History

Pune to Mumbai. In 1824, it, the British Government ordered the

Umaji Naik seized the peasants not to offer the rebels any

government treasury at food, clothing, shelter and money. In

Bhamburde (presently addition people were also threatened

Shivajinagar, Pune). Both with confiscation of their lands. They

together, with their activities, also ordered people to inform the

made the British desperate. government about Umaji’s whereabouts,

To put an end to their if they come to know of it. Captain

activities the British Davis with the help of five companies

Government declared an of cavalry began chasing Umaji.

award of Rs. 5000 each, for Umaji Naik However, he did not succeed in his
catching Umaji Naik and his task. The rebels were continuously at

mates Bhujba, Pandya and Yesaji. Meanwhile war with the British, often changing locations

Umaji Naik regularly held meetings with his from Satara, Wai, Bhor to Kolhapur. Captain

people and planned further actions. To stop Mackintosh took over the task of capturing

Umaji. Umaji ordered his mates to kill the

Do you know ? British officers. However, the British caught

Umaji near Bhor. Umaji was presented in the

Umaji Naik had issued a charter court and was sentenced to death. He was

against the British. The Charter said, hanged at Pune.

“Wherever in our country, Europeans, if In 1828, Phondsavant Tandulwadikar,
spotted, should be caught and killed the in-charge (‘Killedar’) of Mahadevgadh
without a concern to their official rebelled against the British. However the
position. Whosoever, successfully does it British promptly crushed it.
will be rewarded by the new government
in way of money, lands and Jahagirs. Angered by the British policies, the
This is an opportunity for those who members of Sawantwadi aristocracy got
wish to reclaim their lost lands, rights together and revolted against the British.
and properties under the British rule. However, Spooner*, the British political agent
They may avail of this opportunity. The was successful in crushing it. Even after their
British military has recruited Hindi defeat a few of the Sawantwadi aristocracy
soldiers - mounted and foot soldiers. They reattempted a revolt. By then the British had
should leave their jobs in the British imposed military law in the area. Captain
military. They should not obey their Outram finally managed to end the revolt
superior’s orders. If they do not follow permanently.

this instruction then the new government *A Political agent was a representative of the British

will punish them. Put the bungalows of Government instated in the courts of an Indian princely state.
the Europeans on fire. Loot the
In Kolhapur state, there used to be

Government treasury. Whosoever, does it keepers of forts, called ‘Gadkari’. A Gadkari
will be allowed to retain the money with was a salaried officer in the Maratha regime.

himself. Don’t deposit the collected However, the British Government took away
revenue in the government treasury. It is the authority of the Gadkaris and stopped

obligatory to comply with our orders for paying them salary. The first resistance to
every person, may he be a Hindu or a this decision was raised at Samangadh near

Muslim. It’s the time now for the Kolhapur. Captain Outram arrived with his
prediction of a doom for the British rule, platoons to bring the Gadkaris under control.

to come true.” However, in the first run the rebels were

42

successful in taking charge of Panhala, cropping cycle and Indian climate. The new
Pavangadh and Vishalgadh. Later, more revenue systems introduced by the British
equipped platoons arrived from Madras made the common farmer penniless while
(Chennai) and the Gadkaris were forced to making the government and the landlords
surrender. rich. Earlier, the land tax could be paid by
way of food grains and other commodities.
6.2 Freedom Struggle of 1857 Now the farmer had to pay it in hard cash.
Despite of good or bad harvest, there was
The freedom struggle of 1857 was the no option but to pay the tax. More so if
result of mounting pressures because of there was a famine, the farmer was driven
increasing discontent of Indian soldiers in the to a dire condition. Droughts, epidemics used
British army and also political, social, to affect people and animals the most.
religious and economic reasons. The treatment However, the British outlook used to be
given to Indian soldiers and the restrictions absolutely unsympathetic. Thus, the farmer
imposed on them were at the root of their was caught between the governments and
discontent. The soldiers felt hurt because of moneylenders. Earlier, selling of agricultural
many reasons, such as cuts in their allowances, land was not allowed. Now the British
being compelled to cross the sea, frequent Government defined agricultural land as
humiliation during daily parade, partiality sellable. The farmers who were in difficult
ruling large in matters of transfers, being left situation had no alternative but to sell
out during promotions, etc. portions of their land, for getting some hard
cash. Lands thus acquired, were brought
On the civil front, Lord Dalhousie under cultivation of cash crops like indigo by
adopted the Doctrine of Lapse*. It created the British owners. The labourers employed
discontent among the rulers of princely states on their plants were exploited to the utmost.
who were subjected to his policy. By Their conditions were miserable.
implementing this policy Dalhousie annexed Unemployment, despair, disbelief loomed
the states of Satara, Jaitpur, Sambalpur, large all over India, which had made the life
Udaipur, Nagpur and Jhansi to the British of common people very difficult.
empire.
Try this.
*Policy of not permitting an adopted son (Dattak) to succeed
Collect more information about
a deceased ruler of a princely state unless there was a pre- ‘Kayamdhara’, ‘Ryotwari’, ‘Mahalwari’
land revenue systems and discuss it in the
approval to such succession by the British Government. class. Also discuss the present land system
of ‘Anewari’.
Annexation of the princely states put the
soldiers in their army out of job. They Not only the monetary exploitation but
returned to agriculture increasing the pressure also forced religious conversions, British
on the cultivable land. Gradually, people also policies with regard to Indian customs and
began to believe that through administrative traditions contributed to the increasing
policies the company government was trying discontent among Indian people.
to destroy their religion. Along with annexing
the states the British Government also seized In the year 1856, Indian soldiers in the
inherited land holdings, which had made a British army were given long range Enfield
large number of Indians unhappy. rifles and new cartridges for loading in these
rifles. A rumour spread in army camps that
The British Government tried to introduce these new cartridges are smeared with cow
new land revenue systems like ‘Kayamdhara
or Jamindari’ (permanent settlement),
‘Ryotwari’ and ‘Mahalwari’. These revenue
systems were formed without any concern to
Indian tradition of revenue systems, Indian

43

and pig fat. In order to load the gun with a incidence the Indian soldiers in Lucknow
cartridge, one had to break it open with Cantonment revolted, followed by the revolt
teeth. The idea of breaking a cartridge of cavalry units in Merath. In the chaotic
smeared with cow or pig fat, with one’s teeth situation created by the sudden revolt, Indian
was repugnant to Indian soldiers for religious soldiers broke into rampage killing British
reasons. The Indian soldiers who refused it individuals and taking revenge on their
were forced to do so by the British. Finally, families, at times turning it into blind
in the month of March of 1857, Mangal massacre, putting houses on fire and so on.
Pandey, who was posted in Barakpur Some soldiers began to march towards Delhi.
Cantonment, gave a vent to the rage of
Indian soldiers. The British punished him by On 12th May 1857, Delhi was captured
hanging to death. This escalated the fury and was completely under the control of
among Indian soldiers. Soon after this Indian soldiers. They handed over the reins

44

of the uprising to the the soldiers at Dinapur, near Patna revolted
under the leadership of Kunwar Singh who
Mughal Emperor was a landlord from west Bihar. Kunwar
Singh also received a good response from
Bahadur Shah. He places like Hazaribagh (presently in
Jharkhand) and Deogarh, Sambalpur in
was reinstated as the Odisha.

ruling emperor of

India, declaring him to

be ‘Shahanshah-i-

Hindostan’. However, Nanasaheb Peshwa

he was the nominal led the uprising from

leader of the uprising. Bahadur Shah Kanpur. General
Its de-facto leaders
Havelock went to
were Nanasaheb Peshwa, Tatya Tope, Rani
Kanpur to suppress the
Lakshmibai, Maulavi Ahmadulla, Begum
uprising. Nanasaheb
Hazrat Mahal, Kunwar Singh and Senani
Peshwa and Tatya Tope
Bakht Khan. The uprising was more intense
made an unsuccessful
in Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi and some
attempt of keeping
parts of West Bihar. Bakht Khan took the Nanasaheb Peshwa their hold on Kanpur.

responsibility of assuring the safety of Delhi. Sir Colin Campbell, the British Commander-

On 27th May 1857, the British army in-Chief, defeated Tatya Tope and regained
attacked Delhi with an intention of recapturing
Delhi. They staked their entire strength on the control over Kanpur.
this purpose. Brigadier John Nicolas was
killed in the battle. Ultimately, the British In this war Tatya
could conquer Delhi because of Sir John
Lawrence, a British diplomat and the Sikh Tope and Begum Hazrat
platoon. British General Hudson was the one
who arrested Bahadur Shah. After arrest, Mahal were initially on
Bahadur Shah was sent to Rangoon (Burma /
Myanmar). He died there in 1862. the winning side. The

British army under the

leadership of Havelock

and Outram was not very

successful to begin with.

Then the King of Nepal

Prior to the capture of Delhi, the feeling Jang Bahdur, arrived with Tatya Tope
of dissatisfaction had spread in many places his Gurakha platoons to
and the riot was quickly intensified in
Ayodhya, Lucknow and the Northwestern help the British. Maulavi Ahmadulla led the
province. Very soon it spread like a wild fire
in Aligarh, Itawa, Mathura, Bareli, Azamgadh, army of Indian soldiers. Colin Campbell with
Faizabad, Kanpur, Jhansi, and Ahmadabad.
his military skills and experience conquered

Lucknow.

The Indian soldiers at Jalandhar, Governor General Lord Canning ordered
Ludhiyana, Multan, Sialkot in Punjab actively Colonel Neil to march to Banaras (Varanasi)
responded to the uprising. Similar instances and Allahabad. The revolting soldiers had a
took place in places like Gwalior, Indore, great backing in these cities. Colonel Neil
Mhow and Sagar in Madhya Pradesh. The used canons to answer the rifles of Indian
uprising reached Nasirabad Cantonment and soldiers. His tactics took a cruel turn when
rest of Rajasthan. he ruthlessly massacred and hanged many
people. Hearing the news from Varanasi, the
The uprising also reached Dhaka, soldiers in Allahabad reacted by taking
Chittagong and Madariganj, presently in revenge on the Europeans in the city. Many
Bangladesh and Bhagalpur in Bihar. In Bihar, Europeans were killed there. When Colonel

45

Neil came to know this, he straightaway At Kolhapur, Ramji Shirsat, who was
proceeded to Allahabad and indiscriminately awaiting the news of the uprising in the
killed the Indians. The British atrocities north, took charge of the government treasury
reached its climax. and began to organise the soldiers and others
under his leadership. In response to the
Try to do this: uprising, Chimasaheb, a member of the royal
house of Kolhapur, also joined and took
Vishnubhat Godse from Vasai was in over the leadership of the rebels. The uprising
Jhansi in 1857. Get the book, ‘Maza was supported well by the people in Kolhapur,
Pravas’ authored by him as the eyewitness Belgaon and Dharwad.
of the happenings and read it.
The nationwide rage created by the war
In Jhansi, the Indian soldiers rose against of 1857 could not be quelled in short time.
It continued for more than a year. The
the British. They got organised under the number of soldiers, involved in the war at
Delhi, Merath, Kanpur, Lucknow, Gwalior
leadership of Nanasaheb Peshwa, Tatya tope and some other places was considerably
large, around one lakh. They were adequately
and Lakshmibai, the Queen of Jhansi. Field armed. They possessed right state of mind,
also not lacking in valour and yet they were
Marshall Sir Hugh Rose put Jhansi under defeated.

siege. Tatya Tope came to the queen’s rescue Queen Victoria of England acknowledged
the rage of Indian people, which gave rise
but he was defeated to the war of 1857. To establish peace, she
addressed the issue by publishing a charter,
by Hugh Rose. The known as the ‘Queen’s Proclamation’. She
declared that all Indians were her subjects
British also conquered and she wanted to assure them of few things.
Her assurance included a promise of no
Kalpi. Lakshmibai, the discrimination on the basis of race, creed
(faith system), caste and birth place,
queen died in the employment on the basis of qualification and
skills, no interference in religious matters,
battlefield. Sardar fulfillment of the agreements with the rulers
of princely states, etc.
Mansingh of Gwalior
The war of 1857 also had a deep impact
handed over Tatya on the Indian society. Provincial and
communal loyalties were gradually replaced
Tope to the British by by a feeling of being united as a nation and
national loyalty. It was dawned on Indian
treachery. Tatya Tope people that they cannot win in an armed
was hanged to death Queen Lakshmibai combat with the British and a need was felt
to find more innovative methods to counter
in 1859. Nanasaheb Peshwa, wife of Bajirao the British rule.

Peshwa II and nephew Raosaheb escaped to Becoming aware of the power of united
Indian people during the 1857 war, the
Nepal and settled there permanently. British adopted a policy of ‘divide and rule’

In Maharashtra, Rango Bapuji Gupte
attempted to organise a rebellion at Satara
but he was unsuccessful. His associates were
punished for it. Babasaheb Bhave, the ruler
of the Nargund state joined the uprising in
1858.

The British Government got a whiff of
the plan of revolt in Mumbai. Immediately
the people, who were involved in the plan
were blown to death by tying them to a
cannon. The Bhils in Khandesh also joined
in the revolt. Their leaders Bheema Naik and
Kajarsingh Naik seized a government treasury
worth seven lakhs. The Bhils and the British
confronted each other at Ambapani (Jalgaon
District).

46

in later years of their regime. Association’ in January 1885 by Justice
Kashinath Trimbak Telang, Pherozeshah
6.3 Background of Founding the Indian Mehta and their associates.

National Congress 6.4 Founding of the Indian National

The founding of Indian National Congress Congress
that eventually followed the 1857
Independence war, was the key event in the On 28th December 1885, the first session
independence movement of India. It was the of Indian National Congress was held at
first organisation in India that pulled people Mumbai, in ‘Gokuldas Tejapal Sanskrit
from all quarters of India. College’. It was attended by 72 delegates
from various parts of India. Vyomeshchandra
Dwarkanath Tagore established ‘Land Banerjee presided over this session. Many
Holders Association’ in 1837 to safeguard the eminent people like Pherozeshah Mehta,
interests of landlords. In 1839, William Dadabhai Nowrojee, Rahimtulla Sayani,
Adams, a friend of Raja Ram Mohan Roy Kashinath Trimbak Telang, Gopal Krishna
established ‘British India Society’ in London Gokhale participated in the proceedings of
to acquaint the British citizens in England this session. Allan Octavian Hume, a British
with the conditions in British India. Later, officer in India took significant lead in the
George Thompson, a friend of Dwarkanath founding of Indian National Congress. In this
Tagore established ‘Bengal British India first session nine resolutions were passed.
Society’. In 1851, ‘The Land Holder’s Through these resolutions, demands for
Association’ and the ‘Bengal British India appointing a commission to enquire into the
Society’ merged together and ‘British Indian British administration in India, to appoint
Association’ was founded. By the initiative elected representatives of people on central
of Harishchandra Mukherjee, this organisation and provincial legislative assemblies, to
dispatched a document presenting grievances employ Indians in the administrative services,
of the Indian people to the British Parliament. to conduct civil service examinations in India,
At about the same time, ‘Madras Native to curtail military expenses, to sanction more
Association’ also began to work on similar funds for higher education and to make
lines. In 1866, Dadabhai Nowrojee in provisions for technological education were
collaboration with Vyomeshchandra Banerjee put forth.
established ‘East India Association’ in London
and began the work of creating awareness 6.5 ‘Moderates’ and ‘Extremists’
about Indian conditions. The ‘India League’
was active in this regard from 1875. Later, At about the same time, a debate
Surendranath Banerjee established ‘Indian emerged, especially in Maharashtra, arguing
Association’ and declared that this association about the priority of political reforms over
would work for uniting Indians of various priority of social reforms. The ‘Extremists’
racial origin and caste, with the help of wing of thinkers insisted that independence
common political interests and aspirations. should be the natural priority. An independent
Indian Association called a conference of the nation could provide a right set-up for social
representatives of various Indian provinces, reformation. On the other hand, the Moderates
in 1883 at Kolkata. thought that without social reformation
independence was incomplete. They did not
The ‘Madras Mahajan Sabha’ founded mind appealing to the British Government to
in 1884 was an important nationalist help in the task of social reforms.
organisation. At about the same time English
education and urge for social reforms resulted Gopal Ganesh Agarkar was at the helm
in the formation of ‘Bombay Presidency of those who insisted on the priority of social
reforms. He used to say that we need to first

47

Do you know ?

Section 124(A) And Maharashtra : under Section 124(A).
On 25th November 1870, James Stephen
added section 124(A) to Indian Penal On 14th March 1878 the ‘Vernacular
Code. It is known as ‘Sedition Law’. This Press Act’ was implemented. This act was
law declared that, any act leading to concerned with writing and printing articles
insurgency, such as using provocative that would lead to insurgence against the
words, writing, signs or similar things British Government or creation of hatred
against the British rule was a crime, among people on the basis of race, caste
punishable with fine or imprisonment or and creed. A conference was called against
death sentence. ‘Bangvasi’ a weekly this law by native journalists in Kolkata.
magazine was the first one to be charged However, those who organised this
for treason and tried under this law. conference were from Maharashtra -
Ganesh Vasudev Joshi also known as
On 15th June 1897 ‘Kesari’ the ‘Sarvajanik Kaka’ and Justice Mahadeo
newspaper from Pune, published a Poem, Govind Ranade.
entitled, ‘Shivajiche Udgar’. This poem
was supplemented by Lokmanya Tilak By applying this law, the British
with his subsequent editorials. It included Government had confiscated 210 Marathi
the editorials that appeared with titles books. Lokmanya Tilak, Shivrampant
like, ‘To Rule, Not to Take Revenge’ Paranjape and Ganesh Damodar Savarkar
were put under trial for sedition. ‘1857 -
(‘राज्य करणे म्हणजे सूड उगवणे नव्ह’े ), and ‘What The First War of Independence’, the book
is Treason?’ (‘राजद्रो्ह कशाला म्हणतात?’). written by Swatantryaveer Savarkar was
one of the confiscated books.
Lokmanya Tilak was the first editor in
India to be arrested for treason and tried

reform ourselves. On the contrary, Lokmanya Extremist wanted to stop
Tilak, who was the leader of the Extremists,
used to say that the home taken over by these attempts of the
others should be recovered first, then only we
can reform it. Moderates. This

Pherozeshah Mehta, Gopal Krishna increased the tension
Gokhale were the leaders of the Moderates.
They felt that if they could convince the during the session.
government about their grievances, with
necessary proofs, the government will not Reconciliation became
disappoint them. Lokmanya Tilak, on the
contrary, felt that British Government will not impossible. Ultimately
yield to applications, requests and speeches.
the Indian National
The differences between Moderates and
Extremists reached its climax in the session Congress split into two Lokmanya Tilak
of Indian National Congress held at Surat in
1907. The Moderates wanted to avoid the groups.
resolutions of ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Boycott’. The
To control the programmes of Indian
48 National Congress, Lord Curzon planned the
partition of Bengal. After the partition of
Bengal, the British Government began to
take strict actions against the leaders of the
Extremists. Lokamanya Tilak was sent to
Mandalay prison for 6 years under the charge
of treason. Bipinchandra Pal was imprisoned
and Lala Lajpat Rai was deported.

Do you know ? the plague epidemic in Pune were atrocious.
Enraged by it, Damodar and Balkrishna
Lokmanya Tilak had returned from Chapekar, the two brothers killed Rand.
Mandalay when the First World War
had begun. Lokmanya Tilak proposed In 1899, with the initiative of Ganesh
that Indians should take advantage of
the situation resulted because of the Damodar Savarkar and his brother Vinayak
war. The war had put the British
Government in a difficult situation. Damodar Savarkar, ‘Mitra Mela’, a secret
Hence, it was the right time for pressing
the cause of Indian independence. The organisation was established at Nasik. The
Governor of Bombay (Mumbai) called
a meeting of Indian leaders for help. same organisation was renamed in 1904 as
Lokmanya Tilak, in very clear terms,
told the British that the Indian soldiers ‘Abhinav Bharat’. The same year Vinayak
would be sent to fight, if only, British
Government promise the ‘Swaraj’. This Damodar Savarkar went to England for
policy of Lokmanya Tilak is known as
‘Responsive Co-operation’. When the higher education. From there he began to
Governor stopped, Lokmanya Tilak got
up and immediately left the meeting send revolutionary literature, pistols, etc. to
without bothering for anything or
anybody. the members of Abhinav Bharat. He wrote

Lokmanya Tilak returned to India after a biography of Joseph Mazini, an Italian
completing a six year term in the prison of
Mandalay in 1914. After that there was a revolutionary. He also
reconciliation between Moderates and
Extremists and they came together in the wrote the book, ‘1857 -
Congress session at Lucknow.
The First War of
6.6 Armed Revolutionaries in India
Independence’. The British
The Indian movements against the
British imperialism took many forms. One Government came to know
of the movements was of armed revolution.
The main objective of the armed of the activities of
revolutionaries was to weaken government
administration, to dispel the fear of the ‘Abhinav Bharat’. Ganesh
government in people’s mind and thus to
uproot the British rule from India. Damodar Savarkar was

Ram Singh Kuka had planned a revolt Swatantryaveer arrested by the British
in Punjab against the British Government.
In Maharashtra, Vasudev Balwant Phadke, Savarkar Government. Jackson, the
was the one to do the same. Commissioner
Rand’s methods of treating people during British collector punished him with life

sentence. Anant Lakshman Kanhere a

young Indian revolutionary killed Jackson

to avenge the punishment given to Ganesh

Damodar Savarkar. The government held

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar for Jackson’s

murder. He was arrested and had to face

a trial in the court. He was declared guilty

and sentenced to rigorous inprisonment for

50 years at Andaman.

A revolutionary organisation named as
‘Anusheelan Samiti’ was active in Bengal.
Aurobindo Ghosh and his brother Barindra
Kumar Ghosh were at the head of this
orgnisation. The organisation had a centre
of bomb making at Maniktala near Kolkata.
In 1908, Khudiram Bose and Prafulla
Chaki of Anusheelan Samiti, made a plan
of Kingsford's assasination who was an
evil British magistrate. However, the horse
cart which was bombed by them did not

49

carry Kingsford but two British women Pradesh. The government was prompt in
instead. They both died. Prafulla Chaki action. All of them were captured
shot himself and Khudiram Bose was immediately and hanged.
arrested and hanged.
This was the time when some young
Shyamji Krishna people in India established the ‘Communist
Party’ following the revolutionary thoughts
Verma had founded of Karl Marx. Their aim was to uproot the
colonial British rule and to establish the
‘India House’ in London. rule of working class people (proletariat).
Members of the Communist Party were
This organisation used to tried under the charge of attempting armed
revolution. The Merath case and Kanpur
give scholarships to case in this context received a lot of
publicity. Comrade Shripad Amrut Dange,
Indian students in Muzaffar Ahmed, Keshav Neelkanth
Jogalekar were among the accused in these
England taking higher cases.

education. Madam Cama Shyamji Verma The young revolutionaries
belonged to the group Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh,
Rajguru and Sukhdev had a secular way
formed by Shyamji Krishna Verma. She of thinking. In 1928, they established
‘Hindustan Socialist Republican Association’
was a socialist and a revolutionary. In the in Delhi. Their goal was to free India from
the British exploitation. They wanted to rip
‘World Socialist Conference’ in Germany off the British system that exploited the
farmers and labourers. Their organisation
she raised the issue of had an independent department called
‘Hindustan Socialist Republican Army’ for
India’s independence. collecting arms and to execute their plans.
Chandrashekhar Azad was the chief of that
She unfurled a flag department.

representing India. The members of this organisation had
completed several adventurous tasks.
Madanlal Dhingra shot Bhagatsingh and Rajguru avenged the death
of Lala Lajpat Rai. Saunders was killed to
Curzon Wyllie to death teach a lesson British officers. The British
Government had submitted two bills in the
and was arrested and Central Legislative Assembly, which were
absolutely damaging to civil rights. Bhagat
hanged for it. Singh and Batukeshwar Datta, exploded a
bomb in the Legislative Assembly and
Madam Cama Indians in America surrendered to police. Bhagat Singh,
Rajguru, Sukhdev were hanged at Lahore
and Canada had in 1931 under the charge of treason.
Chandrashekhar Azad became a martyr,
established a revolutionary orgnisation,

which was named as ‘Gadar’. Lala

Hardayal, Bhai Paramanand, Dr. Pandurang

Sadashiv Khankhoje were among the main

leaders of this organisation. Gadar means

uprising. ‘Gadar’ was the name of the

newspaper as well, published by this

organisation. This newspaper gave the

message of patriotism and revolution to

Indians. Hutatma Vishnu Ganesh Pingale

contributed in a great way in this work.

Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla, Roshan
Singh, Rajendra Lahiri of ‘Hindustan
Republic Association’ had masterminded a
plan for raising money for revolutionary
work, which came to be known as ‘Kakori
conspiracy’. They sacked a train which
was carrying the government treasury, when
it had stopped at Kakori station in Uttar

50

fighting the British forces in the Alfred his death in 1920, was passed on to
Park in Allahabad. Mahatma Gandhi. He became the leader of
India’s Independence Movement. Under his
Bhagat Singh Rajguru Sukhdev leadership the independence movement
expanded considerably.
Surya Sen was the leader of the
revolutionary group working with Hindustan Gandhiji’s work began in South Africa.
Socialist Republican Army, in Chittagong, The British regime in South Africa had
in Bengal. He prepared a plan to attack on reduced the natives and the Indians there
the British armouries. They carried out the to a very insignificant status. Several
plan. While they were nearing success, discriminatory laws and regulations were
unfortunately, Surya Sen and some of his imposed on them. Gandhiji stood up against
colleagues were captured by the police. those laws and regulations. He was
Surya Sen and his colleagues sacrificed successful in it with non-violent means. In
their lives for the cause of nation. Kalpana 1915 Gandhiji returned to India.
Dutt, one of this group, got a life sentence.
Preetilata Waddedar escaped the police, but In 1917, he took up the issues of the
sacrificed her own life. Shanti Ghosh and farmers in Champaranya in Bihar. The
Suniti Chaudhury, the two school going
girls shot Charles Buckland, the British British plant owners
magistrate. They were caught and sentenced there were pressing
to imprisonment for life. Beena Das, a local farmers to
member of Indian National Congress, cultivate only indigo.
attempted to kill Stanley Jackson, the Not only that, they
Governor of Bengal, by shooting at him used to buy indigo
during the convocation ceremony of the from them at very
University of Calcutta (Kolkata). She was low rates. Gandhiji
caught and sentenced to nine year’s rigorous Mahatma Gandhi decided to protest
imprisonment. against this exploitation and to relieve the
farmers from their misery by doing
The revolutionaries have contributed Satyagraha. Gandhiji was successful in his
significantly to the Independence Movement efforts and the British Government banned
in India. They were courage and compulsion of cultivating indigo. The
determination personified. Their loyalty to farmers were relieved from the harassment
nation and readiness to sacrifice their lives of the British plant owners.
are unmatched. Their sacrifice has been a
source of inspiration to all. The British Government formed a
committee to suppress the national movement
6.7 Mahatma Gandhi: Non-Violent that was spreading rapidly. Sir Sydney
Resistance Movement Rowlatt, the British officer was the president
of the committee. An Act was passed in
The mantle of Lokmanya Tilak, after 1919 by this committee which came to be
known as the Rowlatt Act. This act
authorised the British Government to
imprison any Indian without warrant and
to put under trial without inquiry. Mahatma
Gandhi decided to protest against this act
through satyagraha. He appealed on 6th
April 1919 to all people to go for a mass

51

protest (hartal) by closing down all daily Mahatma Gandhi was asked to lead the
transactions. movement. It was decided to boycott all
schools, colleges, legislative bodies, courts,
There were mass protests in Punjab. government offices and imported goods.
13th April 1919 was the day of ‘Baisakhi’
festival. Thousands of Indian people responded to the Non
people had gathered for Co-operation movement and boycott in a
the meeting held at commendable way. Students participated in
Jallianwala Bagh in it on a large scale. Several highly
Amritsar for celebrating acknowledged Indian lawyers stopped their
the festival. Many of practice and participated in the movement.
them were not aware of Among them were Chittaranjan Das, Motilal
the ban put by the Nehru, M.R. Jaikar, Saifuddin Kichalu,
government on public Ravindranath Tagore Vallabhbhai Patel and Rajgopalachari. At
gatherings. General Dyer opened fire on many places imported clothes were publicly
these people without any prior warning. burnt. The farmers gave tremendous
About four hundred innocent people were response to Mahatma Gandhi’s appeal of
killed and thousands of them were injured non co-operation. The working class also
in this incident. It is known as ‘Jalianwala participated in the movement on very large
Bagh Massacre’. It created a wave of rage scale. A nationwide series of public strikes
all through India. Ravindranath Tagore was started. There were 396 instances of
criticised this act in very severe terms and public strikes during the year 1921 alone.
gave up his title (Sir). The leaders of Indian National Congress
had organised these strikes at several
The gory scenario in Jalianwala Bagh places. ‘Charkha’ (the Indian spinning
Massacre has been described by the wheel) became the symbol of ‘Swarajya’
celebrated Marathi poet, Kusumagraj (V.V. and ‘Swadeshi’ became a household term
Shirwadkar) in his poem entitled ‘Jallianwala in India.
Bagh’. He says:
The British Government had levied
रक्ताचे नच ओघळ सुकले अजनु न क्ुसर तावरचे heavy tax on salt, an essential commodity
नवरले नता धवनन तझु ्ता प्ेनितता, अजनु न शब्तांाचे in daily life. Mahatma Gandhi declared
मंगा ल तव गीतताचां ता होतो मांन्रतात घोि - satyagraha to protest against this tax. On
‘‘प्ेम, शतांना त अन् क्षमता ्तांमा ध्े वसतो परमशे !’’ the day of 12th March 1930, he began a
march from his Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi
आनि आज हे तझु ्ता पतताकता ज्ताचंा ्ता हताततातां on Gujarat seacoast, against this unjust tax.
ननःशस्तताचंा ्ता रक्तामताासं तामध्े नताहततात On 6th April on the seacoast at Dandi, he
म्ताांच्ता बं्ा ुकता उडताल्ता मुलताबां ता्कताातं broke the British law of salt with a token
जगजते ्तांाच्ता परताक्मताची स्ूफनतपित ् रीत ! act of collecting a handful of salt from
there.
पताचोळ्तापरर पडली पताहुन प्ते ताांची रतास
न्न झताकले असनशल ्ेवता, तू अपुले खतास; 6.8 Azad Hind Sena
असेल ही वता सैततानताची प्भवू री मतात
एक जखम अन् नवीन ्शे ू, तझु ्ता कताळजतात ! In the year 1939, Hitler pushed Europe
in World War II. The British Government
In 1920, in the session of Indian without the consent of its Indian subjects
National Congress held at Nagpur, a decided to involve India as one of the
resolution was passed to start the ‘Non Co- participant countries in the war. Mahatma
operation Movement’ all over India.

