In World War I Indians whole heartedly cooperated with the British government. Indians joined the war with a view that after the war they would be given self rule. But the British did not fulfil their promise. In 1907 Montague the secretary of the states for India drew up a report known as Montague Chelmsford Reforms. These were popularly known as Monford Reforms.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1919 **
What changes did the government of India act of
1919 bring about?
This act brought about the following changes:
-
Division
of subjects – it was divided into 2 separate groups – central and provincial
government. Items like defense, foreign affairs, railways, post and telegraph,
customs and currency were given to the central government. Internal law and
order, education, local self government, land revenue, agriculture were given
to provincial government.
-
Separate
representation – the communal representation was extended and a separate
representative was given to the Sikhs, Christians and Anglo Indians.
-
Change
in the home government – in the Indian Council the number of Indian members
were increased from 2 to 3. It was decided that the secretary of state and his
staff should be paid their salaries out of British treasury. The Indian council
was to consist of 8-10 members.
-
Change
in the central government – the governor generals executive council was
enlarged and it was responsible to the legislative. The important change was
the central legislation was made bicameral and the duration of the council of
states was fixed at 5 years and that of the legislative assembly at 3 years.
They also introduced dyarchy by which the provincial government the part of the
executive was responsible for the legislature.
ROWLATT ACT (OR BILL)
After the first world war the British
government passed the Monford reforms, but the Indians were not satisfied with
that and they started the revolutionary movements against the British rule. In
order to check their activities the British government passed the defence of
India Act. This act was also known as the Rowlatt Act. According to this act
police were given unlimited powers of arresting people, even if they suspected
any person they imprisoned him without any previous warning.
EMERGENCE OF GANGHIJI
The most important event in Indian politics in
1919 was the emergence of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi popularly known as
Gandhiji. He started the new movement of freedom i.e. satyagraha and non cooperation.
He was one of the greatest leaders and freedom fighters.
GANDHIJI
Was born on 2nd October 1869 in
Porbandar. He was from a well to do Vaishnava family and was brought up in a
deep religious atmosphere. He had studied law in London and returned to India
as a Barrister. He was surprised at the humiliating treatment given to the
Indians living in South Africa. He decided to fight against this injustice. His
main aim was to bring pressure of the British government by means of self
suffering and non violence.
JALLIANWALA BAUG TRAGEDY
The people of Amritsar had gathered for a
peaceful meeting at Jallianwala Baug at Punjab. Dyre was placed as officer in
charge of Amritsar. He marched to Jallianwala baug and without giving any
warning he opened fire on the peaceful people. He continued firing till all the
ammunition was nearly exhausted. The people tried to escape but in vain. This
incident was the most dreadful in Indian history as a number of people were
killed and wounded. This tragedy showed the way to independence. It was a
turning point in the history of the Indian national congress.
KALIPHAT / KHILAFAT MOVEMENT AND NON
COOPERATION MOVEMENT (20 MARKS) ***
After World War I the status fo the Kaliphat in
Turkey was lowered. The Indian muslim wanted to reestablish the powers of the
Kalif. They also felt that the position of the Sultan of Turkey who was
regarded as the religious head of the Muslims shouldn’t be undermined.
Therefore they started the Khilafat movement. Its main objective was to force the
British government to change its attitude to turkey and restore the Turkish
sultan.
In india the movement was started by Ali
brothers – Shaukat Ali and Mohamad Ali. Gandhiji saw that the Kalifat movement
had created an awakening among the Indian muslims. They announced to them the
famous doctrine of nonviolence and non cooperation.
NON COOPERATION MOVEMENT
It was a political movement started by
Gandhiji. In the beginning it was started in the remote areas and later it
gathered momentum. In order to make this weapon effective Gandhiji inspired
people through his speech and personality. To make this non cooperation
successful he introduced a number of rules
-
Surrender
of titles and honorary office and resignation from the nominated seats.
-
Refused
to attend any government function
-
Withdrawl
from schools and colleges run by the British government
-
British
courts to be boycotted by the lawyers
-
Boycott
of elections in the country
-
Non
payment of taxes
The Non Cooperation movement was a grand
success because of the great support from all over the country.
In the beginning the British government did not
take this movement of Gandhiji seriously. But when the people demonstrated
against the visit of the Delegate of Connaught who came to India,, the British
government was annoyed and ordered for the prosecution of the person found
guilty.
On the 17th of November, when the Prince
of Wales came to Bombay and the Indians observed Hartal and the crowd joined
the boycott meeting which was held by Gandhiji. It was a peaceful meeting but
suddenly violence broke out. The angry mob burnt cars with the result that the
police opened fire and innocent people were killed. The incident at Chauri
Chaura caused a lot of death and it shocked Gandhiji who then decided to stop
the non cooperation movement.
