Transcript
Page 1: India's Struggle for Independence - Timeline

Revolt of 1857 Viceroy Date / Place Event Points to Remember

Lord Aukland

1838-42 First Afghan War British Suffered Losses

Lord Hardinge/ Lord Dalhousie

1845-49 Punjab Wars British Suffered Losses

Lord Dalhousie

1854-1856 Crimean Wars British Suffered Losses

Lord Dalhousie

1855-57 Santhal Rebellion British Suffered Losses

Lord Canning

1857 Revolt of 1857 Economic

Peasants – heavy taxation/money lender high rates

Artisans – loss of patronage/ Indian handicraft discouraged vs British goods /no development of modern industries

Zamindars – quo warranto/ loss of land/ cant beg, work

Political

EIC greedy policy of self aggrandizement & broken oaths

Policies of ‘Effective Control’, ‘Subsidiary Alliance’, ‘Doctrine of Lapse’

Mughal Prince Faqiruddin’succesor had to renounce title post his death in 1856

Socio Religious

Racial overtones/ Superiority Complex

Christian missionaries – proselytisation

Social reforms

Religious Disability Act 1876,

Tax mosque and temple lands Discontent among Sepoys

Restrictions on wearing caste and religious symbols

General Service Enlistment Act 1856 – Bengal Army recruits to serve anywhere – undertaking

Emoluments discrimination

No foreign service allowance when serving in Singh & Punjab

Annexation of Awadh

Rumor of bones in atta and cartridge of new Enfield Rifles (Greece containing

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cow and pig fat)

Feb, 1857 / Berhampur

19th Native Infantry broke into Mutiny

Disbanded in March 1857

March 1857 / Barrackpore

34th Native Infantry – Mangal Pandey shot at a Sergeant Major

April 6 – Mangal Pandey executed May – Regisment disbanded

May 1857 / Awadh

7th Awadh Regiment defied its officers

May - Disbanded

April 24, 1857 / Meerut

3rd Native Cavalry – 9 men refused to accept greased cartridge

May 9, 1857 / Meerut

3rd Native Cavalry 85 dismissed and sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment

May 10, 1857/ Meerut

3rd Native Cavalry Sepoys released comrades/killed officers/unfurled revolt banner

May Delhi Local Infantry killed own European Officers

Simon Faser Killed

Lt. Willoughby put some resistance but was overcome

Bahadur Shah Zafar was proclaimed Emperor of India

Delhi General Bakth Khan led the revolt of the soldiers in Bareilley

He ran the court with 10 members – 6 from army and 4 from civilian – in the name of the emperor

Delhi captured in Sep 20, 1857

John Nicholson, leader of siege, wonded and dead

Lt. Landon – Butchered princes on spot at point blank

Emperor exiled to Rangoon in 1862

By 1859 – Bakth Khan dead

June 27, 1857 / Kanpur

Nana Saheb Expelled the English from Kanpur and declared himself Peshwa

Nana Saheb, adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II was refused official titles

Sir Hugh Wheeler surrendered

Sir Colin Campbell occupied Kanpur in Dec 6, 1857

Nana Saheb escaped to Nepal

Tantia escaped into jungles. Captured and killed in April 1858

By 1859 – Rao Sahib (bro of Nana) dead June 4, 1857 /

Lucknow Begam Hazrat Mahal took reigns

Son Birjis Qadir declared Nawab

Sir Henry Lawrence and some europeans lake shelter in the residency. Sir Henry killed

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Brigadier Inglish held on against heavy odds

Attempts by Sir Henry Havelock & Sir james Outram has no success

Sir Colin Campbell evacuated the Europeans with Gorkha Regiment

March 1858, Lucknow recovered

Begam forced to hide in Nepal

Bareilly Khan Bahadur He was a descendent of a former ruler of Rohilakhand

Not enthusiastic about the pension

By 1859 – Khan Bahadur dead

Bihar Kunwar Singh Zamindar of Jagdishpur

Britishers had taken his land

Faizabad Maulvi Ahmadullah Native of Madras

Had moved to Faizabad

By 1859 – Maulvi dead

Jhansi Rani Laxmi Bai Lord Dalhousi had refused to allow her adopted son to ascend to the throne after the death of Raja Gangadhar Rao

She was assisted by Tantia Tope an associate of Nana Saheb after the loss of Kanpur

Marched towards Gwalior

Gwalior captured in June 1858

Jhanshi captured by Sir Hugh Rose

Banaras Colonel Neill put to death all suspected rebels and disorderly sepoys

Lord Canning

Nov 1, 1858 Lord Canning announced “Queens Proclamation”

Great Britain took over Government of India from East India Company

1858-1905 Skipped: Revolutionary Terrorism (92)

Political Associations before INC

1836/Bengal Bangabhasa Prakasika Sabha

Founded by raja Ram Mohan Roy in Bengal

1840’s/Bengal The Zamindari Association or Landholder’s Society

Founded to safeguard the rights of the landholders

1843/Bengal The British Bengal India Society

Collection and dissemination of information to people of british india

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Employ lawful and peaceful means to secure rights

1851/Bengal Zamindari Association & British Bengal India Society merged

British India Association formed after merger

Sent recommendation for Charter of Company – separate legislature of popular character/reduction in salaries/abolition of salt duty, abkari & stamp duty

1853 Charter Act 6 additional members included in governor general’s council

1866/London East India Association

Dadabhai Naroji – to discuss Indian Question with influential public in London to promote India’s welfare

1867/Bombay Poona Sarvajanik Sabha

Mahadeo Govind Ranade

Serving bridge between government and people

1875/Bengal Indian League Sisir Kumar Ghosh – Simulate sense of nationalism and political education

