and Imprisoned
Gandhi immediately called off his campaign in Chauri Chaura but was arrested on 19 March 1922 and charged with ‘bringing into hatred or contempt the government established by law in the British Empire’ ie sedition. He was sentenced to six years in prison but served only two years because he was released for an appendix operation in February 1924 -
Gandhi After Prison
When he came out of prison,Gandhi set up an ashram in Gujarat. Here he worked among villagers and following traditional Indian tasks such as spinning.Even the spinning of cotton was part of his satyagraha all raw cotton was supposed to be sent to Britain.Gandhi worked among the lowest group of people in India the Untouchables.He called them harijans or little brothers and adopted a harijan child.(Hindus believed that sharing food and water with an Untouchable destroyed a Hindu’s soul) -
The Simon Commission
Govt of India Act 1919 promised a commission in 10 years to review the Act.In 1927 the Brit Govt announced a Commision.The Commision angered Nationalists because the 7 man team,led by Sir John Simon had no Indians.When the Commision arrived in 1928,INC announced a national hartal in protest at the lack of representation.The commission met crowds of protestors and demonstrations from INC in every city.Police beat protestors with sticks.This was the basis for the Government of India Act 1935. -
The Nehru Report
All-Parties Conference1928 was against the Simon Commission and out of it came Nehru Report for a newconstitution prepared by committee chaired by Motilal Nehru with son Jawaharlal.The Nehru Report:Dominion status on the same terms as Whites in Empire,federal India,No extra powers to provinces,Universal franchise.Though League approved it,Jinnah was concerned that Muslims would lose their electoral status from the Lucknow Pact and that a Hindu govt wouldn't be sensitive to the demands of Muslims -
Jawaharlal Nehru Becomes President Of Congress
Jawaharlal Nehru became President Of The Indian National Congress in 1928..Nehru was attracted to socialism and Gandhi found this radical and called Nehru a ‘young hooligan’ because of his views.Nehru was supported by two other ‘young hooligans’ Subhas Chandras Bose and Jayaprakash Narayanm,socialists and republicans.Nehru had been educated in Trinity College London and was also a Hindu -
Jinnah's Fourteen Points
In 1929, Jinnah put forward his 14 Points and he tried to make a compromise with Congress. Amongst these points were:
Muslim representation should not be less than one-third in the central legislature
Representation of minorities should be by separate electorates The Constitution should provide safeguards
For the protection of Muslim culture.
Congress rejected them and this pushed him into exile for four years.
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INC Demands Independence
At the Congress annual conference in December 1928, the two people branded ‘hooligans’ be Gandhi due to their socialism, Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose, put forward a motion which Congress accepted – this was the demand for the British to withdraw from India by 31 December 1929. This would give India – purna swaraj – complete independence. -
Congress Demands Independence Again and Gandhi Prepares For Another Campaign
It was announced that 26 January 1930 was India’s Declaration of Indepencence Day.At the annual conference in December 1929, Congress had to act because the British hadn't left. It was announced that 26 January 1930 was India’s Declaration of Indepencence Day.Gandhi declared that he would begin another satyagraha campaign.He hoped that he could unite groups in Congress and avoid bloodshed in any demonstrations against British rule. The campaign of civil disobedience began with the Salt March. -
The Salt March Begins
The Government of India levied a tax on any salt produced in India whether for domestic or comercial purposes.Indian nationalists suspected that this was to protect the export of Bitish salt as well as to earn revenue.On 12th March 1930,Gandhi set out from the Sabarmarti ashram at Ahmedabad on a march to the sea at Dandi,some 390 kn from the Gujarati coast.At Dandi he planned to make salt from the mud withut paying tax,and therefore breaking the law.It is known as the Salt Satyagraha -
The Salt March Continues
Many joined the march ,after it began in March 1930,before it eventually reahced Dandi on the 6th of April.News of the march spred around the whole of India and there were many demonstrations against the salt tax nationwide.Untouchables were also in the march which showed India that Gandhi's demonstrations had all citizens.He ensured that his idea of satyagraha was reported and that his followers be aware of this concept. -
The Aftermath Of The Salt March-Gandhi Is Imprisoned
