Government of India Act, 1919
The Government of India Act of 1919 incorporated the idea of a dual form of government referred
as diarchy for the major provinces. It was intended to bring partial responsible government.
▪ The provincial budget was separated from the central budget.
▪ The governor was empowered to reserve a bill for the consideration of the Governor
General if it related to some specified matters.
▪ A post of High Commissioner was created.
▪ The central legislature was made bicameral for the first time. The Upper House was named
the council of state. That contained 60 members in which 33 were elected. The Lower House
was named the legislative Assembly. That contained 145 members in which 104 were
elected.
▪ Direct election system was adopted in the province. In which reservation system was
present on the basis of communalism.
Entry of Gandhiji :
• The arrival of Mahatma Gandhi on the political horizon of India added new management to
the National Movement.
• He played a great part in the country’s struggle for freedom.
• He returned to India from South- Africa in 1915.
• He led the struggle of Indian peasants and workers.
• During the First World War he advised the Indians to help the British government in the
hope of getting Home Rule after the war.
• But the enactment of Rowlatt Act, 1919, created great unrest in the country.
A powerful agitation rose against this Act. This Act was like giving stones to a hungry man.
• At this critical juncture Mahatma Gandhi entered the field of Indian politics and took the
command of the national movement. So the period is generally called the Gandhian Era.
Some important points
▪ Satyagraha is a combination of two sanskrit words: Satya (truth) and agraha (eagerness): In
English Satyagraha is referred to a ‘passive resistance’.
▪ Gandhiji’s satyagraha was based on truth and nonviolence. For him, Satyagraha was a way
of life, a spiritual and moral force
▪ Gandhiji urged on non-violent methods of struggle and had faith in the power of masses.
Under his leadership the Indian National Movement got a new direction and adopted new
methods and techniques.
▪ Gandhiji moved by the degradation and humililation exprienced by the ‘untouchables, led a
crusade against this institution. He called these people ‘Harijans’ or ‘Children of God’.
▪ He dedicated his life to the removal of untouchability. Spread of education among girls and
Hindu-Muslim unity. He also promoted Swadeshi and popularized the Chakra and Khadi.
Rowlatt Act, 1919
• In 1919, the British had passed the Rowlatt Acts by which the British government got power
to detain anybody without trial for two years.
• Anybody could be imprisoned without a chance to defend himself or herself.
• Gandhiji called for satyagrah against the Rowlatt Act.
• The agitation against the act reached extreme in Punjab.
• A public meeting was held at Jallinwala Bagh in a small park enclosed by building on all
sides.
• General Dyer with his troops entered the park and ordered his army to fire without any
warning. This was the worst incidence of British rule.
Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy and its Aftermath
▪ The Rowlatt Satyagraha as a political campaign was a failure as it did not attain its object
‘the repeal of the Rowlatt Act.’ But it projected Gandhiji as an all India leader of immense
potential.
▪ The anti-Rowlatt Act agitation was particularly severe in the Punjab which was suffering
from the after effects of wartime repression, forcible recruitment and the influence of the
revolutionaries.
▪ The movement provoked a hartal in many parts of the Punjab, and violent disturbances took
place.
▪ The Lieutenant Governor, Michael O ‘Dyer, had already earned notoriety as an oppressive
administrator.
▪ On April 9, 1919, he ordered the arrest of two local Congress leaders, Dr. Satyapal and Dr.
Kitchlew, who were associated with the Reception Committee for the annual session of the
INC to be held in December 1919.
▪ To protest against their arrest and the British repression, a public meeting was held at
Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on April 13, 1919, where General Dyer arrived with armoured
cars and troops and fired on the unarmed peaceful crowd without warning, killing nearly,
1,000 people and scores of others.
▪ The massacre of Jallianwala Bagh was followed by martial law and a veritable reign of terror
prevailed in the Punjab.
▪ To protest against the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy Rabindranath Tagore surrendered the
Knighthood conferred on him by the British Government.
Khilafat and Non-Co-operation Movements
During 1919-22, the British were opposed through two mass movements– The Khilafat and Non Cooperation.
The British prime minister promised the Muslims that sultan of Turkey would not be humiliated after
the end of Ist World War.
The Khilafat movement aimed against the British government received the support of Mahatma
Gandhi. He addressed the issue of Swaraj.