1876/Bengal Indian Association of Calcutta

Superseded Indian League

Surendranath Banerjea and Anand Mohan Ghosh

Discontented by pro landlord and conservative policies of British India Association

Create public opinion on political questions/unify Indian people on political programme

1884/Madras Madras Mahajan Sabha

M Viragaraghavchari, B Subramaniya Aiyar, P Anandacharalu

1885/Bombay Bombay Presidency Association

Badruddin Tyabji, PherozshahMehta,K T Telang

Factors in growth of Modern Nationalism Understanding of contradictions in Indian and colonial interests – economic exploitation

Political, administrative and economic unification

Western thoughts and education

Role of press and literature – in 1887 there were 169 vernacular newspapers

Rediscovery of India’s past

Progressive character of socio religious reform movements

Growth of middle class intelligentsia

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Impact of contemporary movements world wide

Reactionary policies and racial arrogance

Lytton (76-80)

1876 Reduction of Maximum age limit from 21 to 19

1877 Grand Delhi durbar when country was severe grip of famine

1878 Vernacular Press Act

1878 Arms Act

Ripon (80-84)

1883 Ilbert bill controversy

Ripon had sought to abolish “judicial disqualification based on race” allowing Indian judges to try British offenders

Ripon had to modify the bill and it was enacted in a severe compromised state in 1884

1883/1885 Conferences of Indian National Conference

Surendranath Banerjea and Anand Mohan Ghosh – architects of Indian national Conference

Dufferin(84-88)

Dec 1885/ Bombay

Indian national Congress

A O Hume mobilized intellectuals and conducted the first session of the Indian national Congress. ‘Safety Valve’ theory – platform for intellectuals to release discontent. Hume convinced Dufferin.

First session attended by 72 delegates

Presided by Womesh Chandra Bonnerjea

Hereafter congress met in December every year

Aims of Congress:

Found democratic, national movement

Politicize/ politically educate

Establish a headquarters for the movement

Promote friendliness amongst nationalists

Develop anti-colonial nationalist ideology

Formulate and present popular demand to the government

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Develop and nurture feeling of nationalhood and unity

1887 Fallout with British India Government

Congress increasingly critical of colonial Rule

Dufferin – stick to social questions

“Sedatious Bramhins” , Duffer – “factory of sedition”

1890 Kadambini Ganguly first woman to graduate from Calcutta College

Addressed INC par

1890 Session of INC in London

To be held in 1892

Postponed due to british elections in 1891

Plan of setting up a British Committee of INC in London in 1899

Dadabhai Naroji was the anchor

Contribution of Moderates

Economic Critique ‘Drain Theory’ – Dadabhai Naroji, R C Dutt,Dinshaw Wacha

1892 Constitutional Reform

Indian Council’s Act of 1861 toothless - disguise official measures as being passed by a representative body/wealthy loyalists selected (exceptions Syed Ahmad Khan, Kristodas Pal, V N mandalik, K L Nulkar, Rashbheri Ghosh)

1885-92 demands – expansion of council/ more powers to council (control on finance) – power to veto or amend budget

Indian Council’s Act 1892

Imperial legislative council of governor general to have 10-16 (instead of 6-10) members / Officials retained majority

Some members to be indirectly elected (element of election) / Reformed council met 13 days/ year, unofficial team present 5/25 average

Budget could be discussed / Could not be vetoed or amended

Questions could be asked / Supplimentaries not allowed

1904/1905/1906 Self Government like Canada and Australia

Naroji/Gokhle/Tilak

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Administrative Reforms

Indianisation of services

Separate judicial and executive

Critique – Tyrannical Bureaucracy & time consuming judiciary

Critique aggressive foreign policy – Afghan wars/ Burma wars

Increase in expenditure on welfare

Better treatment of labor abroad

Defence of Civil Rights

Speech , thought, association, free press

1905-1918 Skipped: New forces, revolutionary forces

Why Militant Nationalism Grew Recognition of true nature of British Rule

Growth of Self Confidence –Tilak, Bipin, Aurobindo appealed to national character

Growth of education

International influence –Progress of Japan post 1868, Italy defeated by Ethopia (1896), Boer War (1899-1902) where british faced reverses, Japan’s Victory over Russia (1905)

Nationalist movements in – Ireland, Egypt, Russia, China, Turkey, Persia

Reaction to westernization – Swami Vivekananda/ Bankim Chandra Chatterjee/ Dayanand Saraswati

Dissatisfaction with moderates – Pray/ Petition/ Protest

Reactionary Policies of Curzon

1892 Indian Council Act Criticized

1896/1900 Severe famine Killed 90 lakhs

Bubonic Plague in Dacca

1897 Tilak Arrested/ Nathu Brothers deported

1898 Repressive Laws IPC 124A augmented with 156A

1899 Calcutta Corporation Act

Number of members in Calcutta cooperation reduced

1904 Official Secrets Act

1904 Indian Universities Act

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Swadeshi and Boycott Movement

December 1903 Govt. decision to partition Bengal

Government announce decision to partion Bengal

Bengal (78 million people) – difficult to admin

Bengal – Nerve Center of nationalism to be weakened

On language (17 million Bengali and 37 million Oriya Hindi) – 42/54 Hindu (Western Half), Eastern Half (18/24) - Muslim

1903-1905 Surendranath Banerjea, Prithvishchandra Ray, K K mitra

3P Method

July 1905 Partition of Bengal announced ignoring public opinion

Aug 7,1905 Boycott Resolution Passed in Calcutta Townhall

Proclamation fo Swadeshi Movement – Boycott Manchester Cloth/ Lanchester Salt

Oct 16, 1905 Partition came into force

Bath in Ganga/ Sing Bande Mataram/ fast/ Peaceful Demonstration

Surendranath & Anand Mohan addressed huge gatherings

Tilak – Poona Bombay, Lala Lajpat Rai & Ajit Singh – Punjab, Syde Haider Raza – Delhi, Chidambaram Pillai - Madras

