What is the significance of the Indian independence movement?
The Indian Independence Movement refers to the time in India’s history where Indians pushed to liberate their country from British imperial rule. As such, the Indian Independence Movement was a significant event during the time of the British Raj, the rise to prominence of the Indian National Congress and the life of Mahatma Gandhi.
What was the goal of the Indian National Congress?
The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885, initially with the goal of pursuing moderate reform under the British raj in India. Its roots are in the early Indian nationalist movement that arose from the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Which organization led India to independence?
^ "The organization that led India to independence, the Indian National Congress, was established in 1885." ^ "... anti-colonial movements ... which, like many other nationalist movements elsewhere in the empire, were strongly infuenced by the Indian National Congress."
How did Mahatma Gandhi lead the Indian independence movement?
From the late 19th century, and especially after 1920, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Congress became the principal leader of the Indian independence movement. Congress led India to independence from Great Britain, and powerfully influenced other anti-colonial nationalist movements in the British Empire.
What was the reason for the Indian independence movement?
The rebellion was the result of decades of ethnic and cultural differences between Indian soldiers and their British officers. The indifference of the British towards Indian rulers like the Mughals and ex- Peshwas and the annexation of Oudh were political factors triggering dissent amongst Indians.
What was one of the goals of the Indian nationalist movement?
The initial goal of the Indian National Congress was to promote Indian nationalism and give a voice to the independence movement that was aimed at British imperialism in India. In fact, the early actions of the Indian National Congress focused on promoting self-government for Indian people.
What were two main reasons that the British granted independence to India?
The 4 Key Reasons India Gained Independence in 1947Growing Indian nationalism. India had always been made up of a collection of princely states, many of which were rivals. ... The INC and Home Rule. ... Gandhi and Quit India Movement. ... The Second World War.
Who was India trying to gain independence from?
British ruleIndia's path to independence from British rule was spearheaded by the work of Mahatma Gandhi, who organized and led a series of nonviolent protests.
What was the Indian independence movement?
The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events with the ultimate aim of ending the British rule in India. The movement spanned from 1857 to 1947. The first nationalistic revolutionary movement for Indian independence emerged from Bengal.
Why did Gandhi start the Non-Cooperation Movement?
At the Kolkata session of the Congress in September 1920, Gandhi convinced other leaders of the need to start a non-co-operation movement in support of Khilafat as well as for dominion status. The first satyagraha movement urged the use of khadi and Indian material as alternatives to those shipped from Britain. It also urged people to boycott British educational institutions and law courts, resign from government employment, refuse to pay taxes, and forsake British titles and honours. Although this came too late to influence the framing of the new Government of India Act 1919, the movement enjoyed widespread popular support, and the resulting unparalleled magnitude of disorder presented a serious challenge to foreign rule. However, Gandhi called off the movement because he was scared after Chauri Chaura incident, which saw the death of twenty-two policemen at the hands of an angry mob that India would descend into anarchy.
What was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Empire in Asia and Africa?
The Congress was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Empire in Asia and Africa. The decades following the Rebellion were a period of growing political awareness, the manifestation of Indian public opinion and the emergence of Indian leadership at both national and provincial levels.
Why was civil disobedience important to India?
Overall, the civil disobedience Movement was an essential achievement in the history of Indian self-rule because it persuaded New Delhi of the role of the masses in self-determination.
What was the Indian Rebellion?
The Indian rebellion of 1857 was a large-scale rebellion in the northern and central India against the British East India Company's rule. It was suppressed and the British government took control of the company.
When did India become a dominion?
India remained a Dominion of the Crown until 26 January 1950, when the Constitution of India came into force, establishing the Republic of India; Pakistan was a dominion until 1956 when it adopted its first republican constitution. In 1971, East Pakistan declared independence as the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Who was the first Indian queen to fight against the British?
Puli Thevar. Pazhassi Raja, fought the British in a series of continuous struggles for 13 years during the Cotiote War . Velu Nachiyar, was one of the earliest Indian queens to fight against the British colonial power in India. Veerapandiya Kattabomman.
What was the Indian struggle for independence?
