Role of Different parties in Freedom Struggle

Role of Indian National Congress in Freedom Struggle

Founded in 1885, the Indian National Congress (INC) was at the forefront of the nationalist movement in India before 1947. After India’s independence in that year, the Congress emerged as the ruling party, and it maintained power uninterrupted for three decades (1947–1977). Since then, the party has been in and out of power.

In the first three decades of its existence the Congress was an elite organization dominated by English-educated, urban middle-class Indians. The organization was much like a debating Society, but Mohandas K. Gandhi, who assumed its Leadership in 1920 and remained its spiritual leader until his death in 1948, transformed the Congress into a mass movement and a political institution with an organizational structure that paralleled the colonial administration. Gandhi expanded the membership and appeal of the Congress by mobilizing the rural Population, especially the lower castes and outcastes of the Hindu social hierarchy—the sudras, or “untouchables.” The Congress became the sole representative of the national cause, leading three campaigns between 1920 and 1947: the noncooperation movement (1920–1922), the civil disobedience campaign (1931–1932), and the “Quit India” movement (August 1942). The Congress won seven of the eleven provinces in the 1937 Elections, which were held under British rule following the provisions of the Government of India Act of 1935, and it formed a government in those provinces.

Role of Communist party of india in indian freedom struggle

The Communists had a very little impact on the freedom struggle of the country because their ideology and method of struggle did not suit the people of India. The Communist party and individual Communist leaders were practically nowhere in 1885, when Indian National Congress was founded and even long after that till 1924, when in September of that year Satya Bhatta founded Communist Party of India.

The party’s objective was to struggle for complete swaraj for the country in which there will be common ownership over all means of production and distribution. These will be used for the welfare of the masses. The Communists rejected Gandhian philosophy of non-violence and in 1925 expressed their desire for independence from the control of Comintern.

They made it clear that they were not their subordinates. They wanted that radical changes should be brought in Congress party programmes. They were critical of both the Congress and Swaraj party. They pleaded that the Congress party should follow policy of militant mass action and policy of surrender and compromise should be discarded.

They considered that Congress was at present under the influence of bourgeois leadership from which it should be liberated. In 1926, Communists decided to work under the guidance of Comintern and some Communist leaders even attended Sixth Congress of Communist International held in September, 1928.

It decided to fight on two fronts for country’s freedom namely National bourgeoisie on the one hand and British imperialism on the other. It was at this Communist International that about India it was resolved that, “The Communist must unmask the national reformism of the Indian National Congress and oppose all the phases of the Swarajists and Gandhists, etc., about passive resistance.”

The Communists should fight against Gandhian ideology. Accordingly they criticised Gandhian philosophy of Civil Disobedience movement for being not a struggle but a manoeuvre of the Indian bourgeoisie to obtain concessions from imperialism. They believed that Gandhian programme diverted attention of the workers and peasants from their main struggle against landlords and capitalists.

But even then when important Congress leaders were arrested in Meerut Conspiracy case Communist leaders did not favour this arbitrary move of the British government and formed a Civil Defence Committee which included such prominent leaders, as Moti Lal Nehru, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Dewan Chaman Lal and many others. Funds were also raised for fighting court case.

Hindu mahasabha and indian freedom struggle

Established in 1915, the Mahasabha (known previously as the Sarvadeshak Hindu Sabha) has been struggling to stay politically and socially relevant. Local forerunners to the Mahasabha had been sprouting across the country since the early decades of the 20th century when the All India Muslim League was formed in 1906 and the British announced separate electorates for Muslims under the Morley Minto Reforms. As a result of these developments, Hindu leaders realised the need to come together to form an organisation that would safeguard their interests. Over the years several small Hindu sabhas were formed in Punjab, United Provinces, Bihar, and Bombay Presidency. In April 1925 the Sarvadeshak (all India) Hindu Mahasabha was formally established and all the regional organisations brought under it. In April 1921 it changed its name to Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha.