All leaders boycotted British goods and clothes. On 4th February 1922, in Chauri Chaura, a violent clash broke up between local police and protestors. Gandhi went on for 3 days fast to appeal to the Indians to stop all resistance and the movement was called off.
An Appraisal of the Movement:
The sudden suspension of the Non-Co-operation movement also led to the demise of the Khilafat issue and breakdown of the precariously balanced Hindu-Muslim harmony.
Shortly after the movement was called off communalism became rampant all over the country and serious riots broke out. In Kerala, an anti-Zamindar bloodletting was witnessed, when Muslim Moplah peasants turned on Hindu landlords and moneylenders.
The Communal situation became far worse during the years 1921-27 than it had been even before. Mahatma Gandhi’s promise to achieve Swaraj within a year of launching the movement was not fulfilled.
The Non-Cooperation Movement failed to achieve any of its declared objectives.
But its ultimate gain outweighed the immediate losses. The congress had become a force to reckon with and thereafter it went from strength to strength. It generated a desire for freedom and inspired the people to challenge the colonial rule.
Swaraj Party (1923)
• The suspension of Non cooperation was not liked by the extremists.
• In the Gaya session of Congress C.R. Das had resigned from the membership of the
Congress.
• He started Swaraj Party at Allahabad.
Simon Commission
In November, 1927 the British government appointed the Simon Commission. It consisted all
Britishers without a single Indian representative. The commission arrived in India in February 1928
and met with a strike.
Nehru Report (1928)
The report was a memorandum outlining a proposed new dominion status constitution for India. It
was prepared by a committee of All party conference chaired by Motilal Nehru and Jawaharlal
Nehru as secretary.
Provisions of Nehru Report
1. Dominion status be granted for internal freedom be sanctioned.
2. Dyarchy should be removed and responsible rule be established.
3. A supreme court should be set up.
4. Federal government should be established.
5. The central legislature should consist of two houses.
Civil Disobedience Movement
• Civil Disobedince Movement was launched under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi in the
year 1930 was one of the most important events of freedom struggle of the country.
• On 12th March, 1930, a Dandi salt march was started where the British salt law was broken.
This angered the British government. On March 1930, Gandhi signed the Gandhi - Irwin pact.
• It aimed at the calling off the civil disobedience movement and participation of Congress in
the Round Table Conference.
• Civil disobedience movement was started again and continued till 1934.
• Among the programmes outlined for the Civil Disobedience movement were:
(i) The violation of the salt law and other laws;
(ii) Boycott of courts, legislatures, elections, Government functions, Government school
and colleges.
(iii) Non-payment of land-revenue, rent or other taxes.
(iv) Boycott of foreign goods and burning of foreign cloth;
(v) Peaceful picketing of shops selling liquor and other intoxicants;
(vi) Organising mass strikes and demonstrations;
(vii) Resigning government jobs and not joining the civil, military or public services.
Dandi March :
• The Civil Disobedience movement was started by Gandhiji on 12th March 1930, with his
famous Dandi March.
• Gandhiji along with 78 companions, which included Sarojini Naidu marched nearly 375 km
from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, a village in Gujarat sea-coast.
• It was on the same day after reaching Dandi, Gandhiji broke the law by making salt from sea
water. A wave of enthusiasm swept the country.
• Salt laws were broken at many places and even women took part in the Civil Disobedience
Movement.
Third Round Table Conference - (1932)
• November 17 to December 24, 1932
• It was held in London in 1932.
• The Congress boycotted it.
• Unhampered by the developments on the Indian political scene, the British Government
continued with its work of constitutional reforms.
• The third Round table Conference was called on November 17, 1932 and it lasted till
December 24 that year.
• The Congress boycotted it and only 46 delegates attended the session.
• This session put together the final features of a concrete plan for the Government of India
Act 1935, which, after some amendments, was passed by the British Parliament on August 2,
1935.
Poona Pact
• The ‘Poona Pact’ was an agreement between Gandhiji and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar which was
signed on 25th September 1932 in Poona.
• This agreement ended fast unto death undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi to protest
‘Mc.Donand’s Communal Award’ to the depressed classes (untouchables) by giving separate
electorates to Dalits for electing members to the state legislative assemblies in British India.
The major points of this pact were as follows:
(1) 148 seats were allowed to the depressed classes in the provincial legislatives.
