Indian National Movement (Part-I)

The 'Independence for India League' was founded in opposition to the Nehru report. Jawaharlal Nehru along with Srinivasa Iyengar and Subhash Chandra Bose founded the Independence for India League in the year 1928 which put forth the demand for complete independence. Srinivasa Iyengar was its first president.

Indian Independence League was a political organization operated from the 1920s to the 1940s to organize those living outside India into seeking the removal of British colonial rule over India.

• The Partition of Bengal, which happened in 1905, was an event that sparked major protests and contributed to the need for Indian nationalism.
• The Lucknow Pact was next. It was an agreement between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League in 1916 agreeing to work together for Indian independence.
• After that, The Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919. It was a controversial act that allowed certain political cases to be tried without juries and permitted internment of suspects without trial.
• Lastly, The Introduction of Dyarchy was a constitutional reform in British India that introduced the system of dyarchy to govern the provinces. This happened in 1921, as part of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms.

Some of the other revolutionary movements which took place are–

1. In 1902, a revolutionary organisation called the Anushilan Samiti was formed in Calcutta.
2. In 1906, a weekly called Yugantar was started which advocated the revolutionary movements.
3. In 1907, attempts were made to derail the train in which Sir Andrew Fraser was commuting.
4. In 1915, the Berlin Committee for Indian Independence was established which mobilised the Indians abroad to send arms and volunteers to India in order to support the revolutionary movements against the British in India.

Major Activities in Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)

• Violation of salt laws in various regions.
• Boycott of foreign goods and burning of foreign cloth.
• Refusal to pay taxes, including land revenue and chowkidar tax.
• Picketing liquor shops and shops selling foreign goods.
• Women’s active participation in spinning and picketing.

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule’s ideology was rooted in equality, justice, and rationalism. He rejected the authority of Brahmanical scriptures, which he believed perpetuated social hierarchy and discrimination.

• Critique of Caste System: Phule was an outspoken critic of the caste system, which he saw as a major impediment to social progress and human dignity. He argued that true spirituality and morality could not be confined within the rigid boundaries of caste and religion.
• Advocacy for Women’s Rights: Phule championed women’s rights and was one of the earliest advocates for gender equality in India. He believed women’s empowerment through education and economic independence was essential for societal advancement.
• Secular and Rational Thought: Phule’s rationalist approach emphasised scientific inquiry and critical thinking over blind faith and superstition. He encouraged individuals to seek truth and question oppressive traditions.

He played a significant role in organizing the peasants of Bardoli against the increase in land revenue by the British in 1928, leading what became known as the Bardoli Satyagraha. This campaign was effectively a tax revolt, where the peasants resolved not to pay revenue, known as “Sarabandi.”

About Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, affectionately referred to as the Iron Man of India, was a towering figure in India’s struggle for independence and the subsequent integration of the nation.
• Born on 31st October 1875 in Nadiad village, Gujarat, and passing away on 15th December 1950, Patel’s life was marked by resilience, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the ideals of nationalism and unity.

Objectives of the Swaraj Party:

• To obtain the right to form a constitution that aligns with the country’s conditions and aspirations.
• The party strived to attain Swaraj (self-rule) as a means to empower the Indian populace and assert their political rights.

The Drain of Wealth Theory is an economic theory that describes how a country's wealth can be negatively impacted by the outflow of valuable assets like money and goods. This theory was primarily articulated by Dadabhai Naoroji, a prominent Indian nationalist and economic thinker, in 1867, who argued that the colonial government was siphoning off India’s wealth, leading to widespread poverty and underdevelopment in the country.
The Drain of Wealth Theory shaped public opinion against imperial rule and became a cornerstone of the Indian nationalist movement. It provided an economic basis for demands for self-rule and independence.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan did not believe in the drain theory of Dadabhai Naoroji.