In this blog series, we’ll dive into these two major movements, looking at their history, main people involved, ideas, and how they’ve influenced India today. By understanding these movements, we can see how India has grown and what challenges it still faces.
After World War II ended, there were a lot of big changes happening in Indian politics until we got freedom in 1947. Many different movements sprang up across the country. These included things like widespread strikes, the Tebhaga Movement, the Warlis Revolt, protests by farmers in Punjab, the people’s struggle in Travancore (especially the Punnapra-Vayalar incident), and the Telangana Movement. These movements were against the British rulers, but they didn’t directly fight against the colonial government itself because they mainly targeted the local supporters of the British who were also causing trouble for the people.
- After the war ended, India felt a mix of relief and trouble. While some people, like business owners, made a lot of money, most suffered from the war’s effects. There were problems like famine, high prices, shortages of goods, and people hoarding and selling things illegally.
- Even though the Quit India Movement tried to fight against British rule, it didn’t last long. The British quickly put it down in about eight weeks.
- Some people tried to keep the fight going, but it was hard. When the leaders of the Congress Party were released from jail in June 1945, they thought they would find people feeling down because of the harsh actions of the British in 1942 and the difficulties of the war.
- After the war, India was filled with excitement and energy. When leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad were released from jail, huge crowds gathered to welcome them. In Bombay, more than half a million people came out in the rain to greet the Congress leaders. Even in smaller places like Simla, villagers climbed trees just to catch a glimpse of them.
- The Labour Party, which was in power in Britain, wanted to solve the Indian problem. So they lifted the ban on the Congress and called for elections. People were really happy about the idea of having their own leaders in power, and they attended election meetings in big numbers, sometimes even reaching 50,000 or more.
- During the elections, Nehru, who had been involved in politics for a long time, was amazed at the huge crowds and excitement. Most candidates didn’t even have to campaign or spend much money, except in areas where Muslim leaders were running. The Congress won over 90% of the seats in the provincial elections, including many seats reserved for laborers. The Muslim League won most of the Muslim seats.
- What was interesting about these elections was that they weren’t just about voting; they were also about uniting Indians against the British. The Congress made issues like the harsh treatment of Indians in 1942 and the trials of Indian National Army soldiers central to their campaign. They talked about the bravery of ordinary people who resisted without leaders, and they criticized the actions of officials.
- The British were worried because they couldn’t stop these speeches, and the demand for investigations into their actions was growing. In some places where the repression had been bad, it seemed likely that the Congress would win power again.
- In February 1946, the Governor of Uttar Pradesh admitted that the officials had used methods that were wrong in 1942, and he said only an agreement with the Congress could fix things.