(2) The representation of the depressed class in the central legislature would likewise
will be on the principles of joint electorate.
(3) Certain percentage of seats allotted to the general non- Muslim electorate was to be
reserved for the depressed class.
(4) Adequate representation was to be given to the depressed class in civil services.
Peasants and Workers Movement
• The 1930’s economic depression worsened the condition of the peasants and workers in
India.
• The prices of agriculture products dropped by over 50 percent by the end of 1932.
• The employers tried to reduce wages.
• The peasants all over the country began to demand land reforms, abolition of zamindari,
reduction of land revenue and rent, and relief from indebtedness.
• Workers in the factories and plantations increasingly demanded better conditions of work
and recognition of their trade union rights.
• The Civil Disobedience movement and the rise of the left parties and groups produced a new
generation of political workers who devoted themselves to the organisation of peasants and
workers.
• Consequently, there was rapid growth of trade unions in the cities and the Kisan Sabhas in
many areas particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and
Punjab.
• The first All-India peasant organisation, the All- India Kisan Sabha was formed in 1936
under the Presidentship of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati.
• The peasants also began to take a more active part in the national movement.
The Government of India Act 1935 :
• The Government of India Act 1935 consisted of 14 parts, 321 Articles and 10 schedules.
• The Act of 1935 prescribed a federation, taking the provinces and the Indian states as its
units. It was optional for the Indian states to join the federation, and since they never joined
the federation never came into being.
• The Government of India Act 1935 referred to diarchy on central level. The central
legislature was bicameral consisting of the federal Assembly and the council of the state.
• The Act divided legislative powers between centre and provinces. The executive authority
of the centre was vested in the Governor General on behalf of the crown. Governor General
could prevent discussion in the legislature and suspend the proceeding on a Bill.
• A central court was established in Delhi consisting of a chief justice, other three judges and
two additional judges.
• Central Reserve Bank was established by Act of 1935.
• Dyarchy on province was abolished, Vidhan Parishad was established in some provinces.
• By Act of 1935 India council was abolished.
Tebhaga Movement (1939)
• The Tebhaga Movement was a movement of peasants in Bengal.
• At that time the peasants or tenants had to give half of their harvest to the owner of the
land or the Zamindars.
• The peasants insisted that one-third of the harvest should be taken by landlords in place of
one-half.
• This movement marked as turning point in the history of agrarian movements in India.
August Offer, 1940
In 1940 session at Ramgarh (Bihar), Congress passed a resolution to offer support to British
government in war if a provisional national government is set up at the centre.
In response to this, the then Viceroy ‘Lord Linlithgow’ offered something which became popular as ‘the August Offer’.
Some key elements of the proposal were :
1. A representative “constitution making body” shall be appointed immediately after the
war.
2. The number of Indian in the Viceroy’s executive council will be increased.
3. A war advisory council would be set up. Congress, however did not approve “The August
Offer”.
Cripps Mission (1942)
• Churchill was compelled to change his attitude.
• He came to discuss with Indian leaders and break the constitutional stalemate. In March
1942, the British Government sent Sir Stafford Cripps, a member of the war cabinet, to India
with a Draft Declaration.
The Drafted Declaration had the following features:
• It reiterated the intention of the British Government to set up an Indian Union soon after
the war.
• The Indian Union would have dominion status with power to secede from the
commonwealth.
• An elected body charged with the task of framing a new constitution for India with the
Princes as participants.
• Pakistan was conceded in principle, in that once the constitution was drawn up, any
province might opt out of the Indian Union.
• The Constitution-making body would conclude a treaty with the British Government
guaranteeing to protect the racial and religious minorities and covering all other necessary
matters.
• Until a new constitution was framed, the British Government was to remain responsible for
the defence of India.
Negotiations between Cripps and the Congress leaders broke down. Stafford Cripps returned
home in the middle of April leaving behind frustrated and embittered Indian people.
➢ The failure of the Cripps Mission and the growing threat of Japanese aggression brought
about a radical change in Mahatma Gandhi’s attitude towards the British Government.
➢ The people’s discontent with rising prices and wartime shortages was reaching an explosive
stage.
➢ Japan won a series of dramatic victories in the Western Pacific.
➢ Malaya and Singapore were overrun, and the retreating British troops surrendered Rangoon
in early March 1942.
