To understand the significance of the Simon Commission and its boycott, we must first place ourselves in the political environment of 1927.By this time, the nationalist movement seemed to have entered a phase of decline. There was a sense of hopelessness and stagnation. Why so? Let us look at the conditions: This was the backdrop…
Sachindranath Sanyal (1893–1942) Fun fact: He once debated with Gandhi, opposing his gradualist, non-violent approach. Gandhi, in turn, insisted that non-violence was the only practical path forward. Rajendra Nath Lahiri (1901–1927) Bhagwati Charan Vohra (1904–1930) Durgawati Devi (“Durga Bhabhi”) Manmath Nath Gupta (1908–2000)
Background: From Decline to Revival ➡️ Most revolutionaries respected this call and either joined Non-Cooperation or remained inactive. But the sudden withdrawal of the movement in 1922 (after Chauri Chaura) left them disillusioned. Two Centres of Revolutionary Activity After 1922, two broad groups of revolutionaries emerged: Common Inspirations: Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) – Revolutionaries of…
A New Current: Socialist Ideas By the mid–late 1920s, the freedom struggle began to be shaped not only by Gandhian ideals but also by socialist and Marxist influences. ➡️ Thus, the nationalist struggle acquired a socialist dimension, making it broader and more radical. Background to the Socialist Turn Communist beginnings in India: Youth Radicalisation The…
Gandhi’s Release from Prison (1924) ➡️ This shows Gandhi’s belief that political freedom without social unity and self-reliance would be hollow. Belgaum Session of Congress (1924) Rise of Communalism after 1922 Despite these reconciliations within Congress, communal tensions began to intensify across the country. Why? Gandhi’s Intervention ➡️ Result: The ideal of composite nationalism (all…
Background: The Post-Non-Cooperation Confusion In February 1922, Gandhiji suddenly suspended the Non-Cooperation Movement after the Chauri Chaura incident. This came as a shock to millions of Indians who had been drawn into the struggle. For the Congress leadership, this created a peculiar crisis: It is very important to understand here: no mass movement can go…
Introduction: Nationalist Movement (1922–1929) When the Non-Cooperation Movement came to a sudden halt in 1922, following the Chauri Chaura incident, the Indian freedom struggle seemed to enter a long pause. The tide of mass enthusiasm that had swept across the country under Mahatma Gandhi’s call of Swaraj in one year ebbed away, leaving behind both…
Background to the Movements The ground had already been prepared by earlier events: 👉 Together, these developments created a situation ripe for a mass uprising. The immediate spark, however, came from the Khilafat issue. The Khilafat Issue Demands of Indian Muslims Formation of Khilafat Committee (1919) All-India Khilafat Conference (Delhi, Nov 22–23, 1919) Congress and…
Response of the Government: The Policy of Carrot and Stick When the First World War ended, the British government clearly sensed that nationalist feelings in India were intensifying. People were frustrated by economic hardships, disappointed by false promises, and inspired by new global events like the Russian Revolution. So, the Government decided to deal with…
By 1919, a big transformation came in India’s freedom struggle. Until now, we had seen the Moderates (1885–1905) and the Extremists (1905–1919). But with Mahatma Gandhi’s entry into politics, the movement shifted into its third and final phase. For the first time, the national struggle became a true mass movement. It was no longer limited…
