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Home , Indian Rebellion of 1857, Sahajanand Saraswati, Special Bureau for India

Orissa Review

1700s and occupied vast tracts the to strengthen of Indian soil for 347 years their grip over Indians and to whereas the Portuguese and effect broad reforms within Saluting the French had kept their colonial .The triggering of August influence on some parts of the the was country. British East India a period of uprising in India 15,1947 Company generated more than against the British Rule and it ten percent of England’s was India’s first National War revenue per annum to Britain of Independence. It brought ž Mayadhar Nayak by slaughtering the vibrant about signs of valour and economy of India. Against this bravery about the sacrifice troubled backdrop, the British made by the freedom fighters August 15, 1947 is a glorious rise to power was slow, but of Indian heroes with accounts and memorable day for all remarkably steady because of of unimaginable horror and Indians, the day when the long the competition of the French destruction. The uprising was suppressed nation got with the British in acquiring the result of creation of cultural utterance. It was the day when Indian territory. and ethnic differences between India got her independence the British Officers and Indian After the Battle of soldiers.The policy of divide from the mighty British Empire. Plassey, the under The day reminds us about the and rule and attack on the the leadership of culture triggered widespread end of the British Colonial defeated the of Authority from India and the resentment among the Indian and the British East India rulers like Mughals and ex- end of the widespread Company was established. movements that continued to .The war of 1752 That was the initial entry of brought about a turning point in roll the nation’s economy.The in India.The Battle day brought new light and ray the history of modern India. The of Buxur encouraged the East British embarked upon a series of new hopes for India. When India Company to gain and the world was asleep, India of reforms to pacify and strengthen administrative rights integrate the Indian elite and woke up to life and freedom.A over , Bengal and Orissa new nation was born on that rulers. The Rani of joined in 1765. A series of Acts were the rebellion to protect her own day bringing the end of the proclaimed by the British colonial rule, suppressed interest. Following the Uprising, Parliament to strengthen the agitations, movements, etc. the British Crown in Parliament administrative control of the formally took over the First, the Portuguese newly conquered provinces of responsibility of ruling India came to India in the 16th India,like the Regulating Act of from the British East India century followed by the East 1773, the Indian Act of 1784, Company and at the end,the India Company in the guise of the Charter Act of 1813. Then, Moghul Dynasty came to an traders in Bengal. The British the English language was end and took came to introduced as the medium of the reign of India with the title India in the middle and late instruction in India in 1835 by of impress of India in 1877.

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What was happening in the Bengal took the lead to start the the first Non-cooperation Indian society all this while was first organised militant movement in 1920. The difficult to overlook. A cultural movements and it later took movement in the form of protest revolution under the leadership political turn giving birth to involved surrendering all titles, of Ram Mohan Ray had with honorary offices and nominated been taking place even before prominent moderate leaders posts in local bodies. All sorts the event of Uprising of 1857. seeking only their basic rights of government functions and was banned, the Arya to appear for civil services ceremonies were boycotted Samaj came forward to examinations and more rights, showing feeling of strong propagate a new and refined economic in nature, for the nationalism. But the British tried religion, education for women people of the soil of the nation. to suppress it with iron hand. was encouraged and a new Leaders like Lal Bal Pal and The concept and breed of intellectuals taking Shri Aurobindo adopted more magnitude of the Non their root mostly from Bengal, radical approach for getting Cooperation Movement took the mantle of showing political independence from the surprised every political leader their presence in Indian British Raj. Congress under the in India. Gandhiji’s approach of freedom movement. This new leadership of Non Cooperation had touched breed of Indians was a power came to the forefront to adopt every man on the street. People to reckon with. After the the policies of non violence. came out voluntarily to support Uprising, India was poised at Subash Chandra Bose Gandhi and his movement. the dawn of a new era of adopted the policy of violence political awareness. with military approach to The government was engineer the independence machinery did not actually the first Indian to become a movement. A proper mix of break down, but came under member of the House of non-violence engineered by visible strain and stress. Commons of the British Empire Mahatma Gandhi and violence Gandhiji with magical by successfully contesting an launched by Netaji shaked the application of his usual election. The concept of strong foundation of innovative skill, mobilized the “ is my birth right” was unshakable British Empire. public in support of freedom coined by , Leaders like Swami movement and the country and which thrilled and inspired the the Congress rallied behind hearts of millions of advocated for economic him. The right moment had Indians.Like Netaji,Tilak freedom of the peasants and arrived to launch the Quit India advocated the policy of labour classes along with Movement. The unnerving part extremism, non-violence and political freedom as British East was that the launching of abandonment of British goods India Company generated more another Civil Disobedience supported by Bipin Chandra than ten percent of England’s Movement could coincide with Pal and Lala Rajpat Rai. revenue for onward transfer to the Japanese advances from the However, the Congress Party Britain. The Indian National far-east towards India. It was of 1906 did not support the Congress under the leadership an open rebellion championed acts of violence and disorder. of Mahatma Gandhi launched by Gandhi and adopted by the

