WBBSE Notes For Class 8 History Chapter 7 Ideal And Evolution Of Indian National Movement

Chapter 7 Ideal And Evolution Of Indian National Movement Background

The First World War (1914-1918) and the emergence of Gandhiji in Indian politics brought revolutionary changes. Besides worker’s peasant movement and the impacts of leftism in it strengthened the anti-British struggle in India.

Mahatma Gandhi And Ahimsha Satyagraha And Swaraj

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869 A.D. in Porebandar of Gujrat (1869-1948 A.D.). Just after passing Barristers from London in 1883 A.D.

He had to rush to South Africa to plead a case on behalf of ‘Dada Abdullah and Co’ in 1897 A.D. At this time, he observed the exploitation and oppression of the Negros by the Whites and formed the ‘Natal Indian National Congress to protest it.

Here he became successful by doing a non-violent Satyagraha movement with the local Negros. Dr. S. R. Mehrotra said, “Gandhiji was the best presentation of Indian Struggle in South Africa in the event of Indian national movement”.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

He adopted the non-violence ideology from the book ‘Kingdom of God’ written by Leo Tolstoy and ‘Unto the Last, by John Ruskin. His first lesson in politics started in South Africa.

Wbbse Class 8th History Notes

After that, he had to come back to India due to First World War (1914-18 A.D.) as per international law. The period from 1915 A.D. to 1948 A.D. in Indian politics is called the “Gandhi Era”.

Chapter 7 Ideal And Evolution Of Indian National Movement Regional Movements

Gandhiji had a great impact on Indian politics while the Home Rule Movement was continuing on the other side. He developed the regional movements in Kheda in Gujrat and Champaran in Bihar.

He formed ‘Mazdur Mahajan Sabha’ for making movements against the mill owners of Ahmedabad for fixing the working time of the workers to 8 hours a day.

Besides this, the wages were also increased by 35%, revenue taxes were also decreased in the case of the farmers of Kheda for the British rule “Satanism”.

Wbbse Class 8th History Notes

So, historian Tarachand said, the transformation of a strong believer in non-violence like Gandhiji initiated the moral decline of the British empire.

Jallianwalabag killings

In protest of the Rowlatt Act, nearly 10,000 people gathered in a meeting in a bounded garden near Amritsar on 13th April 1919 around 4-30 p.m. At this time, Brigadier Michael-O- Dyer was the ruler of Punjab.

He surrounded this meeting place with the soldiers without warning them or requesting them to stop the meeting. As per the instruction of Dyer, four entrances were closed, After that, the British soldiers started firing to the helpless throng of people with 50 rifles from a distance of hardly 100 yards.

They fired 1600 rounds of bullets within 10 minutes at a stretch. Many persons including children and women were killed and injured. According to the official statement, 379 persons were killed and 1200 were injured.

Wbbse Class 8th History Notes

But it was known from the unofficial record that more than 1200 people were killed at the spot. In that evening ‘Marshal law’ and ‘curfew’ were introduced and as a result of this, the relatives could not bring back the dead bodies.

Even they could not give a drop of water to the injured ones. In protest of this, the entire country was raised to fire. In protest of the barbarous act of the British Government, Rabindranath Tagore heatedly refused to accept the ‘Knight’ title from the British.

In protest of it, Gandhiji wrote in ‘Young India’ “This satanic Government cannot be mended, it must be ended”.

Chapter 7 Ideal And Evolution Of Indian National Movement The Rowlatt  Act 1919

During the 1st World War, Indians started a revolution and movements for forming self- Government. To subdue these movements, the British Government appreciated Justice Sidney Rowlatt.

The notorious lawyer Sir S. A. T. Rowlatt formed a five member ‘Sedition Commission’ to tackle these movements and revolts.

It was said in the report of this commission that

1. Nationalist newspapers should be banned.
2. Just on suspicion, any Indian may be arrested and imprisoned for an indefinite period and without any trial.

Strong opposition was built up against this Anti-National Act. All the Indian members of the Centrál Law Committee raised their voices against this Act. Madanmohan Malavya, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Mazhar-ul-Haque, etc. resigned from the committee.

Wbbse Class 8th History Notes

Jinnah said, “The fundamental principle of justice has been imported and the constitutional rights of the people have been unrooted at a time when there is no real danger to the state”.

Surendranath Banerjee and Gandhiji called for an all-out movement against this Act. Amrita Bazar Patrika called this Black Act as a “gigantic blunder”. So nationwide strike was called by Gandhiji on 30th March and 6th April 1919 A.D.

Gandhiji sarcastically said “appeal nehi, ukil nehi, dalil nehi”, (there was no advocate, no appeal, and no record). Gandhiji called the Act as “Kala Kanun” or “Black Act”.

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Act Of Montague-Chelmsford

Prior to the First World War ‘Morle-Minto Reform Act (1909 A.D.) related to administrative reforms was passed in 1909 A.D. Gopal Krishna Gokhle expressed his satisfaction as he thought this Act as ‘Progressive and reasonable’.

But after 10 years of this Act, ‘Montegu-Chelmsford Reform Act’ was passed in 1919 A.D., and the leaders like Tejbahadur Sapru, Surendranath Banerjee, Dinsha Wachha, Srinivas Shastri, etc.

Montague-Chelmsford

Called this Act as a bold step for forming a responsible Government in India. But the extremist leaders of the Indian National Congress called this Act as ‘inadequate, unsatisfactory and disappointing.

The main clauses of this Act were-

1. A working Committee with the Governor General was formed for the smooth running of the Central Government.
2. The working committee will be comprised with three Indians and 5 European members.
3. The power and the income will be proportionate between the Central and the State Governments. Central Government got the power of railways, defense, foreign policy, tax, currency, and post and telegraph. State Governments got the responsibility of police, law, education, health, communication, irrigation, agriculture, etc.
4. The Legislative Assemblies of the Centre consisted of two houses. The higher house was called the National Council and the lower house was called the Central Legislative Assembly etc.

Chapter 7 Ideal And Evolution Of Indian National Movement The Khilafat Movement

The Khilafat movement was started in a positive political atmosphere after the First World War (1914-1918 A.D.). The Caliph of Turkey took the side of Germany, the enemy of the Allies during the First World War.

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But he was defeated along with Germany by England. Then five treaties were signed with the defeated countries at the treaty of Versailles in 1919 A.D. Of those the ‘Treaty of Sevres’ was signed by Britain and Turkey (1920, 14 May).

By this treaty, the Ottoman Turkey Empire was divided into various parts. So the religious leader Caliph lost his earlier power and was insulted.

Besides, Gandhiji united the Muslim farmers of the Malabar coast of Kerala (who started the ‘Moplah Revolt’ against zamindari oppression) with this movement and started a powerful all-India Khilafat movement.

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The “Ali brothers”, i.e. Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali led the beginning of the movement through the ‘Khilafat Day’ on 17 October 1919 A. D. The leaders of the Khilafat committee had three demands-

1. To retain the worldly empire of the Caliph.
2. To the domination of the Caliph over Mesopotamia, Palestine, Arab, and Syria and
3. To check foreign interference on the pious religious centers of Mecca and Medina.

The Economic Impact Of The First World War On India

The first World War had a great impact on the Indian economy-

1. Export-import trade of India was destroyed.
2. Severe unemployment problems and worker strikes increased.
3. The great economic depression (1929-30) caused severe economic crises.
4. More than one lac Indian soldiers who returned home were unemployed.
5. High prices of goods increased by up to 80%, and
6. A huge amount of money was spent as war-cost from the revenue of India and Indians had to bear a heavy tax burden which affected the peasants and workers.

Non-Co-Operation Movement

Mahatma Gandhi had taken the program of the non-co-operation movement up to 1920- 1922 A.D. It was the first biggest mass movement in the history of the freedom struggle in India.

After the First World War, Gandhi and other leaders were frustrated by the attitude of the government. It was believed that according to earlier promises, the Indians would receive the right of self-rule from the government after the war.

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In 1919 A.D. the ‘Montague-Chelmsford Reforms Act’ was implemented. But the Indians felt angry, as their hopes were not fulfilled.

Besides the anti-British mentality depends due to the passing of the dangerous ‘Rowlatt Act’ (1918 A.D.), the cruel massacre of Jalianwallabag (1919 A.D.), and the insulting attitude of the British towards Abdul Hamid Shah II, the Caliph of Turkey (1920 A.D.).

Gandhiji started his non-violent non-co-operation with a few aims.

Those aims were-

1. Refusal of the exploiting Rowlatt Act.
2. To arrange for the punishment of each British official connected with the Jalianwallabag massacre.
3. To bring an easy solution to Punjab and the Khilafat problem.
4. To eradicate mutual jealousy and untouchability.
5. To bring a permanent solution of the undue exploitation of Indians by the British.
6. On the basis of the permission of the Khilafat committee in the Congress Working Committee, the ideal of self-rule was also taken as one of the chief aims of the movement. These aims were active behind the non-co-operation movement.

Dr. R. C. Majumdar thinks that the noncooperation had both positive and negative programs.

The main negative programs were-

1. To leave all government offices and law courts,
2. To boycott government schools and colleges,
3. To boycott the Legislative Assembly and its election,
4. To boycott all government titles, medals, and functions,
5. To boycott all government-elected memberships and
6. To boycott British goods.

The positive programs were

1. Building indigenous educational institutions,
2. To use swadeshi goods,
3. To build up swadeshi institutions,
4. To form a Judicial Board and to raise a fund of Rs. 1,20,000 for the Swaraj fund of Tilak and
5. To import more swadeshi goods in merchandise etc.

Chapter 7 Ideal And Evolution Of Indian National Movement Murder Of Chaurichaura

On 5th February 1922 A.D. when the police fired at the peace rally of the Satyagrahi at Chaurichaura of Gorakhpur in U. P., 3,000 angry people attacked the police station at Chaurichaura and set fire to it.

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22 policemen were burnt alive at this incident. Gandhiji was shocked at this incident and declared the withdrawal of the Non co-operation movement.

Subhas Chandra Bose had criticized Gandhiji’s order as a great mistake, as it destroyed national enthusiasm. He declared Gandhiji’s order as the “Himalayan miscalculation”.

Motilal Nehru and Lala Lajpat Ray have said that due to the crime of a group of people, Gandhiji had penalized the whole country. The entire country was agitated with Gandhi. So when Gandhi was imprisoned, none protested against it.

Rise Of The Swarajya Party After Non-Co-Operation

When Gandhiji had withdrawn the Non’ cooperation movement in 1922 A. D., it had a negative reaction throughout India. On 1st January 1923 A.D.

Chittaranjan Das set up the All India Congress Khilafat Swarajya Party or the Swarajya Party within the Congress. He was appointed as the president of this newly formed Swarajya Party and Motilal Nehru became the secretary.

Chittaranjan Das

Thus, on the basis of the birth of the Swarajya Party, the Congress supporters were divided into two groups:

1. ‘Pro-changers’ and
2. ‘No-changers’.

The most prominent among the pro-changers were Madanmohan Malavya, Srinivas Ayengar, Bithalbhai Patel, Hakim Ajmal Khan, N. C. Kelkar, Satya Murti, Jayakar, etc.

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On the other hand, the supporters of no-changers were Ballavbhai Patel, Chakrabarti Raja Gopalachari, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Ansari, K. R. Ayengar, etc.

The pro-changers or supporters of C. R. Das all followed the policy and program of the Swarajya Party. After the death of Mr. Das in 1925 the Party weakened.

Chapter 7 Ideal And Evolution Of Indian National Movement Anti-Simon Commission Movement

The Government of India Act of 1919 A.D. failed to satisfy Indians. So Irwin wanted more reforms. Lord Birkenhead proposed the formation of this Commission.

Formation Of Simon Commission

Sir John Simon formed this commission with seven members. It is named after him. There were two members from Labour Party, one from Liberal Party, and four from Conservative Party. Unfortunately, there was no Indian member.

Sir John Simon

Members were Lord Strathcona, Lord Burnham, Colonel Stephen Walis, Lenfox, Major Atlee, and Edward Carogan. British Government believed that it was a balanced commission as there was representatives from all parties, although there was no Indian.

Aims Of Commission

The commission aimed to establish parliamentary rule in India to satisfy all, Indians. In another way, the commission indirectly tried to reduce Indian agitation against the British.

The aims were-

1. To examine whether Indians can be capable in holding the highest administrative posts.
2. Discussing future reforms.
3. To check whether Montague- Chelmsford reform was working properly.

In this time there was two Indian members in the British Parliament. They were Satyenprasanna Sinha of the House of Lords and Shahpurji Saklatwala of the House of Commons. They had a close relationship with administrative reform.

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But the British Government consciously avoided them in the time of forming the commission. Dr. A. B. Keith properly said-“Only a body external to India could properly decide whether the country was fit for a further step towards the goal of self Government or not.

As India was not independent, she could not investigate her own case”.

Chapter 7 Ideal And Evolution Of Indian National Movement Agitation Of The Indians

The Indians became agitated as there was no Indian member in the commission. So in 3rd February 1927 A.D. when Simon reached Bombay port a large member of Indians showed agitation. A national strike was called.