Dec, 1905 / Benaras

INC session under Gokhle

Condemn partion of Bengal and Curzon’s policies

Support Swadeshi Movement

Tilak/ Rai/ Bipin/ Aurobindo – wanted to take the movement outside Bengal and make it a full fledged national movement in line with attaining swaraj. But moderate were not willing to go that far and were in favor of constitutional methods

Dec,1906/Calcutta INC session under Dadabhai Naroji

Extremists wanted Tilak as president but Naroji proposed

Swaraj or self government declared to be goal of congress

Embolden by this the extremist called for passive resistance – boycott of school,colleges etc

Council reforms had been announced – moderates didn’t want that screwed

Extremists thought this was an

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opportunity which could not be missed

Dec, 1907/ Surat INC session under Rashberi Ghosh

Extremists wanted this to be held in Nagpur but it was held in Surat so that Tilak doesn’t become president

1907 Al India Muslim League Formed

Anti Congress body under Nawab Salimullah (reactionary element) encouraged, Waqar-ul-Mulk & Mohsin-ul-Mulk

Government Strategy Government’s “rallying them”, Carrot and Stick strategy

Extremists repressed moderately to scare the moderates/ moderates placated with concessions/ Extremists subdued

1907 Seditious Meetings Act

1908 Indian Newspapers (Incitement of Offence) Act

1908 Tilak sent to Mandalay for 6 Years

Biping Pal and Aurobindo retire from active politics

Lala Lajpat Rai leaves for abroad

Tilak Back in 1914

1909 Morley – Minto Reforms

1906 – Shimla Delegation by Aga Khan for separate electorates for Muslims. This group took over Muslim League.

Clonial self government as demanded by congress is not for india – Morley

Aimed at using Moderates vs Extremists and Muslims vs nationalism

The Reforms:

Members in Imperial & Provincial Legislative Councils increased. Non official majority introduced, non elected majority retained.

Imperial Legislative Council – 68 total – 32 non official – 5 nominated / 27 elected – 8 muslims, 6 british capitalists, 2 landlords (reserved), 13 general electorate

Elected members indirectly elected – Local Body – Electoral college – Provincial Legislature – Central Legislature

Besides separate electorates for muslims, representation in excess of

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strength. Income qualification lowers than hindus.

Power of legislature increased – recommendations (which may not be accepted), ask supplementary, vote separate items of the budget but not the whole.

1910 Indian Press Act

June 1914 Tilak Back

1914 First World War Moderates supported as a matter of duty

Extremists supported in the hope that retain would repay with gratitude of self government

Revolutionaries – opportunity to overthrow with Japanese or German support

Revolutionaries

1913 Ghadr established Ramdas Puri, G D Kumar, Taraknath Das, Sohan Singh Bakhna, Lala Hardayal reached in 1911

‘Swadesh Sevak Sangh’ – Vancouver & ‘United India House’ – Seattle

Sep 1914 Komagata Maru Ship carrying 370 Punjabi Muslim & Sikh from Singapore to Vancouver returned by Canadian Authorities. People refuse to alight in Calcutta – 22 people die in police action.

Kartar Singh Saraba, Raghubar Dayal Gupta left for India

Bengal revolutionaries contacted – Rashberi Bose, Sachin Sanyal

Feb 21, 1915 Armed revold by Ghadarites in Ferozpur, Lahore, Rawalpindi

Foiled by Treachery

Regiment disbanded, leaders arrested – depoeted & killed, 45 hanged

Rashberi Bose fled to Japan

Sachin Sanyal transported for life

March, 1915 Defense India Act

1915 Berlin Committee for Indian Independence

Virendranath Chattopadhayay, Lala hardayal, Bhupendranath Datta – help of German under ‘Zimmerman Plan’

Feb 15,1915 Mutiny in Singapore Punjabi Muslim 5th Light Infantry

36th Sikh Battalion

Jamadar Chisty Khan, Jamadar Abdul gani, Jamadar Daud Khan

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Aug 1914 Bengal & Punjab Revolutionaries

Rashberi Ghosh & Sachin Sanyal with Ghaderites

Bengal groups were organized by Jatin Mukherji

Home Rule League Organized on the lines of Irish Home Rule Leagues

Annie Besant and Tilak were the pioneers

Section of nationalist felt that popular pressure was needed to attain concessions

Moderates disillusioned with Morley-Minto

War time miseries – high tax, high prices – people ready for aggressive action

Inter imperialist war & propaganda exposed supremacy myth

Tilak had toned down stand – ready to assume leadership

Both Tilak and Annie Besant realized that a unity of Moderates and Extremists was imperative for the movement to succeed

December, 1914 INC session Failure to reach Moderate-Extremists rapproachment, Tilak and Besant decide to revive political activity on their own

1915 Annie Besant has launched a campaign to demand self government for India

Campaign through News papers New India and Commonwealth

Dec, 1915 INC Session Extremists decided to be admitted to congress

Annie Besant’s Home Rule League not approved

Congress agrees on educative propaganda and local level congress committees

Annie Besant puts condition that if the congress does not implement its recommendations, she was free to set up her league

April, 1916 Tilak’s Home Rule League

Maharashtra (Excluding Bombay), Karnata, Central Province, Berar

Swaraj, Linguistic States, education in vernacular

Sep, 1916 Annie’ Home Rule League

Rest of India (Including Bombay)

George Arundale – secretary, main work done by B W Wadia, CP Ramaswamy

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Muslims and Anglo Indians didn’t join as they felt it was a Hindu majority high caste thing

Dec,1916/Lucknow Session of INC under Ambika Charan Majumdhar

Extremist readmission – pitched by tilak & annie, relisation that unity imp, Gokhle & pherozshah Mehta had died

