Independence Movements

1. Introduction

The Independence Movements include all major struggles, agitations, satyagrahas, revolts, and campaigns that Indians launched to end British rule. These movements, led by both moderate and extremist leaders, ultimately brought freedom on 15 August 1947.

Time Period

1857 CE – 1947 CE

Main Leaders

Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Bose, Bhagat Singh

2. Early Nationalist Movements (Before 1905)

These movements laid the foundation of nationalism in India.

Socio-Religious Reform Movements

Brahmo Samaj (Raja Ram Mohan Roy)
Arya Samaj (Dayanand Saraswati)
Ramakrishna Mission (Vivekananda)

Formation of Indian National Congress (1885)

Founded by A.O. Hume
First President: W.C. Bonnerjee
Demanded representation of Indians
Economic reforms and end to British exploitation

3. Partition of Bengal (1905) – Trigger for Swadeshi Movement

British partitioned Bengal on 16 October 1905 to divide Hindus and Muslims.

Reaction & Actions:

Swadeshi Movement started
Boycott of British goods
Burning foreign clothes
National schools founded

Leaders:

Lal-Bal-Pal (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal)
Aurobindo Ghosh
Rabindranath Tagore

➡ Partition cancelled in 1911 due to strong protests.

4. Home Rule Movement (1916)

Aim:

Self-government (Home Rule)

Leaders:

Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Annie Besant

It spread nationalism before Gandhiji's arrival.

5. Gandhian Movements (1917–1942)

Gandhiji transformed the independence struggle into a mass movement.

A. Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

First Satyagraha in India
Against forced Indigo cultivation

B. Kheda Satyagraha (1918)

Against high taxes on farmers

C. Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918)

First use of hunger strike

6. Rowlatt Act (1919)

Provisions:

Allowed arrest without trial

Reaction:

Huge protests
Led to Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13 April 1919)
General Dyer ordered firing on peaceful gathering

7. Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22)

Causes:

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
Rowlatt Act
Khilafat Issue

Actions:

Boycott foreign goods
Boycott British schools, courts
Promotion of Swadeshi

Stopped after Chauri Chaura Incident (1922).

8. Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34)

🔥 Dandi March (12 March 1930)

Gandhi marched 390 km to break the Salt Law.

Features:

Refusal to pay taxes
Boycott foreign cloth
Breaking unfair laws

Agreements:

Gandhi–Irwin Pact (1931)
Prisoners released
Congress halted movement
Round Table Conferences (1930–32)
Gandhi attended 2nd Round Table Conference

9. Quit India Movement (1942)

Key Details:

Started on 8 August 1942
Slogan: "Do or Die"

Features:

Leaders arrested
Students & women took lead
Spread quickly across India

➡ Marked the final blow to British rule.

10. Revolutionary Movements (Important for SSC GD)

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru

Lahore Conspiracy Case
Slogan: Inquilab Zindabad

Chandrashekhar Azad

"I will never be caught alive!"

Subhash Chandra Bose

Indian National Army (INA)
Azad Hind Government
Slogan: "Give me blood, I will give you freedom"

Ghadar Movement

Outside India (USA/Canada)
Aim: Armed revolution

Kakori Conspiracy (1925)

Executed by HSRA revolutionaries.

11. Peasant, Tribal & Worker Movements

Movement	Region	Leader
Munda Revolt	Jharkhand	Birsa Munda
Tebhaga Movement	Bengal	Farmers
Indigo Movement	Bengal	Ryots
Moplah Rebellion	Kerala	Muslim peasants

12. Women's Participation

Women became active during independence struggle.

Famous Women Leaders:

Sarojini Naidu
Aruna Asaf Ali
Kasturba Gandhi
Captain Lakshmi Sehgal (INA)

13. Important Committees & Commissions

Name	Year	Purpose
Simon Commission	1927	Constitutional reforms (No Indian member)
Nehru Report	1928	Draft Constitution
Cripps Mission	1942	Offer Dominion status
Cabinet Mission	1946	Plan for Indian Constitution

14. Final Steps Toward Independence

1. Naval Revolt (1946)

Indian Navy soldiers revolted in Mumbai → Big shock to British.

2. INA Trials (Red Fort Trials)

Public support grew massively.

3. Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)

Federal structure
Constituent Assembly

4. Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947)

Decision to partition India.

5. Indian Independence Act (1947)

India & Pakistan became free nations
Power transferred to Indian leaders

15. Independence (15 August 1947)

Key Points:

India became independent
Pakistan created
Last Viceroy: Lord Mountbatten
First Prime Minister: Jawaharlal Nehru
First Governor General (India): C. Rajagopalachari
Sardar Patel united princely states

16. Quick Revision Table

Topic	Key Points
Start of movements	1857
INC formed	1885
Gandhiji arrives	1915
Non-Cooperation	1920
Civil Disobedience	1930
Quit India	1942
Independence	1947
Last Viceroy	Mountbatten

1. Introduction

2. Early Nationalist Movements (Before 1905)

Socio-Religious Reform Movements

Formation of Indian National Congress (1885)

3. Partition of Bengal (1905) – Trigger for Swadeshi Movement

Reaction & Actions:

Leaders:

4. Home Rule Movement (1916)

Aim:

Leaders:

5. Gandhian Movements (1917–1942)

A. Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

B. Kheda Satyagraha (1918)

C. Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918)

6. Rowlatt Act (1919)

Provisions:

Reaction:

7. Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22)

Causes:

Actions:

8. Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34)

🔥 Dandi March (12 March 1930)

Features:

Agreements:

9. Quit India Movement (1942)

Key Details:

Features:

10. Revolutionary Movements (Important for SSC GD)

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru

Chandrashekhar Azad

Subhash Chandra Bose

Ghadar Movement

Kakori Conspiracy (1925)

11. Peasant, Tribal & Worker Movements

12. Women's Participation

Famous Women Leaders:

13. Important Committees & Commissions

14. Final Steps Toward Independence

1. Naval Revolt (1946)

2. INA Trials (Red Fort Trials)

3. Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)

4. Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947)

5. Indian Independence Act (1947)

15. Independence (15 August 1947)

Key Points:

16. Quick Revision Table

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