Struggle for Freedom (II)

(R) contradicts (A)

Explanation — Mahatma Gandhi first used 'Satyagraha' to fight against racial injustice in South Africa. Later, this method was used by the Indians during their freedom struggle.

P and Q

General Dyer

Home Rule Movement

Dandi March Statue, Gyarah Murti, Delhi

Subhas Chandra Bose

Statement (I) is correct and statement (II) is incorrect.

The British government put five of the INA officers on trial at Red Fort for fighting against the British.

Quit India Resolution

In December 1929, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was made the President of the Indian National Congress.

The main aspects of the Non-Cooperation Movement are given below:

1. Boycott of British institutions – People renounced titles, resigned from government jobs, lawyers left courts, and students left British schools and colleges.
2. Economic boycott – People refused to pay taxes and boycotted British goods.
3. Mass participation – Large sections of the population, including urban Muslims, joined the movement.
4. Goal of Swaraj – The ultimate goal was to achieve Swaraj (self-rule).
5. Non-violent approach – Initially, the movement was peaceful, though it was suspended by Gandhiji after the Chauri Chaura incident.
6. Impact on people – Indians gained self-confidence, self-esteem, and overcame fear of the British; it also strengthened Hindu-Muslim unity.

The Civil Disobedience Movement started on 12 March, 1930 when Gandhiji marched from his Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat to Dandi, along with 78 followers to break the Salt Law. Gandhiji defied the law by picking up a handful of salt formed by evaporation of sea water.

The government tried to suppress the movement by declaring the Congress illegal. The British arrested Gandhiji and thousands of protesters, carried out lathi charges, imposed fines, and used force to quell the protests, all aimed at ending the movement.

Eventually, the conflict led to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931), in which the British agreed to release political prisoners and allow Indians to make salt for personal use, while Gandhi agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement.

After the Cripps Mission failed because the British were unwilling to transfer effective power to Indians and only proposed dominion status (which was rejected by both Congress and the Muslim League), the Congress decided to launch a mass struggle for independence. At the All India Congress Committee meeting in Bombay on 8 August 1942, the Congress passed the Quit India Resolution. Gandhiji demanded immediate freedom and gave the slogan ‘Do or Die’, emphasizing that India must be freed at all costs.

Government's reaction to the Quit India Movement —

1. Gandhiji and a few members of the Congress Working Committee were immediately arrested.
2. The news of arrests shocked the people, but demonstrations, meetings, hartals, and processions broke out nationwide. So, the government tried to curb the movement using lathi charges, firing, restrictions on newspapers, and closing down many newspapers.

The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched by the Khilafat Committee on 31 August 1920 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and supported by the Congress. It aimed to not co-operate with the British government through renunciation of titles, boycott of legislatures, resigning from government jobs, lawyers leaving courts, students leaving schools and colleges, and boycott of British goods. People also refused to pay taxes, rejecting the legitimacy of the government.

The movement gained momentum and involved a large part of the population, spreading across India and fostering Hindu-Muslim unity. However, after the Chauri Chaura incident (5 February 1922), where protesters killed 22 policemen, Gandhi called off the movement and was arrested.

The movement transformed the freedom struggle into a mass movement, boosted self-confidence and self-esteem, and brought urban Muslims into the nationalist cause.

The major campaigns led by Mahatma Gandhi are given below:

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22)

• Launched alongside the Khilafat Movement.
• Methods included boycott of British goods, schools, courts, government jobs, and tax refusal.
• Aimed at achieving Swaraj through non-violent protest.
• Movement was suspended after the Chauri Chaura incident (1922).
• Impact: Mass participation, strengthened Hindu-Muslim unity, and boosted self-confidence among Indians.

Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)

• Started with the Salt March from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi on 12 March 1930 to break the Salt Law.
• Widespread participation including women and peasants, boycotting foreign goods, and refusal to pay taxes.
• Government response: Arrests, fines, and use of force.
• Later resolved through the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931), which led to release of political prisoners and allowed Indians to make salt for personal use.

Quit India Movement (1942)

• Launched after the failure of the Cripps Mission.
• All India Congress Committee, on 8 August 1942, passed the Quit India Resolution.
• Gandhiji gave the slogan “Do or Die” demanding immediate independence.
• Government suppression: Arrest of Gandhi and other leaders, lathi charges, firing, restrictions on newspapers, and widespread use of force.
• Impact: Showed the resolve of the masses and became the greatest mass challenge to British authority.

The Indian National Army (INA), also called Azad Hind Fauj, was formed with the aim of securing India’s freedom from British rule. It consisted mainly of Indian prisoners of war and was led by Subhas Chandra Bose, who became its Supreme Commander.

1. In 1943, the Azad Hind Fauj was formed in Singapore, and India’s flag was hoisted on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, then under Japanese control.
2. The INA advanced to Imphal and Kohima in cooperation with the Japanese army, challenging British control, though the victory was short-lived.
3. Slogans like “Dilli Chalo” and “Jai Hind” became sources of motivation for the masses.
4. The British trial of INA officers (Shah Nawaz Khan, P.R. Sehgal, and G.S. Dhillon) at Red Fort sparked nationwide protests, pressuring the government to release all INA prisoners.
5. Indians of all religions and castes united under a common goal of freedom.

The main clauses of the Indian Independence Act of 1947 are given below:

1. Two independent dominions, India and Pakistan, were to be established on 15th August 1947; Pakistan included Sindh, Baluchistan, NWFP, West Punjab, and East Bengal, while the rest formed India.
2. The British Government would have no control over the dominions and transfer all powers to their assemblies.
3. The Viceroy’s office was abolished and replaced by separate Governor-Generals: Lord Mountbatten for India and Muhammad Ali Jinnah for Pakistan.
4. The Constituent Assemblies of both dominions would frame their constitutions and decide on British Commonwealth membership.
5. Each Constituent Assembly would exercise the powers of the Central Legislature.
6. The legislatures of the new dominions had full law-making powers.
7. The right of the king to veto laws was given up. This right was given to the Governor-General.
8. Until new constitutions were framed, dominions and provinces would follow the Act of 1935.
9. Princely states could join either dominion or remain independent.
10. The Governor-General was given the powers to modify or adopt the Government of India Act, 1935 by March 31, 1948.
11. The office of the Secretary of State for India was abolished.
12. Agreements with the tribes of the NWFP were to be negotiated by the Dominion concerned.