Lucknow pact congress & Muslim league – Britain refusal to help turkey, annulment of Bengal partition 1911, outgrow in outlook from Aligarh (Muslim League Calcutta session 1912– self governance for India if doesn’t hurt muslim interest)

Joint statement – self governance asap, increase size of legislature, 50- % Indians

Congress League diff identities – milestone in 2 nation theory

Home rule Program Aim – self government through political education and discussion through public meetings, conferences etc

Russian Revolution helped

1917 Government Suppression

Case instituted against Tilak, rescinded by high court

June 1917 – Annie, wadia, Arundale arrested – leaqds to nationwide protest

Sir S Subramaniya Aiyar renounces knighthood

Tilak follows passive resistance

Sep 1917 – Annie released

Why it faded Communal riots 1917-18

Lack of effective organization

Moderates who had joined after Annie’s arrest pacified by release and Montagu Reforms

Tilak had to go out for a case; Anie was unsure – lack of leadership

Aug,1917 Montagu Statement Recognises self governance

1918-1939 Skipped: Evolution of 2 nation theory(153), Page 169 (other upsurges)

1894 - 1915 Gandhi in Africa Born – Oct 2,1869, Porbandar, Gujarat

Went to Aftica for his client Dada

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Abdullah

1894 – 1906 – Found Natal Indian Congress and Indian Opinion to unite Indians in Africa

Satyagrah Against “Registration Certificates” -1906

Campaign Against registration of Indian Migrations

Setting up Tolstoy Farm

Campaign against poll tax and invalidation of Indian marriages

Gokhle, Viceroy Lord Hardinge influenced judgements in his favor

Jan 1915 Gandhi Comes to India

Decides to understand things for a year

1917 – champaran – civil disobedience - first invited by Rajkumar sukhla to champaran in bihar against the tinkanthia system of indi planters/accompanied by rajendra parsad, mazhar ul haq, mahadeo desai, narhari parekh, j b kriplani

1918 – ahmedabad mill strike – first hunger strike – 35 % increase in wage by owners

1918 – kheda satagrah Gujarat – first non cooperation –peaants asked to withhold revenue/ Britishers challenged as per Revenue Code/ Youngsters like Sardar Patel & Indulal Yagnik be

Came followers

July,1918 Montagu Chelmford (Montford) Reforms and Government of India Act 1935

Provincial: Executive

Dyarchy

“reserved “ & “transferred” list

Sectary and viceroy can interefere in reserved but restricted in transferred

Legislative

Expanded – 70% to be elected

Communal & class electorate further consolidated

Women could vote

Legislature could initiate legislation - -Governor’s assent needed/ he can veto

Central: Executive

Provincial & Central lists Legislature:

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Bicameral arrangement

Legislative Assembly – 144 – 103 elected – 52 general, 30 muslims, 2 sikh, 20 specials

Council of State – 60 – 34 elected – 20 G, 10 M, 1 S, 3 Europeans

75% budget still not votable Page 117

March 1919 Rowlatt Act Authorized govt to imprison without trial and conviction in court

Habeus Corpus repealed

Feb 1919 Satyagrah against Rowlatt Act Declared

First mass satyagrah

April 6, 1919 Satyagrah Launched

April 13, 1919 Jalianawal bagh massacre

Unaware of prohibitory orders

Protest against arrest of leaders Saiffudin Kitchlew & Satyapal

Tagore renounced knighthood in protest

April 18,1919 Satyagrah Called off

Khilafat & Non Cooperatation Rowlatt Act, Martial law in Punjab & Jallianawala Bagh Massacre

Hunter Commission report

Turkey Issue with Muslims

Early 1919 Khilafat Committee formed

Ali Brothers (Shaukat Ali, Muhammad ali), Maulana Azad, Azmat Khan, Hasrat Morani

Nov 1919 All India Khilafat Conference calls for boycotting foreign goods

Tilak was opposed to alliance on a religious issue with the Muslims as well as to satyagraha as a political movement

Some were against some provision of non cooperation like the boycott of councils

Gandhi was able to get congress approval

Feb 1920 Hindu Muslim delegation sent to viceroy to address issues

Mission abortive

May 1920 Treaty of Severes with Turkey

Turkey Dismembered

June 1920 All party meet approves boycott of schools, colleges etc

Aug 1,1920 Tilak dies

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Aug 31,1920 Non Cooperation movement Launched

Sep, 1920 Congress session approved non cooperation till Punjab & Khilafat wrongs corrected

Boycott schools, colleges,law courts,foreign clothes

Legislative councils – CR das not in favor

Renunciation of govt titles

Dec, 1920 INC session Nagpur Self govt thrugh constitutional means replaced by swaraj through peaceful and legitimate means

CWC setup, provincial congress committees setup

Dec, 1921 INC session Ahmedabad

Gandhi Under pressure to launch civil disobedience

CR Das presides from Jail – Hakim Azmal Khan acting president

Feb 1,1922 Gandhi threatens to launch civil disobedience from Bardoli

Political prisoners to be released

Press controls to be removed

Feb 5,1922 Chauri Chaura incident

Gorakhpur,UP

22 policemen killed by protesters when they were fired on while they had come to protest in front of the police statio

Feb, 1922 INC meets at Bardoli Decides to stop all activity

March, 1922 Gandhi arrested and sentenced to 6 years

Nov, 1922 Turkey issue non existant

People rose under Mustafa Kamal Pasha and deprived the sultan of his political power. European style judicial system put in place.

