NAVAL MUTINY OF 1946 | INDIA

 The Naval Mutiny of 1946 – Causes and circumstances and its contribution towards National Independence

The Indian Naval Mutiny of 1946 was one of the results of the mass movements that engulfed India after the close of the Second World War. Primarily, the trial of the officers of the Indian National Army at the Red Fort in Delhi had created serious resentment among the Indians and there was mass emotional upsurge to get them released. One of the off shoots of that mass upsurge was the Naval Mutiny at Bombay.

Just before the Second World War, the Royal Indian Navy was organized by separating it from the British Navy. Mostly its junior officers were Indians while the top officers were British. There was wide difference between the pay and facilities provided to Indian Naval officers and the British Naval officers. Rather, the British officers looked down on the Indian officers and regarded them with contempt. Therefore, there was general resentment among the Indian Naval officers. They had asked their superior officers many a times to redress their grievances but no attention was paid to their request.

In February 1946, some Indian Naval Personnel were imparted training at the seashore barracks at Bombay. Their training ship was Talwar. They protested their British officers against the bad food provided to them. The officer replied, “Beggars could not be choosers”. That irritated the Indian personnel and the next day posters were displayed on the walls of the barracks. The posters read ‘Englishmen leave India, Hindustani Zindabad’ etc.

The British commander felt that Radio Operator Mr. Dutta was responsible for all the mischief. Mr. Dutta was therefore imprisoned. That sparked off the trouble. The Navy men in the barracks when on strike in the afternoon of February 18, 1946 and by the evening the entire crew of the ship joined in and Talwar went on strike. Next day, the strike spread to some other barracks on the shore involving twenty-two ships in Bombay harbor. The Hindus and the Muslims forgot their differences and distinct political afflictions. They exhibited remarkable unity among themselves when the tricolor, the crescent and the hammer and sickle flags were jointly raised on the mast heads of the rebel fleet.

The strikers elected a National Central Strike Committee which was headed by Mr. M. S. Khan. They formulated their demands which included issues of better food, equal pay for the English and Indian sailors, release of Indian National Army officers and soldiers as well as other political prisoners and withdrawal of Indian troops from Indonesia. Thus, they involved national issues in their strike, thereby exhibiting their support and solidarity with the national mass upsurge enveloping the country at that time. They were ordered to go back to their ships and barracks. They obeyed the orders, but then found themselves surrounded by army guards.

On 21^st February, they tried to break out of their encirclement and fighting took place. The civilian population of Bombay gave immediate favorable response and offered them good and everything they needed. By 22^nd February, the strike spread to naval bases all over the country as well as to some ships on the sea. In all, 78 ships, 20 shore establishments and 20,000 ratings became involved in the strike.

The Bombay C.P.I. called for a general strike in Bombay on 22 February. The call was supported by Congress Socialist Leaders like Aruna Asif Ali and Achyut Patwardhan. Surprisingly enough, the Congress and the Muslim League both opposed the strike call. Sardar Vallabhai Patel advised the people to go about their normal business as usual, while the local leaders like S. K. Patil and Chundrigar, heads of the provincial Congress and League units respectively even promised help to the Government to restore order. Jawaharlal Nehru also expressed that violence should stop immediately Mahatma Gandhi also opposed it in no uncertain terms and declared that ‘a combination between Hindus, Muslims and others for the purpose of violent action is unholy’. Thus, the national leaders, at that time, mostly decried the mutiny. Yet, the people of Bombay, particularly the laborers in the mills exhibited support to the mutineers. On 22^nd February, almost all mills closed down in Bombay and violent street fighting took place between the people and the police. Two army battalions were needed to restore order in Bombay. The government threatened to suppress the movement with all the force at its command. The British Navy and the Army was deputed for this purpose and the mutineers were asked to surrender immediately. The mutineers then looked towards the Congress and the Muslim League for guidance. Both Patel and Jinnah appealed to the mutineers to surrender themselves assuring them that they would not be victimized. The mutineers then surrendered on 23^rd February.

The naval mutiny thus failed. The determination not only of the Indian government but that of the British government as well as to crush the mutiny immediately was the primary cause of its failure. It would be wrong to say that Sardar Patel and Jinnah did not come to the rescue of the mutineers because of lack of moral courage. It would be nearer the truth to say that both the leaders had realized the futility of the action of the mutineers against the power of the British navy and army. Therefore, they advised the mutineers that they take a wise course.

The mutiny of the Royal Indian Navy has not been given the importance which it deserves, in the history of the Indian National Movement. The national leaders soon forgot the cause of the mutineers though Nehru praised the role of the mutineers afterwards. But, all the same, the mutiny had its importance and contributed significantly to the attainment of national independence. The mutiny certainly accentuated the fear in the British. The Indian National Army trials were already going on and the Indian Army could not be relied upon. The naval mutiny created the apprehension that the British could not depend on the Indian Navy as well. It therefore seemed that another pillar of British Imperialism in India had been eroded. Thus, the naval mutiny too played a significant role in the national movement though it failed to get due recognition because the national leaders were probably more engaged in the affairs in and around Delhi.