Sambhav-2023

Answer 1

Approach

• Introduce the Gandhian style of leadership.
• Discuss the Gandhian freedom movement which was based on the Struggle – truce- Struggle strategy.
• Conclude suitably

Introduce

The Gandhian style of freedom movement was a significant aspect of India's independence struggle against British rule. It was characterized by non-violent civil disobedience, based on the principles of truth and ahimsa (non-violence). Gandhi believed that India could achieve independence through peaceful means, rather than through violence.

Body

• To achieve independence, Gandhi and the Indian National Congress launched a number of non-violent campaigns, such as Non-cooperation movement (NCM), Salt Satyagraha and the Quit India Movement. Amid of this active campaign, he adopted several tactics as a phase of truce that provides time to the govt to negotiate and respond and also provides the space to masses to recipe their strength for further struggle.
• The rollercoaster ride can refer as long and difficult process with many highs and lows.

Highs or active phases of Gandhian movement:

• Champaran Satyagraha (1917) - First Civil Disobedience: Gandhi was able to convince the authorities to abolish tinkathia system and peasants should be compensated for the illegal dues extracted from them.
• Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918) - First Hunger Strike: There was dispute between cotton mill owners of Ahmedabad and the workers over the issue of discontinuation of the plague bonus.
  • Finally, mill owners agreed to submit the issue to a tribunal and workers got a 35 per cent wage hike.
• Kheda Satyagraha (1918) - First Non-Cooperation: Farmers of Kheda district of Gujarat, had demanded remission of tax due to the failure of crops.
  • Ultimately, the government sought to bring about an agreement with the farmers and agreed to suspend the tax for the year in question, and for the next; reduce the increase in rate; and return all the confiscated property.
• Non-Cooperation Movement and Khilafat Andolan: It was started to redress the grievances of Punjab and Khilafat wrongs and achieve swaraj.
  • The movement was brought to end due to a violent Chauri-Chaura accident. Apart from socio-organizational and political education to people of India, movement failed to achieve any political gain from the Britishers.
• Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) - the Salt Satyagraha: On March 2, 1930, Gandhi informed the viceroy of his plan of action. Gandhi, along with his followers of Sabarmati Ashram, was to march from his headquarters in Ahmedabad and on reaching the coast at Dandi, the salt law was to be violated by collecting salt from the beach.
  • CDM began on March 12, and Gandhi broke the salt law by picking up a lump of salt at Dandi on April 6. The violation of the law was seen as a symbol of the Indian people’s resolve not to live under British-made laws.
• Quit India Movement: After Cripps’ departure, Gandhi framed a resolution calling for British withdrawal and a non-violent non-cooperation movement.
  • In July 1942, the Congress Working Committee met at Wardha and resolved that it would authorise Gandhi to take charge of the non-violent mass movement. The Quit India Resolution was ratified at the Congress meeting at Gowalia Tank, Bombay, on August 8, 1942.

The low phase of the rollercoaster ride: After each and every active phase of movement the passive phase was initiated by Gandhiji. It was called as constructive phase and various constructive activities among various strata of the society were performed.

• After NCM:
  • The Swarajists’ (who were advocating the entry into the councils) to enthuse the masses and keep up their morale, use councils as an arena of political struggle, etc.
  • No-Changers’ (argued that parliamentary work would lead to neglect of constructive work) works to prepare everyone for the next phase of civil disobedience. Constructive Work by No-Changers was:
  • In ashrams young men and women worked among tribals and lower castes and popularised the use of charkha and khadi.
  • National schools and colleges were set up where students were trained in a non-colonial ideological framework.
  • Significant work was done for Hindu-Muslim unity, removing untouchability, boycott of foreign cloth and liquor, and for flood relief.
• After CDM:
  • Government Response - Efforts for Truce: Signing of Gandhi-Irwin Pact, between the viceroy, and Gandhi in Delhi on March 5, 1931 called as Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
  • Participation in second round table Conference in London. Indian National Congress nominated Gandhi as its sole representative.
  • Gandhi’s Harijan Campaign to undo the divisive intentions of the government’s divide and rule policy. Gandhi launched a whirlwind campaign against untouchability, in August 1933, and set up the All-India Anti-Untouchability League.
  • In May 1934, the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) decided to fight elections under the aegis of the Congress itself. Congress ministries were formed in Bombay, Madras, Central Provinces, Orissa, United Provinces, Bihar, and later in the NWFP and Assam also.
• After QIM:
  • Individual Satyagraha: Gandhi taken steps which would lead to a mass struggle within his broad strategic perspective. He decided to initiate a limited satyagraha on an individual basis by a few selected individuals in every locality.
    • To show that nationalist patience was not due to weakness.
    • To express people’s feeling that they were not interested in the war.
    • To give another opportunity to the government to accept Congress’ demands peacefully.