THE SWARAJ PARTY
The suspension of the non cooperation movement
was followed by Gandhijis’ arrest. This created a gap between the people and
the movemtn and this was faced by the Swaraj party leaders – S R. Dar, Motilal
Nehru and N. C. Kelkar. The aim of this party was to establish swaraj within
the British empire. In the elections that were held the swaraj party won 42
seats out of 101. They were the largest party in Bengal legislative assembly.
The failure of the first non cooperation
movement led to the revival of the terrorist movements. Under the leadership of
Chandra Shekar Azad an association was formed which came to be known as
Hindustan Socialist Republic. Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekar Azad, Raj Guru
organized themselves to fight against the British. They wanted to protest
against the public safety bills which would have reduced civil liberties.
Bhagat Sings was arrested and sentenced to death.
SIMON COMMISSION ***
In 1927 Simon Commission was sent to India
which consisted of 7 members and were Englishmen with Simon as the chairman.
Not a single Indian was included in this committee. This commission was to
prepare the future constitution of india. At the Madras session, it was decided
to boycott this commission. A meeting was held in order to find a committee
which would draft an outline of the future Indian Constitution. Motilal Nehru
was elected as the chairman of the drafting committee and this came to be known
as the Motilal Nehru Report
MOTILAL NEHRU REPORT
The Nehru Report was the first constitutional
document produced by an Indian. Lord Birkanted the secretary for the state of india
challenged that Indians were not capable for drawing up a constitution and this
challenge was accepted as a congress and other parties in India. The
constitution that was drafted was known as the Nehru Report.
FEATURES OF THE NEHRU REPORT
-
Dominion
status – British should grant dominion status to india immediately.
-
Federation
– the suitable form of government for India was a federal form of government
-
Fundamental
rights – the Indians should be granted their fundamental rights
-
Joint
electorates – communal electorate system should be immediately abolished and
joint electorates should be introduced in which the minorities would be given
reserved seats.
-
Linguistic
states – the states should be recognized on the basis of language
-
Native
status – the report recommended that the British should clearly outline the
policy with regard to the native states.
-
Supreme
court – the highest court in the country should be established. There was a
different opinion between the congress and the Muslim League. The muslims did
not like certain recommendations
-
-
abolition of communal electorates
-
-
they criticized the reports for the reserved seats for the muslims
-
-
Mohammed Ali Jinna drafted his 14 points as the muslims demanded for political
statements.
LAHORE SESSION – 1929
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was made the President
of Congress at the historical Lahore session on 1929. It was decided that it
was fruitless to participate in the proposed round table conference. The
working committee announced that they are going to lodge a civil disobedience
movement and the 26th of Jan 1920 was observed as Purna Swaraj or
Indeppendence Day all over the country.
DANDI MARCH (1930)
Gandhiji had fixed the time and place from
where his Civil disobedience movement would start. He started the famous Dandi
March from Sabarmati Ashram. He reached Dandi on 5th April and this
march was one of the famous historical marches. The success of breaking the
salt law spread very fast in every corner of India and the result was that a large
number of people decided to join the Civil Disobedience Movement.
THE FIRST ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE 1930 ***
When Gandhiji started the Civil Disobedience
Movement, the British government called for a round table conference at London
to draw up the Constitution for India. But at that time most of the Congress
leaders were in jail. The congress had boycotted it and since the congress
leaders could not be present because of their imprisonment they decided at this
conference that they should be released on 26th Jan 1931.
GANDHI IRWIN PACT ***
Following are the main terms of the pact which
the British government had agreed:
-
Political
prisoners would be released
-
People
living in the coastal areas would be able to make salt and sell it
-
British
government couldn’t interfere in peaceful picketing
-
The
civil disobedience movement should be discontinued and the government agreed to
withdraw all the ordinances.
-
The
representative of the Congress would join the second round table conference.
THE SECOND ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE ***
Gandhiji had decided to attend the second round
table conference at England but because Lord Willington had expressed his idea
of changing the pact, Gandhiji didn’t want to attend it. But at the last moment
the original plan remained unchanged and Gandhiji decided to attend the second
round table conference. The most important feature was the communal problem.
But since no decision was taken Gandhiji returned and decided to begin his
movement and fight against the British.
