Modern History

By
Dr Anshul bajpai

Topic- Batch - P2
Orientation Date - 27-30 July
2022
 Gandhi era
● Gandhi in africa (explain)

● Train incident on the way to pretoria

● He wrote a letter to press (Natal advertiser)- is it chrisianity ?, is it humanism ?, is it justice ?,

● Apartheid – (explain)

● Natal Indian Congress was formed , and released newspaper – Indian Opinion

● First satyagraha against Registration certificate (Explain). Here he equated the jail with the palace of
kings hotel

● Established tolstoy form

● 2nd satyagraha- tax imposed on indians (Hindu marriage were not recognised). Harding – no
civilized country in the would will tolerate such type of tyranny/ oppressiveness
Relevance of Gandhi in Africans movements – (explain)
 Gandhi’s return to Indian

● Ganshis stated- “I can join any organisation if I can influence that organisation, I will
not join any organisation for being influenced from another ideology”. He associated
only with those organisation which are running on the path of satyagraha
 Champaran (Bihar)
● Tinkathia system (boundation of cultivation of indigo on 3/20 part of his land through
an agreement )

● After invention of chemical colour english industrialist wanted to stop indigo’s

production . Indians also wanted to get rid from such agreement. Now the english
increased land revenue to make indians free from agreement

● Rajkumar Shula, Rajendra prasad , Braj kishore, mahadev desai, narhari parekh, J.B
kripalani etc
 Ahmedabad Mill labour hartal
● Cause – because of increment in bonus. Gandhi demanded 35 % increment in
bonus.

● Ansuiya ben, sister of ambalal sarabhai supported gandhi

● Tribunal formed and accepted all the demands of the labour

 Khera movement
● Main role played by Gujarat sabha. Gandhi ji was its president

● Other leaders- V.B patel, indulal yagnik, etc

● Demand – wave off in tax for poor peasant

Importance
❖ Gandhi invented such tools for protest in India and succeeded
❖ Gandhi reached near to the people and could know ith actual concerns of the
common people
❖ Gandhi became success in releasing fear of British from the mind of the peasants
❖ Gandhi could understand strenghth and weakness of the Indians
 Rowlatt Act and jallianwala incident
● To suppress militant activities rowlatt act was passed. Now govt could arrest any
body on prevential ground.

● Both were opposed by indians n legislative assemblies as well as on roads also.

● 30 march a strike was called in delhi

● In amritsar people protested against the arrest of Saifuddin Kitchlu and Dr Satya Pal

● On 13 april jallianwala massacre happened . Marshal law was imposed in punjab and
. Congress formed tahkikat committee, british formed hunter committee for its
investigation
 Non cooperation movement 1920
● Cause- 1919 reform

● Jallianwala incident

● Gandhi suggested khilafat committee to launch protest against government

● Khilafat started movement. Gandhi wrote a letter – every citizen has right to protest against maladministration

● In calcutta session , congress approved non cooperation movement . Even C.R das opposed non cooperation
movement but in the dec session of nagpur CR das read the proposal of non cooperation movement . Now
the assembly elections had been over so the issue of its boycott had been over . Most of the leaders
supported it

● Objectives had been changed, no tools were used to get swaraj- nonviolence, earlier it was through
constitutional reform

● Arrival of prince of wales -17 Nov 1921

● Khilafat movement- demands and its nature

● Association of khilafat with congress

 suppuration
● C.R das was arrested

● Chauri Chaura incident 5 feb 1922

● Even before this gandhi declared new civil disobedience from bardoli (surat)- Jan
1922

● Evaluation of Chauri Chaura incident

● Evaluation of the decision of gandhi of association with khilafat

 Significant
● First time common people gathered together for a common cause

● Muslims participated initially after that when it turned into communal voilence muslim
withdrew them self