Ever since its inception, the Mahasabha’s role in the freedom struggle has been read as rather controversial. While not supportive of British rule, the Mahasabha did not offer its full support to the nationalist movement either, abstaining from participating in the Civil Disobedience movement of 1930 and the Quit India Movement of 1942.

Under the stewardship of V D Savarkar, the Mahasabha was opposed to Gandhi’s overtures to hold parleys with Muslim League president Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Congress’ efforts to integrate Muslims. It was evidently demonstrated when it did not actively support the Indian freedom movement against British rule and boycotted the Quit India Movement officially.

All india muslim league and indian freedom struggle

Muslim League was a political group that led the movement calling for a separate Muslim nation to be created at the time of the partition of British India (1947). The Muslim League was founded in 1906 to safeguard the rights of Indian Muslims. At first the league was encouraged by the British and was generally favourable to their rule, but the organization adopted self-government for India as its goal in 1913. For several decades the league and its leaders, notably Mohammed Ali Jinnah, called for Hindu-Muslim unity in a united and independent India. It was not until 1940 that the league called for the formation of a Muslim state that would be separate from the projected independent country of India. The league wanted a separate nation for India’s Muslims because it feared that an independent India would be dominated by Hindus.

Jinnah and the Muslim League led the struggle for the partition of British India into separate Hindu and Muslim states, and after the formation of Pakistan in 1947 the league became Pakistan’s dominant political party. In that year it was renamed the All Pakistan Muslim League. But the league functioned less effectively as a modern political party in Pakistan than it had as a mass-based pressure group in British India, and hence it gradually declined in popularity and cohesion. In the elections of 1954 the Muslim League lost power in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), and the party lost power in West Pakistan (now Pakistan) soon afterward. By the late 1960s the party had split into various factions, and by the 1970s it had disappeared altogether.,

The Indian independence movement was a long and complex struggle that resulted in the end of British rule in India in 1947. The movement was led by a number of different parties and organizations, each with its own ideology and goals.

The Indian National Congress (INC) was the largest and most influential party in the independence movement. It was founded in 1885 by Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant. The INC’s goal was to achieve self-government for India within the British Empire.

The All India Muslim League (AIML) was founded in 1906 by Nawab Salimullah of Dacca. The AIML’s goal was to protect the rights of Muslims in India.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) was founded in 1920 by Shapurji Saklatvala. The CPI’s goal was to establish a socialist state in India.

The Scheduled Caste Federation (SCF) was founded in 1942 by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The SCF’s goal was to improve the condition of the Dalits, or “untouchables,” in India.

The All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) was founded in 1939 by Subhas Chandra Bose. The AIFB’s goal was to achieve complete independence for India.

The Hindu Mahasabha was founded in 1925 by V.D. Savarkar. The Hindu Mahasabha’s goal was to protect the Hindu religion and culture in India.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was founded in 1925 by K.B. Hedgewar. The RSS’s goal was to promote Hindu nationalism in India.

The Quit India Movement was launched by the INC in 1942. The goal of the movement was to force the British to leave India.

The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched by the INC in 1920. The goal of the movement was to boycott British goods and institutions.

The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched by the INC in 1930. The goal of the movement was to disobey British laws and regulations.

The Salt March was a major event in the Civil Disobedience Movement. In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi led a group of Indians on a 240-mile march to the coastal town of Dandi, where they made salt from seawater in defiance of British law.

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre was a horrific event that took place in Amritsar, Punjab, on April 13, 1919. British troops opened fire on a crowd of unarmed Indian protesters, killing hundreds of people.

The Chauri Chaura Incident was a major setback for the Non-Cooperation Movement. In 1922, a group of Indian protesters set fire to a police station in Chauri Chaura, killing 22 policemen. This incident led Gandhi to call off the Non-Cooperation Movement.

The Simon Commission was a British commission that was appointed in 1927 to investigate the possibility of granting self-government to India. The commission was boycotted by the INC, which saw it as a ploy to maintain British rule in India.

The Round Table Conferences were a series of conferences held in London between 1930 and 1932 to discuss the future of India. The conferences were attended by representatives of the British government, the INC, the AIML, and other Indian Political Parties.

