India's Independence Movement

What's the best way to win an unequal fight? The best way to win an unequal fight is war.

Background Vasco de Gama of Portugal discovered a sea route to India in search of the profitable spice trade. After Europeans began to trade with India, the East India Trading Company became a major trading force in the area.

Partition of Bengal In 1905, the British ordered the Partition of Bengal The viceroy of India wanted to create separate areas for Muslims and Hindus. West Bengal- Hindu majority East Bengal- Muslim minority

Backlash The partition led to a huge backlash by the Hindu majority The INC called for a boycott of British goods and public institutions, held meetings, created propaganda, and put pressure on the British government through diplomacy Muslims, hoping the partition would hold, wanted more control over education and employment, so they opposed the INC's proposals The two parts of Bengal were reunited in 1911.

Decline of the Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire, which had ruled India since the early 1500s, began to decline in the beginning of the nineteenth century. This allowed the British to gain a strong foothold in Indian politics and their economy.

British Colony After the British defeated the rulers of Bengal in 1757(The Battle of Plassey) India was a British Colony from 1757 until 1947 Parliament passed a series of laws designed to help make trade more favorable to the British East India Company within India.

Assassination On January 30th, 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic named Nathuram Godse. He believed Gandhi favored the idea of Pakistan and he hated Gandhi's nonviolent tactics Gandhi's last words are widely believed to be "Oh, God".

Funeral The entire nation mourned his death Over 2 million people joined his funeral march His death made Muslim and Hindu government and religious leaders come together to calm the hysteria and to legitmize the Indian National Congress' power.

Mohandas Gandhi Gandhi began a series of nonviolent son-cooperation movements within India. He called for boycotting British goods and institutions (like education), resign from government employment, and refuse to pay British taxes. He was constantly arrested and released for years.

Importance Hindus and Muslims all had one common problem: hatred of the British Gandhi , later becoming known as "Mahatma"(Great Soul), inspired India to come together through one goal: self- rule Legacy= He created a collective identity that had not been seen in India before.

Partition of India and Pakistan In 1947, the British decided to break off a piece of India and form the nation that would become known as Pakistan. Hindus would stay in India, Muslims would migrate to Pakistan. 10-12 million Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims crossed the new border lines. Almost 1/2 million people died as a result of religious massacres. Gandhi never agreed with the partition, and often confronted rioters to stop the killings.

India's Independence England formally handed over India's Independence on August 15th, 1947 Pakistan was declared a separate nation.

Hindus vs. Muslims India has a widespread population of Hindus and Muslims The Indian National Congress did not include Muslims, although it claimed to support "the rights of all of India" Ideological and religious conflicts between Hindus and Muslims deepened.

Indian National Congress By 1907, the Indian National Congress had two sides: Radicals- wanted a revolution to overthrow the British Empire Moderates- wanted to reform India within British rule The leader of the radical side, Bal Ganghdar Tilak, was forced to leave the party and then arrested This led the British government to increase the number of Muslim elected representatives into the Indian National Congress The groups did not work well together.

Indian National Congress Since the rebellion was unsuccessful, a rise in the need for independence and Indian leadership led 73 Indian delegates to form the Indian National Congress in 1885. Mostly well-educated lawyers, teachers, and journalists

Indian National Congress Originally, it was poorly defined Mostly a debate group for the elite They began to pass resolutions to submit to the British government about Indian civil rights and opportunities in government They voiced the interests of the urban elites Not workers, the poor or farmers.

World War I Indian colonials supported the British during World War I India contributed to the British War effort with supplies and soldiers. (about 1.3 million served) The British used fear and suppression to keep Indian nationals from rebelling

Post World War I High casualty rates, the flu epidemic, soaring inflation added onto heavy taxation, and the disruption of trade led to massive suffering in India.

Rebellion of 1857 A large- scale rebellion in northern and central India took place in 1857 against the British East India company's rule The British were caught off-guard and were slow to respond The lack of effective organization of the rebels and the superior British military led to the rebels' defeat by 1859. The British government took over the rule of India.(no longer ruled by the East India Company)

Queen Victoria Queen Victoria created legislation: Equal employment opportunity in public service Respect the rights of native princes Stop seizing princes' land Religious tolerance Queen Victoria became the Empress of India.

Mohandas Gandhi Mohandas Gandhi came back to India from leading the Indian nationalist movement in South Africa in 1915. A lawyer who fought for Indian independence His strategy of using nonviolent civil disobedience made people skeptical.

Rowlatt Act The Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 It granted extended the Viceroy's wartime powers to: Silence the Indian Press Detain political activists without trial Arrest anyone suspected of treason without a warrant.

British Culture in India By 1835, English was the language taught in schools The British forced Indian people to adopt English customs(clothing, education, etc) and disregarded Indian customs. Many British men took Indian women as wives and mistresses Slavery was common

Uprisings The Indian people did not take British rule lightly Many local Indian rulers rose up in armed conflicts against the British Always defeated

Tactics Gandhi used a variety of tactics: Preaching non- violent non- cooperation Marches Weeks- long fasts/ hunger strikes

Women Gandhi highly encouraged women's emancipation. He often used them in his tactics to gain further support from the people He discouraged: Child marriage Untouchability Extreme oppression of Hindu widows.