UPSC NOTES

REVOLUTIONARY  TERRORIST  MOVEMENT  (Contd.)  

The  Movement  can  be  categorised  in:-­‐  

Pre-­‐World  War:-­‐  
In  the  initial  period,  the  movement  was  centred  around  religious  symbols  due  to  which  it  lacked  mass  appeal  

These  movements  were  directed  towards  various  British  Institutions  but  lacked  proper  planning  
Post  World  War:-­‐  
The  Movement  was  influenced  from  the  Russian  revolution  of  1917,  the  movement  became  more  organised  and  
gained  steam  

At  this  time,  HSRA  emerged.  Most  prominent  leader  of  HSRA  was  Bhagat  Singh.  

Hindustan  Socialist  Republican  Army  

Ø They  targeted  not  only  British  but  also  Indian  capitalists,  zamindars,  kings  and  communal  forces.
Ø They  were  influenced  by  communistic  ideologies  which  had  wide  appeal  among  the  educated  youth.
Ø The   republican   form   of   governance   was   gaining   popularity   over   the   monarchy   even   within   the   Congress   and
Jawaharlal  Nehru  was  also  in  favour  of  it.
Ø At   this   time,   communal   tensions   were   on   the   rise;   communal   groups   paid   little   heed   to   the   welfare   of   their   own
community  and  were  more  concerned  about  the  rights  of  others.
Ø Lahore  Conspiracy  Case  1928  –  In  1928  Bhagat  Singh,  Sukhdev,  Rajguru  and  Chandrashekhar  Azad  murdered  a
British   Police   Officer   named   Saunders   at   Lahore.   This   was   to   revenge   the   death   of   Lala   Lajpat   Rai   who   was   killed   by
Saunders  while  protesting  against  Simon  Commission.  This  case  eventually  led  to  execution  of  Bhagat  Singh
Ø Bombing  of  Legislative  Assembly  –  On  8th  April  1929,  Bhagat  Singh  along  with  Batukeshwara  Dutt  bombed  the
central  Legislative  Assembly,  Delhi.
Two  Controversial  bills  namely  Trade  Dispute  Bill  and  Public  Safety  Bill  were  to  be  passed  by  the  House  that  day.
The  intention  of  the  bombing  was  to  draw  attention  to  the  problems  of  the  people.  The  intention  was  not  to  hurt  or
kill  anyone  but  to  draw  attention  of  the  media  and  public  to  their  cause
Ø Achievements
• They  succeeded  to  a  great  extent  in  removing  fear  of  authority  in  the  minds  of  the  common  people.
• The   revolutionaries   were   fearless   in   nature   and   heroic   in   their   actions   which   encouraged   people   to   stand   up
against  authority.
• The  Government  made  some  legislative  changes  bowing  to  demands  from  the  nationalists.
• It  aroused  a  patriotic  feeling  among  Indians.
• They   believed   in   secularism   and   promoted   it.   They   believed   that   secularism   was   the   key   to   India’s   unity   and
Independence.
Ø The  Movement  became  weak  after  the  death  of  Bhagat  Singh  as  his  charisma  was  unmatched.  The  movement
didn’t  die  completely  and  many  revolutionaries  resurfaced  during  the  1942  Quit  India  Movement.
 Events  of  1928  
Simon  Commission  

In  1927,  the  British  appointed  the  India  Statutory  Commission  headed  by  Sir  John  Simon  
The  purpose  of  this  mission  was:-­‐  
1. To  review  the  Government  of  India  Act,  1919
2. To  suggest  legal  and  administrative  reforms  for  the  future

In   1928,   the   members   of   the   commission   reached   India   to   widespread   protests.   The   protestors   were   raising  
slogans  like  ‘Simon  Go  Back’  and  ‘Go  Back  Simon’  

The   main   reason   for   protests   was   that   the   mission   didn’t   include   any   Indian.   In   the   earlier   acts   of   1909,   1919   also  
there  was  no  Indian  member  but  they  did  not  witness  such  protest.  This  shows  the  change  in  political  scenario.  
Nehru  Committee  

• Purpose  of  this  committee  was  to  form  a  draft  constitution  for  the  country
• The  first  meeting  was  held  at  Delhi,  followed  by  Mumbai  and  Lucknow
• A   Sub   Committer   headed   by   motilal   Nehru   was   formed.   Other   prominent   members   were   Tej   Bahadur
Sapru,  Sir  Ali  Imam,  M.R.  Jayakar  and  Subhash  Chandra  Bose
Recommendations
1. Dominion  Status
2. Secular  State
3. Universal  Adult  Suffrage
4. To  end  separate  electorate
5. Reservations  of  seats  for  minorities

