National Movement - The Last Phase Communalism and Communal Organisations 11 Communalism believes in the promotion of the interest of a particular religious

CHAPTER B 1919-1947 community and not the general interests of all. It also believes that the state and government should be run keeping in mind the interest of that particular religious group. This is in Arrival of Mahatma Gandhi Rowlatt Act and Jalianwala Bagh contrast to nationalism which believes that the nation is above individual communities Gandhiji arrived in India in 1915 from Massacre and represents the interests of all people including those who may not have any religion at all. This view is also called ‘Secular’ as it holds that the government should neither South Africa. Having led Indians in that Mahatma Gandhi did not associate with interfere in the affairs of a religion nor allow any religion to interfere with the government. country in non-violent marches against any Congress faction. He built his own It should treat all religions equally without favouring any one religion. As you can see, racist restrictions, he was already a political programme and space in this secular view is opposed to the communal view which seeks to promote the interests respected leader, known internationally. nationalist politics. He launched of one religion over the others and insists that governments abide by the needs of particular His South African campaigns had brought Champaran campaign in 1917, Kaira protest religions. him in contact with various types of Indians: movement in 1918 and participated in th Hindus, Muslims, Parsis and Christians; Ahmedabad textile workers agitation in Communal organisations sprang up in India in the early years of 20 century as the Gujaratis, Tamils and north Indians; and 1918. He became the most popular leader tide of nationalism too was rising. A group of Muslim landlords and nawabs formed the upper-class merchants, lawyers and and centre of political activity. In 1919 All India Muslim League at Dhaka in 1906. The League supported the partition of Bengal. workers. Gandhiji gave a call for satyagraha against It desired separate electorates for Muslims, a demand conceded by the government in Mahatma Gandhi spent his first year in the Rowlatt Act that the British had just 1909. Some seats in the councils were now reserved for Muslims who would be elected India travelling throughout the country, passed. The Act curbed fundamental rights by Muslim voters. This tempted politicians to gather a following by distributing favours to their own religious groups. understanding the people, their needs and such as the freedom of expression and the overall situation. His earliest strengthened police powers. Any person Hindu Mahasabha was formed in 1915 with the objective of uniting Hindus and interventions were in local movements in who was suspected by the police of being a reconverting those who had converted to other religions. It was headed by leaders like Champaran and Kheda where he led terrorist could be arrested and kept in Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. They tried to counter the Muslim League and the influence peasants in their struggles against unfair prison without trial. Even when tried it of other religious groups in India. terms and excessive taxes. In Ahmedabad would be a secret trial in which even the government although it was largely participants tried to ensure that Hindus and he led a successful millworkers’ strike in tried person could not know the evidence restricted to cities. In April 1919 there Muslims were united in the fight against 1918. In these two movements he also came against him or her. Mahatma Gandhi, were number of demonstrations and the British rule. This was also the call of into contact with Mohammad Ali Jinnah and others felt that hartals in the country and the government Mahatma Gandhi who always saw India as a many leaders who the government had no right to restrict used brutal measures to suppress them. The land of all the people who lived in the were to be his people’s basic freedoms. They criticised worst example of these atrocities was the country – Hindus, Muslims and those of lifelong associates – the Act as “devilish” and tyrannical. firing on a meeting of unarmed people at other religions. He was keen that Hindus people like Rajendra Gandhiji asked the Indian people to observe Jalianwala Bagh in Amritsar in Punjab by and Muslims support each other in any just Prasad and Vallabhai 6 April 1919 as a day of non-violent General Dyer on 13 April, in which about cause. Patel. Let us now opposition to this Act, as a day of 400 people were killed and thousands Do you think it is right to give the focus on the “humiliation and prayer” and hartal injured. On learning about the massacre, police such powers to suppress movements (strike). Satyagraha Sabhas were set up Rabindranath Tagore expressed the pain and revolts ? organised between to launch the movement. The Rowlatt anger of the country by renouncing his Why do you think people were so 1919 and 1922. Satyagraha turned out to be the first all- Knighthood. much against such laws during the Gandhi India struggle against the British During the Rowlatt Satyagraha the freedom movement?

