war/interwar India

Question 1

Instance of increasing agitation during WWI?

Answer 1

2 early mutinies of Pathans in 1914-15 caused by fear that they would be led by Muslims

Question 2

Home Rule movements?

Answer 2

2 developed- one led by Gokhale and one led by Annie Besant

-they supported one another; each leader was a member of the other and helped out by giving out leaflets etc

Question 3

the success of HR orgs?

Answer 3

Tilak’s quickly gained 32k members

but they both eventualy lost wind due to Montagnu Decl

Question 4

British response to HR?

Answer 4

They responded with arrest of campaigners- Gokhale arrested for sedition and Annie arrested without trial

Question 5

What did HR organisations do/want?

Answer 5

followed the model of campaigns in Ireland- wanted to work democratically for self-government while remaining part of the Empire
Besant wanted ‘freedom with separation’

Question 6

When was Montagnu Decl

Answer 6

20 Aug 1917

Question 7

What did Montagnu Decl say?

Answer 7

Claimed objective in India was ‘responsible government’ and ‘self-governing institutions’

Question 8

what also happened in 1917 demonstrating Britain conceding imperial power?

Answer 8

Dominion presidents and nominated Indian leaders invited to join the war cabinet

Question 9

When/what was the Rowlatt Act

Answer 9

Spring 1919
Enabled draconian powers of the Defence of India Act (1915), inc unlimited detention without trial, trial without jury etc., tob be invoked in anarchic conditions

Question 10

Reaction to the Rowlatt Act?

Answer 10

Bit of a piss take after Montagnu
All 22 INC leaders oppposed it
Gandhi organised a national strike (hartal) on 6th April 1919

Question 11

When/what was the Amritsar Massacre?

Answer 11

General of the British Indian Army, Dyer, banned all public meetings on 11 April
Ban defied by call for meeting on 13 April
Dyer killed 379 people within minutes and wounded 1200
He then imposed martial law and public floggings held of suspected Indians

Question 12

What happened to Dyer?

Answer 12

Not really condemned- HoL passed a vote of thanks and public subscription raised thousands of pounds for him in rewards
GANDHI = NOT HAPPY, DECLARED BRITAIN A ‘SATANIC GOV’

Question 13

Montagnu-Chelmsford period?

Answer 13

Named after SoS Montagnu and Viceroy Chelmsford (1916-21)

Question 14

Montagnu-Chelmsford reforms?

Answer 14

Made up report which comprised 1919 Gov of India Act
This promised eventual self government- promised a review in 10 years time BUT NO REFERENCE TO SPECIFIC DATE
Eliminated majorities of appointed officials in most legislative councils- members elected by Indians themselves would now make up majority
3 appointed Indians now part of Imperial Executive Council
Franchise extended- 5m men now able to vote for provincial council, 1m for Legislative Assembly and 17k for Councils of State
Dyarchy- division of responsibility between central government and provinces.Even more division on provincial level- matters deemed either to be ‘reserved’ (eg law, order, revenue) or ‘transferred’ (development)
Different settings for different provinces

Question 15

How was 1919 Act recieved?

Answer 15

Lukewarm reaction- seemed confusing and very vague

Question 16

Key events in Indian nationalism during interwar period?

Answer 16

Non-cooperation movement 1919-21
Simon Comission 1928
Gandhi's Salt March 1930
Round Table Conferences 1930,1
Government of India Act 1935
Quit India Movement 1942

Question 17

Non-cooperation movement 1919-21?

Reaction to it?

Answer 17

Declared aims for Swaraj within a year
Boycotts of elections and schools- swadesh promoted
30k people arrested inc Gandhi in 1922

Question 18

What was Simon Commission?

Reactions to it?

Answer 18

Promised review of India’s progression to self government
Didnt contain a single India
When it came to India in 1928, Congress boycotted all meetings and held protest demonstrations
Muslim League also rejected it

Question 19

Gandhi’s Salt March?

Reaction to it?

Answer 19

Announced that, with 78 supporters, he would walk 400km collecting sea salt to publicise the British indirect tax which was proportionally unfair to low income households
Peaceful idea of ahimsa guided it
Gained international attention
In towns along the route, large numbers of Indians resigned from their Posts
March organised in solidarity in Bombay and 2k demonstrations at Dharasana were attacked by police
Gandhi arrested

Question 20

Round Table Conferences (1930,1)

Answer 20

Hoped to settle India’s consitutional future
1st Conference agreed that the central and provincial executive power should be accountable to legislatures…not really any progress without Gandhi
2nd Conference- Gandhi was the only representative of INC and was ordered on their behalf to make no concessions. He angered untouchable and Musim representatives as he claimed to speak on behalf of whole country, again no real progress
3rd Conference- doomed by loss of MacDonald, Labour PM who was pushing Indian progress. Gandhi and others didnt attend

Question 21

Government of India Act 1935?

Answer 21

Created a federation of India by
Making the provinces completely self governing (but provincial governors would still be appointed by the Br, and the Viceroy could suspend self-gov in emergencies)
Franchise extended from 7 to 35m

Question 22

Reactions of Congress to 1935 Act?

Answer 22

They opposed it- it fell short of the independence enjoyed by Dominions and Princely states didnt like federal India (they wanted to maintain their own independence)

Question 23

What happened at outbreak of WWII?

Answer 23

1939- Congress members in the provinces resigned from office, against Indian participation in the War

Question 24

1942 Quit India Resolution?

Answer 24

Occurred while India was under threat from Japan
All India Congress Comittee met and and resolved for a widespread challenge to British rule and exploit the wartime situation
Gandhi declared ‘do or die’ for Indian independence

Question 25

Br reaction to QI?

What did this inspire?

Answer 25

Congress leaders arrested; Gandhi detained
Unrest and arson grew in Hindu areas (eg Bihar and Bombay)- police shot people breaking curfew on site, women beaten with lathis; policemen burnt to death while the British burn down whole villages
5k arrested w/out trial
Finally suppressed by end of 1942 with Britain using 57 infantry battalions

Question 26

Impact of Br repreisals to QI?

Answer 26

They well and truley lost moral authority

Question 27

Were Indian leaders notified about WWII?

Answer 27

nope- signed up without consultation