The British came to India as traders at the turn of the 17th century. By the late 19th century, India had been under British rule for over a century. And by the 20th century, the Indian National Congress (INC), founded in 1885, became a focal point for the growing demand for self-governance and independence from colonial control. The British, benefiting economically from India’s resources and cheap labour, were reluctant to relinquish their grip.
Tensions escalated in 1905 when British Viceroy Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal, fearing growing mass awareness. This divide-and-rule strategy sparked widespread resentment and bolstered support for the INC. The movement for self-rule gained momentum.
In 1919, the British government enacted the repressive Rowlatt Act, allowing detention without trial for suspected anti-government activities. The subsequent massacre of over 350 peaceful protesters in Amritsar deepened Indian outrage. This tragedy galvanised Mohandas Gandhi, a civil rights lawyer, to spearhead a campaign for full independence.
Gandhi, championing nonviolent resistance, launched a series of peaceful protests and civil disobedience campaigns. He famously led the Dandi March of 1930, defying British tax laws by producing salt from seawater. His peaceful defiance drew tens of thousands of followers, leading to his arrest along with 60,000 others. Even while imprisoned, Gandhi continued his fight with hunger strikes.
World War II saw Gandhi’s Quit India movement demand an end to British rule and refusal to support the war effort. Despite the British government’s resistance, including Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s firm stance against Indian independence, the shifting global dynamics played a crucial role. The United States, eager to have colonised nations participate in post-war governance, pressured Britain to reconsider.
In 1947, under the leadership of Clement Attlee, Britain passed the Indian Independence Act. The subcontinent was divided into Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan. This partition led to mass migrations and violent clashes, resulting in over a million deaths.
Gandhi, devastated by the violence, attempted to restore peace through fasting. Tragically, he was assassinated in 1948. Despite the successful attainment of independence, India faced significant challenges in the years that followed, highlighting the complexities of its newfound freedom.
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