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Khilafat agitation and the Non- to spin their own cotton on a charka (this officers. People said, “Gandhiji’s swaraj Find out more about Chirala Perala Cooperation Movement cloth is known as Khadi ). In every house is coming and we will not pay taxes to this Movement and the Forest Satyagraha. The Khilafat issue was one such cause. this spread the desire to make the country government.” Prepare a skit and enact it in the class. In 1920 the British imposed a harsh treaty self reliant. Another major development was the on the Turkish Sultan or Khalifa . People Forest Satyagraha in Palnati taluqa of were furious about this as they had been Guntur district and also in Rayachoti taluqa The Happenings of 1922-1929 about the Jalianwala Bagh massacre. Also, of Kadapa district. Peasants began sending Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, was Indian Muslims were keen that the Khalifa herds of cattle into the forests without against violent movements. He abruptly be allowed to retain control over Muslim paying grazing fees to the forest called off the Non-Cooperation Movement sacred places in the erstwhile Ottoman department. In many villages of Palnadu, when in February 1922 a crowd of peasants Empire. The leaders of the Khilafat people declared Gandhi Raj and attacked set fire to a police station in Chauri Chaura. agitation, Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, police parties. People were convinced that Twenty two policemen were killed on that now wished to initiate a full-fledged Non- the colonial rule was coming to an end and day. The peasants were provoked because Cooperation Movement. the forests would be back in the control of the police had fired on their peaceful Fig: 11 B.1 : In the late phase of demonstration. Gandhiji supported their call and urged the village people. In the two taluqs the Indian National Movement Gandhiji Once the Non-Cooperation movement the Congress to campaign against “Punjab forest administration had to virtually close adopted Charka as a symbol of Swadeshi was over, Gandhiji’s followers stressed that wrongs” (Jalianwala massacre), the down during the agitation period. the Congress must undertake constructive Khilafat wrong and demand swaraj. In the But all this was merely the tip of the We can see from the above that work in the rural areas. Other leaders such Nagpur session of the Congress in 1920, iceberg. Large parts of the country were sometimes people thought of Gandhiji as as C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru argued that Gandhiji was acknowledged as the leader on the brink of a formidable revolt. For someone who could help them overcome the party should fight elections to the of the Congress. In this session, the example let us see what was happening in their misery and poverty. Gandhiji wished councils and enter them in order to objective of the Congress was changed to Andhra region. to build class unity, not class conflict. Yet, influence government policies. Through the achievement of Swarajya by all peasants could imagine that he would help Guntur district was at the centre of sincere social work in villages in the mid- legitimate and peaceful means. Non- them in their fight against zamindars, and nationalist activity and the participation was 1920s, the Gandhians were able to extend Cooperation was accepted as the means to agricultural labourers believed, he would very widespread including not only their support base. This proved to be very get Swarajya . provide them land. At times, ordinary students, but also merchants and peasants useful in launching the Civil disobedience people credited Gandhiji with their own The Non-Cooperation Movement in the villages. A highlight of the non- movement in 1930. gained momentum through 1921-22. cooperation movement was the famous achievements. For instance, at the end of a Two important developments of the Thousands of students left government Chirala Perala movement. The government powerful movement, peasants of Pratapgarh mid-1920s were the formation of the controlled schools and colleges. Many decided to convert this town into a in the United Province (now Uttar Pradesh) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a lawyers such as Motilal Nehru, C. R. Das, municipality and forced high taxes. About managed to stop illegal eviction of tenants. Hindu organisation and the Communist C. Rajagopalachari and Asaf Ali gave up 15,000 people of the town led by Duggirala But they felt it was Gandhiji who had won Party of India. These have very different their practices. British titles were Gopalakrishnayya refused to pay the taxes this demand for them. At other times, using ideas about the kind of country India should surrendered and legislatures were and migrated to a new settlement called Gandhiji’s name, tribals and peasants be. Find out about their ideas with the help boycotted. People lit public bonfires of Ramnagar and remained there for eleven undertook actions that did not conform to of your teacher. The revolutionary foreign cloth. The imports of foreign cloth months. There was a powerful movement Gandhian ideals. nationalist Bhagat Singh too was active in fell drastically between 1920 and 1922. To of non-payment of land revenue by the this period. this Gandhi added a campaign for people peasants and mass resignations of village

