1 Summary Post Independence India Class 05 ## A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS CLASS & RESOLVED QUERIES: (01:00:00 PM) - Tashkent Agreement. ## CONTINUATION OF TASHKENT AGREEMENT: (01:05:00 PM) - 1. However, LB Shastri consulted the army chief if there was a chance of an all-out victory. But in response got the feedback we were running short in arms and ammunition. - (This was an assessment/intelligence failure. Hence India accepted the ceasefire.) - 2. Taskent Agreement restored status-quo ante- both sides returned to each other's occupied territory. - Unfortunately, therefore India had to give back Hajibi. - 3. India agreed due to USSR's pressure and did not want to lose the support of the USSR on Kashmir Issues. - Also, fear of the entry of the US that could lead to a long-drawn war is Not good for the Indian economy. - India was allegedly short of arms and ammunition. - 4. During the war stature of LB Shastri (LBS) improved manyfold. - LBS raised morale and led from the front for example, in Allahabad Speeshc he stated that: - a. Ayub Khan said that he will meet us in Delhi to which I responded that you are a man of high status therefore we would come to Lahore to pay respects. - b. Also gave the slogan of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan. - 5. Agrarian Crisis and LBS: - It was inherited by LBS and now again war expenditure led to the diversion of resources, and to punish India for not declaring a ceasefire in the Initial phase, the USA stopped exporting PL-480 food grins to India. - (PL-480- Food grains of Low quality, exported to poor countries by Public Law 480). - Therefore, now LBS highlighted the importance of self-sufficiency and food security, and the crucial role of peasants in the Indian economy and gave the slogan of Jai jawan, Jai Kisan. - LBS gave ideas of fasting once a week and kitchen gardens- Every family growing basic vegetables near their home, and his own family was the first to practice these ideas. - Therefore, LBS set the public and political narrative for the future green revolution. (Even if for the vote bank politics, food security can't be ignored anymore by political leaders.) ## INDIRA GANDHI ERA: (02:04:00 PM) - After the death of LBS in February 1966 in Tashkent, a new PM had to be appointed. - Gulzari Lal Nanda(GLN) and Morarji Desai wanted to be the PM but were viewed by the syndicate as over-ambitious candidates who may not follow party directions. - Kamaraj was a strong leader but did not know Hindi and English, therefore realized that he may not be accepted as the PM. - IG projected herself as not interested and the syndicate thought she would be a weak PM being inexperienced and being a woman. - The syndicate thought that IG would also have sympathy from the public being Nehru's daughter, therefore chose her and India got its first woman PM. ## CONGRESS SPLIT, 1966: (02:14:00 PM) - 1966-67: - IG took decisions independently of the syndicate. - For example, devalued Rupee due to pressure from IMF and the World Bank as India faced a BOP crisis and devaluations may increase export earnings, ie forex. - This decision backfired as India was a net importer and was not industrialized and imported raw materials, especially fuel. - Therefore the cost of imports increased. - The real issue was that IG acted independently. - (Profits of exporters= Revenues(sales in the international markets) - Cost of raw materials. - More Profits -> More factories -> More exports -> More profits ->More forex.) ## IDEOLOGICAL CONFLICTS BETWEEN IG AND SYNDICATE: (03:00:00 PM) - | | | | --- | --- | | **Indira Gandhi** | **Syndicate** | | Pro-poor socialist ideology. | More pro-capitalists. | | Strong welfare state. Therefore favored the nationalization of industries and banks. | Wanted a strong private sector and opposed nationalization. | | Wanted a welfare state and planned economy. | Wanted a weak state in the economy and decision-making powers with the private sector, therefore wanted to abolish five-year plans. | | Favored land redistribution in favor of the poor via the land ceiling. | Not in favor. They were pro-landed class. | | Favored better relations with USSR. | Favored better relations with the US. | - 1967 Elections at Centre & States: - To control IG who was the PM face of Congress, the syndicate decided to distribute tickets to their allies. - However, there was an anti-congress wave due to food shortages, inflation, poverty, and corruption. - Therefore, for the first time, Congress lost elections in 8 states and the era of regional parties began. - But at the center there was no alternative, therefore IG was able to get a thin majority. - Therefore syndicates were weakened. - Death of President Zakir Hussain: - It was the trigger for the split. - Syndicates wanted Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy to be the President to control IG. - The conflict led to Congress not declaring an official candidate as IG and started propaganda that the syndicate wanted to remove her as the PM. - IG declared that she will vote for VV Giri. - Finally, VV Giri emerged victorious. (Fewer MLAs of syndicates due to poor 1967 elections) - Humiliated syndicate expelled IG and now Congress- O of Syndicat and Congress- R of IG. - However, IG continued to be the PM as had the support of more MPs. ## ELECTIONS, 1971: (03:26:00 PM) - These elections were declared prematurely by IG as she wanted: - The strong majority implemented her reforms. - For example, IG wanted to abolish the Privy purses but did not have the majority in Rajya Sabha and therefore brought Ordinance. - It was overturned by the SC. - Nationalization of banks, but overturned by the SC in RC Cooper Case. - (Link 24th to 42nd CAA). - Syndicate, Jan Sangh, and all other parties set up a grand alliance and gave the slogan "Indira Hatao" while IG gave the slogan "Garibi Hatao". - RM Lohiya said, "IG is a Gungi Gudiya, how will she rule"? - March 1971- IG came to power with an absolute majority. ## BANGLADESH LIBERATION WAR, 1971: (03:35:00 PM) - Reasons: - 1. East Pakistan(EP) and West Pakistan(WP) had cultural differences. - For example, EP felt closer to West Bengal culturally than WP due to the common Bengali language. - 2. EP wanted official language status for Bengali which was resisted by WP. - (Jinnah imposed Urdu on Pakistan because he wanted an Islamic image). - 3. Pakistan's State and Military were dominated by WP. - 4. EP was poor while WP was relatively rich. - Even during the British Era, irrigation infra was not developed in the Permanent Settlement areas of Bengal, Orissa, and Bihar as Land revenue could not be increased. - Therefore, more canals were built in the undivided Punjab. - 5. EP felt that revenue from the Jute export was used for the industrialization of WP instead of the development of EP. - 6. Poor Administration in EP. - 7. Trigger was Bhola cyclone in EP after which poor relief work led to anger. ## SHEIKH MUJIBUR REHMAN: (03:56:00 PM) - He was a highly popular leader of the Awami League(AL) in EP. - He raised the political, economic, and socio-cultural demands of EP. - There was an agreement with WP on elections and consequent amendments to the constitution to bring real federalism. - WP leaders were confident of victory. - Yahya Khan was a military leader who supported Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a very popular leader of WP. - Election results were a big surprise for WP as Awami League won nearly all seats in EP and therefore got the majority in the parliament. - WP refused to convene Parliament and Bhutto was declared the PM. - Now, a peaceful CDM was started by AL with demands for the right to form the government and federalism. - 25th March 1971, Pakistani Army launched "Operation Searchlight" where lakhs were executed and Hindus were selectively targeted. - Therefore, Hindu and Muslim Bengalis suffered brutal repression. - 10 lakh refugees entered India overall, threatening internal stability as India already faced challenges in food security, poverty, and unemployment. - Also, cultural conflicts between the Non-Bengalis of NE and Bengali Immigrants. - IG and Sam Manekshaw discussed the possibilities of war. ## TOPICS FOR THE NEXT CLASS: Continuation of Bangladesh War.