52

Gandhi and the Indian of ‘Quit India’ and it was approved with

National Congress were great majority. It was demanded that the

against this decision of British should immediately leave India. In

the British Government. this session it was also decided that the

In this war Japan ‘Quit India’ movement should be taken

decided to fight as forward with a non-violent apporoch under

Germany’s allied Mahatma Gandhiji’s

nation. Japan conquered leadership. Mahatma

the regions under Netaji Gandhi appealed to

British rule in Southeast Subhashchandra Bose all Indians saying,

Asia. Many Indian soldiers in the British “This movement is

army were taken captive by the Japanese not of the Indian

army. Rasbihari Bose built ‘Azad Hind National Congress,

Sena’ by recruiting these Indian soldiers but of all Indians.

and later it was reorganised under the Every Indian man Pandit Jawaharlal
and woman should Nehru
leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose. In know in their mind

1943, Subhash Chadra Bose established

‘Azad Hind Sarkar’ in Singapore. At the that they are free citizens from this very

end of 1943 he had already conquered moment and they should prepare themselves

Andaman and Nicobar. “Tum Muze Khoon to fight”. While emphasising that this was

Do! Main Tumhe Azadi Dunga!” (“Give going to be a very rigorous fight Mahatma

me your blood! I shall give you Gandhi said, “Today I am going to give

independendce!”) This speech by him turned you the mantra, ‘Do or Die’. This should

into a key slogan among Indians. In 1944, be the oath to which we commit ourselves.

he had conquered the Arakan province and Prepare to sacrifice yourselves for this

the British outposts on the east border of oath.’’ Gandhiji’s words created a new

Assam. The soldiers of Azad Hind Sena spirit among Indians.

kept fighting in very adverse conditions. The British Government tried to crush
the ‘Quit India’ movement before it started.
They could not reach and capture Imphal. Before the day of 9th August could see
sunlight, all prominent leaders like Gandhiji,
6.9 ‘Quit India’ Movement of 1942 Maulana Azad, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru,
Vallabhbhai Patel were arrested. The
The executive council of the Indian government put a ban on public gatherings,
National Congress passed a resolution at speeches, rallies and protestations. It sealed
Wardha that the British should quit India. all the offices of Indian National Congress,
in the country. The resistance put up by all,
This resolution was to aged and young in the villages like Chimur,
receive final approval in Ashti, Yawali, Mahad, Gargoti, etc. with
the session at Mumbai. steadfastness and courage will indeed be
On 7th August 1942 the remembered for ever.
session of Indian National
Congress began on the By the end of 1942 this movement
Gowalia Tank Ground in supported by common people took a
Mumbai. Maulana Abul different turn. Its leadership was assumed
Maulana Azad Kalam Azad was the by the young socialist leaders. Jayprakash
President of this session.

On 8th August, in this session Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru presented the resolution

53

Narayan, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Do you know ?
Achyutrao Patwardhan, Aruna Asaf Ali,
S.M. Joshi, N.G. Gore were on the forefront Echoes of India’s independence
among them.
movement in America and Singapore :
In order to mislead the British in
the 1942 movement, some of the leaders America - During the time of World
War II, ‘Life’, the weekly published in
had assumed pseudonyms. America demanded that India should be
given independence immediately.
Sucheta Kripalani - Dadi, Bahanji Renowned Americans from various
fields like Albert Einstein, Louis Fisher,
Achyutrao Patwardhan - Kusum Edger Snow, Wendell Willkie, John
Gunther, Pearl Buck, etc. had signed this
Ram Manohar Lohia - Doctor petition.

Sadique Ali - Sushila, Satya Singapore (Shonan) - Thousands of
Indians in Singapore marched in a rally
Baba Raghavdas - Didi with placards saying, “India’s
independence without delay!”, “India for
Aruna Asaf Ali - Kadam Indians”.

S. M. Joshi - Imam Ali Under the leadership of the ‘Indian
Independence League’ anti-British
Several revolutionary groups were protestations were held in all big cities
established in the country at local levels. of Malaya (Malaysia). There were such
The groups like ‘Azad Dasta’ established protestations in Medan and Sumatra
by Bhai Kotwal, in Karjat Taluka, ‘Lal (Indonesia).
Sena’ in Nagpur established by General
Awari left no alternative for the British British regime in Satara district and
Government but pray god. In Mumbai established ‘People’s Government’. This
Vitthal Javheri, Usha Mehta and their government took over the administrative
colleagues started a transmission centre, tasks like collecting revenue, maintaining
named ‘Azad Radio’. law and order, solving the court cases,
punishing criminals.
In 1942, in some parts of India, people
In this period the foundation of the
were sucessful in British rule in India became weak. The
‘Quit India’ movement was an expression
uprooting the British of the strong opposition of the Indian
people to the British rule. The British
Governance. In administrators became aware that it will be
difficult for them to rule the Indians any
Midnapur District longer. The end of the British Empire was
evident to them. The ‘Rebellion of the
(Bengal), Balia (U.P.) Sailors of the British Indian Navy - 1946’
added to the unrest against the British.
and Bhagalpur, Purnia

(Bihar) near Azamgarh

the British officers

Krantisinha were forced to leave
Nana Patil their offices. People
took charge of the

governance at these places. Krantisinha

Nana Patil, a revolutionist established

Pratisarkar (parallel government) in the

Satara district of Maharashtra. He, with the

help of his associates put an end to the

54

Oral Sources of History Thus, when the possibility of India
becoming a free nation had become evident,
Bengal was struck with a famine Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his party, the
after 1942. During the period of ‘Muslim League’ began to insist on a
famine, the revolutionaries in Bengal separate nation for the Muslims. There
announced a national government. The were many communal riots in many parts
leaders of this government laid down of the country. It finally resulted in the
an ideal for people. Ajay Mukherjee. partition of the country. In the month of
(Who became the chief minister of August of 1947, ‘India’ and ‘Pakistan’ two
West Bengal in post-independence separate nations came into existence.
India.) was interviewed by Shripad
Kelkar, the author of the book, ‘Chhodo Try to do this
Bharat’. This interview provides us
with some ideas of how a national Collect information and pictures about
leader should lead his life, how severe revolutionaries and freedom fighters from
a famine can be and how oral sources your area and make a presentation.
are important for understanding history.
History tells us that it was India, the
The following statement made by nation that created an example for the
Ajay Mukherjee is very important. He world of fighting successfully against the
said, “During the famine we survived colonial rule. It gave inspiration to many
only on 3 chhatak rice (meaning countries who were suffering under the
cooked rice less than 1/4th of seer*) shackles of colonial rule.
and very little dal for the whole day.”
The Constitution of independent India
*1 seer = 0.933105 kilogram came into implementation on 26th January
1950. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision
16 chhatak = 1 seer was the major force in shaping the
‘Constitution of India’. The fundamental
04 chhatak = 1/4th seer values on which the struggle for India’s
freedom was founded, included, Liberty,
Thus, 3 chhatak is less than ¼ Equality, Fraternity and Justice. These
seer. values have built the foundation of Indian
Constitution.

y y
JJJJJJJJJJJJ Exercise JJJJJJJJJJJJ

Q.1 (A) Choose the correct alternative and (a) indigo (b) tea
(c) coffee (d) sugarane
rewrite the statement.

1. The region of had become a 3. The first session of the Indian National

stronghold of Hansaji Naik. Congress was presided by .

(a) Satara (b) Nanded (a) Dwarkanath Tagore

(c) Pune (d) Nagpur (b) Vyomeshchandra Banerjee

2. The British plant owners in Bihar were (c) Dadaabhai Nauroji
pressing the local farmers to grow only
. (d) Surendranath Banerjee

55

(B) Find the incorrect pair from group Q.4 Answer the following questions in detail.
1. Lieutenant Outram was successful in
‘B’, and write the corrected one. crushing the revolt of the Bhils by the
end of 1822.
Group ‘A’ Group ‘B’ 2. Ravindranath gave up his title (Sir).
1. Kunwar Sinh Lucknow
Q.5 State your Opinion.
2. Nanasaheb Peshwa Kanpur 1. The rise of colonialism was the result
of the spreading of European trade.
3. Queen Lakshimibai Jhansi 2. According to Swatantryaveer Savarkar,
the Independence War of 1857 was the
4. Chimasaheb Kolhapur First War of Independence.

Q.2 Write names of historical places /persons / Activity

events. (a) The Rising Ballad of Mangal Pandey
1. The region of the regime of the parallel
(b) The Legend of Bhagat Singh
government established in 1942 -
2. The islands conquered by Azad Hind (c) Khele Hum Jee Janse

Sena from the British in 1943 - These are some Hindi films. Watch them and
verify the historical truth of the incidences
Q.3 Write short notes. shown in it.
1. The Extremists
2. Azad Hind Sena
3. Prati Sarkar

fff

56

7. Decolonisation to Political Integration of India

7.1 Decolonisation to Political Integration was political awakening in the Princely
of India States because of Non Co-operation
movement. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
7.2 Dadra and Nagar-Haveli handled the situation with great skill and
7.3 Goa tact. He took a conciliatory approach and
7.4 Puducherry won the confidence of the rulers of these
states. With the exception of Junagadh,
‘Decolonisation’ is the process of Hyderabad, and Kashmir remaining states
ending the colonial rule and handing over responded positively to the appeal and
the political and administrative power to merged in India. Later, Sardar Vallabhbhai
local people by the colonialists. Opposition Patel adopted a stern policy and resolved
to colonialism, struggle for independence the problem of the accession of those states,
and the nations under colonisation regaining who were unwilling to accede.
their independence are the three stages of
decolonisation process. India became Junagadh : It was a princely state in
independent on 15th August 1947. However, Saurashtra (Gujarat). The people of this
at that time there existed several Princely state were ready to accede to India while its
States in India, which were ruled by the Nawab wanted to merge in Pakistan.
hereditary rulers under British suzerainty. However common people opposed the
These states were given the choice to Nawab’s decision. He escaped to Pakistan.
decide whether to accede to India or not. In February 1948, Junagadh merged in India.
If these states had decided against it, then
it would have become very difficult to Hyderabad Freedom Struggle :
create the Indian Union. Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister and Hyderabad was the largest amongst the
the Home Minister of India, pursued most
of the rulers of these states in favour of princely states in India. It comprised Telugu,
acceding to India so that political integration
of India could be possible. In this lesson, Kannada and Marathi regional sections. It
we are going to take a brief review of
these events. was ruled by Nizam. He put restrictions on

the civil and political rights of his subjects

to a great extent. To fight against the

suppressive policies of Nizam people of the

state established various organisations,

namely. ‘Andhra Parishad’ in Telangana,

7.1 Decolonisation to Political ‘Maharashtra Parishad’ in

Integration of India Marathawada and

When India gained ‘Karnataka Parishad’ in

independence, there Karnataka. Swami

were more than 600 Ramanand Tirtha led

princely states of various Hyderabad freedom

size. Their political struggle skillfully with the

integration was the help of loyal workers of

biggest challenge faced these three organisations. Swami Ramanand

by the leaders of He founded the ‘Hyderbad Tirth

independent India. There Sardar Vallabhbhai State Congress’ and gave a momentum to
Patel
the struggle for Hyderabad’s accession.

57

The ‘Hyderabad State Congress’ passed Try to do this.
a resolution in favour of Hyderabad’s
merger in India. It was opposed by Nizam Try to collect information about the
for the fear of losing his hold. He was newspapers published during ‘Hyderabad
willing to join Pakistan. The people were Freedom Struggle’ with the help of
in favour of India while the ruler was in internet.
favour of Pakistan. Kasim Razvi, who
could exercise considerable influence over The Kashmir Issue : Hari Singh, the
Nizam, founded an organisation called ruling king of the State of Kashmir, had
‘Razakar’. Kasim Razvi and his organisation decided neither to join India, nor Pakistan
practiced many atrocities against the people after India’s independence. However,
who were fighting for democracy. Nizam Pakistan had plans to annex Kashmir to its
was adamant on his policies. He was territory. Therefore, Pakistan began to
averse to any negotiations and closed all pressurise King Hari Singh. On 22nd October
channels of mediation. Ultimately the 1947, armed bands of intruders attacked
Indian Government launched a police Kashmir from the Pakistan border. King
campaign against Nizam. This campaign Hari Singh, who wanted to maintain
was named as ‘Operation Polo’. On 17th independent status, asked India for help.
September 1948, Nizam finally surrendered On 27th October 1947, he consented to
and Hyderabad state was merged in India. merge Kashmir in India and officially
submitted the Agreement (Instrument of
Do you know ? Accession) to the Government of India. The
Indian Army was sent for Kashmir’s
The Contribution of protection. It captured a significant portion
of Kashmir’s territory that was acquired by
Marathwada in ‘Hyderabad the armed intruders from Pakistani border,
Freedom Struggle : The following however, they managed to keep their hold
leaders were actively involved in on some portion. In 1948, India presented
‘Hyderabad Freedom Struggle’ : the Kashmir issue in ‘United Nations’.
Swami Ramanand Tirth, Govindbhai Thus, Kashmir issue became an international
Shroff, Babasaheb Paranjape, issue. Even the ‘United Nations’ could not
Digambarrao Bindu, A. K. Waghmare, persuade Pakistan to withdraw their troops
Anantrao Bhalerao, Fulchand Gandhi, from the territory of Kashmir occupied by
Manikchand Pahade, Devisingh them. However, then the ‘National
Chauhan, Ashatai Waghmare, Conference Party’ decided on plebiscite to
Dagadabai Shelke and others. The solve the issue and to accede Kashmir to
following people became martyrs : India. The constitution of Jammu and
Vedprakash, Shyamlal, Govind Kashmir was drafted and since then Jammu-
Pansare, Shridhar Vartak, Bahirjee Kashmir has been an integral part of the
Shinde, Janardan Mama and others. Republic of India. It was accorded a special
The leaders and people of Marathwada status under ‘Article 370’.
had a lion’s share in ‘Hyderabad
Freedom Struggle’. 17th September, 7.2 Dadra and Nagar-Haveli
the day of Hyderabad’s Freedom is
celebrated as the ‘Marathwada Dadra and Nagar-Haveli are located in
Liberation Day’. the interior parts of Gujarat coast. It is on
the northern banks of the river Damanganga.
58

