THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT (1935-42)
WIDENING OF RIFT BETWEEN THE CONGRESS AND
THE MUSLIM LEAGUE
The Government of India Act, 1935, led to elections in 1937 in the eleven
British Provinces. The Muslim League did not fare well.
The Congress formed Ministries of its own in seven out of the eleven
provinces.
In Assam, the Congress formed a Coalition Government with other parties.
The Muslim League formed its Ministry in Sindh alone.
In Punjab and Bengal there were Coalition Governments not including the
Congress. As such the Muslim League felt much humiliated.
The Congress wanted the League to work under the control and discipline.
It meant the dissolution of the League.
The League was not ready to give up its separate identity.
Jinnah wanted that the Congress should recognise the Muslim League as the
sole representative organisation of the Muslims in India. According to him,
the Congress represented the Hindus in the country. This led to a rift
between the Congress and the Muslim League.
The Muslim landowners, afraid of the agrarian policy of the Congress, began
to support the League.
The Muslim middle class could not compete with the Hindus in trade,
industry and services. The Muslims also did not like the education policy
adopted by the Congress.
The League started a forceful movement against the Congress Ministries of
`Islam in danger 'advised the Muslims to stand on their own inherent strength
and build up their own fate.
In March, 1938, the Muslim League appointed a committee under the Raja of
Pirpur to enquire into complaints of oppression and ill-treatment of the
Muslims. After a one-sided inquiry the Committee condemned the Congress
on various counts of excluding Muslims from share in the Government and in
services,
It criticised the introduction of Wardha Scheme of education, compelling the
Muslims to show respect to the Congress flag and sing the Bande Matram
song, the use of Hindi and neglect of Urdu etc. In 1939, the Second World
War broke out and the British Government in India joined the war without
consulting the Congress Ministries resigned. Mr. Jinnah and the Muslim
League under his leadership observed December 22, 1939 as the
`Deliverance Day' because the Muslims got rid of the Congress in the
provinces.
JINNAH'S TWO-NATION THEORY
Till 1937, the League did not approve the idea of Pakistan. It adhered to the
idea of one country, one nation and one state and provinces. A change came in
the attitude of the League and Jinnah after the elections of 1937 and formation
of the Congress Ministries in the provinces. The Congress was not ready to
recognise the independent identity of the Muslim League. As a result, the
relation between the two parties got estranged. Jinnah did not expect justice
and fair-play at the hands of the Congress Ministers. Jinnah thought the
solution was a separate home for the Muslims.
The `Two-Nation Theory' proved a great blow to the National Movement. It
helped the British to refuse the demands of the Congress for the formation of a
provisional National Government at the centre during the war, and for granting
complete independence after the war.
Jinnah's Two-Nation Theory (January, 1940) was based on : (1) Hindus and
Muslims have nothing in common — different religions, cultures, traditions
literature, economic systems, laws of succession and marriage etc.
Customs and calendars, diet and dress also different.
•Two different social orders.
• On March 23, 1940, at the Lahore Session of the Muslim League, Jinnah
demanded a separate country, Pakistan.
• It finally led to the Partition of the country.
Cripps Mission of 1942
Sir Stafford Crips came to India on 22 March 1942. His proposals were :
After the war, India will get Dominion Status.
An elected Constituent Assembly will frame a constitution.
An interim government will be formed duringthe war. Only `Defence' will
remain under the British government.
Both Congress and the Muslim League rejected the proposals. Congress called
it a "Post dated cheque; the League demanded, "definite promise of
Pakistan".
THE QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT: Reasons
Cripps Mission of 1942 failed to solve the Constitutional problems.
Discontent and anger among the Indians.
The threat of Japanese invasion, raised the cry that Britain should quit India
and save India from an attack.
India would be saved from anarchy and foreign attack if the British
peacefully withdraw. This was Gandhiji's belief too.
Spread of the Quit India Movement and its
Repression
The Quit India Movement resolution passed on
August 8, 1942, by the Congress in Bombay.
Gandhiji raised the slogan of "Do or Die"—called it the final struggle.
The Government moved at great speed. Gandhiji and other leaders of
the Congress put behind bars.
Congress declared illegal, funds, confiscated.
People left leaderless, went on a rampage, burnt post offices, telegraph
offices, police. and railway stations, blew up bridges.
A last uprising against the British, short lived. About 10,000 people died
in Government firing and about 70,000 put behind bars. Repression by
the Government on a massive sale.
IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT OF THE QUIT INDIA
MOVEMENT ON THE INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT
Demonstrated the depth of the National feeling.
People acquired great capacity for struggle and scarifice and
The English saw the writing on the wall — their days in India were
numbered.
SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS
His rise and contribution an important event in Indian history, popularly
known as Netaji, his courage, sacrifice and organisation of the Indian
National Army, played an important role in the freedom struggle.
Subhash Chandra Bose, born on 23 January, 1897, at Cuttack in Orissa.
Passed the ICS exam but resigned to join the freedom struggle Participated
in both the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements of Gandhiji
in 1922 and 1930 criticised Gandhiji for withdrawing both movements.
Rift with Gandhiji led to his resigning from Congress on April 29, 1939.
He founded the Forward Bloc in 1939, objectives were : (i) oppose the
British and (ii) struggle for immediate freedom and (iii) establishing a
socialistic society.
Bose interned by the British in 1941, escaped and went to Russia for help.
The Second World War (1939-1945) made Russia join the Allies.
When Japan captured Singapore in 1942, it captured about 40,000 Indian
soldiers as prisoners of war.
In February 1943 Bose left for Japan. Organised the Azad Hind Fauj (INA) in
Singapore on July 4, 1943. He became the supreme commander, organised
Indian Independence League. His cry, "Give me blood and I shall get you
freedom". He founded Provisional Government of free India in
Singapore in October 1943. Recognised by 9 countries, including Germany,
Japan, Italy and Burma.
The INA failed to sieze Imphal, overpowered by the British army. Subhash
Chandra Bose is believed to have died in an air crash or his way to Tokyo.
The INA inspired many soldiers to do heroic deeds. The British could no
longer rely on the Indian forces to continue their rule in India.
Japan hands over Andaman and Nicobar. Islands to Bose `renamed Shahid
and Swaraj'. First territory acquired by India.
Victory in Burma, occupies Peletwa, Dateline, and Mowdok. About to
Capture Kohima but Japan withdraws support. Involved in war with
America.
The Japanese handed them over to Captain Mohan Singh, who had earlier
surrendered to them. Ras Behari Bose, organised the Indian Independence
League with the idea of mobilising the members of Indian community to
fight for independence. Ras Behari Bose was an old revolutionary who had
fled to Japan in 1915.
Indian officers, both military and civil under Ras Behari Bose met at Bangkok
in June 1942 and invited Subhash Chandra Bose to lead the league and
command the INA (Azad Hind Fauz).