The black flag was shown and there was one single voice ‘Go back, Simon’. It was a ‘national insult’ to the Indians. General Moon said that this commission was ‘a first class blunder Indians realized that they were betrayed. They said that the commission was of ‘all white’.

The ‘Civil Disobedience Movement

1. When the Simon Commission under the leadership of Sir John Simon came to India to supervise the implementation of the Act of 1919 A.D., the people expressed protest against it. Because there was no Indian member in that commission.
2. After that, Motilal Nehru created a constitutional plan, at the initiative of the Congress. This is known as the ‘Nehru report’ (1928 A.D.). The Government was given one year time to establish ‘Dominion Status’ or colonial self-rule in this report.
3. When that proposal was not taken by the Government within the settled time (1929 A.D. of December), Congress informed the Government that it would now organize a Civil Disobedience Movement with a demand for ‘Purna Swaraj’. The Civil Disobedience Movement, led by Gandhi is an important event in the history of the Freedom Movement in India.

On 14-16th February 1930 A.D., the All India Congress organized a meeting of the working committee in the Sabarmati Ashram of Gujarat. Then the decision for the non-violent Civil Disobedience Movement was adopted. Then on 2nd March 1930 A.D.

Gandhiji informed the Viceroy Lord Irwin that he was violating the salt law. Before that Gandhiji raised his ‘eleven demands’ to the Government in the ‘Young India’ on 30 January 1930 A.D.

Within these, the boycott of alcoholic drugs, the release of prisoners, the abolition of the salt tax, the decrease in revenue were important. The Government then cautioned Gandhiji, but could not show him an alternative way.

Gandhiji said at that time, “We bent on knees, I asked for bread and have received a stone instead”. After that, the program for the movement was launched. On 12th March 1930 A. D.,

Gandhiji took 79 of his Satyagrahis and traveled 241 miles on foot in 24 days and reached on the Arab Sea (5th April) from Gujarat.  This long historical procession was known as Dandi March. There Gandhiji organized Civil Disobedience for the first time by making salt from the Arabian Sea.

The Salt Satyagraha movement was ceremoniously observed as “the National Week” (6-13th April 1930 A.D.). This movement spread from Gujarat to gradual places like Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, North-West Frontier Province, Delhi, Madras, Bombay, Andhra Pradesh, Malabar, etc.

Wbbse Chapter 7 History Class 8 Notes

Salt was hugely produced in Kanthi, Tamluk in Midnapore and Mahishbathan, Diamond Harbour, Kalikapur in 24 Parganas. This policy was introduced by neglecting the high taxation on salt by the Government.

Chapter 7 Ideal And Evolution Of Indian National Movement Civil Disobedience In North-West And Eastern India

Abdul Gaffar Khan, famous as ‘Frontier Gandhi’ and 600 ‘Red shirts’ or workers named Khuda-i-Khidmatgars were directly associated with the movement.

Here though the movement was caused by religious backgrounds, it had far-reaching political consequences. The Government started a policy of repression when the Civil Disobedience Movement took the shape of a mass militant struggle.

Abdul Gaffar Khan

According to Government records, a number of 76,000 Satyagrahis were imprisoned. This policy took the shape of cruelty in some places.. At the incidents of 24 firings, 111 persons were killed and 400 injured.

In Manipur and Nagaland Queen Gidals and in Syhlet and Mymansingh Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Varani took part in the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930.

Gandhi-Irwin Pact

The main success of the Civil Disobedience was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 5th March 1931 A.D. This was also known as the Delhi Pact. It was decided by this pact that

1. The Government would stop all repressive acts and ordinances.
2. All the political prisoners except those attached with violence would be released.
3. Those who had lost their property for Civil Disobedience would get an indemnity.
4. In a comfortable atmosphere for making salt people could produce salt for their own use.

But Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose and other leaders had criticized Gandhi as the latter had not discussed about the capital punishment of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, and Batukeshwar Dutta.

Wbbse Chapter 7 History Class 8 Notes

Surya Sen And Battle Of Jallalabad

After the death of Baghajatin in 1915 A.D., the revolutionary movement of Bengal stopped for nearly a decade. After that, with the appearance of Surya Sen (1893-1934 A.D.), a new wake in the revolutionary movement was noticed.