➢ Soon the Japanese were at India’s eastern frontier, and brought India within the range of
actual hostilities.
➢ Mahatma Gandhi came to believe that “the presence of the British in India is an invitation to
Japan to invade India and their withdrawal removes the bait.” He therefore asked the British
“to leave India in God’s hands or in modern parlance to anarchy”.
Quit India Resolution
▪ ‘Wardha Resolution’ is also known as ‘Quit-India Resolution’.
▪ In Wardha Session of Congress in 1942, a resolution was passed that demanded that the
British rule in India must end immediately.
▪ This resolution was an outcome of the change of attitude of Congress party towards British
rule.
Quit India Movement
• In 1942, Gandhiji started the final movement called the Quit India movement with the
famous slogan of Do or Die.
• The British followed a policy of severe repression.
• Popular discontent a product of rising prices and wartime shortages instigated freedom
fighters
• A large number of people extended their co-operation to Gandhiji and the Indians came out
in open rebellion against the Britishers.
• They set fire to police stations, post offices, railway stations and other government
buildings.
• The Quit India movement made a great contribution to the Freedom struggle of India. It
made the Indian masses determined to get freedom.
• The Quit India Movement inaugurated at the call of Mahatma unfolded in four phases. In the
first phase there were strikes, processions, and demonstrations.
This phase lasted for three to four days and commenced from the day of Gandhi’s arrest on August 9th, 1942.
• Quit India movement was Gandhi’s final bid to secure India’s independence.
C. R. Formula (Rajaji Formula):
▪ It soon became evident to the government that no solution to the Indian problem was
possible without the concurrence of the Muslim League.
▪ Gandhiji tried to reach an accord with Jinnah. They met in Bombay from September 9 to 27,
1944. Rajagopalachari had induced Gandhiji to accept the principle of Pakistan and had
devised a formula which formed the basis of the talks in 1944, to end the deadlock between
the Congress and the Muslim League.
▪ The C. R. Formula became the basis for the Gandhi – Jinnah talks in Bombay in 1944 itself
to settle the Hindu-Muslim differences.
Wavell Plan (1945)
▪ Mr. Wavell presented a plan for ending the political problems in India. It is known as Wavell
plan.
▪ It was assured that all the members of Executive except viceroy and the commander - in -
chief would be Indian.
▪ The representation of Hindus and Muslims would be equal in the viceroy’s council.
▪ Indians would have the right to frame out their constitution. But this plan became a failure.
Simla Conference
▪ The Simla conference was a 1945 meeting between viceroy Archibald Wavell and the major
political leaders of India at Simla.
▪ It began in cordial atmosphere but due to obstinacy of Jinnah and his communal viewpoint
no decision could be taken.
Cabinet Mission (1946)
▪ When the cabinet mission arrived in Delhi, it had three members, Cripps, A.V. Alexander
and Pethick Lawrence.
▪ The mission talked with Congress and Muslim League about the interim government and
constitutional assembly.
▪ Muslim League demanded for separate nation whereas the Congress opposed it.
▪ Sir Pethick Lawrence, while announcing the appointment of the Mission had made it clear
that its objectives was to set up quickly a machinery for drawing up the constitution for
independent India and to make necessary arrangements for an Interim government.
▪ The Cabinet Mission spent the first three weeks in discussions with the leaders of various
political parties, members of the Viceroy’s Executive Council, the rulers of Princely States,
etc.
After all these discussions, when it could not arrive at any agreed solution, the Cabinet
Mission announced its own recommendations on May 16, 1946.
Declaration of Atlee
▪ In July 1946, Congress found a glorious victory in the election of constituent assembly. The
Muslim League felt defeated.
▪ Dangerous communal riots broke out at Silhat, Tripura, No akhali, Garhmukteshwar, Bihar
and other places.
▪ After Direct Action day, the Atlee, P.M. of the British Government announced to leave
India.
Mountbatten Plan
▪ Lord Mountbatten, who had came to India as Viceroy in March 1947, worked out a
compromise after long discussions with the Congress and Muslim League - The country was
free but not united.
▪ India was to be partioned and a new state of Pakistan was to be created along with a free
India.
▪ He announced his compromise Plan on 3rd June 1947.
