Modern Indian History (1930–1945): Complete Notes

Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1934)

Gandhi’s Eleven Demands

1. Reduction in the exchange rate of the rupee.
2. Reduction of land revenue by 50%.
3. Reduction in military and administrative expenditure.
4. Prohibition of liquor and intoxicating substances.
5. Protection of Indian industries through tariff reforms.
6. Reservation of coastal shipping for Indians.
7. Abolition of the CID (Criminal Investigation Department).
8. Release of political prisoners.
9. Abolition of the salt tax.
10. Protection of indigenous industries.
11. Relaxation in arms licensing regulations.

Dandi March (12 March – 6 April 1930)

• Mahatma Gandhi started the march from Sabarmati Ashram on 12 March 1930 with 78 volunteers.
• After covering about 375 km, he reached Dandi on 6 April 1930.
• Gandhi broke the Salt Law by making salt from seawater.
• This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Expansion of the Movement

• Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan led the movement in the North-West Frontier Province.
• Sarojini Naidu led the Dharasana Salt Satyagraha.
• Rani Gaidinliu led the movement in Manipur.
• Anti-Chowkidari Tax movements were launched in Bengal.

First Round Table Conference (1930)

• Held from 12 November 1930 to 19 January 1931.
• Venue: London.
• Chairman: British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.
• The Indian National Congress boycotted the conference.

Gandhi-Irwin Pact (5 March 1931)

Main Provisions

• Release of political prisoners.
• Return of confiscated property.
• Permission for peaceful picketing and demonstrations.
• Permission for coastal communities to make salt.

Significance

• The Congress suspended the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Gandhi agreed to attend the Second Round Table Conference.

Karachi Session of Congress (1931)

• President: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• Ratified the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
• Adopted the Resolution on Fundamental Rights and National Economic Programme.
• Reaffirmed the goal of Complete Independence (Purna Swaraj).

Second Round Table Conference (1931)

• Held from 7 September to 1 December 1931.
• Gandhi attended as the sole representative of Congress.
• The conference ended without any significant agreement.
• The issue of communal representation remained unresolved.

Communal Award (1932)

• Announced by Ramsay MacDonald on 16 August 1932.
• Provided separate electorates for the Depressed Classes (Scheduled Castes).
• Opposed by Mahatma Gandhi.

Poona Pact (1932)

Parties

• Mahatma Gandhi
• Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Date

26 September 1932

Key Features

• Separate electorates for Depressed Classes were withdrawn.
• Reserved seats were provided for Scheduled Castes.
• Reserved seats in provincial legislatures increased from 71 to 148.

Second Phase of Civil Disobedience Movement

• Restarted in January 1932.
• Gandhi, Nehru and other leaders were arrested.
• Suspended in 1933.
• Finally withdrawn in April 1934.

Third Round Table Conference (1932)

• Began on 17 November 1932.
• Congress did not participate.
• Provided the basis for the Government of India Act, 1935.

Government of India Act, 1935

Major Features

• Proposed an All-India Federation.
• Introduced Provincial Autonomy.
• Established a Federal Court.
• Expanded the electorate.

Provincial Elections of 1937

• Conducted under the Government of India Act, 1935.
• Congress formed ministries in 7 out of 11 provinces.

Provinces Where Congress Formed Governments

• Madras
• United Provinces
• Bihar
• Central Provinces
• Orissa
• Bombay
• Later in North-West Frontier Province

Congress Ministries (1937–1939)

• Congress ministries were formed in eight provinces.
• Key members of the Central Parliamentary Board:
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
  • Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
  • Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Haripura Session (1938)

• President: Subhas Chandra Bose.
• Decision taken to establish a National Planning Committee.
• Jawaharlal Nehru was appointed its chairman.

Tripuri Session (1939)

• Subhas Chandra Bose was re-elected Congress President.
• Defeated Gandhi’s candidate Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
• Later resigned from the presidency.
• Founded the Forward Bloc.

Second World War and Congress (1939)

• World War II began on 3 September 1939.
• India was involved in the war without consulting Indian leaders.
• Congress ministries resigned in protest.

August Offer (1940)

Announced

8 August 1940

Main Points

• Promise of constitution-making after the war.
• Greater Indian participation in governance.
• Protection of minority interests.

Individual Satyagraha (1940–1941)

First Satyagrahi

• Vinoba Bhave

Second Satyagrahi

• Jawaharlal Nehru

Objective

• To oppose India's forced participation in World War II.

Cripps Mission (1942)

Head

• Sir Stafford Cripps

Objective

• To secure Indian cooperation in the war effort.

Proposals

• Dominion Status after the war.
• Formation of a Constituent Assembly.

Outcome

• Rejected by both Congress and the Muslim League.
• Gandhi described it as a "Post-dated cheque on a crashing bank."

Quit India Movement (1942)

Resolution

• Passed on 8 August 1942.
• Venue: Gowalia Tank Maidan, Bombay (now August Kranti Maidan).

Slogan

“Do or Die”

Major Features

• Top Congress leaders were arrested on 9 August 1942.
• Underground resistance movements emerged.
• Congress Radio was established.
• Prominent leaders included:
  • Ram Manohar Lohia
  • Aruna Asaf Ali
  • Usha Mehta

Gandhi’s 21-Day Fast (1943)

• Undertaken at Aga Khan Palace.
• Protested against British repression and policies.

C. R. Formula (1944)

Proposed By

• C. Rajagopalachari

Purpose

• To find a compromise between Congress and the Muslim League.

Demand for Pakistan

1930

• Muhammad Iqbal proposed the idea of a separate Muslim state at the Allahabad Session.

1933

• Chaudhry Rahmat Ali coined the term “Pakistan.”

Indian National Army (INA)

First Formation

• Founded by Captain Mohan Singh.

Reorganization

• Reorganized and strengthened by Subhas Chandra Bose.

Provisional Government of Azad Hind

Established

21 October 1943

Location

Singapore

Important Facts

• Subhas Chandra Bose became Head of State.
• Recognized by Japan, Germany and several other countries.
• Rangoon was declared the headquarters.

Rani Jhansi Regiment

• Women’s regiment of the INA.
• Established by Subhas Chandra Bose.
• Commanded by Captain Lakshmi Sahgal.

INA Campaigns

• Control of Andaman and Nicobar Islands was symbolically transferred.
• Bose renamed:
  • Andaman as Shaheed Island
  • Nicobar as Swaraj Island
• INA participated in the Imphal and Kohima campaigns in 1944.

INA Trials (Red Fort Trials), 1945

Venue

Red Fort, Delhi

Main Accused

• Shah Nawaz Khan
• Prem Kumar Sahgal
• Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon

Defence Team

• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Bhulabhai Desai
• Kailash Nath Katju

Significance

• Generated massive nationalist support across India.
• Greatly weakened British authority.

Important Years for Exams