Gandhi’s example of breaking the Salt Law was followed by many across India.The government began to arresting people.Jawaharlal Nehru was imprisoned in April and Gandhi was arrested May 5th.This led to strikes and demonstrations.Within weeks of the start of the Salt March,there were 60,000 members of Congress in jail.The satyagraha campaign continued,British goods were boycotted and there was refusal to pay taxes.The was some violence and some deaths despite Gandhi’s appeals to his followers. -
Effects and Results of The Simon Commission
The Simon Commission published in 1930.It proposed abolition of dyarchy,establishment of representative govt in provinces,federal India, but no changes in central govt.Itwas condemned by Congress but Jinnah saw some merits because Muslims would be given some power.By the time of the publication things had changed.Feelings ran high in Congress when no Indians were on the Commission.An All-Parties Conference was called in 1928 for those against the Commission and out of this came the Nehru Report -
The Government of India Reacts To The Salt Marches
The Government of India made no immideate concessions over the Salt Tax,but for many Indians the campaigns brought them into active participation in the struggle for independence.The Salt Satyagraha showed that millions across India were prepared to risk beatings by police,arrest and even improsinment for the nationalist cause.Gandhi had become an inspirational and even revered leader.He was now known as Mahatma(Great Soul) Gandhi -
The Idea Of The Round Table Conferences
The faliure of the Simon Commission and the tension in India urged the Labour government to start Round Table Conferences to bring parties together to discuss the future and independence of India.However the conferences were in London so the British had power over who to invite.The INC,League,Princes,Sikhs,Buddists,Untouchables and other groups were invited.Though the British set the Agenda and had control,it was a big step from the Commission.There was a posibility of Dominion status for India. -
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The First Round Table Conference
The 1st Conference was opened by King George V on 13th November 1930.The chairman was Prime Minister Ramsay McDonald.The INC were invited but didn't attend because its leaders,were in jail.Muslim Leaders did attend,as did B.R. Ambedkar representing the Untouchables.Though INC wanted to be seen as representing all communities,it was not seem so by some minorities.There was talk about guarantees for minorities,and discussion about an All-India Federation but there couldn't be progress with no INC -
The Idea Of Pakistan Is Taken To The Muslim League
On December 29, 1930 Sir Muammad Iqbal, gave his presidential address to the All India Muslim League annual session.
I would like to see PPunjab, North-West Frontier Province (AAfgan),KKashmir,SSindh and Baluchisttaann amalgamated into a single state. Self government within the British Empire or without the British Empire, the formation of a consolidated North-West Indian Muslim state appears to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of North-West India. -
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact
Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India from 1926 to 1931, had been able to develop a close relationship with Gandhi and agreed to release all nationalist prisoners from jail exept if they had killed someone,to withdraw all laws preventing nationalists from demonstrating and toabandon the Salt Tax for individual production.Inreturn Congress agreed to suspend all campaigs of protest in India and participate in the Second Round Table Conference -
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The Second Round Table Conference
The Conference began in September 1931.Gandhi was the representative of INC.He upstaged everyone by wearing traditional Indian clothes,and staying in Londons East End whilst everyone else lived extravagantly.Gandhi claimed that Congress alone represented India.He said that Untouchables were Hindus and shouldnt be treated as a minority and that there should be no separate electorates or safeguards for minorities.These claims were rejected.No agreement could be reached and the Conference collapsed -
The New British Government Undoes Everything
The Great Depression triggered a political collapse.The new National Government in Britain was less ready to make changes in India and decided to deal with only those groups who were prepared to work with the administration in India.Gandhi was arrested in January 1932 on his return from Britain and Congress was outlawed. By the middle of 1932 about 60.000 members of Congress were in prison (a similar figure to that during the Salt March of 1930). -
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The Third Round Table Conference
The Third Round Table Conference laste just a few weeks in late 1932.Mny delagations such as INC and the League had left and returned home.The one notable event was that Indian Muslim college student attending the conference,Chaudhury Rahmat Ali Guijar,coined the term PAKISTAN,for an Muslin Indian homeland.The word means land of the pure.P is from Punjab,A is from Afgahn Province,KI is from Kahmir,S from Sindh and TAN from Baluchistan.This was later adopted by the Muslim League -
