National Movement from 1935 AD to 1947 AD - General Knowledge of Modern India

National Movement from 1935 AD to 1947 AD - General Knowledge of Modern India

Before 1935, the progress of the Civil Disobedience Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi was at its peak. The British government was making many efforts to satisfy the Indians. As a result of that, the Government of India Act of 1935 was passed. As a result, the Civil Disobedience Movement was closed. According to the provision of this Act, the election was held in 1937 AD. The Congress got the expected success. Governments were formed in many provinces under the leadership of Congress. Meanwhile, the Second World War started and the Congress ministries resigned. In order to fulfill the demand for independence, the Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi launched the Individual Satyagraha movement in September 1940. But, he did not get any success. 

Read More History: Wavell Plan and Shimla Conference - General Knowledge Of Modern India

The first Satyagrahi leader of this movement Vinoba Bhave and all the Congress leaders were imprisoned in jails. Nevertheless, with the aim of keeping the Indians on his side, the Governor-General in August 1940 assured the British Government to make all possible efforts to free India after the end of the war. But, due to lack of faith in it, the Congress remained adamant on the demand of 'Purna Swaraj'. On the other hand, the Muslim League demanded the creation of Pakistan in 1940 AD.

Cripps Plan

In September 1941, Japan declared war with the Allies. The British government considered it very necessary to get Indian cooperation and assistance in the war.  Apart from this, he also feared that the people of India might also attack against him with the intention of taking advantage of the said situation. Therefore, in April 1942 AD, the British government sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India to solve the legal problems of India. Cripps recommended giving colonial self-government to India as well as giving the right to remain separate to the provinces who wished to remain separate from India. However, not every political party in India agreed with these recommendations. Hence the Cripps mission was unsuccessful.

Quit India Movement

The failure of the Cripps Mission led Indians to believe that the British government did not want to give them Swaraj. Therefore, being extremely angry, on 7 and 8 August 1942, the All India Congress Committee passed the resolution of 'Quit India' in its session against the British. When this resolution was passed, the slogans of 'Quit India' started rising all over India. As a result, on 9 August Gandhiji along with other leaders were also imprisoned and the Congress was declared an illegal institution. There was panic in the whole country. The form of Satyagraha became turbulent and the atmosphere of unrest took such a formidable form that railways, wires etc. were broken, stations, post offices and police stations were burnt. Thousands of people fell victim to the bullets of the police and armies, and a large number of people were jailed. Seeing this violent atmosphere, Mahatma Gandhi started fasting in jail itself. This unrest persisted in the country for three years. Gandhiji was released from jail in 1944 due to ill health. The revolution of 1942 AD is an important revolution in the history of India. Read more about it here:- Quit India Movement

Wavel Declaration

The Congress leaders were released from prison at the end of World War II. In the same year, i.e. in June 1945, Lord Wavell said in his declaration that the British government wanted to give complete independence to India and for this all the members of the executive except the Commander-in-Chief would be Indians.  But, the Muslim League disagreed. Hence, this declaration could not be implemented.

Azad Hind Fauj

More than 70 thousand Indian soldiers of the English army were defeated and surrendered to the Japanese forces. With the help of the Japanese government, these 70 thousand soldiers established the Azad Hind Fauj under the chairmanship of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

British Prime Minister's Announcement

On 19 February 1946, the Minister of India, Lord Pethick Lawrence, announced that the British Government would send a Cabinet Mission to India, which would meet with Indian leaders and discuss the problem of Indian independence. On the same day the Viceroy also announced that the Ministers of India in the mission are Lord Pethick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and AB Alexander. On 15 March 1946, the British Prime Minister, Attlee, announced this - "The situation has completely changed and a new formula will have to be accepted for its solution. The possibility of a deadlock is high, rather than solving the problem with ancient measures. In this declaration the demand for complete independence of Indians was accepted and it was declared that the right to prohibit the national political progress supported by the majority would not be given to the minority.

Arrival of Cabinet Mission

According to this announcement, the Cabinet Mission reached India on 23 March 1947. Lord Wanderer Lawrence said - "The British Government and the British nation want to fulfill their promises and promises which they have made to India and we assure that in the midst of our negotiations we will not put such an obstacle and condition that India create obstacles in the way of independent existence. Sir Stafford Cripps told that the mission's objective was to find a way to hand power in the hands of Indians. General, provincial governors and representatives of various political parties, it became clear that there are substantial differences between the Indian parties in the Constitutional Framework of India, the constitution of the Constituent Council and the organization of the Interim Government.

The Cabinet Mission presented one of its plans. But it was not accepted. In the end Mountbatten presented a plan and the way was cleared for India's independence. The Indian Independence Act was passed and according to its provision, India was declared independent on 15 August 1947.  Thus, the final result of the Indian national movement is considered to be the independence of India. India became independent, but it had to pay a heavy price. India was divided into two pieces.