Mains Daily Question
March 14, 2024
Q.3: A series of mass upheavals, ranging from the Quit India movement to the Naval Mutiny, convinced the British that the Indian masses had developed a strong capacity for struggle and sacrifice. Elucidate. (10M, 150W)
|
Approach to the answer: The question talks about the final phase of the Indian freedom struggle. It states how this period didn’t bow down to British oppression and how the British realized that they no longer can maintain Indian colonies. Introduction: We can introduce the answer by either stating characteristics of the last leg of Indian freedom struggle or by mentioning a few famous movements/activities of the period along with their significance. Body: The directive used in the question is ‘elucidate’, thus, we need to explain the statement with examples/facts. There are multiple dimensions in the question. First, we shall start by listing down the activities post Quit India movement till Indian independence. This must be followed by stating the characteristics of these movements. Conclusion: We can conclude by either summarizing the arguments of body section or the impact/significance of the last leg of the Indian freedom movement on overall Indian freedom struggle. |
Answer:
The last phase of the Indian freedom struggle was characterized by chaos, a series of mass movements, government suppression, and defiant acts by the people. This period was marked by disorganization, violence, and haphazard activities.
Key Activities in the Final Phase of Indian Freedom Struggle:
- Quit India Movement: This movement demanded an immediate end to British rule in India but was met with heavy suppression, leading to the imprisonment of top leaders.
- The INA Threat: The Indian National Army (INA) was conceptualized by Mohan Singh and chaired by Rash Bihari Bose but was eventually led by Subhas Chandra Bose. The INA made significant progress, crossing the Burma border and standing on Indian soil on March 18, 1944.
- INA Prisoners Trial: After the INA surrendered with the Japanese, INA prisoners of war (POWs) were brought back to India, and a powerful movement emerged in their defense.
- Royal Naval Mutiny: On February 18, 1946, over 1,100 Royal Indian Navy (RIN) ratings of HMIS Talwar went on strike to protest racial discrimination, unequal pay, poor food, abuse by superior officers, and the arrest of a rating for scrawling 'Quit India' on HMIS Talwar.
- Sporadic and Localized Militant Activities: United mass actions by workers, peasants, and state populations took the form of countrywide strikes. These included protests related to the INA Release Movement, the Tebhaga movement, the Worli revolt, Punjab Kisan Morchas, Travancore people's struggle, and the Telangana peasant revolt.
Nature of these Activities:
- Complete Participation: People from all walks of life, including youth, peasants, zamindars, and even government officials, contributed and participated in these movements.
- Public Uprising: The general public attacked symbols of authority and forcibly hoisted national flags on public buildings. Satyagrahis willingly got arrested, bridges were destroyed, railway tracks removed, and telegraph lines cut.
- Underground Activities: Many nationalists went underground and engaged in subversive activities. Participants included Socialists, Forward Bloc members, Gandhi ashramites, and revolutionary nationalists.
- Parallel Governments: Parallel governments were established in various places during these mass upheavals. For example, in Ballia under Chittu Pandey, in Tamluk under Jatiya Sarkar, and in Satara under leaders like Y.B. Chavan and Nana Patil.
- Resistance to Suppression/Oppression: Despite horrific repression by the British, Indian masses had become immune to it. Instead of succumbing to restrictions, they defied the government wherever possible. For instance, during the Quit India movement, major leaders were arrested on the second day, but the movement continued without centralized leadership.
The impact of these mass movements led the British to realize that it was no longer possible to rule India, as the Indian population had become immune to their suppression. Consequently, they decided to grant India freedom, understanding that the only way forward was to leave India.
