The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was an agreement signed on 5th March 1931 between Mahatma Gandhi and the Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin. It marked a significant moment in India’s freedom struggle, temporarily pausing the Civil Disobedience Movement and opening the door for negotiations between the Congress and the British government. Background The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1931), …
The late 1920s marked a shift in the Indian freedom struggle, with the emergence of radical leaders and youth groups demanding complete independence (Purna Swaraj). This period represented a departure from earlier moderate approaches and set the stage for mass movements under Gandhi. Background Disappointment with British response to constitutional reforms, such as the Simon …
The Civil Disobedience Movement was the second major nationwide campaign led by Mahatma Gandhi, following the Purna Swaraj Declaration (1929). It aimed at challenging British authority through non-violent law-breaking and mass participation, bringing millions of Indians into active political struggle. Background The Lahore Session of Congress (1929) declared Purna Swaraj (complete independence) as the ultimate …
The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress, held in December 1929, was a landmark in India’s freedom struggle. It marked the formal adoption of complete independence (Purna Swaraj) as the ultimate goal of the nationalist movement. Background The failure of the Nehru Report (1928) and rejection of Muslim demands caused frustration among Congress leaders. …
The Fourteen Points were a constitutional scheme proposed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1929 as a response to the Nehru Report (1928). They were aimed at safeguarding the political rights of Muslims and ensuring their adequate representation in any future self-governing India. Background The Nehru Report (1928) had rejected separate electorates for Muslims, which alarmed …
The Nehru Report was the first major Indian attempt to draft a constitution for the country, prepared in response to the Simon Commission (1928), which had excluded Indians from constitutional discussions. It reflected the aspirations of Indian leaders for self-government within the British Empire. Background The Simon Commission (1928) did not include any Indian members, …
The Simon Commission, officially called the Indian Statutory Commission, was appointed by the British government to review the working of the Government of India Act (1919) and suggest reforms. Its arrival sparked nationwide protests as it excluded Indians from its membership, highlighting British disregard for Indian opinion. Background The Government of India Act (1919) had …
The Swaraj Party, also known as the Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party, was formed in 1923 to continue the struggle for self-government through legislative means after the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement. It marked a shift in strategy from mass protests to working within the system to obstruct colonial rule. Background The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922) was suspended …
The Non-Cooperation Movement was the first major nationwide campaign led by Mahatma Gandhi, marking the beginning of mass struggle against British rule. It aimed to achieve Swaraj through non-violent means, uniting millions of Indians across regions, communities, and social classes. Background The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919) and the Rowlatt Act created widespread anger against the …
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, also called the Amritsar Massacre, was one of the most tragic events in India’s freedom struggle. It exposed the brutality of British colonial rule and became a turning point that galvanized nationalist sentiment across the country. Background Passed in March 1919, the Rowlatt Act allowed detention without trial, provoking widespread anger. …