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International Center on Nonviolent Conflict
Mohandas Gandhi's civil disobedience movement of 1930-1931—launched by the Salt March—is a critical case for understanding civil resistance. Although by itself it failed to bring Indian independence, it seriously undermined British authority and united India's population in a movement for independence under the leadership of the Indian National Congress (INC). It further signaled a new stage in the struggle for Indian swaraj (self-rule) and facilitated the downfall of the British Empire in India. Gandhi's Salt Satyagraha (a word .
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Swadeshi Research Foundation
The unseen, unheard and untold incidences of the struggles for an Indian freedom movement. It was one of the biggest mass participating movements in the era of modern society. The role of the main stream masses was prominently spoken by everyone. The sacrifices of the countryside people were less known to the people of the mainland India such as peasants, tribals movements and revolts. During these freedom movements, various sections of Indian society participated to liberate the country from foreign rule. In this struggle, many unknown people sacrifice their lives to free the nation, this motivates others to fight for independence from the British rule and their atrocities. In the freedom movement, generally, we know big leaders who lead these movements in the mainstream but we rarely remember the names of the regional or tribal freedom fighters. But this paper focuses on the 'from the below' people or the marginalized group who fought against the Britishers to attain freedom, such as peasants, workers, tribal communities, etc. This paper focuses on the freedom leaders and fighters of the far northeast regions, which are not mentioned in mainstream textbooks.
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It is unfortunate that there is not much literature available on the heroic freedom struggle launched by the people of the princely states in India. The important reason for this lacuna is not mainly due to the indolence of the researchers but factors beyond their reach. Any researcher on the history of freedom struggle in the princely states has to face many hurdles. It is very difficult to get facts of the period, especially post 1857 era. The princely states 562 in number, spread over almost 45 per cent of the land (approximately 9600000 kms) and containing about 24 percent of the people of the country were a scattered lot and so was the struggle. These were without any exception ruled by autocratic individuals and families who were completely subservient to the colonial masters. There was no tradition of transparency, rule of law or sensitivity towards the demands and aspirations of the people of these erstwhile princely states. Importantly, the state apparatus in these princely states was not equipped to record seditious activities, on the contrary, to keep under wrap information of all such activities and the subsequent persecution of the same. The author has traced the contemporary documents/sources to pen the heroic struggle of the people living under the autocracy of Native Princes who were none other but stooges of the colonial masters. The shocking post-independent reality is that those Native rulers who challenged the might of the British rulers and were suppressed do not figure in the national canvass. On the contrary those princes who helped the British in crushing the 1857 liberation struggle continue to rule a democratic India. [This essay was written as a chapter for a book titled 'Colonialism and Nationalism in India' edited by Professor Satya M. Rai, University of Delhi, 2009]
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"We record our homage and deep admiration for the Womanhood of India who in the hour of peril for the motherland forsook the shelter of their homes and with unfailing courage and endurance stood shoulder to shoulder with their menfolk, in the frontline of India�s national army to share with them the sacrifices and triumphs of the struggle". �From a Resolution passed on January 26, 1931. Role of Indian women: The entire history of the freedom movement is replete with the saga of bravery, sacrifice and political sagacity of great men and women of the country. This struggle which gained momentum in the early 20th century, threw up stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai, Motilal Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad, C. Rajagopalachari, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Jawaharlal Nehru and Subash Chander Bose. Their number and stature often gives us an erroneous impression that it was only a man�s movement. But it is not so. Many prominent women played a leading role in the freedom movement. The important place assigned to women in India dates back to the time of the Vedas and Smritis. Manu declared that where women were adored, Gods frequented that place, During the Vedic age the position of women in society was very high and they were regarded as equal partners with men in all respects. Who had not heard of Maitri, Gargi, Sati Annusuya and Sita? In keeping with this tradition, burden of tears and toils of the long years of struggle for India�s freedom was borne by the wives, mothers, and daughters, silently and cheerfully. The programme of self-imposed poverty and periodical jail going was possible only because of the willing cooperation of the worker�s family. In the various resistance movements in the villages, the illiterate women played this passive but contributory part as comrades of their menfolk. Rani Laxmibai The first name that comes to mind is that of the famous Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi. Dressed in men�s clothes, she led her soldiers to war against the British. Even her enemies admired her courage and daring. She fought valiantly and although beaten she refused to surrender and fell as a warrior should, fighting the enemy to the last. Her remarkable courage inspired many men and women in India to rise against the alien rule. Begum Hazrat Mahal Another woman whom we remember in this connection was Begum Hazrat Mahal, the Begaum of Oudh. She took active part in the defence of Lucknow against the British. Although, she was queen and used to a life of luxury, she appeared on the battlefield herself to encourage her troops. Begam Hazrat Mahal held out against the British with all her strength as long as she could. Ultimately she had to give up and take refuge in Nepal.