2 August - 2010 Orissa Review masses with voluntary willing shocked the country. It also 1922. Suddenly, the future of spirit to court risks for the shook the moderates out of Swaraj, or self-rule within a freedom that was to be their stupor and brought year seemed uncertain. achieved. Gandhiji out in the open. Gandhi came under The British adopted In 1920, under the criticism from several quarters inhuman and repressive leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, for dissociating himself from the policies in . On April 12, the Indian National Congress Non-Cooperation Movement. 1919, General REH Dyer who launched the first movement of The man of the masses took the had taken over the troops in protest – the Non-Cooperation masses along when he made his Punjab the day before, Movement. It involved exit and this was not to be the prohibited all meetings and surrendering all titles, honorary only time when differences of gatherings. So when a group of offices and nominated posts in opinion cropped up in the unarmed people congregated local bodies. Government Congress about Gandhi’s at the Jallianawala Bagh, a functions and Darbars were to actions and each time, in the walled park with only a single be boycotted. Parents were end, people invariably gave in narrow entrance, on April 13, requested to withdraw their to the Mahatma. Gandhi had 1919 to celebrate the Sikh children from government won over the heart of an entire festival of Baisakhi, General schools and colleges. Indians nation. Dyer ordered fire on the stayed way from the British In 1927 the British innocent people. What courts and army, and were to government set up a followed was to blight the stand for elections to Committee headed by Sir John pages of Indian History and its government and legislative Simon to review the state of peoples’ minds for a very long bodies. Ahimsa or non- affairs in India. However, the time to come. A peaceful violence was to be observed Committee that came to be congregation had been strictly. known as the Simon transformed into an unmitigated Commission did not include blood bath. The oppressive mood of the British angered the Indian even a single Indian. The Later, during the court masses to an unbearable extent. Congress took umbrage to the martial, General Dyer coldly Unfortunately, at a time when omission done by the observed that he had fired only the movement was showing Commission. 1600 rounds of ammunition on signs of success, a mob of 3000 At this time, young the crowd as that was all he people killed 25 policemen and radicals like had. He added that he would one officer in Chauri Chaura. and Subhash Chandra Bose have fired more had he so Similar incidents had taken were insisting on making total deemed fit. It indicated the place earlier on November 17, independence as the goal of the inhuman feeling of General 1921, in Bombay and on Congress. At midnight, on Dyer to Indians and its freedom January 13, 1922, in Madras. December 31, 1929, struggle. On February 7, Gandhi Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled the The brutality of the suspended the movement. He Tricolour on the banks of the Jallianawalla Bagh massacre was arrested on March 13, river Ravi in Punjab and the

