Timeline: The Struggle for India's Freedom by Crystal

1857: The First War of Independence

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-10 15:34:36 UTC

Also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, this was the first organized revolt against British rule. It began with Indian soldiers (sepoys) in Meerut and spread across North India. Though unsuccessful, it marked the beginning of India's organized freedom struggle and led to the end of the East India Company's rule, with the British Crown taking direct control of India.

30 Dec 1885: The Indian National Congress

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-10 15:34:36 UTC

The Indian National Congress was founded at Bombay, by the retired British officer Allan Octavian Hume (A.O.Hume), Dadabhai Naoroji and a few others. 72 Delegates from all over the nation attended this first meeting. Womesh Chandra Bonnerji, Bahruddin Tyabji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Surendranath Bannerjee, S.Subramania Iyer, Romesh Chandra Dutt, Dinshaw Edulji Wacha, etc attended the first meeting.

1905: Partition of Bengal

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-10 15:34:36 UTC

The Viceroy, Lord Curzon, divided the province of Bengal into two parts - The Eastern Bengal and Assam as one part, and the rest of Bengal (West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha) as another.

The reason given behind the partition was for administrative convenience, but the actual political move was to crush the wave of nationalism in Bengal and to play the 'Divide and Rule' policy by separating the Hindus and Muslims.

The Partition of Bengal made the Indians start a powerful Anti-Partition Movement.

1915: Gandhi's Return to India

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-10 15:34:36 UTC

M.K. Gandhi arrived in India in 1915 from South Africa. He brought with him a new theory of struggle, non-violence and non-cooperation based on satyagraha. He had faith in the strength of the common people. He drew the focus of INM to the villages, where the majority of Indians lived. He took up the case of Indigo Peasants in Champaran, the mill workers of Ahmedabad, and the Kheda peasants. Apart from fighting for freedom, he took up the cause of Hindu-Muslim Unity. He fought against untouchability, and Indian Women Empowerment.

13 April 1919: Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-10 15:34:36 UTC

On April 13, British troops under General Dyer opened fire at a large unarmed crowd who had gathered in Amritsar to peacefully protest against the arrest of the local leaders. It was one of the worst political crimes, shook the entire nation and unveiled the brutal face of British Imperialism. The Poet Rabindranath Tagore gave up his knighthood in protest against this incident.

1878: Vernacular Press Act

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-20 10:38:04 UTC

Lord Lytton passed another discriminatory act curbing the freedom of vernacular newspapers, to avoid newspapers against them in Non-English (Indian) Languages

28-31 December 1885: First Congress Session

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-20 10:41:32 UTC

The first session of Congress was held at the Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay, presided by Womesh Chandra Bonnerji

1878: The Indian Arms Act

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-20 10:44:15 UTC

The Indians Arms Acts in 1878 was passed by Lord Lytton which meant that the Indians could not keep firearms without appropriate license. It required Indians to obtain licenses, while exempting Europeans. The main reason for this act was to keep Indians from uprising or revolting

1883: Ilbert Bill

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-20 10:49:04 UTC

British protested against the Ilbert Bill which tried to give Indian judges the power to judge cases of the British and other Europeans and the withdrawal of this bill proved that the British were not ready to give equal political rights to the Indians. As a result, it led to the formation of multiple political formations of India, which later became the INC.

1885-1905: The Moderates

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-20 10:57:42 UTC

The Indian National Movement up to 1905 was dominated by the Moderates. They wanted to persuade the British to give the Indians greater participation in the administration and introduced political reforms. It was based on petitions, meetings and speeches. They trusted the British and believed that the British would accept their just demands. Some of the moderate leaders were Surendra Nath Bannerjee, Pherozeshah Mehta, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Dadabhai Naoroji, Mahadev Govind Ranade, etc.

1905-1915: The Extremists

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-20 11:15:06 UTC

When the methods of the moderates didn't work, Extremists wanted Indians to be self-reliant, and develop self-respect.

Their demands were much more radical, and assertive, and their methods included advocating for boycotts, Swadeshi Movements, and National Education. The Lal-Bal-Pal (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal) trio were the prominent extremists.

