Act of 1935, provincial governments, Cripps Mission and Individual Satyagraha
When a class runs its own rules well, children gain confidence in managing things. In the same way, in 1937 Indians got to run some provinces, but the fight for full freedom went on.
In this phase the British passed the Act of 1935, the Congress ran governments in the provinces, left them because of the Second World War, and the Cripps proposals failed. After that protest was recorded through Individual Satyagraha.
Key idea 1 : The Act of 1935 and the elections of 1937 — The Act of 1935 gave the provinces more powers and widened the right to vote. In the 1937 elections the Congress won a majority in 8 of the 11 provinces and formed governments there. But the Viceroy kept large powers, so the Act did not give full self-rule.
Key idea 2 : The World War and the resignations of the provincial governments — The Second World War began in 1939. Without asking Indians, the Viceroy declared that India was at war. In protest the Congress governments resigned.
Key idea 3 : The Cripps proposals and Individual Satyagraha — In March 1942 the British minister Sir Stafford Cripps came to India to win India’s support in the war. He promised self-rule after the war but gave no firm plan, and the Congress and many others rejected it. Earlier, in 1940, Gandhiji had started Individual Satyagraha; Vinoba Bhave was the first satyagrahi and Jawaharlal Nehru the second.
- Easy : In how many provinces did the Congress win a majority in 1937? — 8 out of 11.
- Medium : Why did the Congress governments resign? — In protest against India being dragged into the war without being asked.
- Exam-type : Who was the first satyagrahi in Individual Satyagraha? — Vinoba Bhave.
In the figure: Act, governments, resignations, Individual Satyagraha and the Cripps proposals — events came in this order.
What happened before the Cripps proposals? In February 1942 Singapore fell to Japan and in March so did Rangoon. With the war at India’s door, the British wanted Indian support. Cripps reached Delhi on 22 March 1942 and placed his proposals.
What happened after the Cripps proposals? In early April 1942 the Congress rejected the proposals and the talks failed. There was a promise but no certainty of self-rule. Within four months the Congress passed the ‘Quit India’ resolution.
1937 = Congress governments in 8 provinces; 1939 = resignations; 1940 = Individual Satyagraha; 1942 = Cripps.
The Congress resigned as a protest against the British, not because it lost any election.
Memory clue: Remember ‘35-37-39-40-42’ — Act, governments, resignations, satyagraha, Cripps. Memory clue: say these five numbers in one row.
Spot the difference
| Event | Year | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| Government of India Act | 1935 | More powers to provinces |
| Provincial governments | 1937 | Congress in 8 provinces |
| Cripps proposals | 1942 | Promise, but rejected |
Act of 1935, provincial governments, Cripps Mission and Individual Satyagraha
In the app you can move this figure with your finger.
Open in the appPractice questions
- 1What did the Act of 1935 give the provinces?
- 2What success did the Congress get in the 1937 elections?
- 3Who were the first and second satyagrahis of Individual Satyagraha?
- 4Why did the Congress governments resign in 1939?
- 5When and why did Cripps come to India?
- 6Why did the Act of 1935 not give full self-rule?
- 7What did the British try after Singapore and Rangoon fell to Japan?
- 8What happened within four months after the Cripps proposals were rejected?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1More powers and a wider right to vote.
- 2A majority in 8 of 11 provinces; governments were formed there.
- 3Vinoba Bhave first; Jawaharlal Nehru second.
- 4In protest against India being brought into the war without being asked.
- 5In March 1942; to win India’s support in the war.
- 6Because the Viceroy kept large powers.
- 7They sent Cripps, who placed proposals on 22 March 1942.
- 8The Congress passed the ‘Quit India’ resolution.
The Quit India Movement
When a player decides “now or never” and steps on the field, he gives everything. In 1942 Indians made a similar resolve.
The Quit India Movement was the nationwide movement of 1942 demanding that the British leave India. Its slogan was ‘Do or Die’.
Key idea 1 : The resolution and ‘Do or Die’ — On 14 July 1942 the Congress Working Committee passed a resolution at Wardha. On 7–8 August the Congress committee passed the ‘Quit India’ resolution at the Gowalia Tank ground in Mumbai. Gandhiji gave the people the mantra ‘Do or Die’.