The Cabinet Mission Plan was a plan proposed by the British government in 1946 to partition India into two separate states, one for Hindus and one for Muslims. The plan was accepted by the INC and the AIML, but it was rejected by the Muslim League in the North-West Frontier Province and the Punjab.

The Partition of India was the division of British India into two independent dominions, India and Pakistan, on August 15, 1947. The partition was a violent and chaotic event that resulted in the deaths of millions of people and the displacement of millions more.

Independence of India was achieved on August 15, 1947. The Indian National Congress was the leading party in the independence movement, and Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India.

The Indian independence movement was a long and complex struggle that involved many different groups and individuals. Some of the most important parties and organizations involved in the movement include:

The Indian National Congress (INC): The INC was the largest and most influential political party in India during the independence movement. It was founded in 1885 by Allan Octavian Hume, a British civil servant who was concerned about the growing discontent among Indians. The INC’s goal was to achieve self-government for India within the British Empire.
The All-India Muslim League (AIML): The AIML was founded in 1906 by a group of Muslim leaders who were concerned about the growing Hindu majority in India. The AIML’s goal was to protect the rights of Muslims in India.
The Hindu Mahasabha: The Hindu Mahasabha was founded in 1925 by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The Hindu Mahasabha was a Hindu nationalist organization that opposed the INC’s goal of Hindu-Muslim unity.
The Communist Party of India (CPI): The CPI was founded in 1920 by a group of Indian communists who were inspired by the Russian Revolution. The CPI’s goal was to overthrow British rule in India and establish a socialist state.

The Indian independence movement was a time of great upheaval and change. It was a time when Indians from all walks of life came together to fight for their freedom. The movement was successful in achieving its goal of independence, but it also left a legacy of division and conflict that continues to haunt India today.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Indian independence movement:

Who were the main leaders of the Indian independence movement?

The main leaders of the Indian independence movement included Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Gandhi was a lawyer and activist who led the INC’s nonviolent resistance movement. Nehru was a politician and writer who became the first prime minister of India. Jinnah was a lawyer and politician who became the founder of Pakistan.

What were the main goals of the Indian independence movement?

The main goals of the Indian independence movement were to achieve self-government for India within the British Empire and to end British rule in India.

What were the main methods used by the Indian independence movement?

The main methods used by the Indian independence movement included nonviolent resistance, civil disobedience, and boycotts.

What were the main achievements of the Indian independence movement?

The main achievements of the Indian independence movement were the achievement of self-government for India within the British Empire and the end of British rule in India.

What were the main challenges faced by the Indian independence movement?

The main challenges faced by the Indian independence movement were the opposition of the British government, the division of India into India and Pakistan, and the violence that accompanied the partition of India.

What was the legacy of the Indian independence movement?

The legacy of the Indian independence movement is a complex one. On the one hand, the movement achieved its goal of independence for India. On the other hand, the movement also left a legacy of division and conflict that continues to haunt India today.

The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 by:
(a) Allan Octavian Hume
(b) Dadabhai Naoroji
(c) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
The Swadeshi movement was started in:
(a) 1857
(b) 1885
(c) 1905
(d) 1920
The Non-Cooperation Movement was started in:
(a) 1905
(b) 1919
(c) 1920
(d) 1922
The Civil Disobedience Movement was started in:
(a) 1920
(b) 1930
(c) 1942
(d) 1947
The Quit India Movement was started in:
(a) 1942
(b) 1945
(c) 1946
(d) 1947
The Indian National Army was formed by:
(a) Subhash Chandra Bose
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Vallabhbhai Patel
The All India Muslim League was founded in:
(a) 1906
(b) 1916
(c) 1940
(d) 1947
The Lahore Resolution was passed in:
(a) 1940
(b) 1942
(c) 1946
(d) 1947
The Partition of India took place in:
(a) 1947
(b) 1948
(c) 1949
(d) 1950
The Indian Constitution was adopted on:
(a) 26 November 1949
(b) 26 January 1950
(c) 15 August 1947
(d) 15 August 1948