The Government Of India Act 1935
The Act abolished the system of Dyarchy instead there was to be much self government,with a majority of Indians on Provincial Councils.However the British Governeore held important reserve powers.A new system of voting was introduced,having direct elections to the Provincial Councils that expanded the electorate from 7 to 35 million.A Federation of India was proposed to include all of British India and some/all of the Princely States.There was an establishment of a Federal Court of India -
Government of India Act 1935 Brings Tension
Government of India Act widened the gulf between INC and the League.In the years after the act,support for the League grew. In 1938,Jinnah met the leadership of INC (Gandhi,Nehru and Bose) and insisted that INC recognise the Muslim League as the sole party of India’s Muslims.INC and Gandhi especially had always assumed that it could represent all parties and rejected Jinnah’s claim.The rift was complete.After this, the League began to campaign for a separate Muslim state,WW2 was the catalyst -
Reaction To the Government India Act
The Act was good for the Indian People and was a step towards Independence,however there were many safeguards for the British and Provincial Governors had many emergency powers.The Act was not well recieved,moderate nationalists accepted it but INC and the Muslim League did not.Indian Princes rejected the Act and set up a Federatin of States fearing that their interets weren't properly protected.Lord Linlithgow was sent to enforce the act in 1937 -
INC In 1937
INC didnt boycott 1937 elections because though objected to 1935 Act non-paticipation could lead to exclusion.J.Nehru led INC election campaign+won 715 seats out of 1585-938 seats for minorities.INC took power 8 states,after statement that there wouldnt be interference from govenors.Gandhi was replaced as leader by Nehru when parliament met.Tension in INC before WW2.Bose and Gandhi disagreed about policy,Bose resigned from INC+set up a movement in Bengal.Divisions between Hindu+Muslim grew -
The Rift Between Congress and the Muslim League Widens
The Government of India Act widened the gulf between Congress and the Muslim League.After the passing of the act,support for the League grew.In 1938,Jinnah met the leadership of Congress (Gandhi,Nehru,Bose) and insisted that Congress recognise the League as the sole party of Indian Muslims.Congress and Gandhi had assumed that it represented all parties and rejected Jinnah’s claim.The rift was complete.The League campaigned for a Pakistan but needed a catalyst.It arrived in 1939, when WW2 began -
Declaration of World War 2 -Without Being Consulted
On 3/9/1939,Viceroy Linlithgow,announced that India had declared war on Germany without consulting the Indian Assembly.INC objected to being involved in a war without being consulted.Gandhi urged the British govt to negotiate.Nehru was anti-fascist but believed that India should support Britain of her own free will and said support would come if swaraj came.The League supported WW2.As INC left administration Jinnah spoke of the Day of Deliverance,that Muslims were no longer subservient to Hindus -
Subhas Chandra Bose Splits From Congress
Subhas Chandra Bose was an extreme nationalist who sought to push the British out of India by any means.He opposed Gandhi’s non-violent campaigns and resigned from Congress in 1939. He returned to his home in Bengal where he formed the Progressive Bloc – this aimed to remove Britain from India by revolution if necessary.When World War 2 broke out he saw this as an opportunity to take advantage of British vunerability -
The Lahore Declaration
In March 1940 Jinnah spoke to 100000 Muslims in Lahore.He spoke of a Muslim state called Pakistan,(Land of the Pure).At the meeting he said:‘If the British government is in earnest and sincere to secure peace and happiness...the only course...is to allow the major nations separate homelands by dividing India..."At the League Conference,Jinnah’s speech became League policy and was known as the Lahore Declaration. -
Reactions To Declaration Of War
INC protested against going to war without being consulted.Some state governments controlled by INC resigned in protest and in months,INC ordered all state governments to resign.INC began a campaign of civil disobedience in July 1940 when Viceroy refused to create a National Government in India.In weeks 2000 INC members had been imprisoned.As Congress left administration,Jinnah spoke of the ‘Day of Deliverance’-that Muslims were no longer subservient to Hindus.Jinnah put forward League demands -
British Concessions As Japanese Reach Burma
By early 1942,the Japanese had reached Burma and were pressing towards India.The possibility of an invasion worried Viceroy Linlithgow because he knew some Indians would welcome the Japanese as a means of ridding their country of the British.
