The congress party worked for Independence
1. In 1885, 73 Indian aristocrat intellectuals met to form the Indian National Congress. At first they DID pledge loyalty to Britain.
2. They called for letting Indians into the civil service and for reducing taxes
3. By 1900, the Congress party grew more nationalistic AND the Hindu renaisance was in full swing. These elites called for independence - - BUT the masses had not yet.
Mohandas Gandhi
1. Lived 1869-1948. A westernized lawyer who would make the nationalist ideas popular with the masses.
2. His political and religious views came from a COLLECTION of: Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and his own beliefs
3. His pholosophy was ACTION. It included . . .
1) live simply, don't go after materialism
2) be tolerant of others religious beliefs
3) devote your life to the service of others
4) battle injustice - - but never use violence
* He did practice what he preached - he fasted and lived like a monk
5. PASSIVE RESISTANCE - he believed when government passed unjust laws, don't resort to violence, but simply refuse to obey the laws. This "non violent non cooperation" would make it possible for the government to work.
6. He called this (#5) SATYAGRAHA or soul force. It was the most powerful political force of all, he believed.
The Nationalist Movement Grew
1) Ghandi used methods that even the most ignorant peasant understood
2) Ghandi wore nothing but "khadi" (homespun cloth) and spun his own cloth to show Indians they could boycott British products
3) In 1921, Ghandi launched a nationwide campaign against British rule. Many strikes and protests were done that year.
4) He also traveled through India and preached his gospel of love.
The rift between Hindus and Muslims widened
1) As both groups poured into cities, they competed for jobs and housing. Tensions grew!
2) Because India was 70% Hindu, and only 20% Muslim, Moslems worried what
would happen to their intrests if India became independent.
3) The Muslim league -- was formed in 1906 to protect Muslim intrests. Muhammed Ali Jinnah led the party to become broader and not just elitist. He believed Hindus ans Muslims could NOT live together equally
Britian started to give up power
1) India Act of 1935 - this marked the beginning of the end of British rule. It allowed for Indian's own elections and legislatures
2) India demanded all of India back. Moslems demanded a separate nation. To give in to either side would mean civil war.
3) After WWII, Britain realized it had too many problems at home to worry about and that it should give India independence.
4) Britain did "partition - divide India into 2 separate nations: India (for Hindus) and Pakistan (for Moselms) 1n 1947
5) Millions of people struggled to leave their new country however, because many Hindus got stuck in new Pakistan and many Moslems got stuck in new India. Much violence!! Even Ghandi was killed in 1948. (by a nationalist)