Indian National Movement
Overview
The Indian National Movement (1857–1947) is one of the most heavily tested topics in HSSC CET General Awareness. It covers the entire arc of India's freedom struggle—from the first organized armed uprising against British rule to the eventual independence and partition. Questions typically focus on dates, key personalities, important sessions of the Indian National Congress, and the chronology of major movements.
Understanding this topic requires grasping two parallel tracks: the moderate-extremist-Gandhian evolution of the Congress, and the revolutionary movements that ran alongside. You must also know the British responses—repressive acts, constitutional reforms, and divide-and-rule tactics.
Key Concepts
- Revolt of 1857 was the first large-scale armed uprising against the British, triggered by the greased cartridge issue but rooted in political, economic, and social grievances. It failed due to lack of coordination and modern weapons but sowed seeds of nationalism.
- Indian National Congress (INC) was founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume. The early phase (1885–1905) was dominated by Moderates who believed in constitutional methods—petitions, prayers, and persuasion.
- Extremist Phase (1905–1919) saw leaders like Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Bipin Chandra Pal (Lal-Bal-Pal) advocating Swadeshi, boycott, and national education. Tilak's slogan: "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it."
- Gandhian Era (1919–1947) transformed the movement into a mass struggle. Gandhi introduced Satyagraha (non-violent resistance) as the primary weapon, mobilizing peasants, women, and the common people.
- Revolutionary Movements ran parallel to Congress activities. Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, and others believed in armed struggle. Key events: Kakori Conspiracy (1925), Lahore Conspiracy Case (1929).
- Communal Politics and Partition emerged from the Muslim League's demand for separate electorates (1906) and eventually Pakistan (Lahore Resolution, 1940). Partition in 1947 came with massive communal violence and displacement.
- Role of Subhas Chandra Bose and the INA (Indian National Army) added a military dimension to the freedom struggle during World War II.
Key Facts and Dates
| Year | Event | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1857 | Revolt of 1857 | Started at Meerut on 10 May; Bahadur Shah Zafar declared leader |
| 1885 | INC Founded | Bombay session; 72 delegates; W.C. Bonnerjee first president |
| 1905 | Partition of Bengal | Lord Curzon; led to Swadeshi Movement |
| 1906 | Muslim League Founded | Dhaka; Aga Khan III as first president |
| 1915 | Gandhi returns to India | From South Africa; established Sabarmati Ashram (1917) |
| 1919 | Jallianwala Bagh Massacre | 13 April; Amritsar; General Dyer ordered firing |
| 1919 | Rowlatt Act | "Black Act"—arrest without trial; Gandhi called first Satyagraha |
| 1920–22 | Non-Cooperation Movement | Suspended after Chauri Chaura incident (Feb 1922) |
| 1929 | Lahore Session | Purna Swaraj declared; 26 January 1930 as Independence Day |
| 1930 | Dandi March | 12 March–6 April; Salt Satyagraha; 390 km march |
| 1930–31 | Civil Disobedience Movement | Gandhi–Irwin Pact (1931) suspended it temporarily |
| 1942 | Quit India Movement | 8 August; "Do or Die" slogan; Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted flag |
| 1943 | INA and Azad Hind | Bose reorganized INA; "Delhi Chalo" slogan |
| 1946 | Cabinet Mission | Three-tier structure proposed; rejected by Muslim League |
| 1947 | Independence and Partition | 15 August; Mountbatten Plan; Radcliffe Line divided Punjab and Bengal |
Important Acts:
- Regulating Act (1773), Pitt's India Act (1784), Charter Acts
- Government of India Act 1858 (end of Company rule)
- Indian Councils Act 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms—separate electorates)
- Government of India Act 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford—Dyarchy)
- Government of India Act 1935 (Provincial autonomy; Federation never implemented)
Worked Examples
Example 1: Who founded the Indian National Congress and in which year?
Step 1: Recall the founder—A.O. Hume (Allan Octavian Hume), a retired British civil servant. Step 2: Recall the year—1885. Step 3: Recall the place—Bombay (Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College). Answer: A.O. Hume founded INC in 1885 at Bombay.
Example 2: Arrange the following movements in chronological order: Quit India, Civil Disobedience, Non-Cooperation, Khilafat.
Step 1: List the years:
- Khilafat Movement: 1919–1924
- Non-Cooperation: 1920–1922
- Civil Disobedience: 1930–1934
- Quit India: 1942
Step 2: Arrange: Khilafat → Non-Cooperation (ran together) → Civil Disobedience → Quit India. Answer: Khilafat/Non-Cooperation (1920) → Civil Disobedience (1930) → Quit India (1942).
Example 3: The slogan "Inquilab Zindabad" is associated with which leader?
Step 1: This slogan means "Long Live the Revolution." Step 2: It was popularized by Bhagat Singh (originally coined by Maulana Hasrat Mohani in 1921). Answer: Bhagat Singh.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the founder of INC: Students think Dadabhai Naoroji founded INC. Wrong—he was the first Indian president (1886). A.O. Hume founded it.
- Mixing up Chauri Chaura and Jallianwala Bagh: Chauri Chaura (1922, UP) was where a mob burned policemen, leading Gandhi to withdraw Non-Cooperation. Jallianwala Bagh (1919, Punjab) was the British massacre of Indians.
- Confusing 1930 and 1942 movements: Civil Disobedience (1930) focused on breaking salt laws; Quit India (1942) demanded immediate British withdrawal with "Do or Die."
- Wrong association of Lahore Session: Students confuse Lahore 1929 (Purna Swaraj) with Lahore Resolution 1940 (Pakistan demand by Muslim League).
- Forgetting the difference between Moderates and Extremists: Moderates believed in petitions and dialogue (Gokhale, Naoroji). Extremists believed in boycott and self-reliance (Tilak, Lajpat Rai).
Quick Reference
- 1857: First War of Independence—Meerut—Bahadur Shah Zafar.
- 1885: INC founded—A.O. Hume—Bombay.
- 1919: Rowlatt Act + Jallianwala Bagh—marks start of Gandhian era.
- 1929 Lahore: Purna Swaraj—Jawaharlal Nehru as Congress President.
- 1930 Dandi March: Salt Satyagraha—78 followers—24 days.
- 1942 Quit India: "Do or Die"—8 August—mass arrests of Congress leaders.
- 1947: Independence (15 Aug) and Partition—Radcliffe Line—Mountbatten as last Viceroy.