Free distribution by A.P. Government 131 132 Political Systems and Governance National Movement - The Last Phase 1919-1947 Civil Disobedience Civil Disobedience Movement. In Delhi Khaddar , removal of untouchability to Movement: Salt alone, 1600 women were imprisoned. This bring social cohesion in the movement. In Satyagraha (1930-32) 1 Movement was not confined to the Salt response to the call of Gandhiji, a number Satyagraha alone. Foreign-cloth shops of women broke purdah and participated The Indian National and liquor shops were picketed and were in the movement. Congress met at Lahore in burned. Hand spinning was taken up as a 1929 under the The combined struggles of the Indian movement. British schools, colleges and Presidentship of Jawaharlal people bore fruit when the Government of services were boycotted. The people joined Nehru. In this session, the India Act of 1935 prescribed provincial in large number in this movement. Congress declared that the autonomy and the government announced attainment of “Purna The government replied with ruthless elections to the provincial legislatures in Swaraj” was its goal and repression, lathi charges and firing on 1937. The Congress formed governments resolved to launch Civil unarmed crowds of men and women. Over in 7 out of 11 provinces. In September Disobedience Movement to 90,000 Satyagrahi’s including Gandhiji 1939, after two years of Congress rule in achieve it. The leftists and other Congress leaders were the provinces, the Second World War broke within congress took lead 2 imprisoned. 110 persons were killed and out. Critical of Hitler, Congress leaders this time giving a national over 300 wounded in police firing. were ready to support the British war effort. goal and programme. The Restrictions were imposed on press. The But in return they wanted that India be Congress working British attempted to divide the Indians by granted independence after the war. The committee with this winning over the Muslims, zamindars and British refused to concede the demand. The enthusiasm decided that 26 th other minorities to its side. But the leaders Congress ministries resigned in protest. January should be observed took up constructive programme Quit India Movement – 1942 ‘Do or as the day of “Purna throughout the country like wearing Die’ Swaraj”. Britain wanted to use the th On March 12 , 1930 at World War II (1939–45) people and money of India for Sabarmati Ashram, Germany led by Hitler and his Nazi party wanted to the Second World War. Ahmedabad, Gandhiji Fig 11 B.2 : Two posters printed during freedom gain control over the whole world and declared war on Congress demanded that in decided to break the strugle:1. Gandhiji at Dandi collecting salt, 2. Sarojini Britain, France, USSR, and other countries. USA joined return for support in the war, government salt laws Naidu marching in front of Darshana Salt factory. on the side of England, France and USSR (called Allied India should be given self- (making salt very expensive resigned their jobs. On 6 th April, 1930 Countries). Germany was supported by Japan and Italy. rule. But the British for the common people) by manufacturing Gandhiji reached Dandi, picked up a handful One of the worst wars in human history broke out in Government was in no mood salt at Dandi, a small village on the Gujarat of salt and broke the salt law as a symbol 1939 and lasted till 1945 when USSR’s armies captured to accept this demand. sea-coast. The next morning Gandhiji and of the Indian people’s refusal to live under Berlin and the USA dropped atom bomb over Hiroshima Congress working committee his 78 companions began the 375 km trek, the British made laws and therefore under and Nagasaki in Japan. Most people who cherished the met on 8 th August 1942 at from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi. This was the British rule. values of democracy and freedom opposed Hitler and Bombay and passed a covered in 24 days. Day after day supported the Allied Countries in the war. However, in resolution stating clearly that newspapers reported his progress, his A wave of enthusiasm swept the India it created a dilemma as Indians were at the same “British Rule in India must speeches and the impact on the people. country. Salt laws were broken at many time fighting the British. end immediately”. The Hundreds of village officials on his route places and even women took part in the