It was part of Portuguese dominion and Indian National Congress. In 1939, posters
was administered by a Portuguese governor.
It was anticipated that after India’s with ‘Quit Goa’ slogans were posted all
independence the Portuguese would hand
over these regions to India and quit. over Goa. Francis Mascarenhas, the
However they did not do so. Therefore, the
local people in Dadra and Nagar-Haveli President of United
rose against the Portuguese. The
organisations, namely, ‘United Front of Goan Front unfurled the
Goans’, ‘Azad Gomantak Dal’ came
together and planned a campaign to free Indian flag in Goa. In
these regions from the Portuguese rule. In
1954, Francis Mascarenhas, Vimal Sardesai, 1946, under the
the leaders of ‘Azad Gomantak Dal’
intensified the struggle. With fierce leadership of Dr. Ram
protestations people captured Nagar-Haveli.
The other organisation, ‘United Front of Manohar Lohia, the
Goans’ took hold of Dadra. ‘Rashtravadi
Mukti Sena’, a branch of ‘Azad Gomantak movement of ‘Civil
Dal’ took over Naroli, Pimparia and some
part of Silvasa. Local police stations and Disobedience’ was
administrative offices were attacked. Public
unrest reached such extent that the launched in Goa. Dr. T. B. Kunha
Portuguese army had to beat a retreat. The
Portuguese Captain Fidalgo surrendered. Dr. Lohia was arrested
The Government of India appointed K.G.
Badalani to bring normalcy in administration and was deported from Goa. Dr.T.B. Kunha,
in these area. According to the agreement
with the Indian Government, the region of Purushottam Kakodkar, Dr. Ram Hegde,
Dadra and Nagar-Haveli was merged in
India on 2nd August 1954. Vishvanath Dr. P. P. Shirodkar and Gopal Mayekar were
Lavande, Rajabhau Vakankar, Sudhir
Phadke, Nanasaheb Kajarekar, Nilubhau arrested for participating in the satyagraha
Limaye, Vasant Zanjale and many others
participated in this struggle. In 1961 Dadra at Madgaon. Dr. Kunha was imprisoned for
and Nagar-Haveli were given the status of
‘Union Territories’. eight years. He was sent to a prison in

7.3 Goa Portugal. Later, after returning to India, he

The movement of liberating Goa from started publishing two newspapers, namely,
the Portuguese rule had begun during pre-
independence times only. In 1928, ‘Goa ‘Azad Goa’ and ‘Swatantra Goa’.
Congress Committee’ was founded in
Mumbai. Dr. T. B. Kunha was the president After India’s independence, the
of this committee. In 1929, Goa Congress movement for liberating Goa took roots in
Committee became an integral branch of Maharashtra. In 1954, the ‘Goa Vimochan
Sahayak Samiti’ was founded at Pune.
Keshavarao Jedhe, N.G. Gore, and Jayantrao
Tilak took on the responsibility of directing
the movement. Some groups who volunteered
for the cause of Goa’s liberation marched
to Goa under the leadership of N.G. Gore
and Senapati Bapat. One group of those
volunteers unfurled the national flag of
India on the fort of Panaji.

There were a number of other eminent
people, who participated in the Goa

liberation movement.
It included people
like Pandit
Mahadevshastri Joshi,
Shirubhau Limaye,
Peter Alvaris and
Sudha Joshi. The
contribution of Mohan
Senapati Bapat Ranade in this

59

struggle is very significant. He systematically The French Government was unwilling to
began anti-Portuguese propaganda in Goa. surrender these regions. People at Puducherry
With the help of Azad Gomantak Dal, he got united under the leadership of V.
also started armed struggle against the Subbayya, a communist politician and a
Portuguese. During an attack on a police trade unionist. Taking a serious note of the
station, he was shot and got injured. happenings in Puducherry, the Government
Portuguese Government kept him in jail till of India strongly demanded that the French
1972. Acharya P.K. Atre used the daily Government return the Indian regions held
newspaper ‘Maratha’, published by him as by them. In June 1948, a bilateral agreement
a platform for supporting the movement. was signed between both the governments.
Thus, it became possible to resolve the
The strong public sentiments in the Puducherry issue by way of negotiations,
matter of Goa’s liberation moved Pandit public movements and governmental actions.
Jawaharlal Nehru to act on it. A mission
was planned under the code name, In 1949-50, after a positive public poll,
‘Operation Vijay’. Indian army descended Chandranagar was merged in the Indian
in Goa to accomplish the mission. The Republic. Later, on 13th October 1954, by
army was helped by local civilians as well. a bilateral agreement between the Indian
They showed the army the places where, Government and French Government, the
the Portuguese had planted landmines. The minutes of the merger process were drafted.
Portuguese surrendered within 48 hours. On The vote in the Legislative Assembly and
19th December 1961, Goa became a part of in the Municipal Corporation was in the
the Indian Republic. The foreign rule of support of accession. On 1st November
450 years came to an end. 1954, all French colonies in India were
merged in India. In 1962, the French
Try to do this. Parliament approved of the bilateral
agreement and in 1963 Puducherry was
Collect information of the fort of declared to be a ‘Union Territory’.
Panaji and make a poster about the fort.
Under the leadership of Pandit
7.4 Puducherry Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel, the Princely States in India were
When India got its independence, acceded to India and became integral part
Puducherry was still a French colony. There of the Indian Republic. Thus, the process
prevailed a general notion among Indians of political integration of India was
that departure of the British from India completed.
would send a signal the Portuguese and the
French to leave India on their own. In the next lesson we are going to
However, it was not to be so. The dispersed review the ‘World Wars’ and its impact on
regions including Puducherry, Karaikal, India.
Mahe and Yanam and also Chandranagar
in West Bengal were ruled by the French.

60

y y
JJJJJJJJJJJJ Exercise JJJJJJJJJJJJ

Q.1 (A) Choose the correct alternative and 3. The Princely States in India were merged
in India mainly through the efforts of
rewrite the statement. .
(a) Jayantrao Tilak
1. In 1946, under the leadership of (b) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(c) Pandit Jawahrlal Nehru
the movement of ‘Civil Disobedience’ (d) Dr. T.B. Kunha

was launched in Goa.

(a) Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia

(b) Dr. T.B. Kunha

(c) Dr. P.P. Shirodkar (B) Find the incorrect pair from group

(d) Dr. Ram Hegde ‘B’, and write the corrected one.

2. Hyderabad’s struggle of freedom was led Group ‘A’ Group ‘B’
1. Merger of the Swami Ramanand
skillfully by .

(a) King Hari Singh princely state of Tirth

(b) Swami Ramanand Tirth Hyderabad

(c) Pandit Mahadevshastri Joshi 2. Merger of the Shaikh Abdulla

(d) Keshavrao Jedhe princely state of

Kashmir

61

3. Significant Mohan Q.4 Complete the following concept map.

contribution in the Ranade The volunteers in the Goa
Freedom Struggle
‘Goa Liberation’
Q.5 Explain the following statements with
Movement. reason.
1. Ultimately the princely state of
4. The trade unionist V. Subaiyya Hyderabad was merged in India.
2. Puducherry was declared as a union
leader in Puducherry territory.

Q.2 Write the names of historical places / Q.6 State your opinion.
1. Andhra, Karnataka, Maharashtra
persons / events. Councils (Parishad) were founded in the
1. The princely state that did not merge in princely state of Hyderabad.
2. The Portuguese rule in Goa remained
India immediately after its independence untouched till 1961.
-
2. The President of Goa Congress Committee Project
- Collect information about ‘Gorta Massacre’
a very important instance in the struggle for
Q.3 Observe the map on p.no. 61 and answer liberating Hyderabad. To get more information
about it visit the following website: www.
the questions based on it. bhausahebumate.com
1. What is the name of the country located

at the northwest border of India?
2. Which place in India was the centre of

Portuguese rule?
3. Which places on the eastern coast of

India were the centres of French rule?
4. Which nation is located at the southern

tip of India?

fff

62

8. World Wars and India

8.1 First World War (1914-1918 C.E.) had already expanded their empires in
Africa and Asia. In the pre-world war
8.2 Second World War (1939-1945 Europe, England, Germany, Austria-
Hungary, Russia, France and Italy were the
C.E.) nations of primary importance. Among
them rival groups were formed. Because of
8.3 World Wars and India the rivalry every nation began to enhance
its military and naval strength; there was
8.3.1 First World War and India a competition to produce more and more
destructive weapons. This ultimately resulted
8.3.2 Second World War and in political situation akin to war.

India Immediate Cause of the First World
War : The Austrian Prince, Archduke
8.4 Impact of the World Wars on Franz Ferdinand and his wife were
assassinated in Serbia by a Serbian maniac.
India In Austria people believed that this whole
act was manoeuvred by the Serbian
The first half of the twentieth century Kingdom. Hence, Austria called a war
witnessed two World Wars. These were the against Serbia. Russia came in to help
most important events of the century Serbia. Two distinct groups of European
witnessed two World Wars. It changed the nations were formed, one group supporting
world scenario. We are going to learn about Austria and another supporting Serbia.
its impact on India. Austria and Hungary were trying to suppress
Serbia and Germany was on their side.
8.1 First World War (1914-1918 C.E.) Belgium had a neutral policy. Even then,
Germany attacked Belgium and established
The First World War began in 1914 their supremacy there. England stood up
C.E. The main cause of it was the with Belgium and called a war against
competition amongst the European countries, Germany. Now Germany, Austria, Turkey,
who nourished imperialistic ambitions. Bulgaria (known as ‘central powers’) were
on one side and England, France, Russia
Causes of the First World War : We (known as ‘allied nations’) were on the
have already seen that the latter half of the other. Later, Italy joined the allied powers.
nineteenth century was marked by several In the last stage of the war America joined
industrial inventions. Machines came in use in with the allied nations.
for various production processes. European
countries were now equipped to increase A naval war was fought in 1916
production because of mechanisation. They between Germany and England at Jutland
needed more raw material to match the in the North Sea and German navy was
quantitative increase in production and defeated. It resulted in a peace treaty in
more markets to sell their surplus products 1918, known as ‘The Treaty of Versailles’.
as well. Imperialistic European nations This peace treaty put an end to the First
began to search for newer lands to meet World War.
these needs. This would often create warlike
situations among them. Keeping this in 63
view, more powerful nations in Europe, felt
the need to continuously increase their
military power and armoury.

The countries like England, France,
Russia, Portugal, Holland, Belgium, etc.

Foundation of ‘League of Nations’ : under control. In 1938, Hitler won the
All the nations who were involved in the Sudeten province in Czechoslovakia, which
First World War seriously felt the need to was populated in majority by people of
create some solution to avoid any situation German origin. In 1939, he attacked Poland.
that could lead to another world war. Actually Poland was looked upon as a
Woodrow Wilson, the American President neutral country by all European nations. In
was a peace-loving and idealistic leader. spite of this, Hitler attacked and conquered
He emphasised on the need of having an Poland. Therefore, England declared war
organisation of the leading nations, finding against Germany.
peaceful solutions for conflicts between
nations and establishing peace in the world. Gradually, Germany began to grab
An organisation known as ‘League of lands of other European countries in bits
Nations’ was established with this objective. and pieces. It had already won Poland at
Germany, Austria and other defeated nations the very beginning of the war. Denmark
were not allowed to become members of surrendered to Germany. So did Norway. In
the league. The concept of the ‘League of a short time Germany conquered Holland
Nations’ was deliberated by America and and Belgium and its army marched towards
yet it did not become a member of the Paris. Germany conquered France too. In
league. As a result England and France May 1940, it attacked England by assaulting
retained their dominance in the league. the British platoons present at Dunkirk.
England, with great caution moved out two
8.2 Second World War (1939-1945 and half lakh of its soldiers from Dunkirk.
In the world history, this instance of beating
C.E.) a successful retreat, is of great significance.
During this period Winston Churchill had
The Second World War proved to be taken over control of England, as the Prime
more destructive than the First World War. Minister after Neville Chamberlain’s
It was certainly more extensive than the resignation from the post.
First World War and its warfare was
technologically more advanced. In 1939, Hitler violated the ‘Non-
aggression Pact’, made with Stalin and
Causes of the Second World War : attacked Soviet Russia. While the Nazi
The ‘League of Nations’ intended to avoid army was marching towards Stalingrad,
conflicts between nations. The Nazis under Russian army was on the retreat. In the
the leadership of Hitler grabbed the power month of November 1943, on reaching
in Germany. Hitler began to escalate Stalingrad, three lakh soldiers of the
Germany’s military power so as to avenge unsuspecting Nazi army, were caught in the
the demeaning conditions imposed on trap set up by the Soviet army. Soviet
Germany by the Versailles treaty. He Russia defeated the Germans under the
focused on increasing the strength of leadership of Marshal Georgy Zhukov.
military as well as navy. Meanwhile, Soviet Armies of the allied nations took over
Russia, a communist nation was becoming Berlin. Hitler went in underground exile
more powerful. It made the nations like and committed suicide. Before this happened,
England, America and France uneasy. Mussolini was also defeated and died. The
Soviet Russia and imperialist Germany Nazi soldiers in North Africa had also
viewed each other as arch enemies. Keeping surrendered.
this in view, England and France ignored
Germany’s advances, thinking that it will
keep Soviet Russia’s increasing power

64

For additional information : 15th August 1945. This put an end to the
Second World War.
Fascism : It is a political ideology,
which does not believe in democracy, 8.3 World Wars and India
liberalism, individual freedom and
equality. Fascism derives from the Latin 8.3.1 First World War and India :
word ‘Fasces’. After the First World The British Government of India, compelled
War was over, Benito Mussolini, an India, one of their colonies, to participate
Italian leader and later the Prime in the world war, without any concern for
Minister of Italy, built a movement, willingness or unwillingness of the Indians.
which he named as ‘Fascism’. India became the source of procuring help
Opposition to democratic institutions, in the form of money, food, clothing and
greater focus on action, absolute political other war supplies. During the year of
authority, centralisation of political 1919-20 the British Government in India
power, aggressive nationalism, provided help to England worth Rs.19
justification of war and violence are the billion (1 billion = 100 crores).
major characteristics of fascism.
Indian Soldiers deployed by England
Nazism : Nazism is in a way a
slightly diverse form of fascism. Nazism Country Name No. of Indian officers
gave more importance to racism. The and soldiers sent
genocide of European Jews in Germany France 1,38,608
by Hitler had its roots in racism. It may East Africa 47,704
be said that Nazism was an extremely Mesopotamia 6,75,391
aggressive and corrupt manifestation of 1,44,026
fascism. Egypt 4,950
Gallipoli 9,931
Japan entered in this war, in support Salonica 26,205
of Germany. In 1941, Japan attacked Pearl 49,198
Harbour and destroyed the American naval Eden
base. This resulted in America declaring Iranian Gulf
war against Japan. Thus, the war field of
Second World War expanded further. Later, 10,96,013
Japan went on capturing the regions of
Philippines, Myanmar, Malaya and Seventeen of the Indian soldiers were
Singapore. In addition Japan even marched honoured and decorated with ‘Victoria
up to Assam, Arakan and Imphal. This Cross’, a medal given for gallantry. India
drove the British to act against Japan’s was a major source for England providing
aggression. When Japan seemed to have skilled human power and various war
been going ahead undaunted with their supplies such as ammunition, weapons,
aggressive policies, America launched aerial textiles, jute, tents, small ships, timber,
attacks two Japanese cities with atom railway tracks and transport goods. Till
bombs, first on Hiroshima and then the end of 1918, British government in
Nagasaki. At last, Japan surrendered on India sent weaponry and ammunition worth
Rs. 1.4 billion.

