Notes Class 12 Chapter 6 History Maharashtra Board

Indian Struggle against Colonialism

6.1 Struggles before 1857

British Control in Khandesh (1818):

• The British East India Company took over Khandesh.
• The Bhils (tribal group) in Satpuda, Satmala, and Ajintha revolted against British rule.
• Led by Godaji and Mahipa (nephews of Trimbakji Dengale, an advisor to Bajirao Peshwa II).
• Around 8,000 Bhils participated.

British response:

• Captain Briggs cut off supplies to the Bhils.
• Mount Stuart Elphinstone pacified them by offering jobs, pensions, and protection roles.
• Major Morin forced the Bhils to surrender.
• Revolts led by Hariya Bhil (1822) and others were crushed by Captain Robinson and Lieutenant Outram.
• Outram also won Bhil trust by living among them and offering amnesty, land grants, loans, and army jobs.

Revolt of the Paiks in Odisha (1803):

• Paiks were soldiers in Odisha who owned weapons and farmed land given by local kings.
• After the British took Odisha from the Bhosale of Nagpur, they seized Paik lands and imposed a salt tax, making salt unaffordable.
• This led to an armed revolt led by Bakshi Jagbandhu Bidyadhar.

Hansaji Naik in Nanded:

• Hansaji Naik refused to merge his territory with the Nizam’s dominion.
• He captured some of the Nizam’s forts.
• The British (Major Pitman, Captain Evans, Captain Taylor) and Nizam’s forces defeated him after a 25-day war.

Ramoshi Revolt in Satara:

• Led by Chitursingh, Santaji Naik, and Umaji Naik.
• They attacked moneylenders’ consignments and seized the government treasury at Bhamburde (now Shivajinagar, Pune) in 1824.
• The British offered a Rs. 5,000 reward for capturing Umaji Naik and his associates.
• They banned locals from helping the rebels and threatened land confiscation.
• Captain Davis chased Umaji but failed; Captain Mackintosh later captured him near Bhor.
• Umaji was sentenced to death and hanged in Pune.
• Umaji’s Charter:
• Urged killing Europeans, looting treasuries, and burning British bungalows.
• Promised rewards like money, land, and titles for those who fought the British.
• Ordered Indian soldiers to leave British service.

Other Revolts:

• Phondsavant Tandulwadikar revolted at Mahadevgadh (1828) but was quickly defeated.
• Sawantwadi aristocracy revolted but was crushed by British agent Spooner and Captain Outram.
• Gadkaris (fort keepers) in Kolhapur lost their salaries and authority under British rule, leading to a revolt at Samangadh.
• They briefly captured Panhala, Pavangadh, and Vishalgadh but were defeated by British forces from Madras.

6.2 Freedom Struggle of 1857

Causes:

Military Discontent:

Indian soldiers faced cuts in allowances, humiliation, forced sea travel, and biased promotions.

Political Reasons:

• Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse annexed states like Satara, Nagpur, and Jhansi, angering rulers.
• Annexed states’ soldiers lost jobs, increasing pressure on farmland.

Economic Issues:

• New land revenue systems (Kayamdhara, Ryotwari, Mahalwari) ignored Indian traditions, forcing farmers to pay taxes in cash.
• Farmers faced poverty, sold land, and worked on British cash crop plantations (e.g., indigo) under harsh conditions.

Social and Religious Issues:

• British policies interfered with Indian customs and traditions.
• Rumors spread that new Enfield rifle cartridges were greased with cow and pig fat, offending Hindu and Muslim soldiers.
• Soldiers were forced to use these cartridges, leading to outrage.

Key Events:

Mangal Pandey (March 1857):

A soldier in Barakpur Cantonment, he attacked British officers and was hanged, sparking widespread anger.

Revolts Spread:

• Soldiers in Lucknow and Merath revolted, killing British officers and burning houses.
• On May 12, 1857, Indian soldiers captured Delhi and declared Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah as “Shahanshah-i Hindostan.”

Leaders:

Nanasaheb Peshwa (Kanpur), Rani Lakshmibai (Jhansi), Tatya Tope, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Maulavi Ahmadulla, Kunwar Singh (Bihar), and Bakht Khan.

Major Centers:

• Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, and West Bihar saw intense fighting.
• Revolts spread to Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Bangladesh.

British Response:

• Delhi was recaptured by Sir John Lawrence and Sikh platoons; Bahadur Shah was exiled to Rangoon, where he died in 1862.
• Kanpur was retaken by Sir Colin Campbell after defeating Tatya Tope.
• Lucknow was conquered by Colin Campbell with help from Nepal’s King Jang Bahadur.
• In Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai and Tatya Tope fought bravely but were defeated by Sir Hugh Rose. Lakshmibai died in battle; Tatya Tope was betrayed and hanged in 1859.
• Colonel Neil used brutal tactics in Varanasi and Allahabad, massacring Indians.
• In Kolhapur, Ramji Shirsat and Chimasaheb led revolts, supported by locals in Belgaon and Dharwad.
• Bhils in Khandesh, led by Bheema Naik and Kajarsingh Naik, seized a treasury worth seven lakhs but were defeated at AmbAPani.