Salient features of the plan
• If the areas with the majority of the Muslim population so desired, they should be allowed
to form a separate dominion. A new constituent assembly would be set up.
• Boundary commission would be set up to define the boundaries of the Hindu and Muslim
provinces in Bengal and the Punjab.
• The governor general should be common to both dominions and that the present governor
general should be reappointed.
• Transfer of power should be on the basis of the Government of India Act of 1935.
• In the case of two dominions, the armed forces should be divided between them.
In July 1947, the British Parliament passed the historic Indian Independence Act to legalize the
Mountbatten Plan. The Act, thus provided for the establishment of two independent
states - India and Pakistan with effect from 15 August 1947.
The boundary lines between the two nations were drawn by Rad Cliff, a British lawyer, who knew
nothing about Indian conditions or geography.
The country was to be partitioned but not on the basis of Hinduism and Islam. India became
independent on 15 August, 1947.
On the night of 14 August Jawaharlal Nehru, said in his midnight speech,’ At the stroke of midnight
hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom....”.
Fourteen Points of Jinnah
The Fourteen Points of Jinnah were proposed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah as a Constitutional Reform
plan to safeguard the political rights of Muslims in a self-governing India.
A comparison of the Nehru Report (1928) with Jinnah’s Fourteen Points had a political gap between the Muslims and the Hindus in India. Jinnah aim was to get more right for Muslims. He therefore gave his 14 points.
These points covered all the interests of the Muslims at heated time and in this Jinnah stated that it was the parting of way” and that he did not want and would not have anything to do with the Indian
National Congress in the Future.
The League leaders motivated Jinnah to revive the Muslim League and gave it direction. As a result, these points became the demands of the Muslims and greatly influenced the Muslim thinking for the next two decades till the establishment of Pakistan in 1947.
The Fourteen Points
1. The form of the future costitution should be federal, with residuary powers vested in the
provinces.
2. The uniform measure of autonomy shall be guaranteed to all provinces
3. All legislature in the country and other elected bodies shall be constituted on the definite
principle of adequate and effective representation of minorities in every province without
reducing the majority in any province to a majority are even equality.
4. In the Central Legislature, Muslim representation should not be less than one third.
5. Representation of communal groups shall continue to be by means of separate electorate as
at present, provided it shall be open to any community at any time to abandon its separate
electorate in favour of a joint electorate.
6. Any territorial distribution that might at any time be necessary shall not in any way affect
the Muslim majority.
7. Full religious liberty, i.e., liberty of belief, worship and observance, propaganda, association
and education, shall be guaranteed to all communities
8. No bill or resolution or any part thereof shall be passed in any Legislature or any other
elected body if three fourths of the member of any community in that particular body
oppose it as being injurious to the interest of that community or in the alternative, such
other method is devised as may be found feasible and practicable to deal with such cases.
9. Sindh should be separated from the Bombay Presidency.
10. Reforms should be introduced in the North West Frontier Province and Balochistan on the
same footing as in the other provinces.
11. Provision should be made in the constitution giving Muslims an adequate share, along with
the other Indians, in all the services of the state and in local self - governing bodies with due
regard to the requirements of efficiency.
12. The constitution should embody adequate safeguards for the protection of Muslim culture
and for the protection and promotion of Muslim education, language, religion, personal laws
and Muslim Charitable institutions and for their due share in the grants-in-aid given by the
State and by local self-governing bodies.
13. No Cabinet, either central or provincial should be formed without there being a proportion
of at least one-third Muslim ministers.
14. No change shall be made in the constitution by the Central Legislature except with the
concurrence of the State’s contribution of the Indian Federation.
Constitution of India and Pakistan
• The Independence Act declared that British Paramountcy over the Indian States to lapse on
August 15, 1947. They were allowed to join either India or Pakistan.
• Before that date, most of the states had signed the Instrument of Accession by which they
agreed to accede to India.
• But there were some states which thought that in the changed situation they were entitled
to declare their independence.
• By 15 August, 1947, all the 562 states except Kashmir, Hyderabad and Junagadh
incorporated in the new Federal Union.
• Hundreds of small states merged with neighbouring provinces and disappeared altogether
from the country’s political map.
• Thus “a bloodless revolution had been brought about, on the one hand, by the operation of
democratic forces unleashed by freedom, and on the other, by the patriotic attitude of the
rulers who had been quick to appreciate the change”.