The Indian Independence Struggle (1930-1931) Mohandas Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement of 1930-1931—launched by the Salt March—is a critical case for understanding civil resistance. Although by itself it failed to bring Indian independence, it seriously undermined British authority and united India’s population in a movement for independence ...
What was the role of the British colonial government in the Indian independence movement?
The British colonial government relied on the cooperation of Indian elites and soldiers for formal control of the government and the population. Mohandas K. Gandhi launched and directed three major campaigns in the Indian Independence Movement: noncooperation in 1919-1922, the civil disobedience movement and the Salt Satyagraha of 1930-1931, ...
What did Gandhi write to Lord Irwin?
On 2 March 1930, Gandhi wrote a letter to Viceroy Lord Irwin informing him of his intent to commit civil disobedience in ten days if eleven previously-communicated demands (related to the salt tax, land revue assessments, military spending levels, currency exchange rates, and a tariff on foreign cloth) were not met.
What was Gandhi's resolution?
The INC passed Gandhi’s resolution at its 1929 annual meeting in Lahore asking for full independence and promising civil disobedience if it was not granted. On 26 January 1930, the INC celebrated “Independence Day” and Gandhi was busy forging a plan for the inevitable response to the lack of official independence.
What were the actions of civil disobedience?
Widespread civil disobedience followed with grassroots actions across the nation including not only illegal salt making, but also bonfires burning British cloth, picketing of shops selling foreign cloth, picketing of liquor shops, and rent withholding.
Why was the Salt March a response to the British refusal to recognize the INC’s declaration of independence?
The Salt March was a response to the British refusal to recognize the INC’s declaration of independence in December of 1929 and was designed to dramatize the injustice of colonial rule in a concrete way by challenging the salt tax, but also to memorialize the British massacre of nonviolent protestors at Amritsar in 1919.
What was the impact of the salt tax on Indians?
He decided to launch the campaign with an act of civil disobedience involving the British salt tax. The salt tax was a political issue that had a personal impact on all Indians, especially among the poor. Salt was a basic necessity for survival and its taxation was viewed as an example of British arrogance.
Who pushed for self-rule for Indians?
The Rise of Nationalism. Radical leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak straightway pushed for self-rule for Indians. Tilak was also saddened by the fact that the education system of the British government did not portray India’s history and culture in a positive light.
When did India become a democracy?
The British Parliament passed the famous Indian Independence Act 1947, and on August 14, Pakistan was declared a free nation. Few minutes later at 12:02 am, India became a democratic nation, much to the joy and relief of the entire Indian subcontinent.
How did Gandhi achieve civil disobedience?
Gandhi had mastered the methods of civil disobedience through non-violent means in South Africa , where he worked as a barrister. In 1914, many political prisoners were freed by General Jan Smuts, thanks to Gandhi's non-violent protests. Impressed by his methods, a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress Gopal Krishna Gokhale requested Gandhi to return to India and join the national movement. Upon his arrival, Gandhi joined the Indian National Congress and accepted Gopal Krishna Gokhale as his mentor. He then went on to establish Satyagraha ashram and led a Satyagraha campaign in 1917. For the next three years, Gandhiji led many non-violent protests that included Satyagraha and fasting. The Kheda Satyagraha and the Champaran satyagraha were some of the early movements where he applied the concept of Satygraha to fight for the rights of farmers and other peasants.
What are the socio-religious groups that helped create awareness among Indians?
Works done by socio-religious groups like Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj played a crucial role in creating awareness among Indians. The works of reformers like Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, V. O. Chidambaram Pillai and Subramanya Bharathy evoked a sense of nationalism among Indians.
How did the British gain the support of the Mughal Empire?
After the fall of the Mughal Empire, the British gained the support of many local rulers by offering them help against their adversaries. Since the British were equipped with huge cannons and newer war technology their support proved helpful to many Indian rulers. In exchange for their support, the East India Company managed to set up trading centers in places like Madras, Calcutta and Bombay. The British gradually started to extend their fortification. When they were asked to stop their extension by Siraj-ud-daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, they defeated him in the Battle of Plassey (1757). This win against Siraj-ud-daulah played a crucial role in colonizing the whole of India.