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Congress called for Purna All over India, the Disobedience Movement had Swaraj, or Complete mood was upbeat, the been completely withdrawn. atmosphere was tense and the Independence. January 26, During World War II, people gathered on the streets 1930, was declared as the Congress decided that India to see what Mahatma Gandhi . From should co-operate with Britain was teling. Louis Fischer wrote February 14 to 16, 1930, the on the understanding that about the Civil Disobedience: Congress Working Committee complete independence would “The British beat the Indians met at Gandhi’s famous Ashram be granted to India after that. with batons and rifle butts. The in Sabarmati and requested him The British, however were Indians neither cringed nor to launch the Civil unwilling to discuss the issue of complained nor retreated. That Disobedience Movement ‘at a independence during wartime. made England powerless and time and place of his choice.’ The Congress had the doubt India invincible.” On February 27, the and wonder about the intentions plan for the agitation was made When the first Round of the government. Meanwhile, public. The entire nation was in Table Conference was held in the divide between Jinnah’s ferment. Everyone, including the London from November 12, Muslim League and the British, was curious to see what 1930 to January 19, 1931, not Congress had grown sharper. the Mahatma would do next. a single member of the In early 1940, Jinnah declared Congress attended it. The On March 12, 1930, as the goal of the British now appealed to the League. accompanied by 78 colleagues Congress to work with them. of the Sabarmati Ashram, Lord Irwin also declared that After the fall of France Mahatma Gandhi embarked on Mahatma Gandhi and the other in 1940, Gandhi declared, “We a 60-mile march to the sea members of the Congress do not seek independence out coast of Dandi. He defied the Working Committee would of Britain’s ruin.” The British new salt taxes imposed by the soon be freed to consider the reply to this was an offer to government that would directly matter ‘freely and fearlessly.’ discuss an Indian Constituent effect each and every Indian. The Muslim League under the Assembly, as well as Dominion To begin with, the government leadership of Muhammad Ali Status `after the war’. The offer thought it better to ignore the Jinnah demanded separate was spurned. Gandhi with his event. However, soon the entire share in administration in India. usual innovative skill had the country was abuzz with hartals, It demanded control of foreign country and Congress rallying protests, agitations, affairs and defence, and the behind him. The right moment processions. The rising tide of matter of minorities. The talk had arrived to engineer the Quit discontent had to be checked. with his Highness, the Aga India Movement. The Gandhi was arrested on May Khan and Dr Bhimrao Ramji unnerving part was that the 5, 1930. Abbas Tyabji took the Ambedkar, ended in a launch of another Civil relay to lead the movement. complete deadlock. Gandhi Disobedience Movement When Tyabji was arrested, returned to India on December could coincide with the , the nightingale 28, 1931 empty-handed. By Japanese advances from the of India, replaced him. May 1934, the Civil far-east towards India. At the

4 August - 2010 Orissa Review call of Gandhi to launch open became an independent princely states, steering efforts rebellion, the country was nation.After partition,violent by his “iron fist in a velvet willing to court risks for the clashes took place between the glove” policies, exemplified by freedom that was to be won. and the the use of military force to The movement was resulting in death of many integrate princely states like launched on August 8, 1942 in innocent people. Gandhiji, the Junagarh, Hyderabad, Bombay. Gandhi declared: “I Father of the Nation, did not and into India. The want freedom immediately, this join in the celebrations that drafting of the Constitution was very night, before dawn, if it can followed. Communal finalised and completed by the disturbance shook the two Constituent Assembly with be had. You may take it from th me that I am not going to strike countries with blood bath. He much precision on 26 was elsewhere working in riot November, 1949 and India a bargain with the Viceroy for th ministers and the like… Here torn areas helping the people became a Republic on 26 is the Mantra, a short one, that and praying for peace in the January 1950 with Dr. I give you… Do or die. We subcontinent. He was very sad as the first shall either free India or die in and disillusioned seeing the .With the iron the attempt.” From 1942 riots. He decided to dismember policy of Vallabhbhai onwards it was quite clear that his mind from active politics. Patel, Goa Pandicherry and the count down to an Since day of the formation of Sikkim were annexed with the independent India had begun. Pakistan, Gandhiji was seen Indian Republic. India adopted with suspicion for siding with the its democratic principle with the In 1946, Lord Muslims and surrounding conduction of its first general Mountbatten arrived in Pakistan from India easily. A election in 1952. amid a buzz of political activity. Hindu fundamentalist called After World War II, the British The Indian Indepen- Nathu Ram Godse shot seemed keen to wash their dence was obtained through the Mahatma Gandhi on 30th hands off India and at the last application of proper mix of January 1950. India lost the Mountbatten was entrusted non-violence coined by with the responsibility of Mahatma who thought to form Gandhiji and violence adopted transferring power to the a nation with the dream of Rama by Netaji in cooperation with Indians, safeguarding British Rajya. other militant leaders. interests and prestige for future Mountbatten was Since independence, a interaction with Independent invited to continue as Governor lot has been achieved by us,a India and Pakistan. On 3 June General of India on request of lot more needs to be done in 1947, Lord Mountbatten,the Prime Minister Nehru and the competitive world.We need last British Governor-General Deputy Prime Minister Sardar to learn from our past and of India announced the partition . In June move boldly into the future.We of India and Pakistan.Pakistan 1948, Chakravarti Rajgopala- have achieved many milestones, became independent on 14th chari took over the Governor but not enough to eradicate August 1947 by becoming a General of India from poverty, illiteracy, sickness, separate Nation.On August 15th Mountbatten. Patel took on the terrorism, crime, unemploy- of 1947 at midnight,India responsibility of unifying 565 ment, vested interests, political