65

First World War - War Memorial at Pune leaders learnt a few things. They realised
because of their experience on the European
World War I left significant impact on war field that the Indian weaponry was far
various fields including production of war too less sophisticated, compared to other
supplies, civil industries, trade, economic nations. Some factors made them understand
policies, sea and land transportation, how India could be considered backward in
farming and agricultural production, fuel the matters of aircrafts, mechanised war
supply, defence systems, etc. This war instruments and infantry, medical facilities,
boosted India’s industrial growth. The direct modernisation of the armed forces, military
and indirect impacts of the war were more training, adequate storage of war supplies,
evident in fields like iron industry, steel etc. Considering these factors the British
industry, coal and mining industries. After Government in India formed a committee
the war was over, there was considerable to bring in effect the required changes. This
growth in motor transportation and the committee made a report ready
number of motor vehicles. During war times recommending some useful changes in the
and post-war period there was decrease in Indian military systems.
the export amounting to a loss of Rs.33
crores, approximately. The prices of In 1917, Governor General and Viceroy
agricultural products reduced but the prices Lord Chelmsford and Edwin Samuel
of industrial products increased. Indian food Montagu, Secretary of State of India,
grains were exported to England and allied together prepared a report on the
nations. It caused a shortage of food grains administrative reforms needed in the British
for the Indians. Prices of food grains in administration in India. Accordingly, apart
Indian markets began to rise. from civil provisions a few promises were
made with regard to military organisation
The Indian involvement in the First in India. It was promised that Indian
World War had mixed impact on India. As soldiers will be posted on various positions
far as the defence tactics were concerned in the army without any concern for their
the Indian soldiers and Indian political caste, race and religion. A proper ratio of
Indian recruits will be maintained in the
army. An academy in India will be
established similar to Sandhurst Academy
in England. Ten seats in this academy will
remain reserved for young Indian candidates.
Those who were trained in the military
college at Indore would be given ‘King’s
Commission.’ The Cavalry will be reduced
in its strength. The strength of the provincial
military units would be enhanced. In 1921,
a new department for military supplies
called ‘Goods and Supply’ was opened.
Because of the war, the foundation of the
Indian Air Force was widened. The Indian
naval units proved their grit and bravery in
the war at Persian Gulf.

66

Congress and Defence Policy : and other Indian leaders showed a positive
Indian National Congress had a definite approach in helping the British Government
approach about the defence issues and during the First World War. They believed
right from the beginning they had formed that the co-operation offered by the Indian
a number of policies in that regard. It people will be beneficial to them in future.
included; We get to witness the far sightedness of
Lokmanya Tilak in his approach during
• Indian citizens should be encouraged to war times.
educate themselves by providing them
facilities of education and training with India was forced into this war started
a view to make them capable for self- by the British imperial rule. Pandit
defence and defence of the nation. Jawaharlal Nehru wrote about it in a letter
written to his daughter, Indira. He said,
• The official expenditure on defence ‘‘This was not the war of India. India did
should be curbed, if that is not possible neither have anything against Germany nor
then other official expenditures should Turkey. However, India did not had any
be reduced. voice in this regard. India was a British
colony. It could not but trail its master’’.
• Indian men should be recruited in the
regional units of army. India was extremely poor. There was
no dearth of candidates willing to enter the
• In compliance with the ‘Queen’s Army. About 11 lakh of Hindi soldiers
Proclamation’ Indian people should be fought in this war. Hindi soldiers provided
appointed on the posts of higher grades. a considerable support to the British army.
Besides, India also contributed one hundred
• There should be a defence academy in and fifty crores of Rupees to the war
India. expenses.

• Home Guards and groups of volunteers During the times of war Indian people
should be established. began to migrate to Canada and America.
The government of Canada was heavily
• The British Government should share under the influence of the British
part of the defence expenditure meant Government. It rejected entry to Indian
for India’s protection from its treasury. migrants. It did not allow ‘Kamagata
Maru’, a steam ship with Indian migrants
With such demands, the Indian aboard under the leadership of Baba
National Congress articulated their Gurudit Singh, to anchor in the Canadian
demands for defence in clear terms. port  of Vancouver. People on this ship
However, the British Government adopted returned. On their return journey, ‘Kamagata
policies, suitable only to their self- Maru’ reached the port of ‘Bajbaj’ near
interest. Kolkata. There, the British officers ordered
Indian passengers to return immediately to
Lokmanya Tilak through his editorials their own towns and villages. However, the
published in the newspaper ‘Kesari’ and Indians did not follow the order. So, the
through his speeches insisted that the Indian British officers began to shoot and 30
Navy and India’s significant position in the Indian passengers died in it. This cruelty
world political scenario should be duly on part of the British officers created a
acknowledged and there should not be any public outcry throughout India.
discrimination while appointing Indian men
on positions of authority. Lokmanya Tilak 67

First World War and TISCO : tracks. Some of the senior officers in
There is a close relationship between England were not sure of the capability
the First World War and Tata Iron and of the Indian company for producing
Steel Company (TISCO). During World steel tracks. But the Indians overcame
War I railways was the only option for it. In 1919, after the conclusion of World
the swift movement of the army and the War I, Viceroy Lord Chelmsford visited
transportation of artillery. England the TISCO factory. In his speech, he
required good railway tracks in Europe attributed their victory to the railway
as well as for military logistics in the tracks supplied by India, the success of
province of Iraq. This requirement the Allies in Egypt, Palestine and East
proved to be beneficial to TISCO. The Africa. In his testimony, the Viceroy
company took great efforts and stated that the Indians have high
manufactured around 1500 miles long potential, if they put their mind to it.

Germany was a country, which For additional information: Thirty
nourished nationalism. India also was one Indian soldiers and officers were
greatly influenced by nationalism. However, honoured and decorated with ‘Victoria
it is important to understand the fundamental Cross’, the highest and most prestigious
difference between German nationalism and award for gallantry. Among the recipients
Indian nationalism. Germans were out to of Victoria Cross there were two
conquer other countries. Their aggression individuals from Maharashtra : Naik
was for making their own country most Yashwant Ghadge (5th Maratha Light
powerful and the biggest in the world, Infantry) and Sepoy Namdeorao Jadhav
whereas the nationalism of the Indians (5th Maratha Light Infantry).
was making them fight for regaining their
independence. The Indian nationalism was 8.3.2 Second World War and India :
based on a broader perspective of the The Second World War was fought during
spread of democracy all over the world 1939-1945 C.E. India was involved in the
including India. Countries like Abyssinia, war episodes happening in North Africa,
Spain, China were putting up struggles for Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Greece, Myanmar and
establishing democracy. Indians were Malaya. However, India contributed to the
sending help to those countries in the form rehabilitation of Malaya, Indonesia and
of teams of nurses, volunteers and food China after the war was over. Indians in
grains. Germany was strongly influenced the Air Force of British India participated
by racism. Hitler had killed innumerable in the war at Assam and Myanmar, while
European Jews. However, in India people Indians in the Navy of British India fought
of varied religion, race and caste were in the naval war in Arabian Sea and Bay
staying together from ages. This is of Bengal. England exploited India and its
characteristic of Indian nationalism, which resources heavily to achieve victory in this
confirms its magnanimity. world war. India, by itself, did not have

68

anything to gain from this war but it was When England declared war against
pulled in forcibly by the British Government. Germany, the Viceroy of India Lord
The British fought their war from the Linlithgow announced that India also was
Indian land. For them India was their joining the war, to support England.
colony and they took it in their right to use
it as a source of supplying industrial The Indian National Congress protested
products, cloth and other commodities of against the Viceroy’s announcement. The
daily use to their allied nations. Their war Congress was against the German and
supplies from India included dynamite, Italian ideologies, which were inclined
tanks, material required for ship repairing, toward aggressive dictatorship and also
steel pipes, steel bars and other material against England’s colonialism inclined
for laying railway tracks, train bogies, toward imperialism. England claimed that
wood, telegraph posts, smaller war ships it was fighting for protecting democracy in
and steam ships, food grains, cloth, tents, Europe. The Indian National Congress
shoes, medicines, explosives and ammunition demanded that if England was true to its
and such things. The British Government words then it should immediately grant
established several factories in India to India’s freedom. The Congress also made
meet the requirement of supply of these a commitment that India, as an independent
materials. nation would help England in the war
against Germany. It was also announced
8.4 Impact of the World Wars on that if the imperialistic administration of
the British Government in India was to
India prevail, then Indians will not help the
British. However, Lord Linlithgow
During wartime England felt an announced that the British Government will
increasing need for manpower and money. not ponder upon any of the Indian issues
Therefore, the British Government began till the end of the war. Reacting to this
recruiting army personnel from India. At announcement the Indian National Congress
times the recruitment was enforced on decided not to participate in any of the
Indians. Extra taxes were levied on Indians tasks related to war.
for raising funds. Taxes on trade and
industries were raised. During the war At about the same time, Japanese army
period prices of essential commodities went reached the eastern border of India. There
up. Along with the inflation and hike in were thousands of volunteers who had
prices, Indians also suffered because of joined this army. They were the patriotic
increasing unemployment caused by members of ‘Azad Hind Sena’. Netaji
industrial recession. Subhash Chandra Bose was their leader.
His policy was to take advantage of the
Indians could see that the exploitative situation to move the Indians for intense
rule of the British was responsible for this opposition to the British, while the British
miserable state of affairs. Indians from all were engaged in war. He felt that even
strata of the society, workers, farmers and enemy of the British may be approached
the middle class, joined in large numbers for help, if the need be. Azad Hind Sena
in the national movement against the British fought fiercely for attaining its goal, i.e.
rule. independence of India and contributed to
India’s freedom struggle.
September 1939 saw the emergence of
Second World War. Initially it was England
and France against Germany and Italy.

69

In the month of August 1945, the The two world wars caused loss of life
Second World War was finally concluded. and wealth to a great extent. The awareness
In this war England emerged victorious but that there should be an effective measure
it lost heavily in terms of human life and to avoid such wars in future made the
economic conditions. As a result, England victorious nations create organisations
grew weaker. The British Government in called ‘League of Nations’ after the First
India, now aware that Indian soldiers and World War and ‘United Nations’ after the
people are not meek and submissive as Second World War. India has contributed
before, ruling them was no more easy. Also significantly in the work of these
India was not going to be the perennial organisations.
source of profit for them as it used to be.
They decided to return home. In the next lesson, we shall be studying
the process of ‘Decolonisation’ in Asia and
Africa.

For additional information Indian doctors to China. Dr.Kotnis was
the chief of the team. He attended the
Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis : Chinese soldiers for years. Unfortunately
Dr. Kotnis was born on 10th October Dr. Kotnis died in China on 9th
December 1942 in the plague epidemic.
1910 at Solapur. He Dr. Kotnis by the virtue of his selfless
worked in China work formed the bridge of friendship
during the Second between India and China. The eminent
World War, helping Indian film-maker, V. Shantaram made
the injured Chinese a film on his life, entitled, ‘Dr. Kotnis
soldiers to heal and ki Amar Kahani’. This film has
recuperate. When immortalised Dr. Kotnis’ memory.
Japan had attacked
Dr.Dwarkanath Kotnis China in 1937, the The residence of Dr. Kotnis in
Chinese Government requested Pandit Solapur has been converted in his
Jawaharlal Nehru to send a team of memorial and a museum.
doctors to attend the injured Chinese
soldiers. Pandit Nehru sent a team of

For additional information : During bullets fired from the Japanese machine
World war II Sam Hormusji Framji
Jamshedji Manekshaw was sent under guns. Maj. Gen. David Cowan, senior
the 17th Infantry Division to prevent
Japanese attacks in Burma. Sam commanding officer, witnessed
Manekshaw was appointed as the acting
Commander. The army attacked the Manekshaw’s unmatched valour and
Sittang Bridge under his leadership. It
was very crucial to win over this personally came to meet him. He pinned
important station. The enemy attacked
Sam Manekshaw. He was hit by nine his own Military Cross ribbon on

Manekshaw. A Military Cross could be

awarded only to a soldier who is alive.

Manekshaw was rushed to a hospital.

Later he was appointed as the first Field

Marshall of independent India.

70

y y
JJJJJJJJJJJJ Exercise JJJJJJJJJJJJ

Q.1 (A) Choose the correct alternative and and America in the First World War -
rewrite the statement.
2. The name of the group of nations
1. When Austria declared war against including Germany, Austria-Hungary,
Turkey, Bulgaria in the First World War
Serbia, it was , who helped -

Serbia. Q.3 Write short notes.

(a) Germany (b) America 1. ‘League of Nations’

(c) Hungary (d) Russia 2. Dr. Kotnis

2. The first atom bomb was dropped on Q.4 Explain the following statements with
reason.
the city of during the aerial
1. ‘The Treaty of Versailles’ had the seeds
attack of America on Japan. of Second World War. The Text does
not have any comment to this effect.
(a) Nagasaki (b) Hiroshima
2. The British Government in India decided
(c) Pearl Harbour (d) Stalingrad to return home.

(B) Find the incorrect pair from group Q.5 Answer the following questions in detail.
‘B’, and write the corrected one.
1. Give the causes of the Second World
Group ‘A’ Group ‘B’ War.
1. America Woodrow Wilson
2. Why did Indian people participate in
2. England Winston Churchill the national movement in great numbers?

3. Germany Hitler

4. Italy Linlithgow

Q.2 Write the names of historical places /
1. persons / events.

The name of the group of nations
including England, France, Russia, Italy

71

9. World : Decolonisation

9.1 Decolonisation : Asia Get to know :

9.2 Decolonisation : Africa Collect more information regarding
the ‘Atlantic Charter’ and organise a
In this lesson, we are going to review class discussion on the topic.
the process of decolonisation in Asia and
Africa. We shall do it with examples of the and the exploitation of colonies from
history of a few countries. intellectual platform. The Indian freedom
movement had reached culminating point,
9.1 Decolonisation : Asia under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
Under the situation England had become
In the first half of the twentieth century aware of the reality of their diminishing
decolonisation did not take very long, in power. This resulted in gradually introducing
many of the Asian and African countries. the system of internal autonomy in some
The process of decolonisation was of the colonies.
accelerated in short time because of the
conflicts among European coloniser Germany and Turkey were defeated in
countries, occurrence of First and Second the First World War. To manage the
World Wars and the anti-colonial movements administration of the colonies which were
in the colonies. The European countries under control of Germany and Turkey, the
could not have reasoned out colonisation ‘League of Nations’ introduced the system
of trustees. England and France were
For additional information : The entrusted with the role of trustees. Later,
process of decolonisation is supposed to India, Cyprus and Malta successively
have received a momentum mainly gained their independence. In 1971 England
because of the document known as the withdrew its army from the Gulf of Iran.
After that, England released its hold on
“Atlantic Charter”. Singapore. Indo-China, Morocco, Tunisia
This Charter was and Algeria were under French domination.
published together by These countries became independent. By
Winston Churchill, the end of twentieth century South Africa
Prime Minister of also gained independence. Colonialism
England and Franklin came to an end and gradually the process
Roosevelt, President of decolonisation was completed. ‘United
of America. The Nations’ was largely responsible for
charter stated that the facilitating this process.
Winston Churchil allied nations including
England and America did not intend to Maldives : Portuguese entered Maldives
grab any kingdom or country, the changes in 1507. Since then Maldives began paying
in political system and geographic borders tribute to Portuguese in Goa. In 1573, the
of any country in the post-war period Portuguese rule was ended by Muhammad
would happen only according to the wish Thakuruphanu Al Azam from Malabar.
of the citizens of the respective country After his accession as the Sultan of
and it was granted that all people in the Maldives, he made a treaty with the Dutch
world have the right to take their own
decisions.