It was important for the British to secure loyalty and persuade them that loyalty to Britain was more worthwhile than loyalty to Britain’s enemy. The British government therefore proposed concessions that went beyond the 1935 Government of India Act. -
Cripps Mission
In March 1942,Sir Stafford Cripps,a friend of Gandhi and Nehru and sympathetic to Indian wishes for independence,was sent to India.He proposed:full Dominion status,the right to secede as soon as war finished.He suggested that any province that didnt want to join new India be allowed to become independent.Indians would elect an assembly which would make a constitution.Any province/princely state could determine its own future.All groups to form a government,headed by the Viceroy,until armistice -
Reactions To Cripps Mission
Congress and Gandhi rejected Cripps’ offer because it wanted immediate independence and didnt like the idea of some states being allowed self-determination.INC stuck to the idea that it represented the whole of India.Jinnah and the League were happy to accept because they could see that a separate Muslim state could be the end product.Following INC’s rejection of the offers,the British government stated that it would retain control of India until the end of the war.This infuriated INC and Gandhi -
Quit India Satyagraha Is Announced By Gandhi
Gandhi's response to the British decision to maintain control was a satyagraha.He said that there would be mass civil disobedience to push the British out.This was the Quit India campaign which was announced in August,supported by INC.INC was concerned that if it didnt cooperate with Britain,agreeements about independence after war could be hard.But,INC didnt want to see Jinnah and Bose gaining their supporters.On launching Quit India,Gandhi said:We shall either free India or die in the attempt -
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The Quit India Campaign Is Foiled By Government Causing Riots
British admin was prepared for Quit India and the day after announcement:Gandhi,Nehru and INC leaders were imprisoned and held until 1944.INC was declared illegal and funds were frozen,offices raided and documents seized.The govt’s actions caused uproar and there were demonstrations nationwide which turned into riots.Police offices,govt buildings,railway lines and comms posts were targeted.The disruption slowed supplies reaching the army fighting in Burma.Over 1000 died and 3000 were injured -
Reactions To The Failure Of Quit India
To restore order the British had to divert 35000 troops to support the police.The British were concerned that Quit India campaign would enable the Japanese to invade India and thus control had to be secured quickly.The quick action of the British meant that the campaign began to subside by November and by the end of the year it had failed.Congress had seen that the army had remained loyal to the British and the widespread national support had not been as strong as it had anticipated. -
Bose Campaigns And Gains Support
When the Second World war broke out he viewed the enemies of Britain as the friends of India.He launched a campaign of civil disobedience,but it was only significant in Bengal.He was put under house arrest but escaped throught Afganistan to Europe.In Europe he gathered support in Nazi Germany,but he recieved most support when he arrived in Tokyo in May 1943 -
The Indian National Army Is Formed
Eventually, in Singapore, the Japanese financed the formation of an Induan National Army (INA). The recruits were Indian prisoners of war who had been captured by the Japanese.More than 20,000 Indians volunteered to join him and fought in the Japanese attempts to invade India from Burma.The INA also had some plantation workeres from Malaya,Singapore and elsewhere is SouthEast Asia who volunteered to fight against the British -
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The Growth and Role of the INA,The Azad Hind is Created
The INA attacked parts of India but it was never a threat.The British were fortunate the regular Indian army remained loyal not only during the ‘Quit India’ campaign but also against the Japanese and the INA.At its peak the INA numbered 43000.They helped the Japanese in Burma,and retreated with them after the allies won.In 1943, Bose announced himself as Head of the Provisional Government of Free India.He became leader of Azad Hind,an Inidan Government In Exile,established in Singapore in 1943. -
The Labour Party Take Control,The INC is Optimistic and The Muslim League Is Successful
The Labour Party took office and there was optimism in INC of move towards self-rule because of the links between Labour+INC.There were many in Labour in favour of Indian independence.Labour allowed the planned Indian elections of 1945/1946 to go ahead to gauge public opinion.The elections were a success for the League and it won all 30 seats reserved for Muslims in the Central Assembly.The elections caused demonstrations and riots,there was a mutiny in the Indian navy at Bombay and in the army -
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Simla Conference
Viceroy Wavell met INC leaders, following their release, at Simla to discuss a proposed constitutional settlement . Jinnah, as Head of the Musliim League was also invited.