Impact:

• The revolt lasted over a year with around 100,000 soldiers but failed due to superior British forces.
• Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (1858) promised no discrimination, religious freedom, and respect for princely state agreements.
• The revolt fostered a sense of national unity and showed the need for new strategies against British rule.
• The British adopted a “divide and rule” policy to weaken Indian unity.

6.3 Background of Founding the Indian National Congress (INC)

Early Organizations:

• Land Holders Association (1837): Founded by Dwarkanath Tagore to protect landlords’ interests.
• British India Society (1839): Founded by William Adams in London to inform British citizens about India.
• Bengal British India Society: Founded by George Thompson.
• British Indian Association (1851): Merger of the above two, sent grievances to the British Parliament.
• Madras Native Association: Worked similarly in South India.
• East India Association (1866): Founded by Dadabhai Nowrojee and Vyomeshchandra Banerjee in London.
• India League (1875): Focused on Indian issues.
• Indian Association (1870s): Founded by Surendranath Banerjee to unite Indians for political goals; held a conference in Kolkata (1883).
• Madras Mahajan Sabha (1884): A nationalist organization in South India.
• Bombay Presidency Association (1885): Founded by Justice Kashinath Trimbak Telang and Pherozeshah Mehta.

Significance:

These organizations laid the groundwork for a national platform to address Indian grievances, leading to the INC’s formation.

6.4 Founding of the Indian National Congress (1885)

First Session:

• Held on December 28, 1885, at Gokuldas Tejapal Sanskrit College, Mumbai.
• Presided by Vyomeshchandra Banerjee; attended by 72 delegates.
• Key participants: Pherozeshah Mehta, Dadabhai Nowrojee, Rahimtulla Sayani, Kashinath Trimbak Telang, Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
• Allan Octavian Hume (British officer) played a key role in its founding.

Resolutions:

• Demanded a commission to investigate British administration.
• Sought elected representatives in legislative assemblies.
• Requested Indian inclusion in administrative services and civil service exams in India.
• Called for reduced military spending, more funds for education, and technical education.

Importance:

The INC was India’s first national organization, uniting people from diverse regions to demand political reforms.

6.5 Moderates and Extremists

Debate:

Moderates:

• Leaders: Pherozeshah Mehta, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar.
• Believed social reforms were essential before independence.
• Wanted to work with the British government through petitions and dialogue.

Extremists:

• Leaders: Lokmanya Tilak.
• Prioritized independence over social reforms, believing freedom would enable reforms.
• Opposed relying on British cooperation; favored direct action.

Key Events:

Sedition Law (Section 124A, 1870):

• Declared anti-British writings or actions as crimes.
• Lokmanya Tilak was the first editor tried under this law for his articles in Kesari (1897).

Vernacular Press Act (1878):

Targeted anti-British publications; 210 Marathi books, including Savarkar’s 1857 – The First War of Independence, were banned.

Surat Split (1907):

• Tensions peaked at the INC session in Surat.
• Moderates opposed “Swadeshi” and “Boycott” resolutions; Extremists supported them.
• The INC split into two groups.

British Repression:

• Lord Curzon’s partition of Bengal (1905) aimed to weaken the INC.
• Extremist leaders like Tilak (sent to Mandalay for 6 years), Bipinchandra Pal, and Lala Lajapatrai faced imprisonment or deportation.

Reconciliation (1914):

After Tilak’s return from Mandalay, Moderates and Extremists reunited at the Lucknow INC session.

6.6 Armed Revolutionaries in India

Objective:

To weaken British administration, remove fear of British rule, and inspire people to fight for freedom.

Key Figures and Organizations:

• Ram Singh Kuka: Planned a revolt in Punjab.
• Vasudev Balwant Phadke: Led an armed revolt in Maharashtra.
• Chapekar Brothers (Damodar and Balkrishna):
• Killed Commissioner Rand in Pune (1897) due to his harsh plague control measures.

Abhinav Bharat (Nasik, 1899):

• Founded by Ganesh and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as Mitra Mela; renamed in 1904.
• Vinayak Savarkar sent revolutionary materials from England and wrote 1857 – The First War of Independence.
• Ganesh Savarkar was arrested; Anant Kanhere killed British collector Jackson in revenge and was executed.
• Vinayak Savarkar was sentenced to 50 years in Andaman for Jackson’s murder.

Anusheelan Samiti (Bengal):

• Led by Aurobindo and Barindra Kumar Ghosh.
• Made bombs in Maniktala; Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki attempted to kill magistrate Kingsford but killed two British women.
• Prafulla Chaki died by suicide; Khudiram Bose was hanged.

India House (London):

• Founded by Shyamji Krishna Verma; offered scholarships to Indian students.
• Madam Cama, a socialist, raised India’s independence issue at the World Socialist Conference (1907) and unfurled an Indian flag.
• Madanlal Dhingra killed Curzon Wyllie and was hanged.

Gadar Movement (America and Canada):

• Founded by Lala Hardayal, Bhai Paramanand, and Dr. Pandurang Khankhoje.
• Published the Gadar newspaper to promote patriotism.
• Vishnu Ganesh Pingale contributed significantly.