• The Maharaja of Kashmir also delayed accession to India or Pakistan even though the
popular forces led by Sheikh Abdullah’s National Conference wanted accession to India.
• When Pathans and irregular armed forces of Pakistan invaded Kashmir, the Maharaja of
Kashmir sought the assistance of the Government of India.
• On 26 October 1947, he formally acceded to the Indian Union, whose air borne troops saved
the situation in the nick of time.
• On 31 October 1947 an interim government was formed with Sheikh Abdullah as its head,
which, with the help of Indian troops, successfuly repelled tribal raids, aided and abetted by
Pakistan.
• On 31 December 1947, the Indian Government appealed to the Security Council of the
United Nations to stop this act of aggression, on the part of Pakistan against India.
• The claims of India and Pakistan were put forward before the Security Council which could
not arrive at a fruitful solution.
• The two dominions fought a war for over a year till the UN commission arranged for a
ceasefire between the two Governments on 1 January, 1949.
• The efforts of the Security Council to arrive at an enduring solution to the dispute between
the Governments by sending successive UN representatives like Sir Owen Dixon and Dr.
Frank Graham, proved unsuccessful.
• In 1951, the Constitution Assembly met in Jammu and Kashmir to frame a constitution for
the State.
• The Constituent Assembly ratified the accession of the State to India in February 1954.
• In November 1956, the Constituent Assembly legalised the status of Jammu and Kashmir
as an integral part of the Indian Dominion.
• Pakistan retains her de-facto control over the area which her troops occupied in 1947.
Indian Independence Act of 1947
▪ In July, the Mountbatten plan was executed by the Indian Independence Act, 1947.
▪ This Act was presented in the House of commons.
▪ On 18 July 1947, the British parliament passed the Bill.
▪ According to it, two separate nations were created and Jinnah was made the governor
general of the New nation Pakistan.
▪ 14 August, 1947 saw the birth of new Islamic Republic of Pakistan. At midnight the next day
on 15th August, India got its freedom.
▪ The two countries were founded on the basis of religion with Pakistan as an Islamic state
and India as a secular one.
The process of partition had claimed many lives in the riots. Not only was the country divided, but
also were the provinces of Punjab and Bengal caused riots and claimed the lives of Hindus, Muslims
and Sikhs equally.
FAMOUS PERSONALITIES OF INDIAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE
Ambedkar, B. R. (1891 - 1956):
A leader of the depressed classes throughout his life, he worked for
the moral and material progress of the untouchables. He was jurist by profession and equally a great
social worker, politician, writer and educationist. He launched a number of movements for securing
equal status for the lower castes. He was appointed the Law Minister in the Interim Government and
also Chairman of the Constituent Assembly’s Drafting Committee.
Ansari M.A. (1880 - 1936):
Qualified as a physician, he organised the All India Medical Mission of
Turkey in 1912-13. Later took a leading part in the Home Rule League agitation. Elected President,
Muslim League in 1920. Participated in the Khilafat, the Home Rule and Non-Cooperation
Movements. He was the founder of the Nationalist educational institution, Jamia Millia Islamia in
1920.
Chandra Shekhar Azad (1906 - 31):
One of the most famous revolutionaries from the present day
Uttar Pradesh. He was arrested during Non-Co-operation movement, and was flogged for ridiculing
the court during trial by declaring his name as Azad, his father as Swatantra and his home as prison.
From this he became famous as Azad. He shot himself dead with the last bullet he had in his pistol,
while fighting alone with the police.
Asaf Ali (1888 - 1953):
Started his legal career at Delhi and later joined the Home Rule movement, in 1945, took up the Secretaryship of the INA Committee and he was India’s first Ambassador to Washington.
Badruddin Tyabji (1844 - 1906):
First Indian barrister at Bombay High Court.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1857 - 1920):
Remembered as Lokmanya, he played a leading part in popularising the cult of patriotism; first nationalist leader who sought close contact with the masses and he was also a forerunner of Gandhiji.
He started akharas, lathi clubs, Shivaji and Ganapati festivals to inculcate among the people the spirit of service to the nation, the first congress leader to suffer several terms of imprisonment for the sake of the country.
He openly declared, “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”.