72

and gave them the administrative *The central and northern region of Myanmar
responsibility of Maldives. From thereon,
the Sultan of Maldives began to pay tribute is traditionally known as ‘Upper Burma’ comprising
to the Dutch in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Later,
Maldives was taken over by the British. Mandalay and surrounding region.
They built a naval base and a radio
transmission centre in Maldives. They also The British administration annexed
took Indian labourers to work in the paddy Myanmar as a province of British India. In
fields in Maldives. Maldives became 1935, it was again separated from India
independent on 26th July 1965, by a treaty and was granted autonomy. After 1937, the
signed at Colombo. people in Myanmar created an organisation
called ‘Burma Independence Army’ under
Sri Lanka : The British ruled Sri the leadership of Aung San. This
Lanka (Ceylon) from 1798 to 1948. They organisation helped the Japanese during
took over Sri Lanka by defeating the Dutch Second World War. It looked like a
and the Portuguese. There were uprisings in downslide for the British. However, they
Sri Lanka against the British rule. The strengthened their hold in Myanmar once
British plantation owners had taken many again with the help of America. The British
labourers from Tamil Nadu to work in learnt their lesson that as administrators,
coffee plantations. In Sri Lanka, the British they could not afford to neglect the popular
dominated the production and markets of opinion in a country. They appointed Aung
coffee, tea, rubber and coconut. They San as Vice President. The British granted
developed Colombo as an international port independence to Myanmar on 4th January
city. They also established colleges and 1948.
universities in Sri Lanka and encouraged
Buddhist Studies. Sri Lanka became 9.2 Decolonisation : Africa
independent in 1948.
During the 15 year’s period of 1950-
Myanmar (Brahmadesh) : In 1599, 1965, people in the European colonies in
the Portuguese defeated the king of one of Africa freed themselves from the foreign
the kingdoms in Myanmar. However, in rule. The education system imposed by the
1611 various dynasties ruling in Myanmar Europeans was alien to them. Ironically,
got together, defeated the Portuguese and African leaders were trained in this alien
amalgamated their kingdoms. United educational system and their education had
Myanmar adopted an expansionist policy introduced them to American Independence
and conquered Manipur and Assam. It Struggle, French Revolution and
meant that the British Indian territory was Nationalism. The African people became
under threat of being invaded, a situation aware of ‘Nationalism’ and national pride.
that caused three wars between the British
and Myanmar. The first war in 1826 was After the Second World War nationalism
won by the British and they took over got a further boost. England and France
Assam and Manipur. They also defeated gradually began to grant more rights to the
Myanmar in the second war. At about the Africans in their colonies. This strengthened
same time the French had taken over the the independence movements in African
regions of ‘Upper Burma’*. In the third war nations.
the British won this region too, thereby
ruling over entire Myanmar. Bandung Conference : India called
the first conference of Asian countries in
1947. Representatives of 25 Asian countries
were present for the conference. In this
conference the concept of Asian regionalism

73

was shaped. The issues like common The American President, Woodrow
problems faced by Asian people, the social, Wilson, considering the situation, suggested
economic and cultural problems of the that the victorious European nations should
Asian countries and the need of mutual co- act as trustees of the erstwhile German
operation among Asian countries were colonies and administer them only as
discussed in this conference. This conference protectorates. It was necessary to give the
was followed by the first conference of colonies internal autonomy. Hence, the
Asian and African countries held in 1955 ‘League of Nations’ decided with mutual
at Bandung in Indonesia. This is known as understanding that England, France and
the ‘Bandung Conference’. In this conference Belgium should divide the colonies among
the problems of Afro-Asian countries were themselves. A Committee of 11 members
discussed and it was decided to focus on was appointed by the ‘League’ to supervise
world peace and mutual co-operation. the administration of the colonies.

Concept of African Unity : H.S. The four British colonies, namely, Cape
Williams was the first person to think of Colony, Natal, Orange
African Unity. He formed an organisation Free State and Transvaal
while in London, called ‘African were amalgamated and
Association’ (later called as Pan-African the state of South Africa
Association). He organised its first was created in 1920.
conference in 1900. W.E.B. Du Bois, an However, the dominance
American sociologist of African origin was of the white people
present in this conference. In 1919, a continued unchanged.
second conference of African leaders and
thinkers was held at Paris, known as ‘Pan- Woodrow Wilson Egypt got its
African Congress’. Thereafter, W.E.B. Du independence before the
Bois and his associates called a series of
Pan-African congresses at various places. end of Second World War. Following it
This resulted in the idea of Pan-African Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and
unity taking deep roots in Africa. The 5th Ghana became independent one after
Pan-African Congress held at Manchester another.
in 1945 by people of African origin living
in Manchester. At about the middle of the twentieth
century in all 12 French colonies, such as
Decolonisation in the African Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali in central
Continent : The First World War began in Africa became independent. Along with it,
1914. At that time except Liberia and Cameroon, Somalia and other colonies
Ethiopia, entire African continent was ruled under the care of the League of Nations,
by European powers. European colonies in and also other European colonies became
Africa, i.e. almost the entire continent, got independent, one by one.
involuntarily involved in the war. Soon
after the onset of the war England and Algeria had to give a tough fight to
France began to attack the German colonies get its freedom. Finally in 1962, it became
in Africa. After the defeat of Germany in independent by conducting plebiscite. In
the war, allied nations began to compete 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar were
with each other for occupying German amalgamated and the independent state of
colonies in Africa. ‘The United Republic of Tanzania’ came
into existence.
74
Prior to Second World War, Italy had

taken over Ethiopia and Libya and annexed Discuss in the class.
it to the Italian empire. During the Second
World War, Mussolini, the dictator of Italy Make a list of the colonies of the
had used these two regions for launching British in Asia and Africa with their
attacks on Egypt and other British colonies geographical locations and discuss in the
in Africa. class about their independence struggle
and the dates of their independence.
The African battlefield in the Second
World War had spread from Morocco and The end of the Second World War
Libya in the north to Ethiopia and Somali created an environment in which the process
Land on the eastern border of Africa. The of decolonisation gained momentum. The
British empire in Africa was in danger Asian and African continents were filled
because of the aggressions of Italy and the with a heightened spirit of independence
German General Erwin Rommel. Indian movements. The awareness about these
soldiers in the British army who fought movements spread rapidly. Many countries
with great resilience. With their help, the in both continents obtained their freedom.
British could compel the combined armies However, developments in these countries
of Italy and Germany to retreat. Italy and were also being watched by America and
Germany had to lose their colonies in Russia, the superpowers. Each of them was
Africa at the end of the Second World War trying to attract maximum countries on its
in 1945. side. In the next lesson, we are going to
study the ‘Cold War’ and its impact on
India.

y y
JJJJJJJJJJJJ Exercise JJJJJJJJJJJJ

Q.1 (A) Choose the correct alternative and 3. London The first Conference
rewrite the statement. 4. Manchester of ‘African
Association’ in 1900
1. In the First World War and
Asian Unity
Turkey were defeated. Conference

(a) America (b) France

(c) England (d) Germany Q.2 Choose correct reason from the given
options and complete the statement.
2. In 1935 was separated from
India. During the Second World War the
(a) Myanmar (b) Sri Lanka independence movements in Africa were
(c) Maldives (d) Iran more intensified. -

3. In 1947, first conference of was (a) The colonies in Africa threw away the
dominance of alien European powers.
held.

(a) Unity (b) Asian (b) African leaders were trained in western
education system.
(c) Atlantic (d) Manchester

(B) Find the incorrect pair from group (c) During the Second World War the
‘B’, and write the corrected one. British and the French began to give
some rights to the people in their
Group ‘A’ Group ‘B’ colonies.
1. Bandung Bandung Conference

2. Paris The first Pan-African (d) European countries were involved in the
Congress in 1919 Second World War.

75

Q.3 Write short notes. 2. The end of the Second World War
1. Bandung Conference created an environment in which the
2. Concept of African Unity process of decolonisation gained speed.

Q.4 Explain the following statements with Project
reason. Collect information with the help of internet
regarding French colonies in Asia and Africa.
1. There were three wars fought between
the British and Myanmar.

fff

76

10. Cold War

10.1 Cold War : Definition Europe. Thus, Europe was divided in
10.2 NATO, ANZUS, SEATO, Eastern and Western Europe. The Eastern
European nations under the influence of
CENTO, Warsaw Pact Soviet Russia adopted communist ideology.
10.3 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) The Western European nations under the
influence of America adopted capitalist
- India’s policy ideology and democratic system. This
10.4 India’s Anti - Colonial Policy situation caused the emergence of ‘Cold
10.5 South Asian Association for War’.

Regional Co-operation Do you know ?
10.6 Commonwealth
The Prime Minister of England,
We are going to study the concept Sir Winston Churchill used the term
of ‘Cold War’ in this lesson. ‘Iron Curtain’ for the divisive line
between Eastern European nations with
10.1 Cold War : Definition the communist ideology and Western
European nations with the democratic
The tussle between Capitalist nations ideology.
and Communist nations for power and
ideological influence, which began after the Try to do this.
Second World War is referred to as ‘Cold
War’. Collect information about ‘United
Nations’ with the help of internet. Create
Walter Lippmann, an American political groups of students in the class and let
columnist was the first to use the term them compile the information of various
‘Cold War’. The concept of ‘Cold War’ is specialised agencies of United Nations.
characterised by the following factors:
Progression of ‘Cold War’ : After the
1. No Direct War Second World War was over, America had
2. Intense race for armament. a ‘Marshall Plan’ for post-war reconstruction
3. Aggressive Political Policies of Europe. Under this plan America started
providing financial help to these nations.
Cold War 4. Mutual Lack of Faith Among Soviet Russia started encouraging the
Nations freedom movements in Asia and Africa.
Because of the division of Europe into
5. Political and Economic Eastern Europe and Western Europe a
Pressurisation political tension was created between
America and Soviet Russia. Although, a
6. Idological Conflict direct war between them never took place,
the sense of the looming Third World War
Background of Cold War : The prevailed at global level. However, both
aftermath of Second World War created parties have been mutually avoiding any
conditions leading to the onset of Cold
War. England and France lost their primary 77
positions in the world politics. During the
world war Russia gained prominence in
Eastern Europe, while America, England
and France gained prominence in Western

possibilities of such world war. Now the Economy – Economy – Private
situation was such that both, America and Governmental Ownership
Russia, perennially appeared to be ready Ownership
for a war, tension prevailed on both sides Defence Treaties –
but actual war did not happen. This Defence Treaties – NATO, ANZUS,
situation, by-and-large, is referred to as Warsaw Pact, Sino- SEATO, CENTO
‘Cold War’. Soviet Treaty of
Friendship 1950.
Europe was divided after the Second
World War on the basis of political, In 1959, the President of America,
economic and military concerns. However, Mr. Eisenhower and the Soviet Russian
the division of Europe leading to the Cold leader Mr. Nikita Khrushchev met at Camp
War was mainly based on the ideological David in America.
differences. Ideology is fundamental to the
national goals and aspirations. The In 1961, Soviet Russia built the ‘Berlin
communist ideology of Soviet Russia was Wall’. This prevented the contact between
based on the principle of governmental West Berlin and East Berlin. This instance
ownership and the capitalist ideology of resulted in increased tension in Europe. In
America was based on the principle of 1962, Cuba became the centre of the
private ownership. tension created by the Cold War because
of the deployment of nuclear missiles to
The Cold War did not remain restricted Cuba by Soviet Russia. This incidence is
only to Europe, but it spread to Asian known as ‘The Cuban Missile Crisis’. To
continent as well. Two major events took reduce this tension between the two countries
place in the first half of the twentieth measures like bilateral agreement,
century. They were, the ‘Sino-Soviet Treaty establishing a Moscow-Washington hotline
of Friendship’ and the ‘Korean Conflict’. for instant communication were taken. In
1972, the American President Richard
The Cold War began during the times Nixon and the Premier of Soviet Russia,
of Russian Premier Stalin. He was succeeded Leonid Brezhnev met at Moscow. In the
by Nikita Khrushchev, who understood the America-Soviet Russia summit held in that
destructive nature of nuclear war, brought year at Moscow, it was unanimously agreed
changes in the past Soviet policies and upon to put a limitation on the number of
adopted policies based on more realistic nuclear missiles. This agreement reduced
outlook. He looked forward to create a the tension between the two countries to
peaceful coexistence between Russia and some extent. In the same year America
America. His policies could make the officially acknowledged People’s Republic
meeting possible between him and American of China as a State. The process of relaxing
President, Eisenhower. the political tensions is referred as ‘détente’.

Soviet Russia Group America Group Later, the American President visited
China and officially recognised the
East Germany, Netherlands, communist government of China. Both of
Poland, Denmark, Belgium, them used ‘Veto’ in ‘Security Council’ of
Czechoslovakia, West Germany, the United Nations, on various instances
Hungary, Romania, France, Italy, Spain, like supporting friend nations, signing of
Bulgaria, Albania Greece, United various military treaties, economic
Kingdom exchanges, trading concessions, granting
the status of ‘friend nation’. This indirectly
Ideology - Ideology - Capitalist
Communist

78

promoted division of the member nations in War was avoided.
distinct groups. This resulted in highlighting
the ideological differences between Mikhail Gorbachev’s Era : Mikhail
Capitalism and Communism, thus creating Gorbachev became the General Secretary
mutual fear and disbelief. There was lack of the Communist Party of Soviet Russia
of any effective system that would clear and the Premier of Soviet Russia in 1985.
political misunderstandings. Ultimately the His period saw the end of Cold War. He
Cold War remained alive for sometime. introduced important reforms in Soviet
Russia through his policies known as
The Decade of ‘Détente’: America ‘Perestroika’ (Restructuring) and ‘Glasnost’
and Russia decided to continue the process
of détente. The Paris Conference in 1973 (Openness). During his
was an attempt of ending the Vietnam War. times the Russian
The peace talks were furthered in 1975 economy had grown
Helsinki Conference. This conference was weaker. Gorbachev tried
attended by representatives of 35 European to normalise it by
countries along with the President of restructuring the political
America and the Premier of Soviet Russia. and economic systems of
This conference was organized to lessen the Soviet Russia. He
strain between eastern and western European Mikhail Gorbachev attempted to democratise
countries. A conference was held at Camp the political system by way of open
David in 1978 to resolve the strife between elections and to end the authoritarian rule
Israel and Arabs. of the communist party. He decentralized
the economic machinery of the state.
In 1979, there was a revolution in Iran. Authors, journalists and intellectuals were
The last Monarch (Shah) of Iran was given more freedom of expression. However,
overthrown and Ayatollah Khomeini became Gorbachev, who gave momentum to the
the supreme leader of the country. Iran process of unification of the East and West
suspended all diplomatic relations with Germany could not stop the disintegration
USA and also withdrew from ‘CENTO’. In of his own country. Soviet Russia
the same year, Russia intervened in disintegrated during his period. After 1991,
Afghanistan and established a socialist two new terms were coined in the global
government under the leadership of Babrak history; ‘Post Cold War World’ and Post
Karmal. Soviet Russia world order’.