Dec, 1922 INC Gaya Session, Congress Swarajya Khilafat Party

Swaragists – Motilal Nehru, CR Das, Azmal Khan – wanted to end boycott of council entry

No Changers – Vallabhai Patel, C Rajgopalchari, Rajendra Prasad, M A Ansari – continue constructive work

Swarajist proposal defeated, Motilal Nehru and CRDas resigned for presidentship and secretaryship respectively. President & Secretary of the new party

Dec 1923 Both side consulted with Gandhi

Compromise was reached and the Swarajists joined back with the understanding that could entry wuld be allowed to them

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Nov 1923 Elections Swarajists won 42/141 elected seats

1924 Communal Riots and division of swarajists on communal lines

Split amongst Swarajists – responsivists and non-responsivists, furher weakened by death of C R Das in 1925

Responsivists – Lala Lajpat Rai, Madan Mohan Malviya, NC Kelkar – stay in office and further hindu interests. These guys joined Hindu Mahasabha.

Non Resposivists – Motilal Nehru -advocated not staying in office and mass civil disobedience – withdrew from legislature in 1926

Responsivists went to elections and did badly – 1926. Resigned post Lahore session for Civil Disobediance Movement.

1925 Vithal Bhai Patel – Speaker of central Legislative Assembly

Swarajist Achievement

1928 Public Safety Bill Defeated

Swarajist Achievement

Nov 8,1927 7 member Indian Statutory Commission appointed under Chairmanship of John Simon

Whether India was ready for Further consti tutional reforms and on what lines

Constitutional reforms were due in 1929, conservative party did not want to leave the question of India to labour party

Appointed by conservative secretary of state Lord Birkenhead

Dec,1927 INC session under MA Ansari

Boycott the commission at every stage and in every form

Complete Independence was declared as the Goal - Managed By Nehru

Feb 3, 1928 Simon landed in India Nehru & Subhash emerged as new leaders

Nehru and GB Pant Beaten

Lala Lajpat Rai Beaten –Oct, 1928/ dies in Nov 1928

Birkinhead challenges Indian Politicians to come up with an agreed constitution acceptable to everyone

Feb 1928 All Party Conference – Sub Committee to draft constitution

Motilal Nehru

Finished by Aug 1928

Consensus on majority except – “dominion status” or “complete independence”

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Page 160

Dec 1927 Delhi Proposals by Muslim League

Hindu Mahasabha opposes

Some concessions made my Nehru

Dec 1928 All Party Meet Jinnah proposes Amendments to the updated Nehru report and gives his 14 point demands

Nehru and Congress reject ‘Dominion Status’ as goal and setup “Independence for India League”

Dec 1928 INC session, Calcutta Subhash & Nehru reject “Dominion Status”

Gandhi and Motilal Nehru reason that the consensus over dominion status has been built over years, 2 years grace period be given to government to accept the demand; reduced to 1 year

If government doesn’t accept, adopt complete independence as the goal and launch civil disobedience

1929 Meerat Conspiracy

1929 Bombing by Bhagat Singh and B K Dutt

May,1929 Labour government under Ramsay McD comes to power

Oct,1929 Irwin’s Statement Page 164 – Montagu Statetement – non committal dominion status (in time)

RTC after Simon Submits Report

Nov 2, 1929 Delhi Manifesto Purpose of RTC to formulate scheme for Dominion Status

Congress to have Majority

Dec 23,1929 Irvin Rejects Delhi Menifesto

Dec ,1929 INC session in Lahore under Nehru

Nehru declared president due to Gandhi’s backing – 15/18 congress provincial committee had opposed Nehru

Decisions

RTC to be boycotted

Complete independence declared to be aim of congress

Civil disobedience to be launched

Jan 26,1930 fixed as the first Independence Day

Dec 31,1929 Tricolor hoisted at banks of River Ravi

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amongst Inqalab Zindabad

Jan 26, 1930 Civil Disobediance Launched

Public Meetings all over India

Independence Pledge read out Page 166

Jan 31, 1930 Gandhi’s 11 Demands

Page 166

Feb 1930 No reply from govt – Gandhi authorized to launch Civil Disobediance Movement

March 12- April 6, 1930

Dandi March Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi

April 1930 Nehru Arrested

May 4, 1930 Gandhi Arrested When he announced raids on Darshana Salt Works

July 1930 Viceroy suggested RTC and reiterated goal of dominion status

Tej Bahadur Sapru / M R Jayakar to explore possibilities of peace

August 1930 Motilal and Jawaharlal Nehru taken to Yeravada Jail to Gandhi to discuss possibility of settlement. Nehru Gandhi Reiterate

Right of secession from Britain

Complete national government with control over finance and defense

Independent tribunal to settle britain’s financial claims

Talks broke

Nov – Jan 1930 Round Table Conference

Congress Boycotted

Britain and India as equals

Muslim League/ Hindu Mahasabha/ Liberals & Princes attended

Everyone reiterated that a discussion was impossible without congress

Jan 25,1931 Gandhi and everyone else released unconditionally

Feb 14, 1931 Delhi Pact/ Gandhi Irwin Pact Signed

Irwin agreed to - Page 174

Gandhi agreed to – suspend civil disobedience movement and participate in 2nd RTC

March, 1931 To Endorse Gandhi Irwin pact

March 23, 1931 – Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev hanged

Gandhi showed black flags on his way to

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Karanchi

Resoluion of National Economic Programme and Fundamental Right Adopted

Dec 1931/London 2nd Round Table Conference

Talks Fail – Page 177

Ramsay Macdonald announces – two muslim majority province etc – Page 177

Dec 31, 1931 Willington refuses to meet Gandhi

Jan 4,1932 Gandhi Arrested Civil Martial Law imposed

Congress organization at all levels banned

Leaders, sympathizers arrested/properties confiscated

Press Gagged

August, 1932 Ramsay McD announces Communal Awards

Depressed classed recognized as minorities and to be given separate electorates

Sep 20,1932 Gandhi Indefinite Strike to blackmail Ambedkar

Poona Pact signed between Ambedkar and Gandhi in Sep, 1932

April 1934 Gandhi withdraws the Civil disobedience movement

Passive resistance all over the country but tempo could not be sustained

Masses were not prepared

1934-35 Three perspectives Constructive Work

Constitutional Struggle – elections in 1934 – M A Ansari, Asaf Ali, Bhulabhai Desai, S Satyamurty, B C Roy