● Now it was clear that india could give challenge to world power

● Gandhi wrote in young india – “british should understand that the movement started
in 1920 is last struggle for the independence, its is final one, decision must be in our
favour whether for this, one month would be spent, 4 month, one year and even
several years . ”
 Mapillah incident
● Kerala in calicut 1921

● Nature – exploitation by zamindars to peasants

● But british gave it communal colour

● Main leader- ali musaliyar . He was religious priest also. He was arrested

● Some leaders showed communal harmony also- Kunhammed haji,

 Swarajist and No changers
● After the non cooperation movement , in the absence of Gandhi ji, congress was again tending towards
another split. There were two group emerged in congress, one in the leadership of C.r das who wanted to
participate in coming election and thus in assembly, they should continue British Protest

● Another group believed that they should follow the path of Gandhi ji; non cooperation, so they should not
participate in election

● actually C.R das and his group wanted to expose the reality of govt india act 1919 by demonstration. They
wanted to show public that , councils and assemblies had no autonomy, still the power was in hands of
governor general

● C.r das argued that if the nature of councils would not be changed, those should be finished . Another group
on congress in the leadership of Vallabhbhai patel, , rajendra prasad, C. Rajagopalachari opposed this
proposal . Finally proposal was rejected .

● C.R. das and M.l. nehru had to resign from their respective posts. By 1 jan 1923 they formed a new party
Congress Khilafat swaraj party, generally known as Swaraj party. CR das was its president and M.L nehru was
its General secretary .

● Those who were swarajist , called pro changers and those who were against swarajist, called No changers
● All the tools for protests were the tools of Gandhi ji .

● Actually swarajist considered that there was political inactivity, to finish this inactivity, they
should participate in election other wise people would be hopelessness.

● Now by this, the confident of people will increase , people would be more political aware and
would be participated against British . They though, after the boycott of the election, these
assemblies would be working and most of the people would not participate in election.
Therefore people could lose their faith on congress

● Non congress people could adopt all the important post , so swarajist should use this
opportunity

● Actually swarajist wanted to convert assembly as the political platform for the protest .

● Slowly and gradually both the group became agree to cooperate each other. Swarajist
accepted that , protest should be also from outside: roads aslo.

● Up to 1923 session of congress, now congress decided not to oppose swarajist

● Now Gandhiji was released by Govt. actually government thought as Gandhi
would come outside, he would criticize swarajist so that again congress
could be divided .

● British thought that branch between Gandhiji and swarajist could be used for
colonial benefit.

● But British could not succeeded

● Gandhi even praised the swarajist and declared swarajist leaders as patriot,
intelligent leaders
● Now government started to supress civil rights on the name of terrorism . Police raided in the offices
of congress leaders . Many congress leaders were arrested (S.C. Bose ). .

● Gandhi wrote in young India –”Rowlatt act has been died but its objectives are still alive ”

● Swarajist participated in election an (1923) and won 42 out of 101 elected seats in central assembly.
In central province they were in majority. In bengal they were largest party, and in bombay and U.P
they could get sufficient success, but failed in Madras and Punjab because of caste politics .

● In central assembly swarajist formed a common alliance in which Jinnah, malviya were included.
Similar alliance were formed in provinces also so that they could defeat government

● But these assemblies had very limited rights. They had no control over executive veither in central or
in province. Executives were directly responsible towards British govt.

