India: Journey to Independence
This second phase of the Indian national movement is not only a struggle for constitutional rights but also a struggle for independence. Here we will observe the trends through which these movements passed and the complex impact that arose from them.
Simon Commission (1927)
The Indians recommended including Hindi members in the commission with the idea that they could understand the pain and suffering of the Hindi people in Hindi; but the British did not accept this recommendation, so the Indians decided to boycott the Simon Commission. When the Simon Commission arrived in India, people protested by holding strikes, meetings, processions, raising slogans of Simon Go Back and hoisting black flags. Against which the government used a policy of repression. Lala Lajpat Rai, Govind Vallabh Pant and Jawaharlal Nehru also became victims of the government's repression. Lala Lajpat Rai was seriously injured while leading a procession in Lahore. He died shortly after.
The news of Lalaji's death infuriated revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, etc., and the British police officer Saunders, who had ordered the lathicharge, was killed.
Nehru Committee
When the Simon Commission was boycotted, the Hindi Minister Birkenhead submitted a bill to the Simon Commission stating that the British government would consider it if the leaders of India drafted a constitution that was acceptable to all parties. Taking this call as a challenge, the Hindi Rashtriya Mahasabha formed the Nehru Committee under the chairmanship of Motilal Nehru. The report it submitted is known as the Nehru Report, which included matters such as Dominion States, independent judiciary, fundamental rights, adult suffrage, etc.; but the British government did not accept the recommendations of this report.
Demand for complete independence, 1929
At this time, young leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose became active in the Hindi National Congress. They were advocates of complete independence. The youth were not satisfied with local self-government. As a result, a resolution for complete independence was passed in the Hindi National Congress under the chairmanship of Jawaharlal Nehru at Lahore on the banks of the Ravi river. After that, on January 26, 1930, Independence Day was celebrated for the first time by taking the oath of independence. After this, it was decided to celebrate January 26 every year as Independence Day until independence was achieved and to maintain the importance of that day, our constitution came into force on that day.
Dandi March: March 12 to April 6, 1930
As part of the civil disobedience movement, Gandhiji decided to go to the beach of Dandi village and break the salt law. On the evening of the 11th, he gave a message of Satyagraha to a public meeting of thousands of people in the ashram. He urged the people to continue the struggle against the government in a firm and non-violent manner even if they were arrested. On March 12, 1930, from the Sabarmati Harijan Ashram (now Gandhi Ashram) in Ahmedabad, “Vaishnav Jan To Tene Re Kahi, Je Pid Parai Jaane Re” was sung and Narasai, seeing it, said, “Shoor Sangram Ko Dekh Bhaag Nahi, Dekh Bhaag Soi Shooor Nahi” and the Mahaprayan began.
Under the leadership of Gandhiji, Sarojini Naidu, Mahadevbhai Desai and others started the Dandi March. During the Dandi March, meetings were held in small and big towns like Aslali, Bareja, Nadiad, Anand, Boriavi, Ras, Jambusar, Bharuch, Surat, Navsari and explained to the people why In the villages through which this march passed, people cleaned the roads, sprinkled water and built arches and decorated them. This march did a wonderful job of awakening unprecedented awareness, strange faith, consciousness and unity among the people of India. The wave of Satyagraha swept across the country. Gandhiji reached Dandi (April 5, 1930) after a 24-day march with his companions.
On April 6, 1930, at exactly 6:30 am, he broke the unjust law of salt by taking a handful of salt from the salt that had accumulated on the beach. Gandhiji said, “I have broken the law of salt.” And at this time, addressing the people present there, he said, “I am putting salt in the foundation of the building of the British Empire.” He addressed them with such words. Shri Mahadevbhai Desai compares this Dandi march to a “great march”. Journalists and photographers from all over the world also visited this place and published their eyewitness accounts, reports and booklets. Thus, the world-famous Dandi march that started from Sabarmati Ashram on March 12th was the physical end; but the foundation of the building of the British Sultanate had begun to be put in salt.
Civil disobedience movements began throughout the country. The government unleashed a wave of repression. Despite beatings, arrests, shootings, and atrocities against women and children, the struggle did not abate.
During the Dandi March, many constructive programs were organized, including boycott of foreign fabrics, prohibition of alcohol, Hindu-Muslim unity, elimination of untouchability, etc.
Due to the awareness generated by Dandi Yatra and Salt Satyagraha, non-cooperation movements and Satyagraha programs started all over the country. These programs included Swadeshi movement and boycott of foreign goods, liquor ban and picketing on liquor shops, non-payment of taxes including revenue, Satyagraha related to untouchability prevention programs, meetings and processions. To weaken and crush this awareness and movement, the government took repressive measures including lathi-charge and imprisonment. In response to this, some violent incidents like vandalism and attacks on railways, police stations, post offices and other government buildings in the country also took place. Among these events, the movement led by Abdul Ghaffar Khan "Sarhad" Gandhi, the attack on the Wadala Peetha near Mumbai by citizens, the picketing for liquor prohibition in Delhi led by Kasturba Gandhi, the Dharasana in Surat and the salt satyagrahas in the Viramgam area, as well as the abandonment of government jobs and dropout programs from government schools are considered to be the main ones.
The British government called for a round table conference to discuss the type of constitution and reforms to be given to India. After that, Gandhiji was the only representative of the Congress at the second round table conference, but Gandhiji was disappointed when the British side raised the divisive issue of separate electorates for different communities to discuss the constitution-making process, and in the end the conference failed.
"Quit India Movement" (1942-43)
In view of the changed circumstances of the World War, the Congress Working Committee decided to discontinue individual Satyagraha (January, 1942).
The Cripps proposals proved that the British government did not want to give up power and did not intend to grant independence to India. The Indians became frustrated and angry as they felt that they were trying to deceive the people of India. Gandhiji dispelled the disappointment of the people and prepared them for a new final struggle.
Newspapers were banned. Provincial and district level Congress leaders were also arrested. As a result of the arrest of all the national leaders including Gandhiji, a sudden strike broke out in the cities and villages of the country and Gandhiji said that "This is my last fight for freedom" and for it, people were ready to sacrifice everything. His slogan was, "Do or die".
Strikes during the "Quit India" movement
In the villages and cities of the country, workers, farmers, youth, students, teachers, traders, women etc. took a leading part in this program. The workers went on strike in the factories. Strikes were held in the iron factories of Jamdeshpur and in the textile mills of Mumbai and Madras. In Ahmedabad, one lakh forty thousand workers of 75 textile mills went on a peaceful and unprecedented strike for 105 days. Strikes were held in schools and colleges. Markets remained closed in Ahmedabad for three and a half months.
Activities of sabotage during the "Quit India" movement
The anger of the people all over the country flared up against the British government. As the government adopted a policy of repression against the peaceful demonstration, mobs of people in cities and villages broke wires, telephones, railway lines, government buildings, post offices, police stations, government offices, bridges, roads, school-college buildings, railway stations, etc., looted property and set fire to it on a large scale. The railways suffered more damage. In some areas, people also used bombs.
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