Continue Civil Disobedience – Nehru - his opposition to Struggle-Truce-Struggle strategy vis Struggle-Victory Strategy

Nationalist with apprehension & Britishers were hoping for a split

Gandhi goes in favor of council entry

May 1934 All India Congress Committee met at Patna to set up a parliamentary committee to fight elections

Oct 1934 Gandhi resigns from congress

He was in disagreement with parliamentary politics

Ppl were perplexed w3ith his obsession for charkha

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Socialists including Nehru had issues with Gandhi’s STS strategy

Nov 1934 Central Legislativ Assembly elections

Congress captures 45/75 seats

1932 Admist struggle of 1932 - Third RTC

Congress did not participate

Government of India Act 1935 formulated – Separate Electorates based on Communal awards made operational

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1935 Government of India Act, 1935

Act of 1935 to be Opposed

Socialist led by Nehru – Not to contest provincial elections or swarajist strategy to stall council

Proponents of office acceptance – fight legislature elections and oppose act

Gandhi – opposed but by 1936 became favourable

1936, Lucknow INC session Congress decides to fight elections

1937, Fizapur INC Session Congress decided to fight elections

Congress manifesto totally rejected Act of 1935

1937 Provincial Elections Congress contested 716/1161 seats

It got a majority in all provinces except Bengal, Assam, Panjab, Sindh NWFP, Single largest party in Bengal, Assam, NWFP

Nehru Conceded to S-T-S strategy

1938 National Planning Committee

Setup under Subhash Bose

Oct 1939 World War breaks out

Congress resigns

1939-1947 Skipped: Parallen Government (210), INA (216), 3 - Upsurges (221)

Sep 1, 1939 Germany attacks Poland

Second world war starts

Sep 3, 1939 Britain attacks Germany

Declares India’s Support India’s Offer to cooperate in War efforts:

After the war, a constituent assembly will be convened to determine political structure of free India

Some form of genuinely responsible

Page 21: India's Struggle for Independence - Timeline

government to be setup at center

Offer Rejected by Linlithgow

Sep 10-14,1939 INC session Wardha Gandhi – unconditional support

Subhash – take advantage of situation

Nehru – No support even though its democracy vs fascism until India was free

Congress – 1) India will not be a party to a war for democracy when its own democracy is denied 2)Govt should declare its war aims 3) if Britain is fighting for democracy it should set india free

Oct 17,1939 Linlithgow’ Response Tried to use Muslim League & Princes vs congress

Did not define war aims

Received support from Conservative PM Churchill & Secretary Zetland

Oct 23,1939 CWC meeting Rejected viceregal statement as reiteration of imperial policy

Refused to supportthe war

Asked ministers to resign from legislature (top block ending)

Jan 4,1940 Linlithgow Statement “Dominion Status of the Westminster variety is the goal of the british policy I India”

March,1940 INC session Ramgarh Congress was not ready for a mass struggle / mass not ready for struggle/ allies cause just/ hindu muslim unity issue could result in riots

So, congress would launch civil disobedience when it was ready or when circumstance precipitates

Leftist group (subhash bose) supported an all out mass struggle

March, 1940 Pakistan Resolution Muslim League – Geographically contiguous muslim majority areas to become independent states

August 1940 August Offer by Viceroy

Hitler’s success and fall of Belgium , Holland and France prompted Britain to make an offer

Dominion status/constituent assembly/expansion of executive council/ veto to minorities

Congress – rejected dominion status

Page 22: India's Struggle for Independence - Timeline

League – appreciated veto, reiterated partition

July 1941 Viceroy’s executive council enlarged

8/12 given to Indians

Defence, Finance, Home with Britishers

National Defense Council formed

End of 1940 Individual Satyagrahas

Delhi Chalo

Vinoba Bhave 1st person followed by Nehru

By May 1941 – 25000 convicted of Civil Disobedience

Dec 1941 Congress leaders released

Anxious to defend India

Overrode Gandhi and Nehru’s objection and CWC decided to go to Allied aid – full independence after war, substance of power transferred immediately

Gandhi designates Nehru as successor

March 1942 Cripps Mission Stafford cripps – left wind labourite and leader of house of commons

Reverses suffered by Britain and Japan threat imminent

Pressure from Allies

Indian nationalists agree to support if substance power transferred immediately

Nehru and Maulana Azad – Oficial Negotiators Proposal: Dominion status/ constituent assembly/province not willing could constituate a separate dominion Talks failed (Page 206)

July 14,1942 Gandhi Called for British withdrawal and non violent non cooperation movement against Japanese invasion

Aug 8, 1942 INC session Gowalia Tank, Bombay

Quit India Resolution ratified

Do or Die

Aug 9, 1942 All senior leaders arrested in a Sweep

Public passive resistance, Gets violent at places

Government suppression severe

Usha Sharma – Ran a radio

Feb 1943 Gandhi goes on Fast against government

Page 23: India's Struggle for Independence - Timeline

repression

Mar 23,1943 Pakistan Day celebrated by League

1943 Famine Southwest Bengal – 1.5 to 3 million dead

Rajgopal Chari Formula

Page 213

Desai Liaqat pact Page 214

Put leaque and congress on equal footing

May 1945 Europe war ends but Japanese threat on India still there

Churchill keen to reach a constitutional solution

Lord Wavell sent to negotiate

June 1945 Wavell Plan, Shimla Page 215

League wanted to be representative of all Muslims and congress objected to being designated a Hindu Party

