Read about some major movements that played a crucial role in India’s path to independence.
India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947, after a long freedom struggle. The 1857 Sepoy Mutiny was the starting point of this freedom movement, which was followed by numerous other significant campaigns. Let's read about some major movements that played a crucial role in India’s path to independence.
Sepoy Mutiny
In 1857, Indian soldiers employed by the British government launched a revolt, marking India's first major struggle for freedom. During that period, India was under the control of the British East India Company.
Swadeshi Movement
Swadeshi Movement urged people to purchase Indian-made goods rather than British products. Prominent freedom fighters like Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak played key roles in spreading this movement to the masses, leading to a widespread boycott of British goods.
Satyagraha Movement
Mahatma Gandhi initiated the first Satyagraha Movement in 1917 in Champaran, Bihar, employing non-violent protest methods. This approach included civil disobedience, fasting, strikes, non-cooperation, and Hijrat (voluntary exile).
Khilafat Movement
Khilafat Movement, which lasted from 1919 to 1922, aimed to challenge British control in India in response to the British deposing the Caliph in Turkey. Indian Muslims were dissatisfied with this action. During the movement, the Muslim League and the Congress Party joined forces, launching numerous political demonstrations together.
Non-Cooperation Movement
Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in January 1920, which concluded in February 1922. During this period, thousands of students withdrew from government schools and colleges. In Punjab, Lala Lajpat Rai led the movement. Prominent figures such as Motilal Nehru, CR Das, Jawaharlal Nehru, C Raja Gopalachari, Vallabhbhai Patel, Saifuddin Kitchlew, Asaf Ali, Rajendra Prasad, and T Prakasam also gave up their legal practices in support of the movement.
Home Rule Movement
The Home Rule Movement, launched by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant in 1916, aimed to attain self-rule for India without British interference. The movement began in Pune and Madras.
Movement Against Rowlatt Act
The British government enacted the Rowlatt Act in 1919 to suppress revolutionaries fighting for freedom. The Act allowed for the arrest of individuals based on minimal suspicion. In response, people gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Punjab, to protest. The massacre intensified the struggle for independence.
Civil Disobedience Movement
Mahatma Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 in response to the British-imposed salt tax. He led the Dandi March to protest this tax, and the movement gained widespread support across the country. Over 60,000 people, including Gandhi, were arrested during this campaign.
August Offer and Individual Movement
During World War II in 1939, the British sought Indian soldiers for the war. The British government proposed the August Offer in 1940 and promised a new constitution for India after war. However, Mahatma Gandhi was dissatisfied with this proposal and started a new Satyagraha.
Quit India Movement
Quit India Movement, started on August 8, 1942, by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress, was a major push for India's freedom from British rule. It called for the British to leave India immediately and led to widespread protests and acts of civil disobedience.
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