Towards Independence

Introduction

• The 1940s witnessed a vastly different political scenario in India, marked by new tensions and conflicts.

• The relationship between the rulers and the ruled became more conflictual, acquiring new dimensions as the possibility of independence took shape.

• There were new attempts at a negotiated settlement and a peaceful transfer of power, representing a politics of negotiation.

• On the other hand, popular upsurges dissatisfied with negotiation methods sought different outlets through confrontations with the British.

• These confrontations were distinct from the politics of negotiation and were characterized by direct anti-British struggles and anti-feudal movements.

• During this period, separatist politics also gained momentum, with the movement for Pakistan intensifying.

• The political situation was complex, with both nationalist and communalist streams aiming for the transfer of power.

• The popular struggles not only challenged British authority but also targeted feudal structures in India.

• This period saw multiple dimensions of India’s struggle for freedom, spanning from 1945 to 1947, involving a mix of negotiated politics, direct confrontations, and rising communal movements.

Background: India and the Raj

• The period 1945-47 represents the climax of political events from the preceding decades.

• It is crucial to understand the background to the developments during these decisive years.

• The Second World War played a significant role in shaping the political events of this period, impacting both the British government and the Indian population.

• The War’s impact influenced British policies and decisions regarding India.

• The relationship between the British government and various sections of the Indian population was directly affected by the war and its consequences.

• The War’s effect on British policies was a major factor in shaping the course of events in India during the years 1945-47.

Second World War: Impact on the Indians

• Between 1943-1945, from the decline of the Quit India movement to the collapse of the Axis powers in the Second World War, the Indian political scene appeared quiet.

• However, beneath the surface, disquiet was steadily building up due to the War-time sufferings of the people.

• The British Raj struggled to cope with the growing discontent, relying on diversionary tactics to avoid addressing the real issues.

• Popular distress was caused by inflation, resulting from the channeling of Indian products (agricultural and industrial) to meet military needs and the fall in imports of consumer goods.

• British failure to pay for India’s contribution to defense and the growing volume of debt to India further exacerbated the situation.

• Price increase from 1939 to 1944 for essential goods (rice, wheat, cotton, kerosene, etc.) due to inflation:

  • Rice: 100 (1939) → 333 (1944)

  • Wheat: 100 (1939) → 381 (1944)

  • Cotton: 100 (1939) → 285 (1944)

  • Kerosene: 100 (1939) → 175 (1944)

• The Government’s attempt to control prices led to the disappearance of products from the market, followed by black-marketing and hoarding at exorbitant prices.

• Artificial scarcities were added to the normal scarcities due to constant supplies to the Allied armies.

• Basic items were not available or were unaffordable to the common man.

• War contractors, hoarders, and black-marketeers benefited during this period, while the general population and workers faced severe hardships.

• The economic situation worsened due to factors like:

  • Harsh climate leading to crop failures.

  • Mismanagement of food procurement and distribution.

  • The possibility of a scorched earth policy by the military.

• In 1943, a man-made famine occurred in Bengal, suspected to be caused by apathetic officialdom, resulting in the deaths of over 3 million people.

• Other parts of India, though not hit by famine, faced a similarly depressed condition, with a gloomy urban and rural situation.

• By 1945, the suffering population had reached its breaking point, and the British Raj was unable to reverse the growing discontent.