Towards civil disodedience
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Towards Civil Disobedience
Towards Civil Disobedience
Two Factors that shaped Indian Politics towards the late 1920s:
The first was the effect of the worldwide economic depression. Agricultural prices began to fall from 1926 and collapsed after 1930.
As the demand for agricultural goods fell and exports declined, peasants found it difficult to sell their harvests and pay their revenue.
Simon Commission:
In 1928 a commission was appointed under Sir John Simon called Simon Commission.
It was appointed to look into the functioning of the constitutional system in India and suggest changes.
The problem was that the commission did not have a single Indian member. They were all British.
When the Simon Commission arrived in India it was greeted with the slogan ‘Go back Simon’.
All parties, including the Congress and the Muslim League, participated in the demonstrations.
Round Table Conferences:
Lord Irwin, the viceroy of India announced (1929) a vague offer of ‘dominion status’ for India in an unspecified future, and a Round Table Conference to discuss a future constitution.
There were three Round Table Conferences held in London. Gandhiji attended the second Round Table Conference.
Dr B.R. Ambedkar, who organized the dalits into the Depressed Classes Association in 1930, clashed with Mahatma Gandhi at the second Round Table Conference by demanding separate electorates for dalits.
When the British government conceded Ambedkar’s demand, Gandhiji began a fast unto death. He believed that separate electorates for dalits would slow down the process of their integration into society.
Ambedkar ultimately accepted Gandhiji’s position and the result was the Poona Pact of September 1932.
Lahore Congress Session-1929:
Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose, became more assertive and brought radical ideas into the Congress.
In December 1929, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Lahore Congress formalized the demand of ‘Purna Swaraj’ or complete independence for India.
It was declared that if British government does not grant self-rule within a year, 26 January1930, will be celebrated as the Independence Day.
The Salt March and the Civil Disobedience Movement:
Mahatma Gandhi found in salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation. Salt was the item consumed by the rich and the poor alike, and it was one of the most essential items of food.
The tax on salt and the government monopoly over its production made Mahatma Gandhi to launch a civil disobedience campaign.
Mahatma Gandhi started his famous salt march accompanied by 78 of his trusted volunteers.
The march was over 240 miles, from Gandhiji’s ashram in Sabarmati to the Gujarati coastal town of Dandi.
On 6 April he reached Dandi, and ceremonially violated the salt law, manufacturing salt by boiling sea water. This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
How was Civil Disobedience Movement different from the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Civil Disobedience Movement
Non-Cooperation Movement
People were now asked not only to refuse cooperation with the British, but also to break
colonial laws
People were asked to refuse cooperation
with the British,
Participation of women was more in Non Cooperation Movement
Participation of women was less in Non Cooperation Movement
Civil Disobedience Movement:
Thousands in different parts of the country broke the salt law, manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of government salt factories.
As the movement spread, foreign cloth was boycotted, and liquor shops were picketed. Peasants refused to pay revenue and taxes, village officials resigned.
In many places forest people violated