SSC CGL Preparation – Day 14

History: Indian Freedom Struggle (1857–1947)

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🔰 Introduction

The Indian Freedom Struggle was a long, multifaceted movement against British colonial rule. It included revolts, social and religious reform movements, moderate and extremist political activism, non-violent resistance, and revolutionary activities.

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1. The Revolt of 1857 – The First War of Independence

• Causes: Political (Doctrine of Lapse), Economic (Heavy taxes), Military (greased cartridges), Religious (disrespect to Indian customs)
• Leaders:
  • Mangal Pandey – Barrackpore
  • Rani Lakshmi Bai – Jhansi
  • Bahadur Shah Zafar – Delhi
  • Tatya Tope, Nana Saheb, Kunwar Singh
• Result: Failed, but laid the foundation for national awakening
• Effect: East India Company abolished → Crown Rule began in 1858

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2. Rise of Indian Nationalism

🔹 Political Associations Before Congress

• British Indian Association (1851)
• Indian National Association (1876) – founded by Surendranath Banerjee

🔹 Formation of Indian National Congress (INC)

• Founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume
• First Session: Bombay, President: W.C. Bonnerjee

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3. Phases of the Freedom Movement

🟩 Moderate Phase (1885–1905)

• Leaders: Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, M.G. Ranade
• Demands: Constitutional reforms, Indianisation of services
• Methods: Petitions, speeches, debates
• Dadabhai Naoroji: “Drain of Wealth” theory

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🟥 Extremist Phase (1905–1919)

• Leaders: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai (Lal-Bal-Pal)
• Slogan: “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it” – Tilak
• Movements:
  • Swadeshi and Boycott Movement (1905) – Against Partition of Bengal
  • Split in INC at Surat in 1907 (Moderates vs Extremists)
  • Formation of Muslim League in 1906 (Dhaka)

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⚔️ Revolutionary Activities

• Organizations: Anushilan Samiti, Ghadar Party, Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)
• Leaders: Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev
• Notable Incidents:
  • Alipore Bomb Case
  • Kakori Train Robbery (1925)
  • Saunders’ assassination (1928)
  • Bhagat Singh hanged (1931)

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4. Gandhian Phase (1919–1947)

🔹 Entry of Mahatma Gandhi (1915)

• Inspired by Tolstoy & South African Satyagraha
• Introduced Non-violent resistance (Satyagraha)

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🔹 Major Movements under Gandhi

1. Champaran Satyagraha (1917) – Indigo farmers

2. Kheda Satyagraha (1918) – Tax relief for famine-affected farmers

3. Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918) – Worker rights

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🛑 Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22)

• Causes: Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919), Khilafat Movement
• Led by: INC under Gandhi
• Boycott of schools, colleges, British goods, law courts
• Chauri Chaura Incident (1922): Violence → Movement withdrawn

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🇮🇳 Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34)

• Trigger: Salt Law
• Dandi March (12 March 1930) – Gandhi broke salt law
• Boycott of foreign goods, refusal to pay taxes

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✒️ Government of India Act 1935

• Provincial Autonomy
• Diarchy at Centre (never implemented)

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🇮🇳 Quit India Movement (1942)

• Slogan: “Do or Die”
• Launched after failure of Cripps Mission
• Brutal suppression by British
• Gandhi, Nehru, and others jailed

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🌍 Indian National Army (INA)

• Founded by Rash Behari Bose, revived by Subhas Chandra Bose
• Motto: “Give me blood and I will give you freedom”
• Fought alongside Japanese in Burma
• Trials of INA officers created mass support for independence

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📝 Other Important Developments

🔹 Round Table Conferences (1930–32)

• Three sessions held in London
• Gandhi attended second session as INC representative

🔹 Cripps Mission (1942)

• Offered Dominion Status post-war → Rejected by INC

🔹 Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)

• Proposed federal structure and Constituent Assembly

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📆 Events Leading to Independence

Event	Year
INA Trials	1945
Royal Indian Navy Revolt	1946
Mountbatten Plan	1947
Indian Independence Act	1947

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🏳️ Partition and Independence

• Based on Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947)
• Two nations: India and Pakistan
• Indian Independence Act passed by British Parliament in July 1947
• India became independent on 15 August 1947

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📌 Important Leaders and Organizations

Name	Contribution
Mahatma Gandhi	Non-violence, Satyagraha
Subhas Chandra Bose	INA, Forward Bloc
Nehru	First PM, Role in INC
Sardar Patel	Integration of princely states
Annie Besant	Home Rule Movement
Lala Lajpat Rai	Protested Simon Commission
Bhagat Singh	Revolutionary
Gopal Krishna Gokhale	Mentor of Gandhi
Dadabhai Naoroji	Economic critique of British rule

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🧠 Keywords & Slogans to Remember

• Swaraj – Self-rule
• Satyagraha – Truth-force
• Do or Die – Quit India Movement
• Jai Hind – Subhas Bose
• Vande Mataram – Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay