"Indian Independence Movement: Revolutionary reminiscence"

A dear friend of mine inspired me to write this article because of her obliviousness to the revolutionary phases of the Indian freedom struggle. She would always compel me to write my views on this topic. Still, I was too frivolous to accept that in this era of multidirectional information, flowing from all sides, how one could remain untouched by our historical milestones.

To my utter disappointment, a recent discussion on this topic with an undergrad scholar of Indian History at BHU (Varanasi) made me realise, how wrong I was in my assumption, that everyone knows everything about the holistic face of the Indian freedom struggle.

However, I also belong to the generation that has studied the conventional NCERT where barring a few episodes like "Swadeshi-Boycott" and "Ghadar" all other major revolutionary events appeared as footnotes. Needless to say, in those textbooks the "Battles of Kohima & Imphal" were not even mentioned(Battles of Kohima and Imphal have been described by many renowned historians as the "Stalingrad of the East")

This article of mine, in no way, intends to undermine the contribution of any section of the freedom seekers, rather is a small attempt with my very limited knowledge, within my very small reach and with my very little ability, to highlight the role of other stakeholders apart from Gandhi, Gokhale & Nehru. This account is very brief and may not do justice to those who actually bled to gain our freedom. Nonetheless, I take it as my moral obligation to speak about my views on India's struggle for freedom.

Apart from the noble principles of "Ahimsa" & "Non-violence", people must recall the reprimand hurled on the freedom fighter 'Aruna Asaf Ali' by Gandhi when she supported the Royal Indian Navy's revolt against the British Raj. People also need to know the comment made by Gopal Krishna Gokhale (the political guru of Gandhi) when he said, "I would call the English back even before they reach Suez if they decide to leave India". I am sure these quotes and incidents must have wider connotations and meanings, which I may not be able to grasp fully due to my very limited & feeble ability to understand. Yet, I am writing this article as a testimony, which could be misconstrued as my insolence, to which I request forgiveness, but I feel seeking forgiveness is a lesser evil than forgetting our real heroes, who are worth being remembered & cherished.

We all have a consensus that there is a lot to learn from the morals and noble principles of Gandhi but so is the case with values like courage and valour imparted by Ashfaqullah Khan & Bhagat Singh.

It is pertinent to sink in Gandhi, Naoroji and R.C Dutt in our lives when faced with moral impediments, but also, it is of preeminence to acknowledge the spirits of Jatin Das, Abid Hasan, Sachindranath Sanyal, Surya Sen, Durgawati Devi and many more like them.

We know that the last words of Gandhi were "Hey Ram" but very few of us know that the slogan by Hasrat Mohani which he lived by throughout his whole life was "Inqalab Zindabad", the slogan which became the slogan of the Indian freedom struggle. We are all aware that the resolution of "Purna Swaraj" was passed in the 1929 Lahore Session (under the Presidentship of Pt. Nehru), but very few of us know that it was Mohani who was the first person to explicitly demand complete independence for India in 1921 (Tilak, on the other hand, is well-known for his advocacy of "Swaraj").

In the Indian context, revolution and revolutionaries are exalted by various political parties and groups. Yet those moments are encapsulated under various political intentions and obligations, arising from time to time.

Revolutionaries and their roles are not much talked about. Even if ever they are, the story always remains a fragmented one. Most of the time, the concluding remarks are such that they represent a disoriented, discorded and uncoordinated picture of those movements. However, the real truth about these revolutionary movements has always been kept untold and hidden until recently when Mr Sanjeev Sanyal (a kin of Sachindranath Sanyal) took the pain and wrote a detailed account of those pioneers of freedom struggle titled "Revolutionaries". The account presented by him shall leave one delighted by the courage and intrigued by hidden truths.

Coming to this article, having completed an enticing reading of "Revolutionaries", I was deeply inspired to pen down my feelings about the journey which I have just concluded. I could still feel the chills down my nerves by recalling the moments of struggle and hardships faced by those brave sons & daughters of India.

The Indian freedom struggle was indeed a complex and multifaceted event in world history, characterized by a combination of non-violent resistance and armed conflict.

Anushilan Samiti, founded in Bengal in 1902 was one of the earliest groups advocating for armed resistance against British rule. It was involved in various revolutionary activities, including the use of violence against colonial authorities. Jugantar (1906) another key revolutionary organization in Bengal aimed to overthrow British rule through armed struggle and was influential in spreading revolutionary ideas across India.

Parul Mukherjee, Aurobindo Ghosh, Bagha Jatin, Prafulla Chaki, Khudiram Bose, Ullaskar Dutt, Surya Sen, Rash Behari Bose (not to be confused with Rash Behari Ghosh), Santi Ghosh, Satyendra Nath Bosu, Hemchandra Kanungo are few names which belonged to these two organisations (Anushilan & Jugantar). These organisations became the focus of an extensive police and intelligence operation by the British, which led to the founding of the Special branch of the Calcutta Police.

After these organisations were disbanded in 1930, HRA (and later HSRA) led to another wave of revolutionary activities and finally Azad Hind Fauz steered by Subhash Chandra Bose proved to be the last death knell for the British Raj in India.

The debate over the factors that led to the British departure from India is complex and multi-faceted. While Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent struggle is often emphasised in popular history, it's important to recognize the significant role played by revolutionaries, the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) revolt, and the impact of Indian soldiers who were prisoners of war (POWs). These factors created an environment of unrest and resistance that contributed to the British decision to leave India. 

The revolutionary movement, which included figures like Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Subhas Chandra Bose, and others, was marked by acts of armed resistance, bombings, assassinations, and a general atmosphere of defiance against British rule. Their activities, though often suppressed, kept the spirit of resistance alive and inspired many Indians to question British authority.

The execution of revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev galvanized public opinion against the British. These figures became symbols of the struggle for independence, rallying support across the country and putting pressure on British authorities.

The revolutionary movement particularly inspired the youth of India, creating a sense of urgency and the belief that freedom was attainable only through direct action. This undermined the British claim that they could maintain control over India indefinitely.

Subhas Chandra Bose’s efforts to forge an alliance with the Axis powers during World War II and to create the Indian National Army (INA) were significant. The INA, composed of Indian soldiers who had been captured by the Japanese, fought alongside Japanese forces against the British in the Southeast Asian theatre.

After the war, the British decided to try INA soldiers for treason, but the trials backfired. Public sympathy was overwhelmingly in favour of the INA soldiers, who were seen as patriots fighting for India’s freedom. The widespread protests and unrest during the trials further demonstrated the unpopularity of British rule. The British were increasingly concerned about loyalty within the Indian armed forces. The loyalty of Indian soldiers was crucial to maintaining British control, and the widespread support for the INA indicated that this loyalty could no longer be taken for granted.

The RIN mutiny of February 1946 was one of the most significant and widespread rebellions against British rule during the final years of the Raj. It involved around 20,000 sailors across multiple naval ships and shore establishments in Bombay (now Mumbai) and quickly spread to other parts of the country. Unlike many earlier movements, the RIN mutiny saw Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh sailors united in their demands, transcending communal lines. This unity was particularly alarming to the British, who had long relied on the policy of "divide and rule" to maintain control over India. The mutiny received widespread support from civilians, with strikes and demonstrations erupting in Bombay and other cities. This mass mobilization signalled to the British that their control over India’s military forces and the general population was weakening.

The RIN mutiny demonstrated the potential for widespread insurrection within the British Indian armed forces. The British realized that if they could not rely on the loyalty of their Indian troops, maintaining control over the country would become increasingly untenable. Indian National Congress (INC)issued a statement calling on the strikers to end their action. Under these considerable pressures, the strikers gave away. Later arrests were made after the strike was called off, followed by court-martial and the dismissal of 476 sailors from the Royal Indian Navy. The irony of the entire episode was that none of those dismissed were reinstated ever into the Indian Navy after the independence.

By the end of World War II, Britain was economically weakened and politically exhausted. The cost of maintaining an empire, combined with growing unrest in India, made the continued occupation increasingly unfeasible. The combination of revolutionary activities, the RIN mutiny, and the public support for the INA created an environment where British authority was constantly challenged. The fear of a large-scale revolt, particularly within the armed forces, played a critical role in the British decision to expedite their departure.

The British, recognizing that they could no longer maintain control without significant force, and faced with the prospect of widespread rebellion, opted for a quick exit. The naval mutiny, in particular, demonstrated that even the armed forces could not be relied upon to suppress the population, which was a major tipping point.

In 1956, almost a decade after India achieved its Independence, Clement Attlee (PM of Britain during 1947) visited India and met with P.B. Chakrabarty, the then Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court and former acting Governor of Bengal. During this visit, Chakrabarty reportedly asked Attlee about the reasons behind the British decision to leave India, especially given that the Quit India Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi had significantly weakened by 1944.

Attlee is said to have responded that the British decision to leave was influenced less by the Quit India Movement and more by other factors. He allegedly mentioned that the most significant factor was the impact of Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army (INA) and the loyalty crisis it caused within the British Indian Army. He also referred to the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) mutiny of 1946, which further highlighted the crumbling loyalty of Indian forces.

According to some accounts, when asked about Gandhi’s contribution to the British decision to leave, Attlee is said to have responded with a remark that Gandhi’s influence was "minimal" or "negligible."

While Gandhi's nonviolent struggle was crucial in mobilising the masses and giving the Indian independence movement a moral high ground, it would be simplistic to attribute the British departure solely to his efforts. The role of revolutionaries, the RIN mutiny, and the impact of the INA and POWs played equally significant roles in convincing the British that their rule in India was no longer sustainable. These factors, combined with Britain's post-war exhaustion, created a perfect storm that led to the end of British rule in India in 1947.

"Jai Hind"