Indian Nationalism,1915 & India in World War II

Revolt in British Indian Army in World War I & Details of Free India

Sep 26, 2009

Rise of Indian National Army from the revolt in British Indian Army in 1915 and a brief discussion of the Cripps Mission, India in World War II & Free India Movement

Although it is recognised that the formal surrender of Indian troops in Singapore in February 1942 signalled the first step towards the Indian National Army, some historians now suggest that the revolt in the British Indian Army in 1915 was the start of the movement.

Indeed, it is possible to see the rise of Indian nationalism throughout the period from World War I onwards, with the Gandhi inspired satyagrahis, the restrictions on Indian civil liberties by the British and the delays and backtracking from the British with regard to the independence of India.

After an attempted revolt in the British Indian Army cantonments in 1915 was aborted, many Ghadr (ethnic Indian group) leaders of the Punjab and Bengal revolutionaries were executed or sentenced to long terms in prison by the British Indian government, whilst many managed to escape to countries like Thailand.

Rash Bihari Basu, who had planned the uprising in the British Indian Army in 1915, was given refuge in Japan, notwithstanding the fact that Japan was an ally of Britain in World War I.

World War I also saw the establishment of Free India movements in both Germany and America which campaigned throughout the war on behalf of an Independent India.

In 1942 Britain sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India with a brief to negotiate independence for India if possible. In the main, the Cripps Mission was a result of American intervention on behalf of Indian independence. America linked the issue of Britain's overseas colonies to the further provision of finance under the Lend Lease scheme.

Reasons for the failure of the Cripps Mission are debatable however academics now suggest that Sir Winston Churchill scuppered the mission due to his enduring belief in the British Colonies.

Developments in India during World War II

The outbreak of World War II and the unilateral declaration of war on behalf of the Government of India by Viceroy Linlithgow aggravated the Indian National Congress.

It became apparent that Britain was not prepared to make any further political concessions to Indian self government but indeed hoped to reverse powers already granted by restricting civil liberties and provoking the Indian National Congress as much as possible.

The British Government were aware that the massive numbers of British and American troops stationed in India were able to handle any adverse reaction. Indeed, the machine gunning from the air of rioters and demonstrators in India became commonplace throughout World War II.

As in World War I, a Free India movement was active in America throughout World War II. The radical Indian politician, Subhas Chandra Bose was also active in both Germany and Japan for a large part of World War II, on behalf of the movement for Free India and the Indian National Army.

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