Hindustan Republic Association:

• Kakori Conspiracy (1925): Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla, Roshan Singh, and Rajendra Lahiri looted a train’s treasury at Kakori, Uttar Pradesh.
• All were captured and hanged.

Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA, 1928):

• Founded by Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev in Delhi.
• Aimed to end British exploitation of farmers and laborers.
• Key actions:
• Bhagat Singh and Rajguru killed Saunders to avenge Lala Lajapatrai’s death.
• Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Datta bombed the Central Legislative Assembly (1929) to protest anti-civil rights bills and surrendered.
• Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev were hanged in 1931.
• Chandrashekhar Azad died fighting in Alfred Park, Allahabad.

Chittagong Armory Raid (Bengal):

• Led by Surya Sen, who attacked British armories.
• Surya Sen and colleagues were captured; some were hanged, others like Kalpana Dutt got life imprisonment.
• Preetilata Waddedar died by suicide to avoid capture.
• Schoolgirls Shanti Ghosh and Suniti Chaudhury shot magistrate Charles Buckland and were imprisoned for life.
• Beena Das tried to kill Bengal Governor Stanley Jackson and was jailed for nine years.

Communist Party:

• Inspired by Karl Marx, aimed to establish a proletariat rule.
• Leaders like Shripad Amrut Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, and Keshav Jogalekar were tried in the Merath and Kanpur cases.

Impact:

Revolutionaries inspired courage and sacrifice, contributing significantly to the independence movement.

6.7 Mahatma Gandhi: Non-Violent Resistance Movement

Background:

• After Lokmanya Tilak’s death (1920), Gandhi led the independence movement.
• He began in South Africa, opposing discriminatory laws against Indians and natives through non-violent means.

Key Movements:

Champaran Satyagraha (1917, Bihar):

• British planters forced farmers to grow indigo at low prices.
• Gandhi’s satyagraha ended this exploitation, banning forced indigo cultivation.

Rowlatt Act Protest (1919):

• The Rowlatt Act allowed arrests without warrants.
• Gandhi called for a nationwide hartal (strike) on April 6, 1919.
• In Punjab, the Jalianwala Bagh Massacre occurred on April 13, 1919, when General Dyer fired on a peaceful crowd in Amritsar, killing around 400 and injuring thousands.
• Rabindranath Tagore renounced his “Sir” title in protest.

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920):

• Launched at the INC session in Nagpur.
• Involved boycotting British schools, courts, offices, and goods.
• Lawyers like Chittaranjan Das, Motilal Nehru, and Vallabhbhai Patel joined.
• Farmers, workers, and students participated; imported clothes were burnt.
• The charkha (spinning wheel) symbolized Swarajya; Swadeshi became popular.
• In 1921, 396 public strikes occurred.

Dandi Salt March (1930):

• Gandhi protested the heavy salt tax.
• He marched from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi (March 12–April 6, 1930) and broke the salt law by collecting salt, sparking nationwide protests.

Impact:

Gandhi’s non-violent methods united millions and pressured the British to negotiate.

6.8 Azad Hind Sena

Context:

• During World War II (1939), Britain involved India without consent, angering the INC and Gandhi.
• Japan, allied with Germany, captured British territories in Southeast Asia, including Indian soldiers.

Formation:

• Rasbihari Bose formed the Azad Hind Sena with captured Indian soldiers.
• Subhash Chandra Bose reorganized it and established the Azad Hind Sarkar in Singapore (1943).

Key Actions:

• Conquered Andaman and Nicobar (1943).
• Captured Arakan province and Assam’s border outposts (1944).
• Failed to capture Imphal due to harsh conditions.
• Bose’s slogan, “Give me your blood! I shall give you independence!” inspired millions.

Impact:

The Azad Hind Sena challenged British military control and boosted Indian morale.

6.9 Quit India Movement (1942)

Background:

• The INC passed a resolution in Wardha to demand British withdrawal.
• On August 7–8, 1942, the INC session in Mumbai (Gowalia Tank Ground), presided by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, approved the “Quit India” resolution.
• Gandhi called for non-violent resistance with the mantra “Do or Die.”

Key Events:

• On August 9, 1942, leaders like Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, and Azad were arrested.
• The British banned protests, rallies, and sealed INC offices.
• Young socialist leaders like Jayprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, Aruna Asaf Ali, and S.M. Joshi led the movement.
• Revolutionary groups like Azad Dasta (Karjat) and Lal Sena (Nagpur) challenged British rule.
• Azad Radio, run by Vitthal Javheri and Usha Mehta in Mumbai, broadcast anti-British messages.
• In Midnapur (Bengal), Balia (U.P.), and Bhagalpur (Bihar), people ousted British officials and took over governance.
• Krantisinha Nana Patil’s Prati Sarkar (parallel government) in Satara managed revenue, law, and order.

Impact:

• The movement showed strong public opposition, weakening British rule.
• The 1946 Royal Indian Navy rebellion further destabilized British control.
• The British realized they could no longer rule India, leading to independence talks.