● In 1925 , swarist got big success with the election of speaker in central assembly when Vithalbhai
patel was elected as speaker
● Swarajist raised 3 big issues in assembly- amendment in constitution for providing swaraj, civil
independence and right , development of indigenious industries
● Many times govt had to pass the annual budget with the veto power of the governor general
● Vithalbhai patel- “we want that you will run the government by providing validity to all rejected
bills by your veto power ”
● Lala lajpat rai- “revolutions and revolutionary activities are the social truths , without those,
society can never progress ”
● C.R Das- Suppression is the main toll to strengthen despotic rule it is the most dangerous form
of the violence . I criticize the violence of the power . I also the criticize the voilentic tools
adopted for independence
● Congress controlled local institutions like municipal corporation etc. C.R Das became mayor of
calcutta, bittal bhai patel became chairman of ahmedabad municipal corporation , rajendra
prasad became chairman of patna municipal corporation, and nehru for allahabad (J.L)
● They did a lot of public welfare work on local level
● After the death of C.R . Das, swaraj party had started to decline
● After the suspension of mass protest, communalism raised
● There was nothing left in hands of swarajist for protest . There was no scope to protest in parliament now.
Their popularity was continuously declining.
● Govt used divide and rule policy . Swarajist could not succeeded to stop communal activities inside itself
● Now most of the swarajist decided to support civil disobedience and decided not to participate in coming
election
● But some swarajist participated in election but could not get sufficient success .Communal forces were
criticizing M.L. Nehru that he ate beef . Final beside of madra. They faced huge loss in election and they
could not form any common alliance during this time
● But on many time all indian opposed some bills like public safety bill in assembly.
● Lala lajpat rai- our main rival is not bolshevik or leninism nut capitalism and exploitation s are our main rival
● Even supporter of capitalism purushottam das thakurdas and GD birla also opposed this bill
● Now govt frustrated and arrested most of the communist leaders. Gandhi equated these activities of
suppression with orgy of anarchy in guilt of law
● After the passing proposal of civil disobedience movement now swarajist left legislative assemblies
 Role of swarajist
● They continued their political activities at that time when national movement was
hopeless.