THE THIRD ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE
The conference could not be a success since the
congress boycotted it and even the labour party of England refused to attend
this conference. Gandhiji and other leaders of the Congress were arrested and
the movement gained momentum.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1935
This act was a little more advanced than the
act of 1919. It was proposed to establish the federal government at the centre
in which the executive was to be responsible to the legislative consisting of
elected representatives of the people of British India. The election was held
in six provinces out of eleven. The majority of seats were secured by the
Indian National Congress.
AUGUST OFFERE OF 1940
On 8th August 1940, the British declared a new policy called the
‘Augustus Offer’ a statement by the Viceroy on behalf of the British government
-
The
expansion of governor general council should no longer be postponed.
-
The
framing of new constitution should be the primary responsibility of the Indians
themselves and should originate from Indian conception on the social economical
and political structure of the Indian life.
-
It
was hoped that all parties and communities in India would cooperate in Indian
attainment for free and equal partnership in the British Commonwealth of
Nations.
Gandhiji declared that this offer didn’t solve
the problem but only widened the Gulf between Indian National Congress and
British
CRIPPS PROPOSAL 1940
Japan launched a surprise attack of Pearl
Harbor and joined the war at the side of the British. The British government
wanted the active cooperation of Indians in the war and sent Sir Stafford
Cripps the leader of House of Commoners with certain proposals and this was
called the Cripps Plan
The plan consisted of:
-
The
Constitution making body should be set immediately after the war
-
There
would be no provisions for participation of the Indian states in the
Constitution of the country
-
The
province would keep its present position if it didn’t like to join the union
-
Constitutional
making body was to be elected by the members of the legislative assembly.
-
Defense
was to be in the hands of the British during the war
-
Provinces
were to be made for the protection of the rights for social and religious
minorities.
The Congress refused to accept the Cripps
proposal. This resulted in the discontentment among the Indians. Under these
circumstances the Congress decided to start its famous and last weapon to fight
the British – the Quit India Movement
THE QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT***
On 14th July 1940, Gandhiji along
with the congressmen passed a long resolution which is known as Quit India
Movement. This demanded that the British rule in India must end immediately on
4th August 1942, the All India Congress Committee passed the
resolution of Quit India and the very next day Gandhiji along with Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad and the congress working committee members were
arrested at Bombay. The news of this arrest was followed by non violence
demonstrations all over India.
SUBASH CHANDRA BOSE
Was born at Calcutta in 1897. He qualified in
the ICS exam with a brilliant record. He was the President of the Congress for
two years. He was a dangerous revolutionary to the British government. In 1941,
he disappeared from his home and reached Russia. His activities stopped in
Germany. When he heard of the success of Japan he decided to go to Japan and
carry out his revolutionary activities.
INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY (AZAD HIND FAUJ)
Ras Bihari Bose was another freedom fighter and
he organized the INA. It was established on the first of September 1942 and it
adopted 3 principles – unity, faith and sacrifice. He surrendered his power and
position to S. C. Bose. The INA occupies an important place in the history of
the Indian struggle for freedom. They proved their bravery against the British
INDIAN INDEPENDENCE
After the war, Mr. Atlee the leader of the
labor party became Prime Minister of England and raised the hopes of the
Indians. In 1946, a parliamentary delegate came to India to discuss with the
Indian leaders of different political parties about the British desire for
framing the Indian constitution. It was in favor of independence of India at
the earliest.
CABINET MISSION
The British government appointed the Cabinet
Mission to study the problem. Its members were Lord Pathetic Lawrence, Sir
Stafford Cripps and A. V. F. Alexander. It made the following proposals:
-
There
should be union of India encompassing both British India and the states which
should deal with foreign affairs, defense and communication with finances.
-
Provinces
were to form groups and the provinces in each group were to decide what subject
were to take up in common.
-
A
constituent assembly should be set up to draw up the future constitution of the
country.
-
A
provincial government consisting of representatives of the main political
parties were to be set up in the country
-
When
the election for the constitutional assembly were held the congress won more
seats as a result of this the Muslim league rejected the recommendations and
they wanted a separate state of Pakistan.
Lord Mountbatten was sent as a viceroy and
governor general at that time. the situation in India was very critical. He
held a meeting with the congress and Muslim leaders and announced his plan on 3rd
June. This plan is popularly known as June 3rd plan.
DECLARATION OF JUNE 3RD PLAN
-
India
was to be partitioned
-
They
had to decide whether the inhabitants of the North-West Frontier would join
India or Pakistan
-
The
people of Assam where a majority were Muslims had to decide whether to join
India or Pakistan
-
The
legislative assembly of Bengal and Punjab were to decide whether their
provinces should or should not be patronized.
-
The
people of the modern states would be given a chance to express their view about
which country they wanted to join i.e. India or Pakistan
-
Power
was to be transferred by 15th August 1946.