1897: First Revolutionary Act

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 04:07:42 UTC

One of the first revolutionary acts was in 1897 when the Chapekar brtohers assassinated two unpopular British officials at Poona

1908: Revolutionary Bombing

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 04:12:25 UTC

In 1908, Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki, two young men threw a bomb at a carriage they thought was occupied by Judge Kingsford of Muzaffarpur. But, the carriage was not occupied by Kingsford, and resulted in the death of two British Women. Prafulla Chaki shot himself dead, Khudiram was tried and hanged to death.

1913: Formation of the Ghadar Party

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 04:16:29 UTC

Indian Revolutionaries in the USA and Canada established the Ghadar Party at San Francisco to "stir up rebellion in India".

The revolutionaries also established centres of activity abroad:-

London - V.D. Sarkar, Lala Hardayal, Shyamji Krishnavarma

Europe - Madam Bhikaiji Cama, Ajit Singh

1911: The Capital Shift

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 04:20:24 UTC

Incidentally, in 1911, King George V announced that the capital of India would be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in the Delhi Durbar, the reasons being the strategic location, historical significance and the political unrest in bengal

1906: Formation of Muslim League

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 05:27:14 UTC

In order to weaken the INM, The British started the 'Divide and Rule' Policy to separate Muslims and Hindus. This led to the formation of the Muslim League. The League showed separate tendencies when it supported the partition of Bengal and also started requesting the British to give the Muslims a separate electorate.

1907: The Surat Split

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 05:32:17 UTC

The differences in the policies and method of the moderates and extremists finally led to a split between the two at the Surat session of the INC. The Congress remained under the control of the Moderates, while the Extremists were excluded.

1909: Morley-Minto Reforms

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 05:36:53 UTC

The British enacted the Indians Councils Act, also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms after the the Secretary of the State, Morley and the Viceroy, Minto. The Act tried to please the Moderates by increasing the number of elected members in the Imperial Legislative Council and the Provincial Council. But the Councils had no real power. The reforms also introduced the dangerous principle of separate electorates for the Muslims, which was a part of the 'Divide and Rule' policy of the British.

1914: The Controverisies in The First World War

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 05:41:54 UTC

When the WWI broke out, Indian Nationalists decided to support the British Government with the hope that after the war, the British will bring about major political reforms in India. But Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant continued their agitation for Swaraj.

1916: Indian Home Rule League

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 05:45:20 UTC

Annie Besant, an Irish nationalist leader, founded the Central Hindu College at Benaras which is today called as the Benaras Hindu University. In 1916, she established the Indian Home Rule League and started the newspaper 'New India'.

She alongside Bal Gangadhar Tilak were active participants in the Home Rule Movement, to attain self-governance in India.

1916: The Lucknow Pact

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 05:48:44 UTC

A positive development took place in 1916, when in the Lucknow session of the Congress, Moderates and the Extremists were reunited. Moreover, the Congress and Muslim League signed the Lucknow Pact to present common political demands before the governement

1914-1919: The First World War

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 05:55:35 UTC

After the WWI, the Indians hoped that the British will bring major political changes, but they did not . So, the Indians felt betrayed. Moreover, this led to a huge rise in the defense expenditure of the British leading to the increase of taxes on Indians. The war also led to shortage of goods and high rise in prices. Again, the British forcibly recruited Indian soldiers for the wars and pressurized the Indian villages to supply soldiers for the war. This was deeply resented by the Indians.

March 1919: The Rowlatt Satyagraha

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 06:05:17 UTC

The British passed the Rowlatt Act which allowed the government to arrest and imprison any person without trial or conviction by the court. The Indians strongly opposed this and called it the Black Act. Gandhi decided to launch a Satyagraha against it, which became the first nation-wide satyagraha led by Mahatma Gandhi. There were strikes, processions, and demonstrations all over the country.

