The Revolt of 1857 and Rise of Indian Nationalism

Revolt of 1857

• Significant as the first large-scale revolt against the British Empire in India
• Known as Sepoy Mutiny, spread across northern and central India
• Failed due to lack of coordination and planning
• Marked the beginning of a national identity and realization for independence

Rise of Nationalism

• Linked with opposition to colonialism, inspired by similar movements like in Vietnam
• Realization of common suffering under British rule united various groups
• Different groups had different methods of struggle

Impact of the First World War

• British increased defense expenditure, levied new taxes on Indians
• Income tax introduced, customs duties increased
• Forced recruitment of rural people into the army
• Crop failures, famines, and influenza outbreak worsened conditions

Emergence of Mahatma Gandhi

• Gandhi returned to India in January 1915
• Advocated non-violence and satyagraha
• Early successes in Champaran, Kheda, and Ahmedabad
• Satyagraha (appeal to truth) used as a powerful tool against oppression

Movements Led by Gandhi

• Champaran (1917): Supported peasants forced to grow indigo
• Kheda (1917): Supported poor villagers demanding tax relief during famine
• Ahmedabad (1918): Supported cotton mill workers demanding wage increases

Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

• Rowlatt Act (1919): Allowed detention of political prisoners without trial
• Gandhi organized satyagraha against the act, resulting in nationwide protests
• Jallianwala Bagh (April 13, 1919): British troops led by Gen. Dyer killed and wounded hundreds of unarmed civilians
• Triggered mass protests and further repression by British

Non-Cooperation Movement

• Began in 1921, aimed at not cooperating with the British administration
• Involved diverse groups with specific grievances (students, teachers, lawyers, rural peasants, tribal groups)
• Spread to rural areas, coinciding with peasant protests
• Movement slowed down due to lack of alternatives to British institutions and products
• Withdrawn by Gandhi after Chauri Chaura incident (1922) due to violence

Civil Disobedience Movement

• Launched in 1930 with the Dandi March
• Marked by open violation of oppressive laws, massive public participation
• Different groups joined for their specific objectives (peasants, business class, working class, women)
• Movement faced brutal repression from the British
• Temporarily called off in 1931 following Gandhi-Irwin Pact
• Relauched but gradually lost momentum

Symbols of Nationalism

• Bharat Mata: Personification of India, inspired by European national personifications
• Indian Flag: Designed during Swadeshi movement, redesigned by Gandhi with a spinning wheel in 1921
• Folklore and Cultural Revival: Efforts to unify Indians by reviving cultural pride
• Reinterpretation of History: Emphasized ancient Indian glories to counter British narrative of backwardness

Challenges and Diversity

• Movement diverse with different expectations and interpretations of Swaraj
• Religious and regional differences led to internal divisions
• Such differences were one of the factors leading to the eventual partition of India