STORY OF FREEDM

It is story of India's freedom or independence, this story began in 1600 when East India Company was established as a trading company with a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I of England. Its main purpose was to engage in trade with the East Indies (Southeast Asia). In the early years, the company established trading posts along the Indian coast, primarily for spices and other valuable commodities.

As the East India Company's influence grew, it started to face competition from other European colonial powers, such as the Portuguese, Dutch, and French, who also sought to establish trading posts in India because India was known as "Golden Sparrow" due to resources, agriculture, economics, trade etc. The company gradually became involved in conflicts and alliances with local Indian rulers to protect its interests.

In 18th century when India was divided into small kingdoms, then company implemented divide and rule policy to capture. One of the turning points in the company's expansion was the Battle of Plassey. In this battle, the company's forces, led by Robert Clive, defeated the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah. This victory allowed the company to establish its influence in Bengal, which was one of the wealthiest regions in India.

1857 revolt

1857 revolt was also known as first war of independence or sepoy mutiny, it was happened due to economic policies of the British East India Company often led to impoverishment and land dispossession of Indian farmers and artisans. The British implemented policies that favored European trade interests, leading to loss of livelihoods for many Indians. High taxes, land revenue policies, and forced labor further exacerbated economic distress. The British administration often showed a lack of sensitivity to Indian customs, traditions, and religions. Policies that interfered with local traditions, such as the Doctrine of Lapse that allowed the British to annex princely states without a natural heir, sparked resentment among the Indian population.

Important leaders of 1857 revolt were:-

Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi

Begum Hazarat Mahal of Awadh

Tantiya Tope of Kanpur

Bahadur Shah Zafar - Last Mughal emperor

Mangal Pandey - rebellion Indian-British army man

Kunwar Singh and Amar Singh 0f Bihar

Causes of failure of 1857 revolt

Scholars and historians have analyzed the Indian Rebellion of 1857 from various angles to understand its causes and why it ultimately failed to overthrow British colonial rule. Some of the commonly cited reasons for the failure of the revolt include:

• Lack of unity and leadership
• Lack of mass support
• Limited modern weapon and training
• Strategic isolation
• Division among rebels
• Lack of technology and communication

Swadeshi movement

Under the leadership Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal popularly known as Lal-Bal-Pal the Swadeshi Movement was a significant socio-economic and political campaign that took place in India during the early 20th century, particularly between 1905 and 1911. It was a part of the broader Indian freedom struggle against British colonial rule. The term "Swadeshi" translates to "of one's own country" in Sanskrit, and the movement aimed to promote indigenous industries, products, and goods while boycotting British-made products as a way to protest against British economic exploitation and dominance.

The Swadeshi Movement had its origins in the Partition of Bengal in 1905 by the British authorities. The partition was seen by Indians as an attempt to divide and rule, and it sparked widespread protests. This led to the adoption of Swadeshi as a means of expressing Indian unity and resistance against British policies.

Other important leaders were Annie Besant an Irish revolutionary supported this movement in India, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore who wrote patriotism song to make strong this movement, Aurobindo Ghose who used to write inspiring nationalism sentiment.

Non-co-operation movement

After Jallianwala Bagh Massare by General Dyer in 1919, many nationalist returned the award and honors of Bristish government such as Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore returned tittle of Knighthood, Subash Chandra Bose refused to join ICS and non-co-operation movement was started, its main leader was Gandhiji, Gandhiji played a central role in organizing and leading the movement. He emphasized the principles of nonviolence, civil disobedience, and non-cooperation as means to achieve political and social change.

It was supported by mass in very large numbers of people, they withdraw education institutions school, colleges and boycott British goods. The movement gained significant momentum, but after the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922, where police were killed by protesters, Gandhi suspended the movement, believing that it had taken a violent turn contrary to his principles of nonviolence.

Hindustan Republic Association

After the dissatisfy with non-violence of Gandhiji some revolutionary tried to achieve the freedom of India with violence such as Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Chandrashekhar Azad and others inspire with Russian revolution and founded a revolutionary was known as Hindustan republic association. Then Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Batuk Eshwar Dutt and some college student joined Hindustan republic association.

Karkori train robbery was committed by Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Chandrashekhar Azad, Rajendra Lahiri and some others on the night of August 9, 1925, a group of revolutionaries stopped a train carrying money bags belonging to the British government treasury. The train was traveling from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow. They looted the money bags, which were intended for the British administration. The exact amount stolen during the robbery was around ?8,000, a significant sum during that time.