What was the cause of the revolt of 1857?
Often referred to as the ‘First War of Indian Independence,’ the revolt of 1857 was the result of a series of incidents, but the immediate reason for the revolt was the issue of ‘greased cartridges.’. The East India Company mistreated the Indian soldiers and discriminated between the Indian and the European soldiers.
Why did Subhas Chandra Bose quit the Indian National Congress?
Subhas Chandra Bose quit the Indian National Congress and travelled to many countries to seek help for India’s independence. Bose wanted to raise an Indian army to fight against the British. Based on Hitler’s advice, he went to Japan and formed the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Government). During the Second World War, the Indian National Army managed to capture Andaman and Nicobar islands with the help of the Japanese army. However, the setback to Japan in the Second World War impacted the prospects of the INA as well and it’s march was blocked on the Border and many soldiers and officers were arrested.
What was the Indian National Congress before independence?
Prior to Indian independence, the Indian National Congress was a champion of moderate reform, although during the 1920s and ’30s it transitioned to a focus on independence through nonviolent civil disobedience. Since independence, the party has traditionally supported socialist economic policies within a mixed economy, ...
What was the first Indian nationalist movement?
The Indian National Congress first convened in December 1885, though the idea of an Indian nationalist movement opposed to British rule dated from the 1850s. During its first several decades, the Congress Party passed fairly moderate reform resolutions, though many within the organization were becoming radicalized by the increased poverty that accompanied British imperialism. In the early 20th century, elements within the party began to endorse a policy of swadeshi (“of our own country”), which called on Indians to boycott of imported British goods and promoted Indian-made goods. By 1917 the group’s “extremist” Home Rule wing, which was formed by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant the previous year, had begun to exert significant influence by appealing to India’s diverse social classes.
What was the policy of Swadeshi?
In the early 20th century, elements within the party began to endorse a policy of swa deshi (“of our own country”), which called on Indians to boycott of imported British goods and promoted Indian-made goods. By 1917 the group’s “extremist” Home Rule wing, which was formed by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant the previous year, ...
What is the Indian National Congress?
The Indian National Congress is one of two major political parties in India. It was influential in the 20th-century Indian independence movement and dominated much of the republic’s early political scene.
When did the Indian National Congress become the real Congress?
Over the next year, her new party attracted enough members of the legislature to become the official opposition, and in 1981 the national election commission declared it the “real” Indian National Congress. In 1996 the “I” designation was dropped.
When did India become independent?
After the war the British government of Clement Attlee passed an independence bill in July 1947, and independence was achieved the following month. In January 1950 India’s constitution as an independent state took effect. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now.
Who were the three Indian leaders who won the 1971 election?
Nevertheless, her New Congress Party scored a landslide victory in the 1971 elections, and for a period it was unclear which party was the true rightful heir of the Indian National Congress label. Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Harry S. Truman.
What was Gandhi's purpose in the Salt March?
The purpose of Mohandas Gandhi's actions such as the Salt March and the textile boycott was to. (1) begin a cycle of armed revolution . (2) draw attention to critical issues . (3) increase the strength of the military . (4) resist the power of religious leaders.
What was the goal of the Muslim League in the 1940s?
(1) helping the British fight World War II . (2) removing British control from the subcontinent . (3) abolishing caste distinctions and discrimination .
What were the characteristics of African countries in the 1950s and 1960s?
2. During the 1950s and 1960s, the history of most African countries was characterized by. (1) colonization by imperialist nations . (2) the achievement of political independence . (3) a sharp decrease in the birth rate .
What was Gandhi's role in the Khilafat movement?
After the First World War, the party became associated with Gandhi, who remained its unofficial spiritual leader and icon. He formed an alliance with the Khilafat Movement in 1920 to fight for preservation of the Ottoman Caliphate, and rights for Indians using civil disobedience or satyagraha as the tool for agitation. In 1923, after the deaths of policemen at Chauri Chaura, Gandhi suspended the agitation. In protest, a number of leaders, Chittaranjan Das, Annie Besant, and Motilal Nehru, resigned to set up the Swaraj Party. The Khilafat movement collapsed and Congress was split.