Conclusion

Overall, the Gandhian style of freedom movement played a crucial role in India's struggle for independence. Its emphasis on non-violent resistance and moral transformation inspired millions of people and helped to bring about the end of British rule in India.

Answer 2

Approach

• Introduce briefly about the Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM).
• Discuss how withdrawal of Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM) led to the emergence of India’s freedom struggle on the number of fronts.
• Conclude suitably.

Introduction

• The Khilafat issue emerged due to the kind of treatment meted out to Turkey by the British after the First World War. When the war ended, the British took a stern attitude towards Turkey—Turkey was dismembered, and the Khalifa removed from power. This incensed Muslims all over the world.
• September 1920, at a special session in Calcutta, the Congress approved a non-cooperation program till the Punjab and Khilafat wrongs were removed and swaraj was established.
• Both the above-mentioned program, combinedly called as non-cooperation movement (NCM).

Body

• The Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM) was a kind of civil disobedience movement launched in India in 1920. The movement called for Indians to boycott British goods, to resign from government jobs, and to refuse to cooperate with the British government in any way.
• Chauri Chaura Incident in Gorakhpur district in United Provinces has found a place in history books due to an incident of violence on February 5, 1922, which was to prompt Gandhi to withdraw the movement.
• Here the agitated crowd torched the police station with policemen inside who had taken shelter there; those who tried to flee were hacked to death and thrown back into the fire. Twenty-two policemen were killed in the violence.

Emergence of India’s freedom struggle on the number of fronts:

Swarajist Activity in Councils were like, they out-voted the government several times, even on matters relating to budgetary grants, and passed adjournment motions.

• They agitated through powerful speeches on self-government, civil liberties, and industrialisation.
• Vithalbhai Patel was elected speaker of Central Legislative Assembly in 1925.
• Defeat of the Public Safety Bill in 1928, which was aimed at empowering the Government to deport undesirable and subversive foreigners
• By their activities, they filled the political vacuum at a time when the national movement was recouping its strength. Also, they exposed the hollowness of the Montford scheme.

Constructive Work by No-Changers were like

• Ashrams sprang up where young men and women worked among tribals and lower castes.
• Popularised the use of charkha and khadi and National schools and colleges were set up where students were trained in a non-colonial ideological framework.
• Significant work was done for Hindu-Muslim unity, removing untouchability, boycott of foreign cloth and liquor, and for flood relief.

Emergence of New Forces: Socialistic Ideas, Youth Power, Trade Unionism

• Spread of Marxist and Socialist Ideas: These ideas also resulted in the rise of a left wing section of leaders like Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose due to inspiration from the Soviet Revolution and dissatisfied with Gandhian ideas and political program.
• The Communist Party of India (CPI) was formed in 1920 in Tashkent (now, the capital of Uzbekistan) by M.N. Roy, Abani Mukherji, and others.
  • In 1925, the Indian Communist Conference at Kanpur formalised the foundation of the CPI.
• Activism of Indian Youth: All over, students’ leagues were being established and students’ conferences were being held. In 1928, Jawaharlal Nehru presided over the All-Bengal Students’ Conference.
• Peasants’ Agitations: In the United Provinces peasant agitations were for revision of tenancy laws, lower rents, protection against eviction, and relief from indebtedness. In Gujarat, the Bardoli Satyagraha was led by Vallabhbhai Patel (1928).
• Growth of Trade Unionism: The trade union movement was led by All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) founded in 1920. Lala Lajpat Rai was its first president and Dewan Chaman Lal its general secretary. The major strikes during the 1920s included those in Kharagpur Railway Workshops, Tata Iron and Steel Works (Jamshedpur), Bombay Textile Mills, and Buckingham Carnatic Mills.
• Caste Movements: These movements could be divisive, conservative, and at times potentially radical, and included:
  • Self-respect movement (1925) under "Periyar", E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (Madras)
  • Satyashodhak activists in Satara (Maharashtra), Mahars under Ambedkar (Maharashtra), Radical Ezhavas under K. Aiyappan and C. Kesavan in Kerala.
• Revolutionary Activity with a Turn towards Socialism: This line was adopted by those dissatisfied with the nationalist strategy of the political struggle with its emphasis on nonviolence.
  • Hindustan Republican Association (H.R.A.)—in Punjab-UP-Bihar
  • Yugantar, Anushilan groups, and later Chittagong Revolt Group under Surya Sen—in Bengal

Conclusion

The withdrawal of the NCM did not mark the end of the struggle for independence in India. Rather, it led to the emergence of various political parties, organizations, and movements that continued to push for independence in different ways. Through the use of civil disobedience and non-violent resistance, India was eventually able to achieve independence in 1947.