● They never supported any activity of colonial rule

● They exposed Govt of india act 1919

● They never opposed Gandhi ji

● At local level they did many appreciable works

● They prepared leaders and workers for coming movements

 Political activities during 1927 to 1929
● To decide political future of Indian British govt appointed a law commission in the
chairmanship of simon. In this commision there was no indian member
● In india, congress and nationalist immediately reacted against it. They decided to
protest against its formation. They opposed on the ground that no indian was
considered eligible for the future of india . It was big insult for indian leaders
● All the indian ;leaders decided to boycott this commission
● It reached on 3 jan 1928 to india and it had to face huge protest . Congress gave a
slogan- Go back simon
● Nehru and subhash, 2 new leaders were emerged during this protest. Nehru led this
protest in lucknow
● Brickenhed , secretory for indian state, appointer of simon commission was
continuously crying that indians are non capable to bring any solid proposal for future
politics which could be accepted by all indian leaders
● To accept this challenge , all party meeting was called, and a report , known as nehru
report was introduced in which stated that british should provide status of dominion
state to Indian government
 Nehru report 1928
● Dominion state
● Did not accept separate electorate system
● Recommended that there should be some reserved seats for muslims only in those
areas where they are in minority
● Adult franchise, equal rights to women, freedom to form union, separation of religion
with state
● Muslim legue did not accpt
● Nehru and subhash rejected on the ground of dominion state . They demanded
purna swaraj
● Jinnah introduced this time 14 point demands
 Lahore Session 1929
● In may 1929, labor party came into power in london , macdonald became PM. he declared that
there would be round table conference with Indian leaders where political future of India would
be decided
● This round table conference would be called after the submission of simon commision report
● Congress declared purna Swaraj would be objective of congress from now onward and nothing
could be acceptable less than purna swaraj
● Nehru was elected its president after the recommendation of gandhi ji
● Gandhi stated- “some congress leaders are in fear when I transfer the power of congress from
old person to young generation but I do not think so. Old person had played their innings now
young generation have to take leadership in their hands and be ready for struggle . I think
Jawahar deserve all those quality of leader for which I should recommend his name. he has
wide experience as the worker of congress, of strong will power, honest ets ”
● Gandhi stated- “’ without getting any post in congress I can use my influence to serve over
motherland. Nehru is like a gift in return of my service
● Nehru stated- I m complete socialist and I have no faith on king and princes . I do not believe in
private industries.
 Civil disobedience movement
● 31 st Jan 1930 gandhi gave 11 pointed demand letter which was ignored
by Irwin. Now gandhi had only one option left that was – civil disobedience
movement
● Gandhi stated- “salt isnothing separated from water . Government has no
right to impose tax on salt. By this government cannot kill handcapt, patient
and poor people. It is completely inhuman, illogical. I will break salt law with
my soke supporter on 11 of this month, you can arrest me. I believe that
after my arrest, thousands of the people will come forward and protest
against this law in disciplined way . This law is a dark spot in law book ”
● Gandhi travelled with his 78 supporters from ahmedabad and after 240
miles reached dandi. Here he symbolically broke the salt law. He was
immediately arrested but released soon(6 April 1930)
● Gandhi appealed to all Indias to disobey this rule with non violent activities.
The people residing near coastal area should break salt law by making salt
and those people residing in landlocked are should refuse to pay land
revenue
● He states that – “if one person maong each 7 lakh villages breaks
this law, what government can do? Most dictator government of the
world can not not anything in this stage . ”
● Salt journeys
A. Tanjore coastal region tamilnadu- C. Rajagopalachari started his
journey from tiruchirapalli to vedaranyam
B. Vaikom satyagraha in malabar
C. Assam- sylhet to noakhali
D. Shivaram were established in each and every district of andhra
pradesh
E. Nehru was also arrested
F. Peshawar- red shirt movement in the leadership of khan abdul
ghaffar khan- group- khudai khidmatgar
● Initially government ignored this movement but when it became harmful for
government , government started to crush . Govt was in dilemmatic situation . If govt
crush, congress will cry that govt is crush , if not, congress will declare his victory.
● When Gandhi declared that he would break salt law in dharsana, before it he was
arrested . People protested this incident on large scale . Now sarojini naidu led this
movement and faced lathicharge
● During this movement salt factories were looted, people put fire in foreign goods,
looted wine shop etc. entire India was affected with this
● First time women participated in such large scale , youngsters, students and each
section of the society participated in it.
●
● In gujrat, bardoli , people refused to pay tax. Governments brutally crushed.
Even police beat 80 years old mother of vallabhbhai patel.
● In assam cunningham circular was introduced which was opposed by
students (Explain)
● Tota narsaiya- leader of andhra
● P. krishna pillai- calicut
● Majri sena and vanar sena were formed (Explain)
● Finally Gandhi was arrested in 1930 again. But government now wanted to
compromise with Gandhi ji. During this time report of Simon commission was
published in which there was no any provision for the dominion status to India. It
was another humiliated incident .

● Now Indian government wanted to compromise hence govt released Gandhi ji

on 25 Jan without any terms.
 Gandhi Irwin Pact 5 march 1931
● After a long discussion of three weeks this pact came into existence

Terms-

A. All the political prisoners would be released

B. The penalties on political prisoners would be waved off . There lands would be
returned if the confiscated lands were not sold or redistributed

C. People can make salt for their domestic use only

(Discuss in detail)
 Karachi session , 2nd round table conference

● To recognise the Gandhi Irwin pact, congress session was held in karachi

● first time congress passed some proposal related with fundamental right and
national economic programme.

● This was the first time when congress described about Purna Swaraj. Congress
declared that to abolish exploitation of the public , economical exploitation as well as
political exploitation should be stopped

● Congress passed proposal for adult franchise and compulsory primary education . It
was a document of fundamental political and economic policies of congress
 Second round table conference and its relevance
● Gandhi reached London on 29th Aug 1931. rightist leaders of the
britisain were not happy with this decision that India could be
provided political autonomy.
● In one newspaper it was published that “without India entrie British
commonwealth would be fractioned. Indian is our biggest capital in
economics, political and geographical point of view
● Gandhi could not get anything in 2nd round table conference
● In india government crushed civil protest and abolished civil right.
India was run with marshal laws and ordinances
● The decision of Gandhi of the participation in 2nd round table
conference was wrong ?