What is the Indian National Congress?
v. t. e. The Indian National Congress (often called the Congress Party or simply Congress, abbr. INC) is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Empire in Asia and Africa.
What is the secular policy of India?
On social issues, it advocates secular policies that encourage equal opportunity, right to health, civil liberty and welfare of weaker sections and minorities, with support for a mixed economy. After India's independence in 1947, Congress formed the union government of India and many state governments of India.
What does Congress stand for in India?
It stands for mixed economy and envisages a dominant role for the public sector. Its policies nationalized banks and insurance companies to curb monopoly and concentration of wealth. Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, along with its main rival the Bharatiya Janata Party.
When was the first session of the Indian Congress?
First session of Indian National Congress, Bombay, 28–31 December 1885. The Indian National Congress conducted its first session in Bombay from 28 to 31 December 1885 at the initiative of retired Civil Service officer Allan Octavian Hume.
Who was the first president of the Indian National Congress?
Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee, The First president of Indian National Congress. Hume organised the first meeting in Bombay with the approval of the Viceroy Lord Dufferin. Umesh Chandra Banerjee was the first president of Congress; the first session was attended by 72 delegates, representing each province of India.
Which group was expelled by Gandhi?
Gandhi expelled all the socialist groupings, including the Congress Socialist Party, the Krishak Praja Party, and the Swarajya Party, along with Subhas Chandra Bose, in 1939. Azad Hind, an Indian provisional government, had been established in Singapore in 1943, and was supported by Japan.
Overview
First World War
The First World War began with an unprecedented outpouring of support towards Britain from within the mainstream political leadership. Contrary to initial British fears of an Indian revolt, Indians contributed considerably to the British war effort by providing men and resources. About 1.3 million Indian soldiers and labourers served in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, while both the Indian government and the princes sent large supplies of food, money, and ammunition. Non…
Background
The first European to reach India was the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who reached Calicut in 1498 in search of spice. Just over a century later, the Dutch and English established trading outposts on the Indian subcontinent, with the first English trading post set up at Surat in 1613.
Over the next two centuries, the British defeated the Portuguese and Dutch but remained in confl…
Early Rebellions
Maveeran Alagumuthu Kone was an early rebel against the British presence in Tamil Nadu. He became a military leader in the town of Ettayapuram and was defeated in battle against the British and Maruthanayagam's forces. He was executed in 1757. He was considered among the earliest freedom fighters. Tamil Nadu Government under former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa inaugurated his statute in Chennai, opposite to Egmore Railway station. Puli Thevar opposed the Nawab of Arcot, …
Rise of organized movements
The decades following the Rebellion were a period of growing political awareness, the manifestation of Indian public opinion and the emergence of Indian leadership at both national and provincial levels. Dadabhai Naoroji formed the East India Association in 1867 and Surendranath Banerjee founded the Indian National Association in 1876. Inspired by a suggestion made by A.O. Hume, a retired Scottish civil servant, seventy-two Indian delegates met in Bombay i…
Rise of Indian nationalism
By 1900, although the Congress had emerged as an all-India political organisation, it did not have the support of most Indian Muslims. Attacks by Hindu reformers against religious conversion, cow slaughter, and the preservation of Urdu in Arabic script deepened their concerns of minority status and denial of rights if the Congress alone were to represent the people of India. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan launched a movement for Muslim regeneration that culminated in the founding in 1…
Movements
• Khudiram Bose was one of the youngest Indian revolutionaries tried and executed by the British.
• Prafulla Chaki was associated with the Jugantar. He carried out assassinations against British colonial officials in an attempt to secure Indian independence.
• Bhupendranath Datta was an Indian revolutionary who was privy to the Indo-German Conspiracy.
All India Muslim League
The All-India Muslim League was founded by the All India Muhammadan Educational Conference at Decca (now in Dhaka, Bangladesh), in 1906. Being a political party to secure the interests of the Muslim in British India, the Muslim League played a decisive role behind the creation of Pakistan in the Indian subcontinent.
In 1916, Muhammad Ali Jinnah joined the Indian National Congress, which was the largest India…