August - 2010 5 Orissa Review pulls, presence of gap between which he secured 4th rank. sentenced to a year’s the rich and the poor, etc. Our Later it was abandoned by him imprisonment. achievements are being as he was reluctant to work Upon his release from globally recognised with rise of under the British Government. jail, Subhas was elected and GDP growth to 9.4% in recent Thus he resigned and returned took charge as Mayor of years and is projected to grow to India on the call of Calcutta Corporation.Subhash at 8 to 9 percent over the next . Chandra Bose and five to ten years.India has He believed that only Gandhiji,both fought for started to infuse self- military power could wipe out freedom struggle by steering confidence to turn itself to the British Rule from India. But their ideas.However, the two become a developed nation by the concept of non violence was never saw eye to eye on their 2020.We have to turn opposed by Gandhiji since it views of freedom and the ourselves as a military and directly conflicted with his movement itself.According to economic power, hand in hand. policy of non violence The Subhas, Gandhiji had done We will see an independent, British Empire perceived blunder to the freedom innovative, resourceful vibrant Subhas as a potential threat and movement by agreeing to take India in the future. took urgent steps to arrest him part in the Second Round Table Role of Subhash Chandra without any charge on October Conference. Subhas viewed Bose for Indian Freedom 25, 1924. He was sent to freedom as an absolute Struggle. Jail, Calcutta and in necessity, unlike the freedom Subhash Chandra January 25, 1925 transferred to which Gandhiji was negotiating” Bose possessed revolutionary Mandalay, Burma. He was with the British. Subhas was mind towards Indian freedom released from Mandalay in arrested again while returning struggle. He was born on May, 1927 due to his ill from Bombay to Calcutta, and January 23, 1897 at Cuttack, health.After his return to imprisoned in several jails Orissa. His father was Rai Calcutta, Subhas was elected outside in fear of Bahadur Janakinath Bose, a President of the Bengal an uprising. His health once prominent lawyer of Cuttack, Congress Committee on again deteriorated and the and mother was Prabhavati October 27, 1927. medical facilities diagnosed him Bose. Later, he was named as He believed in with tuberculosis. It was Netaji by the world. He communal harmony and recommended that he be sent completed his early studies at worked towards Hindu- to Switzerland for treatment. the European Protestant Muslim unity on the basis of Netaji was imprisoned Collegiate School in Cuttack, respect of each community’s eleven times over a span of 20 He came to Calcutta to study rights. In January 1930 he was years either in India or in at Presidency College in 1913. arrested for launching a Rangoon. He travelled Upon completing his procession against the extensively in India and Europe graduation, he left India for imprisonment of before starting his political England to appear at the Indian revolutionaries. He refused to opposition to Gandhiji.In Examination in accept conditional bail and was Germany,he instituted the

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Special Bureau for India for support from Britain’s enemies have opposed the tragedy of broadcasting on the German and engineered a war against partition launched by Jinnah sponsored Radio. Britain. The INA did not band saved lakhs of people to He founded “Free India succeed to capture the British die due to communal riot. Centre” in Berlin and created India but shook the British Netaji the India Legion consisting of foundation in India.His vision of was a mass leader with shining about 4500 soldiers who were free India came true on 15th examples of sacrifice. His the Indian Prisonors of war.He August 1947. On 18th August, revolutionary ideas, genuine formed INA in 1941 and set up 1945, Netaji Subhas Chandra leadership, foresight, love for Provisional Government of Bose, died in air crash while free India will encourage the Free India in exile.His great flying to Manchuria to ask for Indians for all the time to come. words-”Give me blood,I will Soviet ’s help after the He was an embodiment of give you freedom” spoke of his surrender of Japan in the world shining examples of courage pattriotism. war II.According to British and self-sacrifice. He will be He had the foresight Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, remembered as a champion of and vision to not only think of a the INA under the leadership the champions in the memories viable liberation struggle, but of Netaji had shook the strong of Indians. also to plan for the country’s foundation of British Empire in economic development in the India and made their post-independence time. He administration impossible to formed Forward Bloc to fight sustain. Had Netaji survived the against the British Empire in air tragedy, we should have India. Since he had a lot of seen a different India, more stronger and united, free from differences with Gandhiji and Mayadhar Nayak, a Ex-DGM, the then Congress, he decided poverty, illiteracy, communa- NABARD, Metro City Apartment, to leave India in 1941. He took lism, regionalism, etc. He would Flat.20C3, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar.

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