Wavell proposed –A new Executive Council which would ensure a balance between Hindu and Muslim,Revised provincial and national assemblies,A specific number of seats for religious groups in the assemblies.INC and the League disagreed on the way which members would be chosen for the Executive Council and the conference failed -
Britain Is Questioning Its Empire After WW2
At the end of the Second World War, Britain found herself economically exhausted. It had spent more than £1 billion on India during the conflict and other wartime spending had led to debts of almost £3 billion. Questions were asked whether Britain could continue to run a huge empire and whether it was worth holding on to India. Importantly, India was no longer a place which imported huge amounts of British goods and British entrepreneurs no longer saw India as a place to invest. -
Naval Mutiny
In February 1946 discontent in the Royal Indian Navy,initially over living conditions,led to a mutiny on several navy ships,including HMIS (His Majesty's Indian Ship),Hindustan in Bombay.The mutiny spread to several other naval bases including Calcutta and Karachi and involved 78 ships,20 shore establishments and 20,000 sailors.It was suppressed and its leaders were imprisoned. -
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The Cabinet Mission
The Cabinet Mission comprised Lord Pethick-Lawrence,Stafford Cripps and A.V. Alexander.Attlee wanted a united India but did not bar a separate Muslim state.The Cabinet Mission’s proposals:Immediate Dominion status with protection for Muslims,Central government in charge of foreign policy,defence+internal communication,Provincial governments in charge of education,health,police+public works,Provinces allowed to combine and develop common policies.INC and the Muslim League accepted the proposals. -
INA Trials
INA soldiers were captured when Japan fell in 1945 by November 12,000 were in prison.The most high profile INA trials occured in May 1946.There was a court martial for 3 senior officers: Colonel Sahgal,Colonel Dhillon and Major General Khan.It was held in the Red Fort in Dehli.They were charged with Waging war on the King.The INC defended them with leaders including Nehru as lawyers.They argued that they werent mercenaries but soldiers loyal to Azad Hind- the cause of free india but not the King -
The Indian National Congress and the Muslim League Work With The INA Trials
The INA trials aroused much interent from Indian communities.For many the INA were patriots fighting for a Free India.Both INC and the League made the trials an important issue for theis agitation for independence in 1945-46.It was the last time INc and the ML worked together.There were nationwide demonstrations -
The Results of the INA Trials
The three senior INA officers were found guilty and sentenced to deportation for life.Because of the popular fury thee sentence generated,this never happened.There were more demonstrations and riots.The three were releassed as were 11.000 INA soldiers a few months later.INA soldiers were not allowed to join the Indian Army but otherwise they remained unpunished. -
Reactions To the Cabinet Mission - Congress Shoots Ideas Of A Separate Muslim State Down
INC and the League accepted.INC saw a united India and Gandhi stated that it was ‘the best the British government could have produced’.The League saw a basis for its own state in India.
