Page 222 - DHIS204_DHIS205_INDIAN_FREEDOM_STRUGGLE_HINDI

Unit 14: Map II

• The Proclamation was called the ‘Magna Carta of Indian Liberty’. The British rule in India Notes
was strongest between 1858 and 1905. The British also started treating India as its most
precious possession and their rule over India seemed set to continue for centuries to come.
Because of various subjective and objective factors which came into existence during this era,
the feeling of nationalism in Indians started and grow.
• On December 30,1898, Lord Curzon took over as the new Viceroy of India. The partition of
Bengal came into effect on October 16, 1905, through a Royal Proclamation, reducing the old
province of Bengal in size by creating a new province of East Bengal, which later on became
East Pakistan and present day Bangladesh. The government explained that it was done to
stimulate growth of underdeveloped eastern region of the Bengal. But, actually, the main
objective was to ‘Divide and Rule’ the most advanced region of the country at that time.
• The non-cooperation movement also saw picketing of shops selling foreign cloth and boycott
of the foreign cloth by the followers of Gandhiji.
• The Congress session held at Ahmedabad in December 1921 decided to launch a Civil
Disobedience Movement while reiterating its stand on the non-violent, noncooperation
movement of which Gandhiji was appointed the leader. Before Gandhiji could launch the
Civil Disobedience Movement, a mob of countrymen at Chauri Chaura, a place near Gorakhpur
in D.P., clashed with the police which opened fire. In retaliation the mob burnt the police-
station and killed 22 policemen. This compelled Gandhiji to call off the Civil Disobedience
Movement on February 12,1922.
• The Simon Commission report submitted in 1930 formed the basis for the Government of
India Act 1935. The new Government of India Act received the royal assent on August
4,1935. The Act continued and extended all the existing features of the Indian constitution.
Popular representation, which went back to 1892, dyarchy and ministerial responsibility,
which dated from 1921, provincial autonomy, whose chequered history went back to
eighteenth century presidencies, communal representation, which first received recognition
in 1909, and the safeguards devised in 1919, were all continued and in most cases extended.
But in addition there were certain new principles intro-duced. It provided for a federal type
of government.
• The Act of 1935 was condemned by nearly all sections of Indian public opinion and was
unanimously rejected by the Congress. The Congress demanded instead, the convening of a
Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of adult franchise to frame a constitution for an
independent India.
• On August 8, 1942, the Congress in its meeting at Bombay passed a resolution known as
‘Quit India’ resolution, whereby Gandhiji asked the British to quit India and gave a call for
‘Do or die’ to his countrymen. On August 9, 1942, Gandhiji was arrested but the other
leaders continued the revolutionary struggle. Violence spread throughout the country, several
government officers were destroyed and damaged, telegraph wires were cut and
communication paralyzed. The movement was, however, crushed by the government.
• In March 1947, Lord Wavell was replaced by Lord Mountbatten. When he reached India, he
found the situation very critical. The Muslim League was carrying on its wear and tear
campaign all over the country especially in the Punjab. There were riots in March 1947. Lord
Mountbatten felt that the only way to tackle the situation was to complete the work of
transfer of power into the Indian hands within as short a period as possible. He held
consultations with the Indian leaders for the same purpose. He went to London in May 1947
to discuss the matter with the British Government. On his return, he announced his famous
June 3 Plan. By this Plan, it was proposed to divide India into two parts, viz., the Dominion
of India and Dominion of Pakistan. Both the Dominions were to be given independence. The
Plan was accepted by both the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress. The Indian
Independence Act, 1947, was passed to give effect to the June 3 Plan. The division of the
country took place on 15th August, 1947.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 217