Wavell announced a breakthrough – giving the League a Veto – this would have far reaching consequences in the elections of 1945-46

It failed to break constitutional deadlock

June 1945-Feb 1946

Upsurges Negotiations involving govt, congress, muslim league ending in freedom or partition

Sporadic localized often militant violances

July 1945 Labor party came to power, Clement Atlee PM, Patrick Lawrence Secretary

Aug 1945 Election to Central & Provincial legislatures announced

Sep 1945 Constituent Assembly would be convened & Govt would work according to spirits of cripps plan

Announced by government

Sep 1945 INC Session Bombay Strong resolution in support of INA

Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Asi Ali, Nehru, Katju – Defense of the convicts

Nov 1945 INA trials In redfort of Prem Kumar Sehgal, Gulbaksh Singh DHillon,Shah Nawaz

Page 24: India's Struggle for Independence - Timeline

Khan

Election Results Congress 52/102

Muslim League 30 reserved seats

May 1946 Cabinet Mission Page 226

Feb 20,1947 Atlee’s Statement Page 233

June 3,1947 Mountbatten Plan Page 235

June 18,1947 India Independence Act

Page 236

Reforms Sati Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Bengal Regulation 1829

Female Infanticide Bengal regulation 1795,1804 – tantamount to murder

Act 1870 – child to be registered

Widow Remarriage Brahmo Samaj

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar – Hindu Widow Remarriage Act, 1856

Widow Remarriage Association – Pundit Vishnu Sashtri, 1850

Satya Prakash – Karsondas Mulji, 1852

Indian Women’s University, Bombay 1916– D K karve – he married a widow in 1893, became president of Widow Remarriage Association

Child Marriage Native Marriage Act/ Civil marriage Act, 1872

Age of Consent Act, 1891 – prohibit marriageof girls < 12 – B M Malabari

Sarda Act, 1930 – Marriageable age 18 and 14 for boys and girls

Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1978, age increased 18 to 21, 14 to 18

Women Education Calcutta Female Juvenile Society 1819, Calcutta Missionaries

Bethune School – JED Bethune in 1849, Calcutta

Pundit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar – 35 girls’ schools Bengal

Charles Wood’s dispatch 1845 – stress on women education

Women’s Medical Service – 1914, training as nurses

Indian Women’s University – 1916, Karve

Lady Hardinge Medical College, 1916, Delhi

Sarojini Naidu – Congress President 1925, Governor of United Province 1947-49

All India Women’s Conference – 1920

Legislative Measures in Free India

Special Marriage Act, 1954 – intercaste/religious marriages

Hindu Marriage Act,1955 –abolished bigamy, dissolution marriage on special grounds

Hindu Succession Act,1956 – discrimination w.r.t inheritance abolished

Page 25: India's Struggle for Independence - Timeline

Hindu adoption and Maintenance Act – enhanced status of women in matters of adoption

Maternities Benefits Act,1961 – amended to included women not covered under ESI Act 1948

Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 – no discrimation in payment

Factories(Amendment) Act – establishment of crèches where 30 women are employed

Supression of Immoral Traffic Act in Women and Girls Act,1956 – Renamed to Immoral Traffic Act,1986

Dowry Prohibition Act,1961

1987 – Act – glorification of sati a cognisible offence

Caste 1932-All India Harijan Sangh – Gandhi

All India Schedule Caste Federation – Ambedkar

Jyotiba Phule

All India Depressed Classes Association – other leaders

Government of India Act,1935 – special representation

Self Respect Movement – EV Ramaswamy Naiker

Maharajah of Kolhapur – Encouraged anti – Brahmin movement

Sri Narayan Guru & Sahadaran in Kerala

Brahmo Samajh Raja Ram Mohan Roy – Gift to Monotheist, 1809/Atmiya Sabha,1814/Precepts of Jeasus,1820

1818 – Anti Sati movement resulted in Bengal regulation 1829

1817 – Supported David Hare’s efforts to setup Hindu College, Calcutta

1825 – Setup Vedanta College

1828 – Brahmo Samaj Found

1833 – Death

1842 – Maharishi Debedranath tagore joined Brahmo Samaj – he was founder of Tatvabodhini sabha

1858 – Kesab Chandra Sen made acharya of Brahmo Samaj

1865 – Kesab dismissed from acharyaship – radical views on caste system and support for inter caste marriage

1866 – Kesab founded Brahmo Samaj of India/ Debendranath – Adi Brahmo Samaj

1878 – Kesab got his 13 year old daughter married to a maharaja – Split and formation of new Sadharan Brahmo Samaj

Prarthna Sabha 1863- Kesab Chandra Sen

Young Bengal Movement 1826-31 – Henry Vivian Dorazio

Bal Shastri Jambekar Reform Hinduism/ attack Brahmin orthodoxy /darpan, 1832

Students Literary and Scientific Societies

Gyan Prasarak Mandalis

1848 – organize lecture on scientific topics and popular questions

Param Hansa Mandalis 1849 – one god/break caste rule/women education and widow remarriage

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Satyasodhak Samaj Jyotiba Phule

Sarvajanik, Satyadharma,Gulamgin

Gopalhari Deshmukh ‘Lakahitawadi’

Rationalism and attach on hindu orthodoxy

Gopal Ganesh Agarkar Humanism

Servants of India Society 1905 – Gopal Krishna Gokhle

Train missionaries to serve india by constitutional means

1915 – died / took over by Srinivasa Sashtri

Social Service League Gokhle follower Narayan Manohar Joshi

Secure for masses beter conditions of life and job

1920 - Also found AITUC

Ramkrishna Mission Objective – 1)band of nmonks to spread universal message of Vedanta 2)lay principles to carry preaching, philanthropic and charitable work looking upon all men as veritable menifestations of divine