Bhagat Singh (1907 - 1931):
Born in a Sikh Jat family of Lyallpur district, joined the Hindustan Socialist Republician Army in 1925; in 1928 shot and killed Saunders to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai who received injuries during the anti-Simon Commission agitation at Lahore.
He was the main accused and received the death sentence; executed on 23 March, 1931.
Bhulabhai Desai (1877 - 1946):
Established the Swadeshi Sabha for promoting the boycott of foreign goods. His last and perhaps the greatest contribution to the national cause was his brilliant defence of the INA prisoners in 1945.
Bipin Chandra Pal (1858 - 1932):
Entered into the Brahmo Samaj and founded the English weekly, New India; initially follower of Surendranath in politics; founded Bande Mataram in 1906 and was imprisoned for refusing to give evidence in the Bande Mataram Sedition case in 1907.
Chakravati Rajagopalachari (1878 - 1972):
Participated in the anti-Rowlatt Bill Satyagraha in 1919 and gave up his legal profession in 1920, to join the Non-Co-operation Movement; a chief organiser of the Congress in the South; involved a formula for the solution of Indian Constitutional tangle in 1944 and assisted Gandhiji in his negotiations with Jinnah, served the Interim Government as Minister for Industry, Supply, Education and Finance and then as the Governor of West Bengal.
In 1948 succeeded Lord Mount Batten as the first Indian Governor General of the Indian Dominion till 26 January 1950 when India became a republic, between 1952 and 1954 Rajaji was the Chief Minister of Madras. Founded the Swatantra Party in 1959.
Dadabhai Naoroji (1825 - 1917):
The Grand Old Man of India, associated with the Indian National Congress right from its inception. The Indian to become a Member of the House of Commons on the Liberal Party’s ticket, President of Indian National Congrees thrice, in 1886, 1893 and 1906, first Indian to draw the attention of the Indians as well as the British Public to the drain of wealth from India to great Britain and the resulting poverty of the Indians; “Poverty and un-British rule in India”, a book written by Naoroji was published in 1901, proves his thesis of Drain of wealth.
Gopal Krishna Gokhle (1866 - 1915):
A follower of Mahadev Govind Ranade, popularly known as the Socrates of Maharashtra; Gandhiji became Gokhle’s political pupil, in 1905 laid the foundation of the ‘Servants of India Society’ for the training of national missionaries for the service of India, and to promote, by the constitutional means, the true interest of the Indian people.
Gopinath Bordoloi (1980 - 1950):
One of the builders of modern Assam; imprisoned in 1941 and
1942 for taking part in the individual satyagraha and the in the Quit India Movement.
Jatindra Mohan Sen Gupta (1885 - 1933): Renounced his legal practice during the Non-Co-operation
Movement, organised the strike of the employees of Assam Bengal Railways, led the Civil
Disobedience Movement.
Kamala Nehru (1899 - 1936):
She was married to Jawaharlal Nehru in 1916, joined her husband in the Non-Cooperation Movement, and the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Kasturba Gandhi (1869 - 1944):
Endearingly married to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in 1882, one of the first of a group of Indian women to be imprisoned in the Transvaal, arrested for participating in the Quit India Movement in 1942, died while serving imprisonment at Poona.
Sarojini Naidu (1879 - 1949):
Educated in England, showed a marked flair for literature at an early age which later found expression in beautiful English verses and earned her the title “Nightingale of india”.
She joined Home Rule League in 1916; first Indian lady to preside over the Congress, led the salt raid at Dharsana in 1930, at the beginning of the Quit India Movement in 1942 arrested and detained with Gandhiji;
the first Indian lady to become the Governor of Uttar Pradesh in free India, ought all her life against poverty, ignorance and social taboos.
Narayan Malhar Joshi (1879 - 1955):
He was a member of the Central Pay Commission in 1947, an important leader of the Indian trade union movement; organised creches, dispensaries for women and children and industrial training schools and co-operative societies.
Swami Sahjanand Saraswati (1889 - 1951):
He was President of the “All India Kisan Sabha”.
He pioneered the peasants cause and became the Founder-President of the Bihar Kisan Sabha in 1927.
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (1900 - 1990):
Sister of Jawaharlal Nehru, a prominent national leader, was imprisoned thrice in connection with Civil Disobedience Movement in 1932, 1941 and 1942; played an important role as India’s representative in San Francisco during the first meeting in UN where she challenged the might of the British.