1920: The Khilafat Agitation

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 09:14:10 UTC

After the WWI, the British treated the Sultan of Turkey badly. The Indian Muslims were very angry at the mistreatment. Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, formed a nation-wide Khilafat Committee and started the agitation to restore the position of the Khalifa. Mahatma Gandhi supported them and found it a golden opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims in a joint political struggle. Under the guidance of Gandhi, in September 1920, a special session in Calcutta, the Congress approved a JOINT NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT which consisted of both Hindus and Muslims

1920: The Non-Cooperation Movement

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 09:18:19 UTC

The Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement was very successful. Thousands of students switched from Government to National Schools and Colleges. Jamia Millia Islamia, Kashi Vidyapeeth and Gujarat Vidyapeeth were established. Lawyers like Motilal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad and C.R. Das left their legal practices. Mahatma Gandhi gave back his Kaiser-i-Hind Medal. Huge bonfires of foreign clothes were organised all over India.

1911: Reunion of Bengal

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-21 09:20:10 UTC

Due to the pressure from the rising INM, and specifically the Boycott and Swadeshi Movement, The British government annulled the partition of Bengal and decided to reunite Western and Eastern Bengal and to create a new province comprising Bihar and Odisha

1920: A People's Movement in the NCM

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-22 04:32:14 UTC

The Non-Cooperation movement spread among thousands of masses. Thousands of peasants from Uttar Pradesh and Bengal joined the movement and refused to pay illegal dues to the zamindars. In Assam, tea plantation laborers went on strike. In Kerala, the Mophlas started the Anti-zamindar movement. In Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, liquor shops were picketed. In Andhra Pradesh, tribals and poor peasants violated the Forest Laws by making sending their cattle for grazing into the forest.

February 1922: End of the NCM

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-22 04:37:23 UTC

On February 1922, a peaceful procession of peasants at Chauri-Chaura in Uttar Pradesh was fired upon by the police. The angry crowd attacked and burnt down the police station killing 22 policemen. Mahatma Gandhi immediately called off the movement since it had violated satyagraha.

Mustafa Kamal Pasha - A young leader of Turkey started to modernize Turkey. Turkey became a republic. The Khalifa was deprived of all the power. Very soon, the Khilafat movement lost all its fervor, and came to an end.

March 1992: Aftermath of the NCM

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-22 04:39:54 UTC

During the Khilafat and the Non-Cooperation Movements, the national movement reached the remote corners of the country. Millions of peasants, artisans, and urban poor became part of the movement. Women, too, took active part in the movement. The sense of fear of the British rule disappeared, and Indians gained courage and Self-confidece.

1923: Formation of the Swaraj Party

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:01:09 UTC

After the withdrawal of NCM, some congressmen led by Chitaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party, a party within the Congress. They decided to fight the elections to the legislative councils, enter the legislative council and put forward their demands and oppose the government, if their demands were not fulfilled.

1928: Simon Commission

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:12:16 UTC

In 1928, the British government appointed a Commission to suggest for the constitutional reforms in India. The commission was named after Chairman sir John Simon. Since all the members of the commission wearing Englishmen, The Indian Nationalist protested against this Commission. Wherever the commission went to the treated hartals and black flags demonstrations under the slogan "Simon go back". The government used brutal operation and police attack to break the popular operation.

1929: HSRA Bombing

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:16:12 UTC

Revival of the Revolutionary movement was an important development. Chandrashekhar Azad form the Revolutionary organisation called Hindustan socialist Republican Association. The revolutionaries now wanted to organise a Revolution by the masses. Bhagat Singh and batukeshwar dutt threw a bomb in the central Legislative Assembly on 8 April, 1929. In Bengal, the revolutionaries organised a well plan read at the government armarried under the leadership of Surya Sen. An important aspect of the Revolutionary Movement in Bengal was the participation of women.

1929: Lahore Session

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:18:34 UTC

The Lahore session of the Congress in 1929 expressed this new militant spirit. Under the presidentship of Jawaharlal Nehru, past the historic Poorna Swaraj resolution demanding complete Independence. On 31st December 1929 the newly adopted Tricolor flag of freedom was hoisted. It also decided that in 1930 section of Congress that 26 January will be celebrated every year as Independence Day.

Dec 1928: Killing of Saunders

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:22:05 UTC

In Lahore Lala Lajpat Rai let a peaceful demonstration against the Simon Commission. Saunders a police officer Lathi charged the Peaceful demonstration. Lala Lajpat Rai was badly injured and died soon after. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and Chandrashekhar Azad took revenge by killing Saunders

1931: Execution of the Trio

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:23:21 UTC

On March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were executed despite popular protests.