During the Civil Disobedience Movement organized by Gandhiji, Chittagong in East Bengal became a hot place of a revolutionary movement with the effort of Surya Sen.

Surya Sen

The main achievement during his lifetime was the ‘Chittagong Armoury Raid’ (18th April 1930). But as he was connected handing over his dead body to his relatives, it was thrown in the sea. 14 revolutionists in the Chittagong Armour case were imprisoned.

He made the ‘Indian Republican Army’ (1930) consisting. 64 revolutionaries of which Lokenath Bal, Ganesh Ghosh, Ambika Chakraborty, Jiban Ghoshal, Tegra Bal, etc.

Wbbse Chapter 7 History Class 8 Notes

Historian Sumit Sarkar said, “The most formidable group, led by Surya sen of Chittagong, went on with effective preparation for a really dramatic action”.

On 20th April 1930 the revolutionaries took shelter in Jalalabad Hill and after 3 days of war 11 revolutionaries died, Surya Sen was hanged on 12th January 1934.

Writers’ Buildings Campaign (1930) Under Binay-Badal-Dinesh

Binay, Badal, and Dinesh are also known as B. B. D. in history. During the era of the Civil Disobedience Movement organized by Gandhiji, these three revolutionists continued their revolutionary activities.

At first, Binoykrishna Bose shot Lowman and Hudson, the two notorious on 29th August 1930 A.D. inside the patient ward of Midford Hospital in Dhaka.

After that, he came to Calcutta and joined the ‘Bengal Volunteers Party’ (B. V.) formed by Hemchandra Ghosh. At this time, he met with Badal Gupta and Dinesh Gupta the two great revolutionists.

Later these three revolutionists planned to attack Writer’s Buildings. According to that plan, they entered Writers Buildings in disguised dress, in the afternoon of 8th December 1930 A.D.

Wbbse Chapter 7 History Class 8 Notes

After that, they went upstairs and Binay himself fired six rounds of bullets from his .38 caliber revolver to Col. Simpson, the Inspector General of Prisons. All six bullets penetrated the lungs of Simpson.

In the meantime, Charles Tagert rushed to the spot from Lalbazar with a large battalion of police and surrounded the Writers Buildings. After that Inspector Craig, Asstt. Inspector General Jones and Police Super Ford entered into “Writers’ Buildings”.

They had a severe gunfight with the three revolutionists. But, ultimately the revolutionists ran short of bullets and Badal committed suicide by taking potassium cyanide. The Statesman called it a ‘Corridor warfare’.

Chapter 7 Ideal And Evolution Of Indian National Movement Bhagat Singh 1907 To 1931

Bhagat Singh got in touch with Chandra Sekhar Azad (title=”Quick Silver”). In 1923 A.D. Bhagat Singh took membership of ‘The Hindustan Republican Army’ formed by Chandra Sekhar. Bhagat Singh himself also formed a militant youth organization named.

‘Naojawan Bharat Sabha’ in 1925 A.D. His main followers were Ramprasad Bismil, Raoshonlal, Ashfakulla, Dinanath, Abodhbehari, etc. ‘Kakori Conspiracy Case’ was started on the basis of rail dacoity on 8th August 1925 A.D.

Wbbse Chapter 7 History Class 8 Notes

After that, he assassinated Mr. Saunders, the Police Superintendent of Lahore on 17th November 1928 A. D. because he charged lathi on Lala Lajpat Ray for the anti-Simon commission Movement. This was in retaliation of the death of Lajpat Ray.

Bhagat Singh

After that, Bhagat Singh and Batukeswar Dutta threw powerful bombs inside the Central Legislative Assembly Hall of Delhi from the public gallery on 8th April 1929 A. D. when the discussion was going on for passing the “Trade Dispute Bill” and “Public Safety Act”.

Both these bills were against the public interest. After that, both of them surrendered of their own. Later other revolutionists like Rajguru and Sukhdev along with others were arrested. The historic ‘Lahore Conspiracy Case’ started (in 1929 A.D.).

In a trial, Bhagat Singh, Batukeswar Dutta, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were sentenced to be hanged on 23rd March 1931 A.D. Before stepping in to the hanging platform. Bhagat Singh shouted “Inqilab Jindabad” i.e. “Long live revolution”.

Pattabhi Sitaramayya has rightly commented “Bhagat Singh’s name was widely known all over India and was as popular as Gandhiji’s” -29th March 1931 A. D.