There was an intense competition for The Independent Countries that Emerged
developing nuclear weapons and space after Soviet Russia’s Dissolution
programmes between America and Soviet
Russia. (1) Estonia (9) Turkmenistan

The field of sports was also subjected (2) Latvia (10) Uzbekistan
to the Cold War politics.
(3) Lithuania (11) Tajikistan
America and Soviet Russia were aware
that their policies could inevitably lead to (4) Belarus (12) Kirgizstan
the Third World War. However, both wanted
to avoid it. Treaties limiting the number of (5) Maldova (13) Russia
nuclear weapons were signed by both the
countries and the possibility of Third World (6) Georgia (14) Ukraine

(7) Armenia (15) Kazakhstan

(8) Azerbaijan

79

You would like to know : under Russia’s control, while West
Germany was controlled by England-
In 1945, the allied nations captured America. East Germany under Russia’s
Germany’s capital, Berlin. A plan of control. Soviet Russia began to erect
political reorganisation of Germany was Berlin wall in 1961. German citizens in
drawn. Russia though France did not both sections of Germany had to face the
contribute in any way in this victory. misery of broken families and severed
Hence, Russia was unwilling to include relations. The Germans hated the ‘Berlin
France in this plan. Even then France Wall’. It was called ‘Wall of Shame’ by
was included in this plan along with them. Later in the years of 1989 and
Great Britain and America. The discord 1990, Berlin Wall was brought down and
caused by the inclusion of France came Germany was reunited.
to be known as ‘Berlin Conflict’.
Germany was split into East Germany
and West Germany. East Germany was

Aftermath of the ‘Cold War’: During policy of Soviet
the period of Cold War there were many
factors, which threatened the very future of Russia. Its members
mankind. They included political
misunderstandings among nations, world’s included Norway,
nations splitting into two distinct groups,
priorities to secret political moves and France, Italy,
treaties, obsence of priority to the process
of disarmament, use of science for producing NATO Denmark, Great
destructive weapons, neglect of basic and Britain, America,
important issues like food, clothing and
housing, etc. Both, USA and Soviet Russia Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey, West
had to pay very heavily for their strategy
of letting the situation of Cold War prevail Germany, Greece, Belgium, Canada,
over prolonged period.
Iceland, Luxemburg and Spain.
The consequence of dissolution of
Soviet Russia left USA as the only Few of the important terms included
superpower in the world. in the NATO alliance are as follows:

Now, we shall review the treaties and An attack on any of the member
agreements signed by America and Soviet countries of the alliance would be treated
Russia during the period of Cold War. as the attack on all member countries; all
of the member countries will try to maintain
10.2 NATO, ANZUS, SEATO, peace and security; any of the mutual
issues among the member countries shall
CENTO, Warsaw Pact be resolved through discussions.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty The headquarters of NATO are in
Organisation - 1949) : NATO was an Paris. America had a significant influence
alliance created to protect 29 of the in the decision making process of NATO.
European countries from the expansionist To counter America’s influential position in
NATO, Soviet Russia brought together the
communist countries in Europe and signed
a treaty commonly known as ‘Warsaw
Pact’.

80

ANZUS Treaty : the social and economic development of
each other. However, there were a number
Australia (A), New of flaws in the treaty. Although, it was
named as a treaty of southeast Asian
Zealand (NZ) and United countries, only three countries from Asia,
namely, Thailand, Philippines and Pakistan,
States of America (US) were included in it. Rest all were western
nations, who neither geographically, nor
signed a treaty on 1st historically had any affiliation with the
three Asian countries. They were
September 1951. This geographically distanced from Asia by
thousands of kilometers. They did not have
treaty signed by the any deep understanding of the problems of
the Asian countries. Therefore, the military
three nations for their ANZUS viability of this treaty was very limited.
The headquarters of SEATO was located in
collective security is Thailand. However, the organisation did not
have its own military. In 1973, Pakistan
commonly known as ANZUS treaty. These withdrew from it. In 1975, France stopped
providing monetory help to this organisation.
nations are in the Pacific Ocean region.
On 30th June 1977, this organisation
Hence, this treaty is also described as a was officially dissolved.

‘three-way defence pact’ in the Pacific

region.

This was the first instance of its kind; CENTO (Central Treaty Organisation) :
two nations in the British Commonwealth
were independently making a pact with
America. In a way, it indicated that these
countries did not want England and France
to have any upper hand in the matters of
their national security. This treaty had one
more objective to protect the countries in
Pacific Ocean from communist China.

SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty CENTO, was known earlier as ‘Baghdad

Organisation) : England, America, France, Pact’ or ‘Middle East Treaty Organisation’

Australia, New Zealand, (METO), is a treaty

Pakistan, Thailand and among four nations,

Philippines came together namely, Turkey,

and signed a treaty on Pakistan, Iran and

8th September 1954 at England. This treaty

Manila (Philippines), to was signed on 24th

ensure the collective CENTO February 1955. Iraq

SEATO defence of the countries joined later.
in Southeast Asia. This
In 1958, in a military coup, the
treaty is also known as ‘Southeast Asia monarchy of Iraq was removed from power
and the Iraqi Republic was established.
Collective Defence Treaty’ or ‘Manila Iraqi revolutionists overthrew the government
that favoured the western countries. The
Pact’. The pact was mainly intended to new regime opposed Baghdad Pact and
Iraq withdrew from it in 1959. With this,
stop the spread of communism in Southeast the name of the pact was changed to
CENTO and its headquarters were moved
Asia. It was decided that if any of the to Ankara (Turkey).

nations included in the pact was attacked,

then other nations signing the pact would

collectively stand up against it and in the

times of peace they would extend help for

81

America encouraged them to continue or America’s allied
the treaty with an intention to put a check
on the spread of communism by Soviet group, India adopted
Russia. America started providing the
member nations of CENTO economic and the policy of
military aid. It was afraid that if Soviet
Russia attacked any of the member nations, development by its
then all members should fight it collectively.
own efforts and to
However, if such situation emerged in
reality, none of the member countries had shape its own
military capacity to fight. Excepting United
Kingdom, rest of the three were in need of strategies leading
economic and technological aid but America
was too involved in many other matters, to Non-aligned towards peace. This
pay attention to their needs. Hence, the movement policy is known as
member nations of CENTO were not very
satisfied. They wanted to withdraw from ‘NAM – Non-Aligned Movement’.
the treaty and act independently. Iran and
Pakistan withdrew from this treaty and the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr Sukarno
CENTO became non-operational. (Indonesia), Nkrumah (Ghana), Gamal
Abdel Nasser (Egypt) and Marshal Tito
Sino - Soviet Security Pact : Earlier, (Yugoslavia) were the architects of the
Soviet Russia had signed a defence treaty concept of NAM.
with China in 1950. Now, with this new
pact Soviet Russia agreed to provide Non-Aligned Nations : The nations,
economic, industrial, technological aid to which adopts an independent foreign policy
China. based on the concept of peaceful coexistence,
supports other nations in their independence
Warsaw Pact : To oppose American struggle and does not involve themselves in
policies and to strengthen communist the military agreements or bilateral treaties
nations, Soviet Russia brought together with the superpowers is known as ‘Non-
seven communist countries in eastern and Aligned Nations’.
central Europe known as ‘Eastern Bloc’
and signed a treaty commonly known as Non-Alignment is a concept concerned
Warsaw Pact. Along with Soviet Russia, more with progress and peace than war
Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East and poverty, so it is more positive.
Germany, Hungary, Poland and Romania
signed this treaty. Albania withdrew from In 1961, a conference of non-aligned
it in 1968. nations was called at Belgrade. Belgrade
Conference was the first summit of the
10.3 Non-Alignment Policy of India Non-Aligned Movement. Representatives of
25 countries were present for this conference.
and NAM It was concluded with a declaration
containing 27 columns. It consisted of
After the Second World War, without several demands such as : stop aggression
joining either Soviet Russia’s allied group in Asia, Africa and South America, make
Algeria and Angola free, Withdraw French
army from Tunisia, Stop intervention in
Congo, Policy of racism in South Africa
stop, give natural rights to Arabs in
Palestine.

82

Criteria of Non-Aligned Movement as, developing a new economic system and
establishing a system of reporting
Criteria for Non-Alignment (Adopted international news. The fifth conference of
at Belgrade, 1961) the non-aligned nations was held in 1976,
at Colombo (Sri Lanka). It was decided in
1. The country should have adopted an this conference to try to create a new global
independent policy based on the economy by lessening the influence of the
coexistence of states with different super powers in the field. The next
political and social systems. conferences were held in 1979, at Havana
(Cuba) and in 1983, at New Delhi. The
2. Support national independence Palestinian cause and the support for the
movements. independence struggle of Southwestern
Africa (now Namibia) was supported
3. It should not be a member of a unanimously in the conference at New
multi-lateral alliance concluded in Delhi.
the context of Cold War.
The conference of non-aligned nations
4. It should not be a member of a held at New Delhi was the 7th one. India’s
bilateral military alliance, or a Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi in her speech
regional defence pact in the context in this conference emphasised on ‘Freedom,
of great power conflicts. Development, Disarmament and Peace’.
The main goal of the non-aligned movement
5. It should not concede military bases was, progress in the development of member
to foreign powers in the context of nations. In the conference held in 1986, at
great power rivalry. Harare (Zimbabwe) a fund named ‘Africa
Fund’ was raised for providing necessary
The next conference of non-aligned aid to neighbouring nations of South Africa.
countries was held in October 1964, at The issues of Namibia’s (Southwest Africa)
Cairo (Egypt). Prime Minister of India, Lal freedom and the racialism of South Africa
Bahadur Shastri attended this conference. were discussed. In the conference held in
The thrust of the conference was on 1992, at Jakarta (Indonesia), a demand for
preparing global awareness against forming more facilities in the field of commerce
groups of nations based on military concerns and trade; as also a demand for the
and establishment of military bases in restructuring of the United Nations were
foreign countries. The third conference of put up.
the non-aligned nations was held in
September 1970, at Lusaka (Zambia). In Try to do this.
this conference it was decided that non-
alignment countries strengthen their unity; Review the proceedings of NAM
continue the policy of opposing military conferences held during the period from
treaties, insist on equal status in international 1992 to the Venezuela conference of 2016.
relations and attempt to enhance
disarmament. Besides, it was also resolved 10.4 India’s Anti-Colonial Policy
to end colonialism and racism; to put more
emphasis on mutual co-operation and to India is acknowledged as a great
support the ‘United Nations’. The fourth democracy in the world. It had protested
Conference of the non-aligned nations was against imperialism in the world politics
held in 1973, at Algiers (Algeria). This even during pre-independence days. Soon
conference, put up some demands, such
83

after independence India adopted the policy 10.5 South Asian Association for
of active non-alignment in the international Regional Co-operation (SAARC)
politics. It does not mean that India would
distance itself from the vital international Zia-ur Rehman, President of Bangladesh
issues but it would always strive to establish
global peace. India would not tolerate felt that an organisation, which would work
foreign intervention in its internal matters.
India shall respect the regional unity and for the economic and social development in
sovereignty of other countries. India
emphasises on the principle of ‘live and let Asia needs to be established. Accordingly,
live’ supported by peaceful co-existence.
The following examples are worth citing in the first among the
this regard.
four meetings of
In the post-independence period, in
1949, a conference was held in Delhi in foreign secretaries of
which support was declared to the issue of
Indonesia’s independence. It was demanded Bangladesh, India,
that the Dutch should leave Indonesia
before 1950 and grant its independence. Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri
The position India took in the case of
Africa is also very important. India took a Lanka, Maldives and
very strong initiative in demanding the
independence of the African countries, Nepal was convened
especially the protectorates of European
nations. India insisted that the foreign rulers in 1981, at Colombo.
(colonialist European countries) should
leave the colonies, at the earliest. India SAARC In this meeting it was
also insisted that various institutions
associated with the United Nations should decided to work together for planning of
expand their work fields and facilitate
Africa to benefit by it. India spoke in the regional co-operation, rural development,
United Nations about the atrocious treatment
meted out to the native Africans. India health, demographic issues, trade, etc. In
cared about Africa because of its long-
standing relations with African countries. 1983, the foreign ministers of the above
Thousands of Indians had migrated to
Africa for trade and to work on the mentioned countries published the ‘SARC
sugarcane plantations, since long ago. In
1896, Indian workers had gone there to Declaration’ in Delhi. In 1985, SAARC
work on the Kenya-Uganda railway project.
Mahatma Gandhi showed Africa the path was established at the summit meeting held
of satyagraha for getting independence.
Thus, India had been on the forefront in at Dhaka. The following are the objectives
the struggle against colonialism.
of SAARC, as declared in the Dhaka

conference.

(1) To co-operate for the rapid, all-
round development of member nations.
(2) To oppose terrorism and smuggling of
narcotics. (3) To resolve problematic issues
and create mutual understanding for mutual
trust among nations. (4) To co-operate with
various organisations at regional, zonal and
international levels, working with similar
objectives. (5) To work on international
level for collective well being.

SAARC was officially established in
Dhaka, with these objectives in view. Its
secretariat-general was established at
Kathmandu. It was decided that members
should meet once annually. Annual
subscription was made mandatory for
raising the salary fund of General Secretary,
seven Directors and the staff. The duration
of SAARC’s Principal Secretary’s posting

84

was to be for three years and every nation (ESCAP)’. An inter-Governmental group
was to get to post their representative as was established to formulate an agreement
Principal Secretary, every year by rotation. (SAFTA – South Asian Free Trade Area)
for promoting free trade and economic co-
The leaders of the South Asian countries operation among the SAARC nation. The
reaffirmed their commitment to the UN SAARC Documentation Centre was
Charter and the principles governing established at Delhi for dissemination of
sovereign equality of States, peaceful information. SAARC Human Resources
settlement of disputes, non-interference in Development Centre was established at
internal affairs and non-use or threat of use Islamabad (Pakistan). Agreements were
of force against the territorial integrity and signed to counter the smuggling of narcotic
political independence of other States. They drugs. Committees were appointed for
reiterated that the United Nations constituted development in the fields of postal services
the most important forum for the resolution and transportation.
of all issues affecting international peace
and security. South Asian Preferential Trade

They also reaffirmed their deep Agreement - SAPTA and South Asian
conviction in the continuing validity and
relevance of the objectives of the Non Free Trade Area - SAFTA
Aligned Movement as an important force
in international relations. With a view to enhance mutual trade
among Asian countries two treaties were
Challenges for SAARC to tackle : signed, namely, SAPTA (1993) and SAFTA
SAARC is laden with many difficult issues (2004).
to tackle such as economic disparity among
the member nations, expenditure allotment Try to do this.
for defence, inadequate infrastructure,
underdevelopment of agricultural sector, Collect information about SAARC
rising terrorism, population explosion, conferences till 2014, with the help of
insufficient trade, divergent political systems, internet.
religious-lingual diversity, etc.
10.6 Commonwealth
Success of SAARC : SAARC has
done well in some of the fields mentioned A voluntary international organisation
above. For example, a centre for of the countries which were once part of
dissemination of agro related information the British Empire and now are sovereign
was started in Bangladesh and it has been states is known as ‘British Commonwealth’
also used as a platform for research related or simply ‘Commonwealth of Nations’.
to seeds, animal husbandry and fisheries. A
‘SAARC’ centre for meteorological research The idea behind establishing
was established in Dhaka. In Kathmandu Commonwealth was to being the Governors
an orthopedic centre was established. Efforts and administrators together who had worked
are being made to promote tourism in in the erstwhile colonies of the British
SAARC countries. SAARC is also working empire. The objective was to achieve
for eliminating poverty in the countries in coherence in the political and administrative
South Asia with the help of the ‘Economic machinery by exchange of the experience
and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific and ideas of these officers.