Elections for the new Assembly were held.INC won 205 seats and the League won 73.After the election results,Nehru addressed INC and stated INC was not bound by the Cabinet Mission’s proposals. He said that the idea of a separate Muslim state would fade away. Jinnah and the League then rejected the proposals. -
Direct Action Is Announced
Jinnah was angry that Congress had turned down the Cabinet Mission’s proposals because they might lead to a Muslim State.He called for Muslims to have a day of action on 16 August 1946. Direct Action was meant to be a series of peaceful demonstrations and hartals to put pressure on the British and Congress.The British were concerned at the escalating problems and knew that the Hindus and Muslims in the Indian army would not fire on their civilian counterparts. -
Direct Actions Spirals Out Of Control
Direct Action spiralled out of control.In Calcutta,there was 3 days of rioting which left 5000 dead,20000 injured.The British couldnt stop it.Muslims continued their actions into September attacking members of the army,police and communications.Gandhi and Jinnah were horrified but each said contradictory things-Gandhi-‘If India wants a bloodbath, she can have it.’Jinnah-‘Pakistan is worth the sacrifice of 10 million Muslims. We shall have India divided or we shall have India destroyed. -
Nehru Becomes Prime Minister,Direct Action Disaster Continues
Viceroy Wavell persuaded Nehru to become the Prime Minister of India and the later took up the post on 2 September 1946. Equally appalled by the violence the Muslim League agreed to join the interim government.However, it was soon clear that the two groups could not work together. Violence continued across northern India, Direct Action had turned into a rampage of violence. -
Viceroys Are Changed And A Deadline For Independence In Set
The government in Britain informed by Wavell that the situation in India was getting out of control and that he doubted his ability to manage the situation.Prime Minister Attlee,made two key decisions. He replaced Wavell who was succeeded as Viceroy by Lord Mountbatten. The second decision was to fix a date for British withdrawal from India. Attlee announced that Britain would ‘transfer power to responsible hands’, leaving India no later than 30 June 1948. -
Mountbatten Becomes Viceroy And Partition Is Banned Due To USSR
Lord Mountbatten was appointed the last Viceroy of India in February 1947.The Prime Minister told Mountbatten that India shouldn't partition.Britain would give power to the existing Indian central government and then leave.Britain wanted India to be united and strong because there were fears that the USSR might make attempts to extend its borders southwards and threaten the oilfields of the Middle East.There were similar fears that if the state of Pakistan were created it would fall to the USSR. -
Mountbatten Develops Relations And Moves Towards Partition
Mountbatten got to know leading Indian politicians.He developed good relations with Gandhi and Nehru.But his relations with Jinnah were cold.Jinnah felt that Mountbatten favoured INC above the League.Mountbatten was convinced that a united India was impossible.He saw that the gulf between INC and the Leauge could not be bridged,he also saw that the violence of 1946 had left scars.The consequences of Direct Action were a major factor in Mountbatten’s decision to move towards Partition. -
Radcliffe Line
Sir Cyril Radcliffe was appointed by Viceroy Mountbatten to draw the boundary line in early 1947.He was a distinguished lawyer but Radcliffe had very little experience or knowledge of India.Radcliffe woked in secret under immense pressure from Mountabtten to speeden the process.By July 1947 Radcliffe had finished the line -
Mountbatten Prepares For Partition As Violence Continues
Mountbatten,in conversations with INC and League realised that partition was the only option.The decision made Mountbatten realise that independence had occur ASAP.He suggested that the date be 28/8/1947.If there was no partition,there would be chaos.As Mountbatten was arriving at his decision there were riots across India-the Punjab and the North-West Frontier province.The communal violence continued despite Gandhi’s pleas and appeals.Gandhi was ignored and his dream of a united India died. -
The Line of Demarcation Is Negotiated and Announced
The border that Radcliffe made was the result of negotiations between Nehru for the Hindus,Jinnah for the Muslims and representatives of other communities such as the Sikhs,Buddhists and the Indian Princes.Wherever this line was drawn it would split communities,produce communal violence and cause a refugee problem.Whole town tried to move to India or Pakistan, abandoning homes and risking attacks.The fact that Sikhs were ignored and that Radcliffe was under pressure from Mountbatten did not help -
Mountbatten Starts Writing Plan,Nehru Doesn't Like It
Mountbatten’s first plan for independence was to allow all states and provinces to decide their own status but Nehru assured Mountbatten that this was totally unworkable. It was therefore scrapped. A new plan had to be put together as Mountbatten became more mindful of the increasing communal violence. He wanted to withdraw before there was a complete bloodbath. -
The Princely States Protest The Partition Plan
