Notes-Class 8-History-Chapter-9-Last Phase of Struggle for Independence-Maharashtra Board

The Act of 1935 :

• The Act of 1935 provided for the establishment of a federation between the princely states of India and the British-ruled provinces.
• This act transfers control of the provinces under British administration to Indian representatives.
• The princely states would lose their independence after entering the federation.
• The Act could not be put into effect because the princely state leaders refused to join the federation.

Provincial Cabinet :

• The workings of the British controlled provinces were handed to elected representatives under the Act of 1935.
• Despite its dissatisfaction with the act, Congress contested elections to eleven provincial legislatures in 1937.
• The Indian National Congress won control of eight provinces. Mixed cabinet was formed in remaining three provinces.
• Congress ministers performed a great deal of beneficial work for the people.
• In November 1939, the Congress ministries resigned as the British government rebuffed their demand for independence.

Work of the Congress :

Useful and constructive work by the Congress ministers included :

• release of political prisoners
• introduction of basic education
• measures for improving condition of the Dalits
• passing of Act giving debt-relief to the farmers
• prohibition of liquor

Cripps Mission

• During Second World War,  England sided with the United States against Japan.
• There was a possibility of Japan attacking India as England ruled India.
• The Japanese army moved closer to India's eastern border.
• To repel the Japanese invasion, India's cooperation was required.
• As a result, in March 1942, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India.
• The Cripps proposal was rejected by Congress because it made no direct mention of granting complete independence.
• The Muslim League also opposed it since it made no mention of the establishment of Pakistan.

Second World War and Indian National Congress :

• In Europe, the Second World War began in 1939. Without consulting the Indian leaders, the then-Viceroy Lord Linlithgo stated that India had joined the British side in the war.
• England claimed to be fighting to safeguard European democracy.
• The Congress then requested that if this claim was true, England grant India independence immediately.
• Congress Provincial Ministries resigned in November 1939 because England refused to accept this demand.

Quit India Movement :

• The Indian National Congress decided to launch an aggressive campaign for independence.
• The Congress Working Committee passed the Quit India Resolution at Wardha on July 14, 1942.
• The resolution called for the end of British rule and the independence of India.
• It also warned the British government of a non-violent struggle for India's independence.

Beginning of People's Movement :

• The news of arrest of important leaders of Indian National Congress aroused strong resentment in the country.
• The angry mobs protested in the form of processions, capturing of the government offices and attacking jails, police stations and railway stations.
• The young and old made the struggle immortal in Maharashtra at places like Chimur, Ashti, Yavali, Mahad, Gargoti, etc.

Individual Satyagraha :

• As the British government was constantly neglecting the demands, the Indian National Congress decided to start antiwar propaganda.
• Instead of a collective movement every person should individually disobey the law. This is called Individual Satyagraha.
• Acharya Vinoba Bhave was the first individual Satyagrahi.
• After him, nearly 25,000 Satyagrahis participated in individual Satyagraha and were imprisoned.

Inspirational accounts of brave children :

• Students from the school also helped to the freedom movement.
• Shirishkumar headed a procession of schoolchildren carrying the tri-color flag through Nandurbar. The slogan 'Vande Mataram' was selected.
• The police became enraged and began firing on tiny children as well.
• Shirishkumar, Laldas, Dhansukhlal, Shashidhar, and Ghanashyam became martyrs in this firing.

Establishment of Parallel Government

• Driving the British officers out, ‘People's Government’ was established at some places, called Parallel Government.
• They were formed at Midnapore in Bengal, Balia and Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh and Purnia in Bihar.
• Under the leadership of Krantiagrani G.D. alias Bapu Lad, 'Toofan Sena’ was established.
• Krantisinh Nana Patil established a Parallel government in Satara district of Maharashtra.

Work done by Parallel Government :

• Collection of taxes
• Maintenance of law and order.
• Punishment to criminals.
• Appointing people's court.

It rendered great service by doing work like :

• Opposition to money lenders
• Prohibition of liquor
• Spread of literacy
• Opposition to caste distinctions, etc.

Due to this, the Parallel Government became a source of inspiration for the public.

Indian National Army (Azad Hind Sena) :

Forward Bloc :

• Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose made extraordinary efforts to win India's

• Subhash Chandra Bose became the President of the Indian National Congress twice.
• According to him, as England was engaged in the Second World War, the Indians should take advantage of this situation and make the movement more intense.
• He wanted Indians to seek help from the enemies of England.
• Other senior leaders of the Congress did not agree with this view.
• This led to the resignation of Subhash Chandra Bose from the office of the Congress -President.
• So, he founded the 'Forward Bloc’ a party to place his views before the people.

Formation of the Indian National Army :

• Since 1915, Rash Behari Bose has resided in Japan.
• He organised South East Asian-based Indian patriots and founded the "Indian Independence League."
• Japan occupied the nations of South East Asia in 1942.
• Japanese forces captured thousands of British army officers and Indian soldiers.
• The "Indian National Army" (Azad Hind Sena) was founded by Rash Behari Bose and Captain Mohan Singh using Indian Prisoners of War.
• Later Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose led the Indian National Army.

Establishment oi Azad Hind Government :

• Netaji established Azad Hind Government at Singapore in October 1943.
• His prominent associates were Shah Nawaz Khan, Jagannath Bhonsale, Gurubuksh Sing Dhillon, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Dr. Laxmi Swaminathan.
• Captain Laxmi Swaminathan was the Commander of the Rani of jhansi Regiment.
• Netaji appealed to the Indian people —'You give me blood and I will give you independence.’

The British government suspended the punishment of INA officers :

• After surrender of the soldiers of the Indian National Army, the British government charged them with treason.
• Expert lawyers like Pandit Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai and Tej Bahadur Sapre defended the INA officers.
• But the military tribunal held them guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
• There was severe unrest in the minds of the Indian people against the British Government. So, they had to suspend the punishment given by the military tribunal.