In 1917, Canada, Australia, South
Africa and New Zealand were given
autonomy as integral states of British

85

Empire. In 1931, England declared a policy to foreign exchange.
of granting autonomy to all its colonies,
one by one. The British Parliament passed Indian exported goods
a statute known as ‘Statute of Westminster’.
This statute approved formation of were partially free
Commonwealth. As the tradition would
have it, the British Queen or King is from the customs duty.
installed at the head of this organisation.
The secretariat of the Commonwealth was More importantly India
established at London. Voluntary co-
operation is the fundamental principle of had an open platform
Commonwealth.
at Commonwealth to
After the Second World War the
British colonies in Asia and Africa became counter the
independent. The commonwealth deserves COMMONWEALTH malpropaganda by
credit for it to some extent. The opposition
to British rule in the colonies and the Pakistan against India. By considering all
altered international scenario made the
disintegration of the British Empire these things India became a member of
inevitable. The establishment of
Commonwealth proved instrumental in Commonwealth.
giving momentum to anti colonial
movements in the colonies. Beside this the Apart from this India has always been
‘Commonwealth’ held to check the on the forefront in Commonwealth Games.
resentment with regard to granting freedom The sports competitions modeled after
to the colonies that prevailed in some social Olympics competitions used to be held for
strata in England. India’s decision to remain amateur sportsmen in the British colonies
in the Commonwealth even after its under the name, ‘British Empire Games’.
independence added to the nullification of The idea of such games was introduced by
that resentment. Reverend Astley Cooper. Since 1950, these
competitions came to be called as
Commonwealth and India : In 1948, ‘Commonwealth Games’. Commonwealth
in the Congress Session at Jaipur in games were started at ‘Crystal palace’ to
Rajasthan, Pandit Nehru took the decision mark the coronation ceremony of King
of joining ‘Commonwealth’. India became George V.
a member of Commonwealth as an equal
and sovereign state. The factors leading to The Commonwealth Games of 1986
this decision were in the situation that were of special significance. Thirty two
prevailed then. At that time England was countries boycotted the games. These
the major supplier of arms and other countries demanded that South Africa
defense material to India. England had should change their racist policies. However,
granted same facilities to India with regards United Kingdom did not pay any heed to
this demand. Hence, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi,
India’s Prime Minister declared a boycott.
Now, in the 21st century India has recorded
a laudable performance in the
Commonwealth Games.

In the two lessons that follow, we are
going to learn about India as a country in
the process of transformation.

86

y y
JJJJJJJJJJJJ Exercise JJJJJJJJJJJJ

Q.1 Choose the correct alternative and rewrite Q.3 Complete the concept map.
the statement.

1. The headquarters of SEATO were Economic disparity
. among member
located at nations.

(a) Thailand (b) Philippines 812

(c) Pakistan (d) United Kingdom Challenges
7 for SAARC 3
2. A fund named was raised for Divergent Inadequate
political to tackle infrastructure
providing necessary aid to neighbouring systems 64

nations of South Africa. 5

(a) Jakarta (b) Harare Increasing
(c) Namibia (d) Indonesia Terrorism

Q.2 (A) Write names of historical places / Q.4 Write short notes.
1. Cold War
persons / events. 2. Non-Alignment Movement
1. On 30th June 1977 this organisation

ceased to exist –
2. The idea of Commonwealth Games was

introduced by –

(B) Choose a right reason from those Q.5 Explain the following statements with

given below and complete the sentence. reason.
1. No country was included in the ANZUS 1. CENTO became non-operational.
2. SAARC has achieved success in some
treaty except Australia, New Zealand
and United States of America – field.
(a) They did not want to let United
Q.6 State your opinion.
Kingdom and France to have an 1. The Cold War began between America
upper hand. and Soviet Russia.
(b) It was a military pact. 2. India has always opposed colonialism.
(c) It was a secret pact.
(d) It was a pact only among countries
with friendly relations.

Project

Collect information about ‘Commonwealth
Games’ with the help of internet.

fff

87

11. India Transformed - Part I

11.1 Globalisation An annual meeting of the member
countries of GATT used to be held at
11.2 Transformation in Various Fields Geneva. It was attended by the
representatives of the member countries.
11.2.1 Rural Development Plans Each country was entitled to one vote.
Problems faced by individual nations
11.2.2 Urban Development Plans regarding the difficulties in international
trade were discussed in the meeting and the
11.2.3 Means of Communication decisions were based on these discussions.
Later GATT became a part of a more
11.3 Economic Issues encompassing organisation known as ‘World
Trade Orgnisation’ - WTO.
11.4 BRICS
World Trade Organisation (WTO) :
11.5 Science and Technology On 1st January 1995, 123 nations together
founded an organisation with the objective
11.6 Defence Affairs of opening the world for free trade. It was
called World Trade Organisation (WTO).
11.7 Youth related Policies It’s a global trade organisation and India
is a member of it.
11.8 Right to Information Act 2005
Arthur Dunkel, the
11.9 Reorganisation of States
Director General of
This lesson reviews the advancements
in various fields, in India since 1990. We WTO prepared a draft
shall do this by citing a few representative
examples. which has been

11.1 Globalisation fundamental to the

India before 1990 and India after 1990 establishment of the
are much apart. It adopted liberal economic
policies in 1990 and many things changed. organisation. This draft

General Agreement on Tariffs and is known as ‘Dunkel
Trade (GATT) : During the times of
Second World War many countries had Arthur Dunkel Draft’. The crux of this
adopted the policy of imposing various draft emphasises on
duties and taxes on imported goods, with
a view to protect their home markets. It trade, free from governmental customs duty
resulted in declining of trade. A meeting
was called in Cuba to discuss this problem, and other restrictions. This approach is
which was attended by 56 nations. It was
decided to establish a permanent known as ‘liberalisation’. All participating
organisation to resolve the problems related
to international trade. A legal agreement countries agreed upon a set of rules and a
was signed in Geneva by 23 nations on
30th October 1947, which is known as premise common to all that would promote
GATT. This agreement was the first
multinational trade agreement. GATT gave international trade. Initially provisions were
priority to economic development through
production and trade, to treat the member made in the spheres of grants, exports-
countries as ‘most favoured nations’.
imports, foreign investments, reserved

sectors, agriculture, technology and service

sectors.

After becoming a member of WTO,
India put a thrust on economic progress. In

88

this aspect the contribution of the then To create employment opportunities for
Prime Minister of India, Narsimha Rao and an ever increasing population is a major
Finance Minister Manmohan Singh is very challenge for the government. We shall
important. Prime Ministers Atal Bihari review the measures taken by the government
Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh took ahead in this respect.
the policy of liberlisation. The report
published by WTO in 2006 has made a Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Yojana : To
special mention of increasing economic create job opportunities for educated youth
growth rate of India. Growth in investments, the ‘Ministry of Commerce and Industry’
fall in the ratio of population below poverty of the Government of India started a plan
line, fall in infant mortality rate, increasing on 2nd October 1993. This plan was meant
availability of facilities for literacy, potable for creating opportunities for job and
water and drainage system in India, are private enterprise.
also mentioned in this report. By adopting
ways like simplifying import rules, ‘Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Yojana’ and
modifying laws regarding rights on ‘Rojgar Hami Yojana’ were started on the
intellectual property, modifying patent laws, birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
India entered the global economy. Rojgar Hami Yojana was to assure daily
wages to the unemployed agricultural
11.2 Transformation in Various Fields labourers. There are days when employment
of any kind is not available to agricultural
Transformation of a nation can be labourers. The objective of this plan was
discerned through certain indicators. Is the to provide wage earning opportunity, who
countryside developing? Are the roads in were in search of it. Initially this plan was
our vicinity in good condition? Has the launched in 257 districts in India. A goal
traffic improved? Have the cities improved? was set to provide work to two young
Have the communication systems become labourers in each family below poverty
more efficient? Has the defence machinery line. In 2001 this plan was merged in
of the country given priority to upgradation ‘Gramin (Rural) Rojgar Yojana’.
and modernisation of defence systems?
Are the citizen in position to avail of their In 1998, with a view to provide support
rights in proper manner? If, answers to to farmers in difficult times, ‘Kisan Credit
such questions are affirmative, then we can Card’ plan was started. It was also intended
assert that the transformation is happening. to help farmer to avail funds for essential
So, let us understand the transformations in equipments and seeds for cultivation. Later,
various fields that happened in our country. an insurance facility was also offered to
farmers, who were Kisan Credit Card
11.2.1 Rural Development Plans holders.

Several plans for rural development Suvarnajayanti Gramin Svayam
have been implemented, so that the rural Rojgar Yojana : This plan was launched
sector should not get neglected and the in 1999. This plan was started by merging
balance between rural and urban various plans together namely ‘Ekatmik
development be maintained. The plans that Gramin Vikas Yojana’, Self employment
are being implemented in the present are training programmes for rural youth,
mostly augmentation of plans that were programme for rural women and children,
already operational. Sometimes earlier distribution of modern equipment to rural
plans were merged in new plans. artisans, ‘Ganga Kalyan Yojana’ and plan

89

to dig 10 lakh wells etc. In 2005-06, there for agriculture and irrigation facilities on
were 12 lakh 7 thousand benefeciaries of larger scale. ‘Krishi Vikas Yojana’ aims at
‘Suvarnajayanti Gramin Swayam Rojgar organic cultivation and increase in the
Yojana’. farmers’ income. ‘Pradhan Mantri Vima
Yojana’ is implemented for the economic
Jawahar Gram-Samruddhi Yojana : welfare of the farmer. More emphasis is
In 1999, a new plan was implemented with given on fields like animal husbandry,
an intention to provide adequate employment dairy, fisheries, agricultural research and
for the unemployed men and women. In education. Focus on developing
2001, it was merged in a plan known as ‘Agriculture’, ‘Co-operative establishments’
‘Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yojana’. and ‘Farmer Welfare’ are the three main
themes of the development programmes.
Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yojana :
This plan was launched by merging together In 2007, a national policy for farmers
‘Rojgar Aashwasan Yojana’ and ‘Jawahar
Gram-Samruddhi Yojana’. This plan made was adopted. Gradually, the results of all
provisions for creating opportunities in rural
areas of earning wages, to provide food- the programmes
grains in exchange of work, etc. In 2004,
the scheme of giving food-grains in implemented for the
exchange of work was started in 150
districts in the country which were agricultural sector are
economically most backward. Measures
like water conservation, development of becoming apparent. If
agricultural lands were given priority to
overcome situations of famine. In 2006, there is a crop failure,
this scheme was merged in ‘Rashtriya
Gramin Rojgar Hami Yojana’. because of things like

Rashtriya Gramin Rojgar Hami natural calamities,
Yojna : The Government of India launched
this scheme on national level to eradicate pesticides, epidemics,
economic disparity, poverty, starvation and
unemployment in rural India. Each family adverse climate, etc. the
in rural areas was given assurance of at
least 100 days’ work. Till 2008, this scheme Indian Council for farmer gets compensated
was started in about 350 districts.
Agricultural Research through the insurance
Agriculture and Livestock : Along (I.C.A.R.)
with the nation’s transformation, agricultural scheme (‘Pradhan Mantri
sector is also getting transformed. According
to 2011 census 54% of the total population Peek Vima Yojana’). Research institutes of
in India is engaged in agriculture and agro-
related sector. The ‘Soil Health Card agricultural science are supported through
Scheme’ aims at increasing the soil fertility
and agricultural production. ‘Pradhan Indian Council for Agricultural Research
Mantri Krishi Sinchan Yojana’ envisaged is
for giving priority to adequate water supply (I. C. A. R.). Agricultural exhibitions are

organised with the objective of introducing

the farmers to latest technology, new

agricultural experiments and research.

Indigenous seeds and indigenous breed of

cattle is given priority. Research programmes

on ‘goat’ were conducted on pan-Indian

level. Goat keeping (Sheli Palan) is

encouraged as an occupation for enhancing

the life standard of tribal people. It has

largely become their principal source of

livelihood. In rural areas poultry farming

of indigenous variety was encouraged.

Thus, India is making significant progress

in the fields of animal husbandry, dairy

and milk production, fisheries, live stock,

90

poultry, meat and wool production. Ours is and sewage disposal systems, housing for
a leading country in milk production. The the poor, etc.
‘National Livestock Mission’ was established
in 2014-15 and since then there is rapid Golden Quadrilateral (Suvarna
growth in the livestock sector. This mission Chatushkon Yojana) : In 1998, Government
provides for availability of fodder, loan, of India announced a programme of creating
organizing the cattle keepers and resolving national highway network to join the four
their difficulties. In 1919-20, the first megacities - Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and
livestock census was conducted. Since then Kolkata. National Highways Authority of
it is being done regularly. The ‘2012 India is managing this project. This project
Livestock Census’ was nineteenth in the aimed at tasks like developing two highways
series. China ranks the first in fish about 7300 km. in length linking all the
production while India ranks the second. four quarters of the country, to provide
Fishing has been an important occupation rapid transportation to important port cities
in India, which is now supplemented with in the country. The programme progressed
fish farming (pisciculture). This sector is rapidly by completing ¼ of the total length
growing rapidly. of the highways till 2008.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana : Metro Railway : The Delhi Metro
The Government of India, knowing the railway was flagged off in 2002. Metro
importance of having roads in good railway running above and underground has
conditions in the interior areas, started introduced a major change in the public
‘Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana’ in transport system of the metropolises of India.
2000. Initially, the work of building roads It facilitated speedy and smooth transit.
began by linking the villages of population
strength up to 1000. In 2001, this programme 11.2.3 Means of Communication
was merged in ‘Pradhan Mantri Gramoday
Yojana’. The roads measuring about 75000 Postal Department : In 1766, the
Km. were completed till 2005. The purpose British established the post office in India.
of this work was to extend the benefits of Thus, the ‘Indian Postal Department’ is
country’s economic growth to people living more than 250 years old. The postal
in rural areas and to bring transformation department, which once only delivered
in their lives. It aimed at providing letters, has undergone total reformation. It
amenities for good health, education, has entered in the field of banking. The
drinking water, dwellings, roads and postal department has introduced various
electricity. schemes such as, ‘Postal Savings Accounts’,
‘Term Deposits’, ‘Public Provident Fund
11.2.2 Urban Development Plans (PPF)’, ‘Kisan Vikas Patra’, ‘Sukanya
Samruddhi Account’, and so on. To improve
Jnnurm – Jawaharlal Nehru Naional its services, in all 23,557 postal offices
Urban Renewal Mission : This programme were brought under ‘Core Banking
was launched in 2005. The mission is for Solutions’, till 2018. Automated Teller
Machines (ATM) were installed at many
massive modernisation branches. Mutual Fund products of ‘Unit
of the cities through Trust of India’ were made available to
modifications in road customers at postal offices. The postal
building, public transport, department is also offering money transfer
wastewater disposal and services to Non Resident Indians.
management systems
91