INDEPENDENCE OF INDIA ACT 1947
The following are the main aims of the act:
-
On
15th August 1947, India would be a free country and the power of the
British government has to come to an end.
-
Two
dominions established – India and Pakistan
-
The
legislative of India and Pakistan would be empowered to pass any law.
-
The
Constituent Assembly of both India and Pakistan would be free to decide their
dominion and would remain within the British Common Wealth of Nations or out of
it.
SALIENT FEATURES OF THE CONSTITUTION ***
The Indian Constitution is unique and it has
provided freedom of equality and fraternity to the country. Its main features
are as follows:
-
Our
country adopted democracy. It is a government of people, by people and for the
people.
-
The
constitution gave the parliament a Supreme power to make amendments in the
constitution
-
It
provided a federal form of government and the power as divided between the
state and the central government.
-
There
is only one constitution of the entire country and all the people of India are
the citizens of the country.
-
At
the time of emergency, the president is given the power to interfere in the
working of the nation.
-
According
to the new constitution, elections are not held on communal basis. This has made
India strong because of unity.
-
All
the amendments in the constitution are made through the parliament. If the
amendment is accepted it is passed by a majority vote of the members present.
As soon as the president approves it, it is brought into force.
-
Social
inequality is done away with by giving equal rights to men and women.
-
The
constitution has made provision for adult franchises.
-
The
government has given a number of rights such as right to freedom of speech and
property.
-
India
is a secular state and people of every religion can follow their religion
-
It
has independent judiciary system and the judges are free to impart the right
justice. The Indian constitution is not rigid.
-
It
is flexible and can be rechanged
-
Our
constitution has made a provision of being the member of the British Common
Wealth. India is an independent country free to formulate the external and
internal policies.
FILL IN THE BLANKS
Simon Commission consisted of 7 members
For drafting the future Indian constitution Motilal
Nehru was the chairman
Dandi March was started from Sabarmati
Ashram
There was economic Depression in 1929 in USA
Ras Bihari Bose was the chairman of
the Azad Hind Fauj
Gandhiji’s resolution of non cooperation was
accepted by the Congress in 1920
The Ali Brothers started the Khilafat
Movement
The home rule movement was started by Annie
Besant
The oath to achieve Purna Swaraj was taken on 26th
Jan 1930
Dyarchy was introduced by the act of 1919
In the year 1926 the Swaraj Party saw
its downfall
General O’ Dyer opened fire at
Jallianwala Bagh
The first Round Table Conference was held in
the year 1930
Japan attacked the American Fleet at Pearl Harbor
Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad started the Quit India
Movement
Lord Mountbatten came as the last
viceroy of India in 1947
Rowlatt act was a Black Act for the Indians
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the president of
the Indian National Congress during the Lahore Session of 1929
Gandhiji believed that Swadeshi was the
solution to the poverty of the Indian people
Gandhiji’s spinning wheel and charka
symbolize his commitment to Swadeshi
Gandhiji’s first successful experiment in
satyagraha was in Champaran district of Bihar.
In 1928 Chandra Shekar Azad along with
some revolutionaries formed the Hindustan Socialist Republic
The Pathans under the leadership of Khan
Abdul Gaffar Khan organized the Khuda Khitmadgar Society.
During the Quit India Movement the slogan was Karenge
ya Marenge
The Azad Hind Fauj place the slogan Delhi
Chalo or Jai Hind
Sardar Vallabhai Patel persuaded most of the
Indians to join the Indian union
Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd
October 1869
Gandhiji started the non cooperation movement
in the year 1920
Sardar Vallabhai Patel was the leader of the
Bardoli Satyagraha
Gandhi Irwin Pact was signed in the year
1931
Jawaharlal Nehru was the first prime minister
of india
Dr Rajendra Prasad was the president of
the Indian constituent Assembly.
MATCH
Montague – secretary of the state of India
Rowlatt act – Law
Jallianwala Baugh – Amritsar
Swaraj Party – Motilal Nehru
Lahore Conspiracy Case – Rajguru
Dandi March – Gandhiji
Khudai Khidmadgar – Red Shirts
NAME
The Montague Chemlsford Reforms were popularly
known as – Monford Reforms
Original name of Gandhiji – Mohandas Karamchand
Gandhi
First Constitutional Report – Motilal Nehru’s
Report
Muslim leader who demanded separate state of
Pakistan – Mohd. Ali Jinnah
Labor party Prime Minister who sent the Cabinet
Mission to India in 1946 – Mr. Atlee
Frontier Gandhi – Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan
Year of Quit India Movement - 1942
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