Gandhian Movement Of 1942

On 26th April 1942, Gandhiji wrote an essay on ‘Quit India’ in the ‘Harijan Patrika’. On 14th July 1942 A.D, the ‘Congress Working Committee’ in the ‘Wardha Session’ accepted Gandhiji’s proposals.

Finally, they adopted it formally on 8th August 1942 A. D. and planned to start up the movement from the morning of 9th August. In front of the A. I. C. C. Gandhiji referred to this movement as “This is an open rebellion.

In this struggle secrecy is a sin”. He gave the cry of “Do or Die”, for the Nation. To the agitators, the holy words were “Do or Die”. So they daringly went for strikes, burning down offices, and courts, destroying railway lines, telegraph, and telephones, and seizing police stations, post offices, registry offices, rail stations, etc.

This movement developed in this way of non-violence. The main centers of the Quit India Movement were Satara of Maharashtra, Tamluk, Kanthi of Midnapore, Balurghat of West Dinajpur, Balia, Azamgarh of U. P., Naogaon of Assam.

Among the notable leaders were Srinath Lal, and Nana Patil.of Satara, Chaitu Pandey of Balia, Matangini Hazra, Sushil Dhara of Tamluk, Punjab’s Fukonani, Assam’s Kanaklata Badua. At Midnapore, Bengal, the Quit India Movement took the form of a mass uprising.

The peasant movement organized by Birendranath Shasmal (“Desh Pran”) enabled the rapid spread of the Quit India Movement. It had deep impacts at Dinajpur, Balurghat, Midnapore, Kanthi, Tamluk, Patashpur, Bhagwanpore, Sutahata, Nandigram, Mahishadal, etc.

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And Birbhum, 24 Parganas etc. ‘Tamralipta Jatiya Sarkar’ was founded by Satish Samanta. On 8th Sept. 1942 movement started against village food grain suppliers.

On 29th September 1942, under the leadership of 72-year-old Matangini Hazra and Ramchandra Bera a mass of 20,000 seized the court and police station. When police opened fire on this procession many along with Matangini Hazra died.

After Matangini the leadership was taken by Ajay Mukherjee, Sushil Dhara, and Satish Samanta and they captured Lalbari. On 17th December 1942 A.D. Ajoy Mukherjee formed the “Tamluk Provisional National Government”.

They formed an armed force called ‘Bidyut Bahini’ and the women’s organization Bhagini Sena’.

The movement made the death toll of the British Government-

1. It proved the power of the masses.
2. According to Sumit Sarkar, in spite of all oppressions, the peasants came forth with great force. Jawaharlal Nehru, said, “It was essentially spontaneous mass upheaval”.
3. This movement finalized the Independence of India and the transfer of power. Baliavbhai Patel and Linlithgow said, “an-anti British movement was behind these feelings”.
4. According to Dr. Arun Bhuiya, this movement laid the foundation for freedom by raising mass consciousness and unity.

Impacts of World War II on Indian Politics and Economy:

During the Second World War between England-France-Soviet Russia and the Axis power group Germany-Italy-Japan, Viceroy General Lord Linlithgow declared India “a war country”. In 1942 the USA and the USSR became helpful to India.

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At that time food crisis, money inflation, and the terrible famine of 1943 made a negative impact in the Indian economy. The Second World War made a very devastating situation in the social, economic, and political life of India.

In the post-World War period food crisis, high prices, unemployment, and severe conditions in agriculture, trade, and industries created a very deadlock circumstances. 1 lac 80 thousand people were killed in the communal riot of 1946-47.

Archibold Wavell described it as the “dance at the edge of a volcano”. The student movements, naval revolts, and peasant and labour movements during the days of the post-war period, were started from various corners of India.

Chapter 7 Ideal And Evolution Of Indian National Movement Subhas Chandra Bose And The I. N. A

The appearance of Subhas Chandra Bose in Indian politics was like the flaming sword of the Indian struggle for independence. He was born on 23rd January 1897 A.D. at Cuttack.

A freedom fighter of his caliber and capability is rare in the history of the Indian Freedom Struggle. His experience attained maturity with the Swarajya Party of C. R. Das. Gandhiji, later on, stopped developing the quality of the mass movements like civil disobedience and for the sake of bourgeoisie started rating.

Subhas Chandra Bose

The theory of economical freedom of Subhas and Gandhi’s political freedom theories met in a clash, in spite of which Subhas was eager to develop a nationwide movement to achieve the goal of total freedom.