Objective 1 – Ramkrishna Paramhans found Ramkrishna Math

Objective 2 – Vivekananda (Narendranath Datta 1862 to 1902) found Ramkrishna Mission, 1897

Arya Samaj 1875 – Arya Samaj first unit at Bombay, later headquarter shifted to Lahore

Dayanand Saraswati or Mulsankar (1824 – 83). Received education of Vedanta from blind teacher Swami Virajnanda in Mathura

Criticised puranas and hindu orthodoxy

Samaj Fixed marriageable age at 25 for boys and 16 for girls

Caste system – not by birth but by occupation

Inter caste marriages encouraged

1886 – Dayanand Anglo Vedic school established at lahore

1902 – Swami Shraddhanand start Gurukul at Hardwar

Dayanand criticized hindu escapist attitude of Maya

Encouraged Vedic Study and Vedic Purity – Call for revival of vedic study and not times

After death work carried by Lala Lajpat Rai, Swami Shradhanand, Lala Hansraj, Pundit Gurudatt

1920 – In zeal to protect hindu society – shuddi – communal tension

Seva Sadan 1885 – B M Malabari Parsi – women education, medical and welfare

Deva Samaj 1887 – Shiv Narayan Agnihotri in Lahore – eternity of soul/supremacy of guru/ need for good action

Deva Shastra

Dharma Sabha 1830 – Radha Kant Dab – Orthodox society – status quo in hindu matters

Counter Brahmo Samaj

Bharat Dharma Defend Orthodox Hinduism against Arya samajist, ramkrishna

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Mahamandala mission, theosophists

1902 founded at Varanasi

Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya important figure

Radhaswami Movement 1861 – Tulsi Ram or Shiv Dayal Saheb founded the movement

Believe in one supreme being/supremacy of guru/company of pious people/simple social life

Sri narayan Guru Dharma Pripalan Movement

1902 - SNDP Movement

Right of admission to schools/recruitment fo govt services/temple entryand political representation for backward castes

Vokkaliga Sangha 1905 – Anti Brahmin Movement in Mysore

Justics Mvement CN Muriladhar, T M nair, P thyagaraj – non Brahmin representation in legislature and jobs

Self Respect Movement E V ramaswamy Naicker – renounce Brahmin religion

Arravi ppuram Movement 1888 – Narayan Guru installed a siva idol in aravippuram in Kerala

Temple entry Movement 1924 – Vaikon Satyagraha – K P Keshava – open temples and roads to untouchables

1931 – Subramaniyam Tirumambu led a group of 16 volumteers to Guruvayur

1936 – Maharaja of Travancore threw open all temples to all hindus

1938 – C Rajgopalchari govt took actions in Madras

Indian Social Conference Founded by M G ranade and Raghunath Rao in 1887 in Madras

‘Pledge Movement’ against child marriage

Inter caste marriage, opposed polygamy

Wahabi /Wallimullah Shah Walimullah (1702 – 62) – inspired this revivalist approach against western influence on Indian muslims

Shah Abdul Aziz / Syed Ahmed Barelvi – carried forward the teachings

Darul-ul-harb to Darul-ul-Islam through Jihad

Directed against Punjab but post 1849 annexation to british

1870 – fizzled out

Titu Mir Mir Nithar Ali – disciple of Syed Ahmed Raebarelvi – founder of Wahabi Movement

Organized muslim pesants against hindu landlords and british indigo planters

1931 – killed in action

Faraizi Movement Founded by hazi Shariat Allah

Emphasis on Islamic pillars of faith

Eradication of social innovations among muslims

1840 – became revolutionary under dudu mian – haji’s son

Target hindu landlords and even police

1862 – dudu mian died

Ahmadiya Movement 1889 – Founded my Mir Gulam Ahmed

Muslim version of Brahmo Samaj – humanism and anti jihad

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Sir Syed Ahmed Khan & Aligarh Movement

1875 – Mohmeddan anglo oriental college, Aligarh

Wanted to aligh the teachings of the quaran with modern nationalism

Allow govt. partonate to simulate growth in Indian Muslims through education and employment opportunities

Social reforms in muslim society

In his Zeal to promote muslim interest got played up in british hands

Deoband School 1866 – Qasim Nanatovi & Rashid Ahmed Gangohi

Moral and religious regenation of muslims – revivalist movement

1888 – issues fatwa against Syed Ahmed’s organization United Patritic Association & Mohammedan Anglo Oriental Association

Supported Congress

Shibli Numani – Favoured inclusion of English and sciences – founded Nadwatlal Ulema and Darul Ulum in Lucknow in 1894-96 – believed in cooperation of Hindus and Muslims as a state

Rahnumai Mazdayasnan Sabha

Parsi reformist movement

Dadabhai Naroji, Naoroji Furdonji, K R Cama, S S Bengalee

Rast Goftar – Newspaper

Women education/ uplift women/ purdah

Sikh Reform Singh Sabha founded in 1873 Amritsar– counter proselytisation by Christians and hindus/ modern education to Sikhs (khalsa schools established)

Akali movement was an offshoot of Singh Sabha Movement – to make sikh gurudwara free from control of Udasi Mahants

1921 – Non cooperation non violent protests

1922 – Sikh Gurudwara Act – Control of sikh given to sikh masses through the Siromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee

Theosophical Movement Blvatsky, Olcott inspired by Indian cultures

1875 – Theosophical Society founded in US

1882 – Shifted to Adayar

Promoted hindu culture etc

1907 – Olcott dies, annie besat becomes president

1898 – Central Hindu College founded in Calcutta – both hindu and western sciences taught

1916 – benarus hindu university founded


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