Reaction  to  the  report  

• Jawaharlal  Nehru,  Motilal  Nehru’s  son  opposed  dominion  status.
• Young   leaders   like   Subhash   Chandra   Bose   in   Congress   and   Muslim   League   demanded   ‘Poorna   Swaraj’   or
complete  independence.
• Jinnah’s  fourteen  point  program

Jinnah’s  Fourteen  Point  Program  

5  key  demands  
1. Separate  electorate
2. Reservation  of  seats  for  Muslims
3. One-­‐third  reservation  in  Union  Parliament
4. Weak  Centre  and  strong  States
5. If  4/5th  members  of  a  particular  community  oppose  a  bill;  it  shall  not  be  passed
Lahore  Session  of  Indian  National  Congress  
Ø In  this  session  Congress  demanded  ‘Poorna  Swaraj’  (complete  independence)  for  the  first  time.
Ø The  session  was  presided  by  Jawaharlal  Nehru.  Gandhi  supported  Jawaharlal  Nehru  in  this  session.
Ø On  31  December,1929  the  nationalists  gathered  at  river  Ravi  and  hoisted  the  tricolour  flag
Ø On  26  January,  1930  they  celebrated  Independence  Day.  Our  constitution  was  formally  adopted  on  26  January
1949  but  was  implemented  on  26  January  1950  to  mark  this  historic  day.
CIVIL  DISOBEDIENCE  MOVEMENT  
Meaning  of  the  Movement  

Ø It  means  to  disobey  a  law  with  great  civility  and  humility

Ø It  was  Gandhi’s  movement.
Ø Satyagraha   was   used   as   a   means   of   protest   as   Gandhi   said   if   we   believe   something   is   wrong   we   have   every   right
to  oppose  it.  This  shows  opposing  was  equally  important  to  Gandhi
Ø He  believed  it  would  test  the  courage,  patience  and  sacrifice  of  the  satyagrahi
Causes  of  the  Movement  

Ø The  British  passed  a  law  forbidding  Indians  to  manufacture  salt  which  could  only  be  done  by  English  or  European
manufacturers
Ø There  were  large  scale  arrests  during  the  anti-­‐Simon  Commission  movement.
Ø 1929-­‐33   was   the   period   of   Great   Depression   which   affected   all   capitalist   countries   including   India.   It   led   to
widespread  unemployment,  poverty  and  unrest.
Ø Gandhi  presented  11  point  program  to  the  government.
Nature  
Ø Gandhi  started  Dandi  March  with  only  78  people,  from  Gandhi’s  Ashram  in  Sabarmati  on  12  March,  1930,  but
was  joined  by  thousands  by  the  time  he  reached  Dandi.
Ø The  entire  distance  was  covered  on  foot  passing  through  villages,  towns.  This  enabled  Gandhi  to  connect  to  the
masses  with  his  unique  pad-­‐yatra.
Ø Gandhian  politics  was  not  power-­‐centric  but  focussed  more  on  mobilising  people  for  the  cause  of  nation.
Ø Swadeshi  goods  became  popular  again  and  foreign  goods  were  boycotted
Ø The  peasant  movement  became  more  radical  in  regions  where  their  union  was  strong  like  eastern  UP  and  Bihar.
Ø In  Begusarai,  central  Bihar,  the  peasants  stopped  paying  Chowkidari  Tax  to  Zamindars.
Ø In   North   West   Frontier   Province,   Khan   Abdul   Gaffer   Khan   also   known   as   Frontier   Gandhi   started   the   Red   Shirt
Movement.
Features  
Ø It  was  an  all  India  mass  movement.
Ø It  was  more  popular  among  the  peasants  and  in  rural  areas.
Ø The  unity  among  Hindus  and  Muslims  was  missing.  This  was  due  to  Jinnah’s  demands  and  differences  between
Congress  and  Muslim  League.
Ø The  kind  of  resilience  shown  by  Gandhian  Satyagrahis  was  very  unique.
Gandhi-­‐Irwin  Pact  –  5th  March,  1931  
Ø It  was  the  first  time  that  an  Indian  leader  was  invited  by  the  British  for  a  dialogue  at  almost  equal  footing
Ø It  had  been  almost  a  year  since  the  movement  began  which  forced  the  British  to  initiate  a  dialogue  with  Gandhi
Ø Gandhi   agreed   to   suspend   the   Civil   Disobedience   movement   and   government   agreed   to   release   all   political
prisoners
Ø The   salt   law   was   amended   and   people   living   in   coastal   areas   were   allowed   to   manufacture   salt.   Peaceful
agitation  against  liquor  was  allowed  and  confiscated  property  was  returned.
Ø Gandhi  agreed  to  participate  in  II  Round  Table  Conference.