Summary

Modern Indian History Class 33

Revolutionaries 1922 onwards (05:00 PM)

Revolutionaries joined NCM with enthusiasm But were disappointed after withdrawal plus they were not interested in Constructive work and parliamentary politics.
Therefore revived revolutionary activities.
After the Russian revolution of 1917, the Rise of communism all across the world, and revolutionaries got attracted as communism was about pro-poor ideology and had a method of armed struggle.
Hindustan Republican Army 1924
Ram prasad Bismil, Sachin Sanyal, Ashfqaullah khan, and Jogesh Chatterjee set up HRA with the goal of the United states of India with a Universal Adult Franchise.
1925 Kakori Robbery case
HRA looted cash from Train but many were arrested and HRA went defunct.
Bismil and Ashafqulaah khan were hanged but Chandrashekhar Azad could not be caught.
1928 Hindustan socialist republican army (HSRA)
HRA was revived as HSRA by Azad and Bhagat Singh. It had all revolutionaries of North India.Ex: Sukhdev, Rajguru, Bhagvati charan Vohra.
Lahore Conspiracy case 1928
Bhagat Singh took revenge for the death of LL Rai due to the lathi charge during the Anti-Simon protest in November 1928.
However, DSP John saunders was killed instead of SP James Scott.
1929 Bomb in CLA by Bhagat Singh and BK Dutt-
CLA was discussing upon Public safety bill and Trade dispute bill aimed at curbing liberty and working-class movement.
Public safety bill was provided for the deportation. British feared rising communist influence in India.
The bomb was harmless plus leaflets were thrown in CLA with slogans to make the Deaf hear.
They courted arrests with the goal of doing propaganda in court and inspiring the masses with their sacrifice.
While in Jail, He set up a library as he believed more in the power of the pen.
He also started a hunger strike against inhuman living conditions in Jail and Jatin das died on 64 days of the fast due to forced feeding that damaged his lungs.
Bhagat Singh stated that I have acted like a terrorist but I am not a terrorist i.e he was a freedom fighter.
He didn't want youth to follow the path of revolutionary activities.
But to join INM and INC.
Therefore they wanted to only inspire Nationalism with his sacrifice.
He set up the Punjab Naujuan Bharat sabha in 1926 to educate the youth about mass politics.
Revolutionaries were deeply secular and Bhagat Singh argued that communalism is the as big enemy as colonialism.
"Philosophy of Bomb" by Bhagvati Charan Vohra and C. Azad, reflected the ideology of Revolutionaries and it defined Revolution as independence-Political as well as social and economic(Independence from Inequality and oppression from all kinds and not just by foreigners)
Therefore this time Revolutionaries were more politically aware and ideologically stronger.
Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were hanged on 23 March 1931 in the Lahore conspiracy case.
And Azad shot himself during an encounter in 1931.

Chittagong Armoury Raid 1930-33 (05:40 PM)

Surya sen led the Indian Republican Army (IRA) in East Bengal.
While MG was leading CDM 1930-34, Revolutionaries in East Bengal started an armed struggle.
The IRA mobilized even women in it for Armed struggle.
IRA raided Chittagong's armory to secure arms and declared a provisional revolutionary government.
They cut off Chittagong from the rest of India by destroying Railway lines and communication systems.
By 1933 they were crushed but greatly inspire INM.
For the First time after 1857, there was a group action in the Armed struggle.
Also, many Muslims and women were part of the IRA.
Also, Preetilata Wadedar died fighting and Kalpana Dutt got life imprisonment.
School girls shanti Ghosh and Suniti Choudhary shot dead DM in 1931 and Veena Das shot the governor during a convocation ceremony.
1933-Nehru was arrested on sedition charges when he supported revolutionaries. In 1934, Surya sen was captured

1927-Indian statutory commission/Simon Commission (06:04 PM)

Appointed as per GOI 1919 that had provision for review of Constitutional reforms after 10 years and therefore appointed two years in advance.
INC opposed it as No Indians in 7 members and this was against the principle of self-government promised by Montagu's statement in 1917.
And Indians were denied a say in their future constitution.
Secretary of state Birkenhead challenged Indians to Draft a constitution as he did not believe that Indians could overcome their differences to act unitedly.
1927 INC Madras session-INC decided to boycott Simon's commission and decide to set up All party conference(APC) for drafting principles of the constitution.
There was an Anti Simon commission protest when it arrived in India in October 1928.
Here LL Rai died in November 1928.

Four Delhi Proposals December 1927 (06:23 PM)

From Muslim league to Moti Lal Nehru and accepted by INC but later rejected by APC.
Demands:
a)1/3rd reservations for Muslims in Central legislature.
b)Create 3 new Muslim-majority provinces(MMP)
By separating Sindh from Bombay and by giving the status of a full province to Baluchistan and NWFP.
c)Reservation even in MMP of Punjab and Bengal.
d)If the above is met then ready for Joint electorate.
Therefore first and last time ML agreed to a Joint electorate.

Motilal Nehru Report August 1928 (06:45 PM)

APC set up under M.A Ansari in Delhi in 1928 and the committee under it was set up under Motilal Nehru for drafting the principles of the Constitution in May 1928.
Proposals:
Dominion status to India i.e Soveirgnity with the British crown plus Britain can change the constitution.
Plus Britain had defense and foreign policy control plus self Government to Indians in all other spheres( Therefore Max self-government that can be have without leaving the British empire)
A Union of India having British India, and 565 princely states.
Federal relation between British India and 565 Princely states. (I.e Noninterference in the internal affairs of 565 Princely states)
Linguistic organization of provinces of British India(Tilak's demand @ HRL 1916-18) plus 1917 INC also demanded.
An SC with the Judiciary independent of the executive.
Unitary structure for British India i.e strong center and residuary powers with the center.
Governor General to function on aid and advice of the executive council (i.e Like the president of today)
Bicameral legislature with a 5-year term for the lower house and a 7-year term for the upper house.
Universal adult franchise.
DPSPs.
19 Fundamental rights with a focus on rights of liberty, education, workers, women, Minorities, and lower caste.
Communal aspects-
Creation of NWFP and Balochistan as full provinces.
Separation of Sindh from Bombay only after dominion status and only if financially viable.
No reservations for Muslims in MMPs.
Reservation at the center and in Muslim minority provinces in proportion to the percentage of the population (Not 1/3rd).
No separate electorates.
A reservation is only for 10 years and is to be reviewed after 10 years.
Reservation to Non-Muslim minorities in Sindh and NWFP.
No state religion but protection of the culture of minorities.
APC met in Calcutta and here Jinnah proposed three amendments to Nehru's report in December 1928:
a)1/3rd reservation in CLA
b)Reservation in MMPs of Punjab and Bengal in proportion to the population until UAF is implemented.
c) Residual powers to provinces and not to centers.
All three were rejected

INC Calcutta session December 1928 (07:26 PM)

Approved Nehru Report.
SC Bose's resolution for the Goal of Purna Swaraj failed.
If Dominion status is not given in one year then the Goal of INC is to be Purna Swaraj and INC to launch a CDM for it.
Constructive work resolution passed as MG wanted to prepare Masses for Nonviolent CDM:
Constructive work
a)Focus on the Boycott of foreign cloth, Promotion of Khadi.
b)Anti Liquor campaign, Anti Untouchability
c)Awareness of women's empowerment.
d)Self Reliance
e)Non Violent satyagaraha and organizational work.

Jinnah's fourteen-point demands March 1929 (07:36 PM)

A summary of all communal demands ever made plus became the blueprint for all future ML politics.
Continuation of separate electorate.
1/3rd Muslim in central legislature.
Veto power on Bills on 3/4th of minority members are against it.
Minimum 1/3rd reservation in the cabinet at the center and provinces.
Reservation even in MMP.
New MMP of Sindh, NWFP, Baluchistan.
Residual powers to provinces.
Protection of the culture of Muslims.
Reservation in all elected bodies even if Muslims are in the majority.
Reservation in Government services.
Federal constitution in place of Unitary( Federal distribution of subjects)
Provincial autonomy.
No constitutional amendment without the concurrence of states.
No territorial reorganization to negatively affect the Muslim majority status in any province.

Diwali Declaration/Irwin 2631 statement 31 st October 1929 (07:58 PM)

Irwin's statement is Dominion statement is Implicit in Montagu's statement in 1917 and it is the intent of the British to give dominion status at future date and for this purpose, Britain will hold a round table conference in London.
Therefore there was no decision only Intent plus No timeline and only in the future.
Therefore INC responded with the Delhi manifesto in November 1929 which was passed by a meeting of top INC leaders.
a) RTC should act as a constituent assembly(CA) implementing Dominion status that is Drafting a constitution with dominion status.
b) Majority of Indians in RTC should be from INC.
c) Give amnesty in the case of the Bomb in CLA 1929 and the Meerut conspiracy case 1929 where many communists were arrested.
Irwin 2631 rejected therefore in the Lahore session 1929 with Nehru as president-
a)INC goal is purna swaraj.
b)INC rejected RTC.
c)26 January 1930 to be celebrated as Independence day by Indians taking the Independence pledge.
d)Decision to withdraw from legislature immediately.
e)AICC to launch CDM at the appropriate time.
On One hand, high pressure on MG to launch CDM, and on other hand some sections opposed CDM.
For example, Muslims of INC wanted INC-ML unity before a CDM plus the Middle classes that are capitalists unsure about the economic impact of CDM as the great depression 1929 began in October 1929.
Plus ML called CDM a trick of INC to set up Hindu Raj plus CPI 1925opposed INC and its CDM due to directions of the Comintern(An organization of all communist parties of the world headed by the USSR).
Sikh, Hindu Mahasabha, and the justice party of Madras opposed CDM. Therefore MG gave 11 point demands(1930) to British
And on their rejection, he decided to launch CDM(1930-34)

The topic for the next class: Civil disobedience movement 1930-34