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Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
Indian Nationalist Movement is known to be the greatest freedom movement against the colonial power in world History. However, the younger generations tend to forget their immense contributions to free India which they have today. India was never free since the Aryan invasion and was under the British colonial rule for around 200 years until her independence in 1947. Prior to the colonization, the Indians were divided based on their castes, creed, regions, religions, etc. Until the arrival of the British in the soil of India, national consciousness did not emerge among the Indians. They were fighting against each other to expand their territory and for their own personal interest. However, with the arrival of the B.E.I.C. and colonizing the Indian Territory, the B.E.I.C. became the tools for the Indian nationalism. Due to the social, political and economic condition under the rule of British, the people struggle against the British to regain their national identity. In one way, the rule of British was a curse for the Indians. However, on the other hand, it became a way for uniting the Indians for creating India as a Nation. Yet, some of the nationalists were forgotten in today India, while others are being highlighted as the national heroes. So, the current study has been formed to highlight those unsung heroes and their immense contributions for free India.
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Paper at New York Conference on Asian Studies (NYCAS, October 26-27, 2007) *** Historically, the liberation of British India in 1947 has been primarily credited to the All-India Muslim League and the Indian National Congress, who were involved in the negotiations for partition with the British Government. By contrast, this article follows the events leading up to the freedom of British India as seen through the lens of Allama Mashraqi and his Khaksar Movement. It examines the grassroots efforts of Mashraqi and the Khaksars to mobilize the Indian nation towards freedom as well as the Government’s attempts to crush the Movement. Ultimately, the article concludes that the true liberation of British India was not merely the result of negotiations or “drawing room politics,” but rather an outcome of the continued resistance of the Khaksars and other political parties.
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Abstra c t - Nowad ay s, each and every state person, state, and other stakeholders in every country run to add something useful to its country. And in the twenty century an abrupt activity was fight for independence. Among the many India is the one. In such s truggle, the mere dream/whim of freeing mother/father land from colonial and other kind of dominations was common in the world. By the time such fighters have already forgotten, and/or gave less emphasis to domestic issues though usually this action is not deliberate and well contemplated. Among the multifarious domestic issues the one and the most sensitizing was independence of women. And this kind of independence is the foundation and an indispensable tool to erect the nation/countrywide independence. Ha ving disregarded such ideal means to change ones country to a better place someday, many has sustained failures and their struggle become full of ups and downs. Peculiar to such fighters, Mahatma Gandhi had devised a comprehensive stand for independence. And that was participating women in the struggle and to declare their independence them from their oppressions/dominations simultaneously. Even though this was a great deed and achievement, it has a paramount significance to keep and protect the already bui lt up independence of a nation. This is not to make those who mistaken to regret, but to reshuffle/compensate their past wrongs now. Rather this paper is aimed at pinpoint/insight what is independence comparatively with Indian independence in a comprehensi ve manner, and to construct a comprehensively understandable concept of Independence/independence globally . Keyw o rds : independence, women's empowerment, freedom, and declaring independence .
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