New Delhi: August 15, 1947- The day when citizens breathed for the first time in the aura of a free and emancipated India, was achieved after many revolutions, countless rebellions and millions of sacrifices.
Here are five major revolutions that shaped the Indian freedom struggle and eventually resulted in independence of the country.
Revolution of 1857: The revolution of 1857 that started as a sepoy mutiny against the East India Company , was the first organised revolution from the Indian side. It was started as a ‘Company’ soldier Mangal Pandey angered at the discrimination in the force, shot at his adjutant Lt. Henry Baugh. The movement was joined by the likes of Nana Sahib, Rani Laxmibai and Tantia Tope.
A statue of Mangal Pandey/ Image: Wikipedia
Swadeshi Movement: The Swadeshi movement was an economic attack at the British empire aimed at removing the Empire from power and improving economic conditions in India by boycotting British products and the revival of domestic products and production processes. It unfolded in three stages before independence. The first Swadeshi Movement took place between 1850 to 1904 developed by leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Tilak and Gokhale. The second Swadeshi movement started with and because of Bengal’s partition in 1905 by Lord Curzon. The period of 1918 to 1947 witnessed Swadeshi thought shaped by Gandhi, accompanied by the rise of Indian Industrialists.
Swadeshi poster/ Image:Wikipedia
Khilafat Movement: The Khilafat movement was started in 1919 against the British regime by the outraged Muslims of the country. The movement got the support of Congress is fighting against the colonisers. It was started after British overthrew Ottoman empire in Turkey, dethroned the Caliph and insulted Muslims from around the world, post World War 1. The movement continued till 1924.
Civil Disobedience Movement: The civil disobedience movement unfolded in two phases: 1921-1924 and 1930-31. In the movement, the civilians refused to follow the laws of government. The first phase saw non-cooperation by people of India, while the second phase saw the Salt Satyagraha where Gandhi symbolically picked handful of salt in Dandi after a long march to break the salt law of government.
Image: Wikimedia commons
Quit India Movement: It is said to be the final push that forced British Empire out of Indian Territory. In August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi called for a complete withdrawal of British from India. He was supported by freedom fighters all over the country, who launched a full-fledged disobedience movement and asked them to Quit India.