Being inspired Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru took his side. After becoming the Congress President at Haripura in a meeting at Sraddhananda Park in 1938 A. D. he gave the call for desperate self-sacrifices to his countrymen.

Netaji’s Student Life

The appearance of Subhas Chandra Bose in Indian politics was like the flaming sword of the Indian struggle for independence. He was born on 23rd January 1897 A.D. at Cuttack.

A freedom fighter of his caliber and capability is rare in the history of the Indian Freedom struggle. He was described in the bureaucratic report of the British Govt. as a bitter unchangeable anti-British personality.

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He dropped out the attractive job of I.C.S. and inspired by the words of Swami Vivekananda joined the freedom movement responding to the calls of Gandhiji. But he could not find hope even in the words of Gandhi.

Because he could not get a clear picture of the movements from Gandhiji and also to him the idea of freedom to be reached within a year seemed fake. So both the leaders in spite of their popularity grew distant in their thoughts.

Chapter 7 Ideal And Evolution Of Indian National Movement Womens Brigade In Azad Hind Fauj

The women’s brigade of Azad Hind Fauj was called the ‘Jhansi Brigade’. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose vested the leadership of this women’s brigade in Smt. Lakshmi Swaminathan (24.10.19-23.07.2012). Later she became Lakshmi Saigal.

She was a true revolutionary in the Indian Freedom Movement, who was the Minister of Women’s Affairs in the Azad Hind Government. Towards the end of World War II, she was imprisoned in a jail in Burma under the name of ‘Captain Lakshmi’.

Lakshmi who hailed from the Malabar region had passed MBBS Examination from ‘Madras Medical College’ before she took charge of the women’s brigade of Azad Hind Fauj at Netaji’s call.

In 1947, she married Prem Kumar Saigal and started living permanently in Kanpur. Anyway, Dr. Lakshmi Swaminathan took charge of the ‘Jhansi Brigade’, comprising of 856 women, on 16th July 1943. Her crusade against the British started on 23rd October.

These women had a role in the establishment of a Red Cross Unit also. Lakshmi Swaminathan made the Jhansi Brigade even stronger by recruiting voluntary women from Burma and Malay. A woman soldier of the Jhansi Brigade once commented, ‘We are all ready to die.

There is no woman in this brigade who is scared of death. In March 1946 Lakshmi Swaminathan was arrested and kept in the Red Fort, Delhi.

Birth of Forward Bloc

Due to Subhas’s sudden resignation, Dr. Rajendraprasad was elected President. On 3rd May 1939 A.D. Subhas formed the Forward Bloc, within the Congress. Subhas was its President while Sardar Shardul Singh was Vice-President.

To unify the Leftists and strengthen the Congress movement Subhas formed the ‘Left United Committee’.

The Great Escape Of Subhas

During the Second World War, the British Government distressed by Subhas’s popularity put him in confinement. First, he was kept in Alipore Central Jail (1940 A.D.) and then due to ill health he was kept in his own house under police confinement under the ‘Indian Preventive Act’.

He escaped on 17th January 1941 A.D. First, he went to Mathura from there he went to Moscow seeking Stallin’s help but was refused. From there he met foreign minister Ribbentrop of Hitler on 28th March 1941 A.D. He also met Mussolini.

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He then formed a radio station named ‘Azad Hindustan’ to propagate the anti-British views and formed the ‘Azad Hind Fauz’ (December 1942 A. D.) with about 400 Indians in German confinement.

These soldiers used to call him ‘Netaji’. But when Hitler attacked Russia he left for South-East Asia.

Subhas In Japan And Singapore

Meanwhile, Subhas reached Tokyo, the capital of Japan with Abid Hassan. He took forward a brave expedition in a submarine at the invitation of Marshall Tojo, the Prime Minister of Japan.

Many Indian soldiers of the allied forces (England) were imprisoned by Japan at that time. After the session at Bangkok (June 1942 A.D.). Rashbehari Bose named this group as “Indian Independence League”.

On 1st September 1942, Rashbehari formed the Azad Hind Fauz with 40,000 Indian soldiers of the league at Singapore, Rashbehari put forward three main ideals of the Fauz-sense of unity, self-confidence, and self-sacrifice.

To develop a strong feeling against the allied forces, Subhas divided the Azad Hind Fauz into a few brigades-for example ‘Azad Brigade’, ‘Gandhi Brigade’, ‘Nehru Brigade’, ‘Subhas Brigade’ (chosen soldiers), and Jhansi Brigade’.