Key idea 2 : A movement of the people — In the early hours of 9 August all the main leaders were arrested, yet the people, without leaders, came out on the streets. Students, farmers, workers and women took out marches. At Nandurbar in 1942 firing took place on a students’ procession; Shirishkumar and other young people were killed.
Key idea 3 : Underground movement and parallel governments — Achyutrao Patwardhan, Aruna Asaf Ali, Usha Mehta and Ram Manohar Lohia ran the movement from underground. News and messages were sent out through ‘Azad Radio’ (Congress Radio). At Satara a parallel government (Pratisarkar) was formed under Nana Patil, with the Toofan Sena and workers such as G. D. Bapu Lad.
- Easy : Where was the ‘Quit India’ resolution passed? — At the Gowalia Tank ground in Mumbai.
- Medium : Which mantra did Gandhiji give the people? — ‘Do or Die’.
- Exam-type : Who led the parallel government at Satara? — Nana Patil.
In the figure: Cripps’s failure, the resolution, the arrest of leaders and then the underground movement run by the people.
What happened before the Quit India resolution? The Congress passed the ‘Quit India’ resolution, but Gandhiji wished first to try talking to the Viceroy. Before that, at dawn on 9 August, the government arrested the main leaders including Gandhiji. Gandhiji was kept at the Aga Khan Palace in Pune.
What happened after the Quit India resolution? On the same day Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the tricolour at the Gowalia Tank ground. On 15 August 1942 Gandhiji’s secretary Mahadev Desai died at the Aga Khan Palace. The Congress was declared illegal, yet the movement did not stop.
What happened before Congress Radio? With leaders in jail and the newspapers under restrictions, Usha Mehta, Vithalbhai Jhaveri and Nariman Printer ran a secret radio station. It began with the words “Congress Radio calling on 42.34 metres from somewhere in India”. The first broadcast went out at the end of August 1942.
What happened after Congress Radio? On 12 November 1942 the police raided the station and the broadcasts stopped. Usha Mehta was imprisoned and stayed in jail until March 1946.
9 August = leaders arrested; Nandurbar = Shirishkumar; Satara = Nana Patil; Azad Radio = Usha Mehta.
It is wrong to think only leaders ran this movement; once the leaders were jailed, ordinary people carried it on.
Memory clue: Remember ‘7-8-9’ — resolution on 7–8 August, arrests on 9 August. Memory clue: “resolution 7-8, arrests 9”.
Spot the difference
| Place / medium | Who | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Gowalia Tank | Aruna Asaf Ali | Hoisted the tricolour |
| Azad Radio | Usha Mehta | Secret broadcasts |
| Satara | Nana Patil | Parallel government |
Practice questions
- 1What was the slogan of the Quit India Movement?
- 2What happened on 9 August 1942?
- 3Who led the parallel government of Satara?
- 4How did the movement continue even after the leaders went to jail?
- 5What was Azad Radio and who ran it?
- 6What happened at Nandurbar?
- 7What is the link between the failure of the Cripps proposals and the Quit India resolution?
- 8What happened soon after Gandhiji’s arrest at Gowalia Tank and at the Aga Khan Palace?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1‘Do or Die’.
- 2All the main leaders including Gandhiji were arrested.
- 3Nana Patil.
- 4Through underground workers, a secret radio and the participation of ordinary people.
- 5A secret radio station run by Usha Mehta, Vithalbhai Jhaveri and Nariman Printer.
- 6Firing took place on a students’ procession; Shirishkumar and other young people were killed.
- 7As the Cripps proposals were rejected, there was no assurance of self-rule and the Congress passed the Quit India resolution.
- 8Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the tricolour; Mahadev Desai died at the Aga Khan Palace.
Azad Hind Sena (INA) and the revolts of 1946
If someone living far from home keeps working for the family, we feel proud of him. Subhas Chandra Bose fought for India’s freedom even while living outside India.
The Azad Hind Sena (Indian National Army) was an army for freedom raised outside India by Indian soldiers and civilians. Later, in 1946, revolts broke out in the navy and the air force against British power.
Key idea 1 : Subhas Chandra Bose and the building of the INA — Rash Behari Bose built a freedom league in Japan and Mohan Singh began an army with Indian soldiers who were prisoners of war. In July 1943 Subhas Chandra Bose reached Singapore and took command; the slogans were ‘Chalo Delhi’ and ‘Jai Hind’. On 21 October 1943 he proclaimed the ‘Azad Hind Government’.
