IB History India - Methods Used and Reasons for Success Notes

Key Questions

1. To what extent was Indian independence achieved by using non-violent methods?
2. To what extent was Indian independence achieved through violent methods?
3. How significant was leadership of Gandhi in the achievement of Indian independence?
4. How significant was the leadership of Jinnah in the achievement of Indian independence?

To what extent was Indian independence achieved by using non-violent methods?

1. Introduction

1. The Indian independence movement became globally renowned for its use of non-violent resistance, a strategy that sought to achieve political change through peaceful protest, moral persuasion, and mass participation.
2. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, non-violence (ahimsa) and civil disobedience (satyagraha) became the defining features of India’s struggle against British colonial rule.
3. These methods mobilised millions of Indians across regions, religions, and classes, transforming the nationalist movement from an elite campaign into a mass movement for self-rule (Swaraj).

2. The Philosophy of Non-Violence (Ahimsa)

1. Ahimsa, meaning non-injury or non-violence, was rooted in ancient Indian traditions, particularly Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, but Gandhi gave it a modern political meaning.
2. Gandhi believed that moral strength and truth (satya) were more powerful than physical force, and that violence only perpetuated hatred and oppression.
3. Non-violence was not simply the absence of violence; it required courage, discipline, and self-sacrifice.
4. Gandhi saw satyagraha (“truth-force” or “soul-force”) as a method of peaceful resistance that would appeal to the conscience of the oppressor rather than destroy them.
5. This philosophy provided a moral foundation for the independence movement, giving it legitimacy both in India and abroad.

3. Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922)

1. The Non-Cooperation Movement was the first major campaign of mass civil disobedience led by Gandhi.
2. It was launched in response to the Rowlatt Acts (1919), which curtailed civil liberties, and the Amritsar Massacre, where hundreds of unarmed Indians were killed by British troops.
3. Gandhi urged Indians to withdraw their cooperation from all aspects of British rule, including:
   1. Boycotting British schools, law courts, and administrative institutions.
   2. Resigning from government posts and refusing to serve in colonial bodies.
   3. Boycotting British goods, especially cloth, and promoting Swadeshi (use of Indian-made products).
   4. Refusing to attend official ceremonies and renouncing British titles and honours.
   5. The movement inspired millions of ordinary Indians, including peasants, students, and workers, to participate in peaceful protest.
4. It demonstrated the power of mass non-violent action, though it was suspended in 1922 after violence broke out at Chauri Chaura, where protestors killed several policemen.

4. Civil Disobedience and the Salt March (1930–1934)

1. The Civil Disobedience Movement marked the next major phase of non-violent resistance.
2. In 1930, Gandhi protested against the British salt tax, which symbolised colonial exploitation of everyday life.
3. He led the famous Salt March, a 240-mile walk from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, where he made salt from seawater in defiance of British law.
4. This simple act became a powerful symbol of resistance, inspiring similar acts of civil disobedience across India.
5. Methods included:
   1. Refusal to pay taxes and boycott of British goods.
   2. Peaceful demonstrations and picketing of government offices, shops, and liquor stores.
   3. Breaking unjust colonial laws through deliberate, non-violent defiance.
6. Thousands were arrested, including Gandhi and other Congress leaders, but repression only increased public sympathy for the movement.
7. The campaign showed the moral and political effectiveness of non-violence and drew international attention to India’s cause.

5. The Quit India Movement (1942)

1. The Quit India Movement was launched during the Second World War, when Britain refused to grant India immediate self-rule despite its war contributions.
2. On 8 August 1942, Gandhi called for the British to “Quit India”, declaring: “Do or die.”
3. Although the movement initially faced harsh repression, Gandhi and most Congress leaders were arrested, it became a spontaneous, decentralised uprising across India.
4. Protesters organised strikes, boycotts, and demonstrations, demanding an end to British rule.
5. Despite outbreaks of violence in some areas, Gandhi insisted that the movement’s core must remain non-violent.
6. The movement revealed the depth of nationalist feeling and convinced Britain that its rule in India was no longer sustainable.

6. The Role of Swadeshi and Economic Boycotts

1. Swadeshi (self-reliance) was both an economic and moral principle within the non-violent struggle.
2. It encouraged Indians to boycott British goods and promote Indian industries, particularly hand-spun and hand-woven cloth (khadi).
3. Gandhi and his followers used the spinning wheel (charkha) as a symbol of economic independence and dignity of labour.
4. The emphasis on Swadeshi not only weakened British economic interests but also united rural and urban Indians in a common cause.
5. The boycotts of foreign goods were among the most effective peaceful tools for challenging colonial exploitation.

7. Peaceful Demonstrations and Political Negotiation

1. Alongside civil disobedience, the Indian National Congress engaged in negotiations, petitions, and constitutional discussions to achieve reform.
2. Gandhi and Congress leaders participated in Round Table Conferences (1930–32) in London, seeking peaceful constitutional solutions.
3. Non-violent protest marches, public speeches, mass prayers, and hunger strikes were used to dramatise injustice without resorting to violence.
4. Gandhi’s fasts in particular had enormous moral power, often pressuring both British authorities and Indian communities to act ethically.
5. The combination of mass mobilisation and moral persuasion made British repression appear increasingly unjust to the international community.

8. Women’s Participation in Non-Violent Resistance

1. The non-violent approach opened space for women’s active participation in the independence movement.
2. Figures such as Sarojini Naidu, Kasturba Gandhi, and Aruna Asaf Ali became prominent leaders in protests, boycotts, and marches.