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evening after the Quit India Resolution was Odisha, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra passed; Gandhiji addressed these Pradesh. In Midnapur, people set up parallel memorable words to the Indian people: government during 1942-44. As a result “Every one of you should from this of this movement ten lakh pounds worth of movement onwards consider yourself a property was destroyed. Thirty police free man or woman and act as if you are personnel and ten army men lost their lives; free... I am not going to be satisfied with many people were killed, thousands were anything short of complete freedom. We arrested in the Government suppression. Bhagat Singh Subhash Chandra Bose J.B. Kripalani Abdul Kalam Azad shall ‘do or die’. We shall Subhash Chandra Bose and INA. Years of Radical Organisations either free India or die in By the end of 1943 over 90,000 the attempt.” Subhash Chandra Bose had been a Swarajist and a people were arrested, and The period after 1940 was characterised by intensive On the early hours of radical nationalist. He organized the Indian National Army around 1,000 killed in police activities of radical organisations like the Communist th August 9 , 1942 the (INA) with the cooperation of Rash Bihari Bose in Burma firings. In many areas orders party, trade unions, women’s organisations, kisan sabhas Government arrested most and Andamans. The INA consisted of more than sixty were given to machine-gun and dalit organisations. They mobilised the poor and of the Congress leaders viz., thousand soldiers. He received the help of the Japanese crowds from airplanes. The marginalized peasants and workers, tribals and dalits not st Gandhiji, Patel, Nehru, in this fight. On 21 October 1943, the provisional rebellion, however, ultimately only against the British but also against the local Maulana Azad, Acharya Government of Independent India ( Azad Hind ) was set up brought the Raj to its knees. exploiters like moneylenders, factory owners and upper Kriplani, Rajendra Prasad in Singapore. On March 18 th , 1944 the INA crossed the caste landlords. They were keen that in the new and others. The people frontiers of Burma and entered India with a slogan “ Dilli Towards Independence independent India their interests should be properly protest with hartals, strikes, Chalo ” - (on to Delhi). and Partition represented and their long years of suffering should end processions all over the In March 1944, the Indian Flag was hoisted in Kohima. Meanwhile, in 1940 the and they should get equal rights and opportunities. The country. Unfortunately the But with the change of fortunes in the war, the launching Muslim League had moved a national movement which was till then dominated by movement turned violent. of a counter-offensive by the British in the winter of 1944-45 resolution demanding upper class people gained a new dimension and energy The working class in the and the final defeat of Japan in the Second World War the “Independent States” for which eventually helped to throw out the British rule. The factories boycotted the work INA movement collapsed. On August 23 rd , 1945, Subhash Muslims in the north-western poor, particularly the outcastes and labourers in eastern and students attacked the Chandra Bose is reported to have lost his life in an air and eastern areas of the India actively participated. The under-tenants in Malabar, police stations, post offices, crash while going from Bangkok to Tokyo. country. The resolution did not tenants in Tebhaga, vetti castes and cultivators in railway-stations and other mention partition or Pakistan. Telangana were the active participants in the movements public places. They cut off Why did the League ask for an of 1940s. The food shortage and demand for land has Telegraph and Telephone autonomous arrangement for driven them to historic post-second world war wires and railway lines. the Muslims of the movements. The Congress was not in a position to advance They burnt government subcontinent? From the late these movements as it was actively indulged in buildings, vehicles, Military 1930s, the League began negotiations for independence. The Communists who vehicles, Railway carriages. viewing the Muslims as a were active in All India Kisan Sabha, a peasant front and Madras and Bombay were separate “nation” from the intelligentsia through All India People’s Theaters the most effected in this Hindus. In developing this Association and All India Students Federation led these notion it may have been respect. The British Fig 11 B.3: (left) Surrendered INA soldiers, (right below) movements from below. They were a force to reckon with, authority disappeared in Jhansi regiment in action, (right top) Post mark influenced by the history of which has hastened the British to come to negotiations parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and quit India.

