Mains Practice Questions

Introduction:

The Indian national movement was not merely a struggle against colonial rule but a broad-based mobilisation that sought to transform Indian society. Alongside the demand for Swaraj, it addressed entrenched social inequalities and aimed at creating a morally and socially regenerated nation.

• For instance, Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) combined the fight against colonial rule with social reform through khadi, mass mobilisation, and the campaign against untouchability, illustrating the movement’s transformative social character.

Body:

Indian National Movement- The Quest for Political Freedom

• Constitutional Reforms & Representation: In the "Moderate Phase" (1885–1905), the demand was for greater Indian representation in legislative councils and the "Indianization" of civil services to give Indians a voice in their own governance.
• Swaraj (Self-Rule): Following the 1905 Partition of Bengal, the "Extremists" shifted the goal to Swaraj. This meant administrative autonomy within the British Empire, similar to Canada or Australia.
• Assertion of Civil Liberties: The movement was a constant battle against repressive laws (like the Rowlatt Act and Vernacular Press Act). It sought the political right to free speech, assembly, and the press—the bedrock of modern democracy.
• Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence): By 1929, the Lahore Session of the Congress officially declared Purna Swaraj as the goal, demanding an absolute end to British sovereignty and the establishment of an independent democratic republic.

Indian National Movement as Powerful Instrument of Social Transformation

• Social Reform as an Integral Component
  • Abolition of social evils: Reformist efforts against sati, child marriage, and for widow remarriage by leaders such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy laid the early groundwork for a reformist national consciousness.
  • Caste and social equality: The movement challenged caste hierarchies through the spread of egalitarian ideas. Gandhian campaigns against untouchability and the inclusion of Dalits in mass movements widened social participation.
  • Women’s emancipation: Women’s active participation in the Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, and Quit India movements redefined their public role, promoting gender equality and political awareness.
• Cultural and Ideological Transformation
  • National identity formation: The movement fostered a shared national identity through vernacular press, nationalist literature, and symbols like khadi and the national flag.
  • Democratisation of politics: Mass mobilisation, satyagraha, and constructive programmes inculcated values of participation, discipline, and non-violence.
• Economic and Educational Dimensions
  • Swadeshi and self-reliance: Promotion of indigenous industries aimed at economic self-sufficiency and dignity of labour.
  • Educational reforms: National institutions like Banaras Hindu University and Jamia Millia Islamia promoted modern, secular education.
• Secularism and Communal Harmony
  • The movement institutionalized the ethos of "Sarva Dharma Sambhava." Leaders like Maulana Azad and Gandhi countered the British "Divide and Rule" policy by fostering a composite culture (Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb), making secularism a foundational pillar of the future Republic.
• Labor and Peasant Rights
  • The movement bridged the gap between the elite and the masses. The formation of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920 and the All India Kisan Sabha integrated the struggle for fair wages and land rights into the national agenda, challenging feudal exploitation.
• Tribal Integration and Dignity:
  • Tribal uprisings like the Munda Ulgulan and the Rampa Rebellion were recognized as anti-colonial struggles.
  • This fostered a sense of "Jal, Jangal, Zameen" (Water, Forest, Land) rights, ensuring that tribal identities were preserved within the national framework.

Conclusion

Thus, the Indian national movement functioned as a comprehensive project of social transformation, seeking not only political freedom but also social justice, cultural renewal, and ethical regeneration, laying the foundation of a democratic and inclusive India.