1.
The Rowlatt Act (1919):
● This law allowed the British government in India to detain people without trial if they were
suspected of anti-government activities.
● It was deeply unpopular as it denied Indians basic legal rights.
● Gandhi called for a nationwide protest and hartal (strike), urging people to peacefully
oppose the act.
● The act led to widespread unrest, and the harsh British crackdown further increased
public anger.
2. The Amritsar Massacre (Jallianwala Bagh, 1919):
● On April 13, 1919, thousands of unarmed Indians gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in
Amritsar to peacefully protest the Rowlatt Act.
● British Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered his soldiers to fire on the crowd without
warning.
● Hundreds were killed, and over a thousand were injured, including women and
children.
● The massacre shocked the nation and the world, and it marked a turning point—many
Indians stopped believing in British justice.
3. Gandhi and the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922):
● After the massacre, Gandhi launched a nationwide non-cooperation campaign to
resist British rule through peaceful means.
● Indians were urged to boycott British schools, courts, titles, and goods, and to support
swadeshi (Indian-made) products.
● The movement attracted millions, including students, workers, and peasants.
● However, after a violent incident at Chauri Chaura, where protestors killed policemen,
Gandhi called off the movement, stressing his commitment to non-violence.
4. British Response to Civil Disobedience:
● When Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930—starting with the
Salt March to protest the British salt tax—the British responded with repression.
● Thousands of protestors were arrested, including Gandhi and top Congress leaders.
● The British tried to negotiate through events like the Round Table Conferences, but
made few concessions.
● The harsh crackdown only strengthened Indian resolve for freedom.
5. Impact of World War II on the Nationalist Movement:
● In 1939, Britain declared India’s entry into World War II without consulting Indian
leaders.
● The Indian National Congress demanded full independence in return for support in the
war.
● When this was rejected, Congress leaders resigned and tensions escalated.
● In 1942, Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement, calling for immediate British
withdrawal.
● The British responded with mass arrests and violence, but the movement showed how
strongly Indians wanted independence.
6. Outcome of World War II and Its Effect on Indian Independence:
● After WWII, Britain was exhausted economically and militarily.
● The war had changed global attitudes—there was more international pressure for
decolonization.
● Widespread unrest in India, along with the naval mutiny in 1946, showed the British
could no longer maintain control.
● Realizing the situation was unsustainable, the British began the process of granting
independence.
7. Jinnah and the Muslim League:
● Mohammad Ali Jinnah, leader of the Muslim League, argued that Muslims in India
needed a separate nation to protect their rights.
● In 1940, the League passed the Lahore Resolution, demanding a separate
state—Pakistan.
● As communal tensions grew, relations between the Congress and the League worsened.
● Eventually, the British and Congress accepted Partition as a solution to avoid civil war.
8. Result of the Partition (1947):
● British India was divided into two nations: India (mainly Hindu) and Pakistan (mainly
Muslim).
● Partition triggered horrific communal violence, especially in Punjab and Bengal.
● Around 1 to 2 million people were killed, and over 10 million were forced to migrate
across the new borders.
● Families were torn apart, and the trauma of Partition remains a painful legacy in both
countries.
9. Why Gandhi Was Assassinated (1948):
● Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse, a
Hindu nationalist.
● Godse blamed Gandhi for being too sympathetic toward Muslims during and after
Partition.
● Gandhi had worked tirelessly for Hindu-Muslim unity and had fasted to stop the
violence.
● His death shocked the world and deeply mourned by millions.
