Before I bought my home, the masons built all the foundation and walls. Then the carpenters started putting the window frames. Then the painters came. And finally the carpenters put the final touches to the door and furniture and brought me the key.
So, who actually built my home? The painters & carpenters or the masons who put the foundation and walls? Of course it was by everyone, but there were some who did more than the others.
The Royal Indian Navy mutiny in the 1940s was one important event in a century long war. The core of this was was Mahatma's struggle that added pillar and flooring in the big hole already dug by earlier freedom fighters. The leader of the armed movement - Bose - grew up in the movement of Gandhi and during his last stages radio'ed that he was dedicating this for the "Father of the nation" (thereby providing the Mahatma the title for the first time). The mutiny was started at the end of the INA trials, and it was the Congress led by Nehru that was defending the mutineers and the INA.
The reason Mahatma was opposed to the mutiny was that it involved violence and also didn't involve the political leaders. His justified fear was that allowing military to lead the movement would lead India into the autocratic path of most of the rest of the world. Still the mutiny originated from the same movement that brought the independence.
Mutinies don't create independence on their own. Usually mutinies are fought back with violence just like what happened in 1857. The mutiny was the final clue that the freedom movement had penetrated through all parts and all organizations of India, and India was ready to move on its own. The RIN mutiny was important, but the broader context is even more important.
India's independence process began well before the end of World War. Here is the critical Simla Conference in 1945 at the end of which India's Viceroy proposed the breakdown plan. Congress swept India's provincial elections since 1937 and gradually collected more powers.
For those who think Britain gave up colonialism after 1945, here is African map with years of independence. Britain and other colonial powers were fighting to retain their colonies well into 1980s. No way they would given up their crown jewel that easily in 40s without the Indians doing their job. WW-II was certainly a big contributor, but many ignorant Indians are overusing this point.
So, who actually built my home? The painters & carpenters or the masons who put the foundation and walls? Of course it was by everyone, but there were some who did more than the others.
The Royal Indian Navy mutiny in the 1940s was one important event in a century long war. The core of this was was Mahatma's struggle that added pillar and flooring in the big hole already dug by earlier freedom fighters. The leader of the armed movement - Bose - grew up in the movement of Gandhi and during his last stages radio'ed that he was dedicating this for the "Father of the nation" (thereby providing the Mahatma the title for the first time). The mutiny was started at the end of the INA trials, and it was the Congress led by Nehru that was defending the mutineers and the INA.
The reason Mahatma was opposed to the mutiny was that it involved violence and also didn't involve the political leaders. His justified fear was that allowing military to lead the movement would lead India into the autocratic path of most of the rest of the world. Still the mutiny originated from the same movement that brought the independence.
Mutinies don't create independence on their own. Usually mutinies are fought back with violence just like what happened in 1857. The mutiny was the final clue that the freedom movement had penetrated through all parts and all organizations of India, and India was ready to move on its own. The RIN mutiny was important, but the broader context is even more important.
India's independence process began well before the end of World War. Here is the critical Simla Conference in 1945 at the end of which India's Viceroy proposed the breakdown plan. Congress swept India's provincial elections since 1937 and gradually collected more powers.
For those who think Britain gave up colonialism after 1945, here is African map with years of independence. Britain and other colonial powers were fighting to retain their colonies well into 1980s. No way they would given up their crown jewel that easily in 40s without the Indians doing their job. WW-II was certainly a big contributor, but many ignorant Indians are overusing this point.
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