Category Civics

In 1905, Lord Curzon, the British Viceroy decided that Bengal should be partitioned into two. Though the British claimed that this drastic step was taken for administrative purposes, the real motive was to curb the growth of nationalism in Bengal.

 The Bengalis believed that the British wanted to drive a wedge between the Bengali speaking Hindus and Muslims. They accused the British of trying to destroy the solidarity of the Bengali people. The partition of Bengal raised a great political storm in India. Grounds were prepared for a country-wide agitation.

The Indian National Congress and the nationalists of Bengal firmly opposed it. The partition led to a widespread agitation which assumed the shape of a national movement. This movement became famous in history as the Swadeshi Movement.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was instrumental in setting India on the path to freedom. 

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was widely respected because of his knowledge and intellect. He was, in fact, considered to be the political guru of the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

Gokhale was one of the first Indians who completed graduation. Higher education made him understand the importance of liberty, democracy, and parliamentary system.

One of the founders of the Indian independence movement, he was a social reformer who constantly raised his voice against the policies of the British government. His efforts ensured that Indians had access to seats of the highest authority within the government.

He was a writer, and through his articles he tried to awaken our pride in our motherland and the hunger for liberty. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was instrumental in setting India on the path to freedom. 

 The names Lal, Bal and Pal refer to three great patriots, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. They led the movement for Indian independence in the early 20th century, and launched the Swadeshi Movement. The three leaders changed the political discourse of the Independence movement.

This movement called for a boycott of all foreign goods and the use of only Indian goods. The three patriots organized demonstrations and strikes against the British.

Continue reading “Who were the patriots referred to as Lal, Bal and Pal?”

Eleven hundred kilometres south of Singapore lies Christmas Island which was under the control of the British in 1942. Britain maintained a small force that employed Indian soldiers on the island.

 From the beginning of World War II, Christmas Island was a target for Japanese occupation, because of its rich deposits of phosphates. During the night of 11th March 1942, a mutiny of the Indian troops, abetted by Sikh policemen, led to the murder of the five British soldiers and the imprisonment of the remaining Europeans on the island. This was known as the Christmas Island Mutiny.

Soon after, Japanese bombers launched an attack on the island, and a Japanese fleet, including cruiser Naka arrived. Because of the mutiny by Indian soldiers, Japanese troops were able to occupy Christmas Island without any resistance.

The mutiny did play a role in hastening Britain’s decision to withdraw from India, and give India its independence. 

Bal Gangadhar Tilak joined the other freedom fighters in their struggle for independence. He was the first Indian nationalist to embrace Swaraj or freedom from British rule, as the destiny of the nation.

Tilak sparked the spirit of freedom among the people through his two weekly newspapers. In 1905, he called for a boycott of British goods, and started a campaign of passive resistance to British rule aimed at preparing the people for independence. He was arrested and imprisoned, and soon acquired the status of a hero among the masses.

It was Tilak who raised the famous slogan, `Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it…’ words that continue to inspire Indians to this very day.

The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885. It was the result of the effort of a number of educated Indians who were highly discontented with the exploitative nature of the British rule. In the beginning, its objective was to get a bigger share in government for enlightened Indians.

 Inspired by A.O. Hume, a retired British civil servant, seventy three delegates met in Bombay for the first time. The first president of the Indian National Congress, or INC, was W. C. Banerjee. As time passed, the nature of the INC changed, and it became very active in the movement for Indian independence.

 After independence, the Congress, which was till then a national movement, became a political party.