Reaction against foreign intrusion
Education
Political oppression
Weakened colonial powers
Psychological boost
Competing nationalistic ideas
Drawing of borders
Allan Octavian Hume, 1829-1912
Social composition: 90% lawyers
Goals
Access to higher levels of civil service
Eradication of poverty
Methods: 3 "P's"
Goal: independence
Factors encouraging development
Russo-Japanese war, 1905
World War I
Loss of moral superiority
Woodrow Wilson, "self-determination"
New leadership and ideas
Personality
Message empowers masses
Salt March, 1930
Muslims: 1/4 of India's population
*Muhammad Ali Jinnah, 1876-1948
Ally of INC until 1937
Disillusionment with INC
Hindu dominance (Education/wealth)
Provincial elections, 1937
Hindus "have clearly shown their hand that [India] is for the Hindus"
Pakistan: Problems?
Food supplies
1-2 million famine victims in Bengal
2 million soldiers
British attitudes?
Lord Louis Mountbatten
*Jawaharlal Nehru, 1889-1964
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Punjab, 11 million
Bengal, 1 million
500,000 to 1 million killed
Gandhi assassinated, Jan. 1948
Population 176 million
Muslims, 95%
Pop. 156 million
Muslims, 83%
Hindus, 16%
Pop. 1.16 billion
Hindus, 80%
Muslims, 14%
1. What general factors encouraged the formation of independent nations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East in the middle of the twentieth century?
2. What explains the transition from elite to mass nationalism in India? What role did Gandhi play?
3. Why did Britain grant independence peacefully to India? Why was the British colony of India partitioned into separate nations of India and Pakistan?
1. What European colonial policies encouraged independence movements in the early 20th century? How did Gandhi mobilize Indians to oppose British colonialism?
2. When European colonies in Asia and Africa gained freedom after World War II, why was it difficult for the new nations to achieve political and economic stability?
1. How did British policies stifle Indian economic development in the early 20th century?
1. What deficiencies does Gandhi see in Western civilization? How does he define true civilization? Do you agree with him?
2. Why does he believe that Hindus and Muslims can live together peacefully in a future India? Do you agree with him?
3. What tactics of political resistance does he encourage? Do you think that they can work?
1. According to the speakers, what military and economic realities make it impractical
to continue British rule in India?
2. Do you think that Gandhi had any influence over the ultimate decision of
the British to give up India?