1930: Round Table Conferences

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:26:40 UTC

The British government organised the first Round table conference in 1930 to discuss the Simon Commission report. But the Congress boycotted. The British wanted the Congress to attend the second round table conference. There was a Gandhi-Irwin pact. In return, agreed to go to London and attend the second round table conference, after suspending the civil disobedience movement. But the conference failed because the British were not ready to accept any of the basic demands of the Congress. Mahatma Gandhi Resumed the civil disobedience movement which continue till 1934.

1930-34: Civil Disobedience Movement

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:30:58 UTC

The civil disobedient movement was started by Mahatma Gandhi on 12 March 1930 with the famous Dandi March. Along with his 78 followers, nearly 375 km from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, a village on the sea coast of Gujarat. On 6th April, mahatma Gandhi reached Dandi l of salt and broke the salt law as a symbol of Indian peoples refuses to follow the British law and live under the British rule. It's spread all over the country and in addition to the salt violation, people boycotted forest laws, foreign goods and taxes.

1935: Government of India Act

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:32:27 UTC

Pressurized by the agitations of the Indians the British government passed the Government of India Act of 1935 which give autonomy to the Indian provinces elections were held for provincial legislatures. Congress marked its popularity by forming Ministries in 7 out of 11 provinces in the elections held in 1937.

1939: Resignation of Congress Ministries

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:34:10 UTC

When the Second World War broke out in September 1929 Congress was ready to give support to the British in the war. But in return they wanted India to be granted independence after the war. But the British refused to grant the demand. The Congress Ministries therefore resigned in protest.

1942: Cripps Mission

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:36:37 UTC

To secure the cooperation of the Indians in the war, and to get resources and manpower from India, to fight the war, British sent in March 1942, A mission headed by cabinet minister, sir stafford Cripps. But the negotiations failed because Indian leaders were not satisfied with promise to increase the number of Indian members in the viceroy's executive council. British government refused to accept the Congress demand for immediate transfer of effective power to the Indians.

1942: Quit India Movement

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:39:28 UTC

After the failure of the Cripps mission Congress decided to further pressurize the British to accept the demand for independence. 18 August 1942 the Congress passed the Quit India Resolution demanding an immediate end to the British rule in India. On the morning of 9 August Mahatma Gandhi and all other Congress leaders were arrested in the Congress was declared illegal. Over the country there were hartals, strikes and demonstrations. The people attached the police Stations, post offices, railway stations, etc. At many places, parallel governments was set up. The British tried to cross the movement very harshly.

1946: INM after WWII

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:41:57 UTC

After after the second world war in 1945 the British realize that they could not control India for long. Therefore British government sent a cabinet mission to India in March 1946 to negotiate with the Indian leaders the terms for the transfer of power to India. The Congress and Muslim League do not agree to certain aspect of the proposal. There was no option but the partition of the country. The British policy of divide and rule had contributed in creating a rift between the Congress and the Muslim League.

1940: Muslim League demand Pakistan

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:42:49 UTC

In 1940 the Muslim League pass the resolution demanding the partition of the country in the creation of a state to be called Pakistan. After the failure of the cabinet mission large communal riots broke out in different parts of the country. On 16 August 1946, muslim League launched the direct action day.

June 1947: Independence guaranteed

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:44:57 UTC

Finally Mountbatten, device of India announce the India would become a free Nation and new state of Pakistan will be created along with the free India with Muhammad Ali Jinnah as its founder. The Nationalist leaders reluctantly agree to the partition in order to bring an end to the terrible communal riots.

In June 1947, Mountbatten Plan, also known as the 3 June Plan, which proposed the partition of British India into India and Pakistan, leading to the Indian Independence Act

August 15, 1947: Free India

crystalsaltz05 — 2025-03-23 05:54:56 UTC

On August 15, 1947, India gained independence from British rule, but this came with the partition of the country into India and Pakistan, resulting in massive displacement and communal violence, with Jawaharlal Nehru becoming the first Prime Minister of independent India. India celebrated its first day of freedom. But the sense of joy was mixed with the pain and sacrifices of generations of patriots and martyrs had borne fruits.

Pakistan attained freedom on 14th August 1947.