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1890 - 1988):
Born in a village of Peshawar district of the British India, joined the national movement at very young age and inculcated the ideas of nationalism into the minds of the Pathans; plunged into the agitation against the Rowlatt laws, the Khilafat, Non- Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements, never saw eye to eye with the fanatical ideology of the Muslim League and was committed to secularism. He opposed to the Partition of India. He was popularly known as Frontier Gandhi.
Mahadev Desai (1892 - 1942):
In 1917 came in close contact with Gandhiji pledged himself into the Champaran Satyagraha, editor of Motilal Nehru’s periodical, Independent.
Ram Manohar Lohia (1910 - 1968):
A socialist, in 1934 became a founder member of the Congress Socialist Party and edited its journal ‘The Congress Socialist’, in free India. A forceful journalist who promoted the cause of Hindi as national language.
Sachchidananda Sinha (1871 - 1950):
A distinguished lawyer, journalist, politician and educationist, joined the Congress in 1899, actively participated in the Home Rule movement, from 1936 to 1944 Vice-Chancellor of Patna University.
Vallabhai Patel (1875 - 1950):
Born in an agriculturist family of Nadiad in Gujarat; entered politics by joining the Gujarat Sabha in 1915, of which Gandhiji was the President; joined the Non-Co-operation Movement; led the famous peasants agitation against in increase in land revenue at Bardoli and won a signal victory; joined the Quit India Movement in 1942; in free India became the Deputy Prime Minister; a man of iron who never allowed personal sentiment to confuse his duties.
Acharya Vinoba Bhave :
Close associate of Gandhiji; leader of Sarvodaya and the Bhoodan Andolan; was a staunch advocate of cow protection.
Rajendra Prasad (1884 - 1963):
As a student he took interest in the anti-partition agitation in Bengal and established the Bihari Students ‘Conference’ in the fore-front of the salt Satyagraha and the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 and 1932 and suffered imprisonment; on failure of Cripps Mission undertook a tour of his province and prepared the masses for the Quit India Movment; joined Interim Government as Minister for Food and Agriculture in 1946; the first President of the Constituent Assembly, became the first President of the Indian Republic.
Abdul Kalam Azad (1888 - 1958):
Known as the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, born in Mecca where his ancestors had migrated from India during the revolt of 1857; in 1898 accompanied his parents to India and settled in Calcutta, associated himself with the revolutionaries during the Swadeshi Movement; in 1929 he came in close contact with Gandhiji and supported the Non- Cooperation programme; Chief of the Khilafat Committee, elected President of the special session of the Congress at Delhi in 1924, he led the negotiations with British Cabinet Mission (1946), a member of the Constitutent Assembly; joined the Interim Government as Minister of Education and Arts, in free India he became the Education Minister and later took charge of the portfolios of National Resources and Scientific Research, he established the University Grants Commission.
Aurobindo Ghosh (1872-1950):
A leading Bengali revolutionary who later turned yogi.
For about ten years, he remained active in the political field, particularly during the partition of Bengal, and was one of the propounders of the programme of Swadeshi and boycott. He expressed the view that political freedom was “the life and breath of our nation”. In 1910, he retired to Pondicherry, where he spent his life in mediation and spiritual pursuits.
A.O.Hume (1829 - 1922):
A British Civil Servant in India, who after his retirement for service in 1882 worked for India’s political claims and is known as the ‘father and founder’ of the INC. Hume was the guiding spirit during the formative years of the INC. He had studied medicine and surgery and was a great naturalist and botanist.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820 - 1891 ):
He was an up compromising social reformer and put up a valiant fight for introduction of widow remarriage and stamping out polygamy from society.
Mohammad Ali Jinnah (1875 - 1948 ):
A leading lawyer, leader of the Muslim League and founder of Pakistan.
Annie Besant (1847 - 1933)
An Irish English woman, who came to India in 1939 to work for the Theosophical society.
She ardently worked for India’s independence.
In 1915 she founded the Home Rule League to launch the Home Rule Movement and was made President of the Calcutta session of the Congress in 1917.
Subhash Chandra Bose (1897 - 1945):
He was the supreme commander of Azad Hind Fauj (the Indian National Army). In January 1941, he escaped out of India and reached Berlin. He died in a plane crash on August 18, 1945.
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