(army of women and ‘Balsenadal’ with boys and girls). Lakshmi Swaminathan was in charge of the Jhansi Brigade. The other leaders of the other Brigades were Gurubaksh Singh Dhillon, Prem Kumar Saigal, and Shahnawaz Khan.

Chapter 7 Ideal And Evolution Of Indian National Movement Delhi Chalo

On 6th November 1943, Marshall Tojo delivered Andaman and Nicobar islands to Subhas who renamed those as ‘Sahid’ and ‘Swaraj’ islands respectively on 31st stronger, Netaji established his ‘Main military camp’ in Rangoon, the capital of Burma on 4th January 1944.

On 19th March of the same year, Netaji’s INA went to Kohima, the capital of Nagaland through Imphal, the capital of Manipur, and raised the ” ‘tricolored flag of India there quite happily.

Thus the Azad Hind Fauz occupied an area of 150 miles in Eastern India. It was decided that Bengal would be attacked through Assam during the rains and the I.N.A. would march straight towards the Red Fort in Delhi.

Impacts:

Netaji and his I.N.A. failed at the climax of the Indian Freedom Struggle. Information from ‘Netaji Research Bureau’ and other sources, have praised Netaji for his work.

Moulana Abul Kalam Azad had written about the praise of Subhas by Gandhi and stated in his autobiography that though Subhas had failed to reach his aim with foreign support, his brave ideal of sacrifice and love for the motherland had hastened the independence of India.

Clement Atlee, the Prime Minister of England himself had acknowledged, that the 20,000 naval soldiers had become anti-British mainly at the encouragement of Subhas.

For this reason, Abul Kalam Azad had accepted in his book ‘India Wins Freedom’ that by Subhas’s influence, the army and the police under the British became anxious for the independence of India.

Class Viii History Chapter 7 Wbbse

Besides, the leaders of all sections and the general public opinion had strengthened the confidence of the I.N.A. of Subhas. During the trial of the I.N.A. in the Red Fort, famous lawyers like Jawaharlal Nehru, Tejbahadur Sapru, and Bhulabhai Desai, etc.

took the sides of the imprisoned soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauz and as a result, there was a new wave in the antiiBritish mass movement.

Atlee said that “This country could no more be ruled by the Indian army or the police”. Tarachand also praised Netaji and I.N.A. Naval Mutiny The Naval Mutiny was one of the main movements which started at the very outset of the freedom movement in India.

On 18th February 1946 A. D. nearly 20,000 sailors of the ‘Talwar Ship’ first revolted under the leadership of M. S. Khan, the Chief of ‘The Royal Indian Navy’. This revolt spread up to the Ship ‘Hindustan’ in Karachi.

The sailors from different ports like Cochin, Madras, Calcutta, etc. also participated in this revolt. The Indian naval soldiers formed the ‘Royal Indian Navy’ or ‘R. I. N.’ in British India. Around 75% of the naval staff were Indians. They became dissatisfied and unrestful due to many reasons.

1. Firstly, the Indian sailors got salaries far lower than that of their European counterparts. This discriminating salary scale was absolutely illegal,
2. Secondly, the Indian soldiers got food of worse quality in comparison with any European soldiers.
3. Thirdly, due to racial reasons, the Indian officers were heckled by the European ones. The white sailors also used to hate the Indian soldiers due to racism.
4. Fourthly, only the Indian soldiers were sent to those places which were dangerous and risky for life.
5. Fifthly, the sailors of R. I. N. agitated and demanded the return of those soldiers who were sent to Indonesia.
6. Sixthly, the Indian soldiers started revolting for the release of all Azad Hind Fauz soldiers under trial.

The Indian Naval staff of ‘Talwar’ and ‘Hindustan’ ships formed the ‘National Naval Central Strike Committee on 18th February 1946 A.D. under the leadership of M. S. Khan the Chief of R. I. N. on 19th February.

This committee hoisted the Indian tricolored flag in place of ‘The Union Jack on the masts of the ships in 19 ports including the ‘Castle Barrack’.

The supporters of the National Congress, Muslim League, and Communist Party in India also hoisted their own party flags respectively. On hearing the incident of firing on the sailors the Government employees, workers, farmers, students, etc.

Showed their agitations by making protest processions, meetings, strikes, etc. Police stations, railway stations, Post offices, shops, and offices were set to fire. This Naval Mutiny took complete shape in Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, Cochin, Delhi, Jamnagar, Vishakhapatnam, etc.