Key idea 2 : Work of the INA — The army also had a women’s ‘Rani of Jhansi’ regiment. The Andaman islands were named ‘Shahid’ and ‘Swaraj’. The army reached up to Imphal, but when Japan lost the war it had to retreat. It is reported that Bose died in an air crash on 18 August 1945.
Key idea 3 : INA trials and the revolts of 1946 — After the war the British put officers of the INA on trial at the Red Fort; protests spread across the country. In February 1946 sailors of the navy went on strike in Mumbai and the revolt spread to many ports. Discontent was seen in the air force too. These events showed the British that the forces could no longer be trusted as before.
- Easy : When was the Azad Hind Government proclaimed? — On 21 October 1943.
- Medium : What were the slogans of the army? — ‘Chalo Delhi’ and ‘Jai Hind’.
- Exam-type : Where did the naval revolt of 1946 begin? — In Mumbai.
In the figure: Bose’s escape, the Azad Hind Government, the trials and the naval revolt — the last steps.
What happened before Bose’s escape? In 1941 Subhas Chandra Bose was under house arrest in Calcutta. On the night of 16–17 January he slipped out in a car driven by his nephew Sisir. He disguised himself as a Pathan insurance agent named ‘Ziauddin’ and reached Berlin via Peshawar, Kabul and Moscow.
What happened after Bose’s escape? In February 1943 he left in a German submarine and in the Indian Ocean moved to a Japanese submarine. On 6 May 1943 he reached Sabang in Sumatra. On 21 October 1943 the Azad Hind Government was proclaimed in Singapore.
What happened before the Red Fort trial? On 5 November 1945 the first trial began at the Red Fort. The three officers accused belonged to different faiths: Prem Sahgal, Shah Nawaz Khan and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon.
What happened after the Red Fort trial? Across the country the slogan “The voice from the Red Fort: Sahgal, Dhillon, Shah Nawaz” rang out. On 31 December 1945 they were sentenced to transportation for life, but under public pressure the Commander-in-Chief Auchinleck set the sentences aside and they were released.
What happened before the naval revolt? On 18 February 1946 sailors on the ship ‘Talwar’ in Mumbai went on strike against bad food and racist treatment.
What happened after the naval revolt? The strike spread to many ships and ports. On 23 February the sailors surrendered after talks with Vallabhbhai Patel, who promised that no one would be victimised.
1943 = Azad Hind Government; 1945 = Red Fort trials; 1946 = naval revolt.
The INA was raised outside India, not inside it; Bose took command, but it was begun by Rash Behari Bose and Mohan Singh.
Memory clue: Remember ‘43-45-46’ — government, trials, revolt. Memory clue: three years, three events.
Spot the difference
| Event | Year | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| Azad Hind Government | 1943 | Singapore, Subhas Chandra Bose |
| Red Fort trials | 1945 | Protests across India |
| Naval revolt | 1946 | Mumbai, ship ‘Talwar’ |
Azad Hind Sena (INA) and the revolts of 1946
In the app you can move this figure with your finger.
Open in the appAzad Hind Sena (INA) and the revolts of 1946
In the app you can move this figure with your finger.
Open in the appPractice questions
- 1Who began the INA and who took command?
- 2What were the slogans of the INA?
- 3Where did the naval revolt take place in 1946?
- 4What was the ‘Rani of Jhansi’ regiment?
- 5Why did the Red Fort trials get nationwide support?
- 6Why did the sailors strike?
- 7How did Bose travel from India to Germany and Japan, and what was the result?
- 8How did British trust in the forces change after the Red Fort trials and the naval revolt?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Rash Behari Bose and Mohan Singh began it; Subhas Chandra Bose took command.
- 2‘Chalo Delhi’ and ‘Jai Hind’.
- 3In Mumbai, on the ship ‘Talwar’.
- 4The women’s regiment of the INA.
- 5Because the accused were officers of different faiths and people regarded them as patriots.
- 6Against bad food and racist treatment.
- 7In January 1941 in disguise via Peshawar-Kabul-Moscow to Berlin; then by submarine to Sabang; as a result he reached East Asia on 6 May 1943 and the Azad Hind Government was formed.
- 8The British realised that the Indian forces could no longer be trusted as before.