Free distribution by A.P. Government 135 136 Political Systems and Governance National Movement - The Last Phase 1919-1947 mission suggested that India should remain Louis Mountbatten who was united and constitute itself as a loose appointed Viceroy in early 1947 was not confederation with some autonomy for able to resolve the differences between the Muslim League and the Congress Muslim-majority areas. But it could not get Party. Consequently, it was agreed that the Congress and the Muslim League to India would be split into Muslim- agree to specific details of the proposal. controlled Pakistan, and Hindu- Partition now became more or less dominated India. India became inevitable. independent on 15 th August 1947, while As the proposal of the Cabinet Mission Pakistan celebrates its independence on failed, the Muslim League decided on mass 14 th August. Even after partition, many agitation in support of its demand for lakhs of people were killed and numerous women had to face untold brutalities. Pakistan. It announced 16 th August 1946 as Lakhs of people were forced to flee their “Direct Action Day”. On this day riots broke homes. Torn asunder from their out in Calcutta, lasting several days and homelands, they were reduced to being resulting in the death of thousands of refugees in alien lands. So, the joy of our people. By March 1947 violence spread to country’s independence from British rule Fig 11B.4 : Jawaharlal Nehru addressing at Red Fort after Independence different parts of northern India. came mixed with the pain and violence of Partition. tension between some Hindu and Muslim opened negotiations between the groups in the 1920s and 1930s. More Congress, the League and themselves for Key words importantly, the provincial elections of the independence of India. The talks failed 1. Nationalism 2. Secular 3. Terrorist 4. Extremism 1937 seemed to have convinced the League because the League saw itself as the sole 5. Satyagraha 6. Non Co-operation 7. Civil disobedience8. Subcontinent that Muslims were a minority, and they spokesperson of India’s Muslims. The would always have to play second fiddle in Congress could not accept this claim since any democratic structure. It feared that a large number of Muslims still supported Muslims may even go unrepresented. The it. Elections to the provinces were again Improve your learning Congress’s rejection of the League’s desire held in 1946. The Congress did well in the 1. Create a table to show the various efforts of Gandhiji in national movement. to form a joint Congress-League “General” constituencies but the government in the United Provinces in League’s success in the seats reserved for Event Gandhiji’s role 1937 also annoyed the League. Muslims was spectacular. It persisted with The Congress’s failure to mobilise the its demand for “Pakistan”. In March 1946 Muslim masses in the 1930s allowed the the British cabinet sent a three-member League to widen its social support. It sought mission (Straford Cripps, Pethik to enlarge its support in the early 1940s Lawrance, Alexander) to Delhi to examine when most Congress leaders were in jail. this demand and to suggest a suitable At the end of the war in 1945, the British political framework for a free India. This

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2. The national movement fought all attempts of the British government to deny democratic freedom and rights of the people. Give examples of the rights which the government tried to curtail and the movement launched against it. 3. To what extent was the Salt satyagraha successful in its objectives? Give your assessment. 4. Which of the following was part of national movement: a. Picketing shops that sell foreign clothes b. Hand spinning thread to weave clothes c. Burning imported clothes d. Wearing khaddar e. All the above 5. What were the different events that led to the partition? 6. Look at the India map and fill colours in Pakistan and Bangladesh which are our adjacing countries. 7. Read the first paragrph under the heading ‘The Happenings of 1922-1929’ and answer this, ‘Gandhiji called off the movement after the violence. How do you support it?’ 8. As a part of Non Co-operation movement, what incidents took place in our state? 9. Write a brief note on Quit India Movement. 10. Prepare a timeline chart on Freedom Struggle from 1885 to 1947.

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