The British arrested all members of Hindustan republic association except Chandrashekhar Azad and Ramprasad Bismil and Ashfaqulla Khan were hanged and others got long-term imprisoned.

Naujawan Bharat Sabha

Naujawan Bharat Sabha was organized by Bhagat Singh which had main objective to inspire the Indian for fight against British, support the political prisoners, to spread the revolutionary thought among youths, to emphasize the importance of unity between unban working class and rural peasants, opposition of caste discrimination.

The Naujawan Bharat Sabha played a significant role in fostering a spirit of radicalism and determination among young Indians. Many of its members, including Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad, went on to become iconic figures in India's struggle for independence. The organization's emphasis on revolutionary methods and its commitment to achieving a free India through active resistance left a lasting impact on the country's history.

Hindustan Republic Socialist Association

The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) was formed in 1928 as a merger between the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), led by Chandrashekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh, and the Hindustan Socialist Association (HSA), led by Bhagwati Charan Vohra. The organization aimed to bring together the revolutionary spirit of the HRA and the socialist ideology of the HSA to further the cause of India's independence.

The first step of HSRA to support the Laja Lajpat Rai who organized a protest against Simon Commision in which he died in lathi charge then Bhagat Singh and his associates planned to take revenge of it by killing British police officer Scott who beaten Lala Lajpat Rai but they killed commissioner Saunders on 17 december, 1928 after they successfully escape way from Lahore to Kolkata (then Calcutta) where they met Jatin Das a chemistry teacher who joined HRSA and helped them in manufacturing of bombs.

The Lahore Central Legislative Assembly bomb blast took place on April 8, 1929. It was a dramatic and symbolic act of protest against the repressive laws and policies of the British colonial government in India. The incident was orchestrated by Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt.

They didn't try to escape away and surrendered to British after this whole members of HRSA were except Chandrashekhar Azad and one their associates became approver of British and give the statement in court that they were involved Saunders assassination then court opened the file of Saunders murder case and they were imprisoned where Bahgat Singh saw lots of mismanagement and he demanded from British which are as below:-

• We are prisoners not animals provide healthy foods
• Books, pen and papers
• Don't force anyone to work during illness

After 115 days of hunger strike the British government accept all demand but their one of closest associate Jatin Das died due to starvation.

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajaguru were hanged on 23rd march 1931 and others got life imprisonment to cellular jail including Batukeshwar Dutt who joined Quite India Movement in 1945 after 14 years spent in cellular jail. Chandrashekhar Azad committed suicide on 27 February, 1931 during shootout with police.

Quite India Movement

The Quit India Movement was launched on August 8, 1942, by the Indian National Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. It was a mass civil disobedience movement that aimed to demand an end to British rule and the immediate withdrawal of British forces from India. This movement was supported by large no. of mass and this movement attracted millions of Indians from various walks of life, including students, workers, peasants, and professionals. People across the country participated in protests, strikes, and demonstrations. Kasturba Gandhi died in Yervada Jail in 1944, this movement run till independence.

Indian National Army

The Indian National Army (INA), also known as Azad Hind Fauj (Free India Army), was a military organization formed during World War II with the goal of liberating India from British colonial rule. It was established by Indian nationalists under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose, a prominent freedom fighter who believed in armed struggle to achieve India's independence before it he led the Forward Bloc within the Indian National Congress, escaped house arrest in India and traveled to Southeast Asia to organize and lead the INA. He was given the title "Netaji" (Respected Leader) by his followers.

The Indian National Army was officially formed on September 1, 1942, in Southeast Asia, particularly in Japanese-occupied territories like Singapore, Burma (now Myanmar), and Malaysia. It was supported by the Axis powers, primarily Japan.

He established 3 brigade for men and 1 brigade for women in INA :- Gandhi brigade under the command of Colonel Inayat Kiani, Nehru brigade under command of Lt. Col. Gurubaksh Singh Dhillon, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad brigade under command of ?Col. Gulzara Singh and Rani Jhansi brigade under command of Dr. Lakshmi Sehgal who was famous social activist and fought presidential election in 2002.

INA forces, in collaboration with the Japanese, managed to capture the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from the British in 1942. Bose subsequently hoisted the Indian flag on the islands, symbolizing the establishment of Indian sovereignty but after the defeat of Japan in world war 2 they were forced to move back and Netaji Subash Chandra Bose died in a controversial plane accident when he was going Taiwan then British army arrested members of INA in large no.

The INA attracted a diverse group of Indian soldiers who were motivated by a desire to fight for India's independence. Many believed that joining the INA would contribute to the country's freedom struggle.