The leaders of the Princely states met Mountbatten in July and were unhappy with their treatment.They were told that they should join either India or Pakistan – whichever they were closer to geographically. Most felt that they had been given insufficient time to determine their fate.All the princely states joined India – Kashmir, ruled by a Hindu, but a predominantly Muslim state was occupied by both Indian and Pakistani forces. -
Boundary Commission/Radcliffe Commission
A Boundary Commission was established to define the borders
Sind, Baluchistan,NorthWest Frontier, West Punjab and East Bengal formed Pakistan, but this menat that East Pakistan was seperated
The decisions of the Radcliffe Commission left:5000000 Muslims in India,5000000 Hindus in Pakistan,other groups were ignored altogether.he location of the Muslim population coincided only approximately with the areas given to Pakistan.Many Muslims were outside these areas and many Hindus were within them. -
Migration To Pakistan and India Caused Communal Violence
Because there was uncertainty about the boundaries,Hindus and Muslims sought to enter the new Indian and Pakistani boundaries before the Partition occured.In the summer months of 1947, the movement of millions of people in circumstances of chaos, fear and resentment led to fighting and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of refugees. At least 600,000 people were killed in the Punjab alone and it has been estimated that about one million people were killed during that spate of communal violence. -
Indian Independence Act
The Indian Independence Act of 1947 was drawn up in May 1947 and approved in London 18 July.It announced that partition+independence would be granted on 14 August.This was a earlier than planned to try and reduce violence.The plan stated:2 countries would be created-India and Pakistan,Princely states could join India or Pakistan or remain independent.Both countries would be members of the Commonwealth.Head of State for both would be King George V and Mountbatten would be governor General -
PARTITION AND INDEPENDENCE
India and Pakistan officially split from British Rule on the 14 th of August 1947. -
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Significant Events After Partition And Independence
1)India and Pakistan became members of the British Commonwealth
2)Jinnah became Governor-General of Pakistan. He died the following year, having suffered from tuberculosis and lung cancer.
3)Nehru became the Prime Minister of India.
4)After independence, Gandhi tried to persuade the peoples of both religions to end their violence. Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948 by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist. -
Unrest Over the Radcliffe Line
The Radcliffe line was shown to Mountbatten on August 12th but Prime Minister Nehru of India and Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan of Pakistan were not told until the 16th.There were arguments over where areas in Punjab or Bengal belonged.Nehru and Sikh Defence MinisterSingh argued that the Sikhs had been ignored and coupled with the Hindu's.PM Khan said that the decision over the line would cause mch unrest in Pakistan.The line went through Muslim,Hindu,Sikh and Buddhist communities. -
The Boundary Line Is Announced and Chaos Ensues
As soon as the line was announced, there was a huge movement of refugees across the frontier between Pakistan and India.Muslims moved North and Hindus and Sikhs moves South.It is estimated that 12-14 million people migrated.There was terrible violence and many massacres.Refugee trains were often stopped and massacred.More that half a million people died.As partition had taken place the maintenance of law and order was now the responsibilities of two very new, ill equipped governments -
Chaos In Punjab
In Punjab the western part became Pakistan's Punjab province.The Eastern Part maily Sikh and Hindu became India's Punjab State.Many Muslims lived in the East and many Hindus lived in the West, so Partition lead to much displacement and violence between communities.Lahore and Amritsar were a huge part of the problem.Radcliffe reccomended to Mountbatten that Lahore be given to Pakistan and Amritsar to India.Many Sikhs living in East Lahore and many Hindus living in West Lahore were killed -
Chaos In Bengal
West Bengal including Calcutta was given to India and East Bengal was given to Pakistan.The Muslim majority district of Murshidabad was given to India and the Hindua majority are of Khulna was given to Pakistan.The Buddhist hill district around Chittagong was given to Pakistan.Communal violence, population movement ensued in these districts -
Chaos in the Sindh
In the Sindh region,the large Hindu population was expected to remain there although it was awarded to Pakistan.There had been good community relations before 1947.Most Hindus were in big cities such as Karachi and Hyderabad.However the large influx of Muslim Refugees from Gujarat,Rajasthan,Bihar and other parts awarded to India persuaded some 75,000 Sindhi Hindus to move to India.Though there was great disruption amongst the Hindus in the Sindh,there was not terrible communal vilence. -
Pressure Mounts On The Indian Government
The naval mutiny and the INA trials were very unsettling for the Government of India.There was further unrest in the Indian Army.Time was fast running out for British rule in India.Britain in 1946 lacked the recourses and impetus to suppress the discontent in India.The communal violence and deaths in Calculla and elsewhere in India signalled the beginning of the end for British rule in India