The Indian National Congress Party is a major Political Party in India. It was originally formed on December 28, 1885. It was made by a British Civil Servant by the name of Allan Octavian Hume. It was made to bring a group of educated Indian individuals on a common platform to influence in the policy making of India under British rule. By 1905, the Congress Party was not well known across the nation. But when Partition of Bengal happened leaders of Congress focused the party movement towards independence. But by 1907, the Congress Party had split into two groups. First group was led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale and their main goal was dominion status of India. Meaning they wanted self-governing nation but under British the Monarch. Similar to Canada, New Zealand and Australia current government. While the other group led by Bal Gandghar Tilak wanted a Self-Ruling Nation.
After the tragic incident in Amritsar, known as the “Amritsar Massacre” in 1919 where hundreds of people were shot by British troops in the “Jallianwalla Bagh”. This incident changed the attitude of the Congress Party and the whole nation towards the British rule. In December 1920 the Congress Party launched the “Non-cooperation Movement”, which avoided British-run schools, courts, councils and other civil service. Also decline to pay taxes and give up high respected British titles. This movement was drafted by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a new leader of the Congress Party. This movement was the first step towards Independence. People were asked to use Indian made good, which helped village industries such as clothing and farming. Also to unite the Hindu and Muslim population of India. Then in 1922, this movement was brought to a stop by Gandhi after the Indian public killed 22 policemen in a protest, because he was against violence. Therefore, he was also sentenced to 6 years in prison but only served 2 years due to health reasons. This movement brought the Congress Party into the attention of the lower/middle class people and the younger generation, causing more support to the Party.
Simon Commission was another major incident that united the Indian population to the Independence Movement. The Simon Commission was a committee of 7 British Members of Parliament in 1928 to report the progress of Indian constitution, “Government of India Act” of 1919. The Congress Party was unhappy by this Commission as it did not include any Indian Member and these type of Commission were made to deferral the demand of Independence. In 1928 when Simon Commission came to India, all Indian Independence Organization including the Congress Party protested this Commission and a famous phrase during the protest was “Simon Go Back!”. During the protest a lot of Indian’s were killed or injured including many political leaders. One of them being Lala Lajpat Rai, a famous Congress leader in Punjab region. This caused the Congress Party leader Jawaharlal Nehru to start a movement called “Purana Swaraj” meaning Complete Independence as their main goal now instead of their previous goal of Dominion Status. Many Congress Member met on 26 December 1929 in Lahore where Indian Declaration of Independence document stated “The British Government in India has not only deprived the Indian people of their freedom but has based itself on the exploitation of the masses, and has ruined India economically, politically, culturally, and spiritually. We believe, therefore, that India must sever the British connection and attain Purna Swaraj, or complete independence.”
According to Britain Salt Act of 1882, Britain controlled India’s salt production even though all the salt was produced in India and the British knew salt was an essential mineral in the Indian diet. Therefore, Indian’s had to pay heavy taxes on salt purchase. Then in 1930, Gandhi and his supporters started a movement called “Salt Satyagraha”. This movement goal was to “Civil Disobedience Movement” by breaking the Salt Act. During these protest thousands of Indian’s joined Gandhi and produced their own salt from the sea water. This caused Gandhi to get arrested on May 5th, but the movement still continued. From this movement, the British government recognized Gandhi as potential threat. This movement also gave incentive to the Independence Movement.
In 1942 the Indian National Congress Party started a revolution called “Quit India Movement”. The Movement was started as a failure of “Cripps Mission” and Japan’s expansion over East Asia. The “Cripps Mission” was brought to India in 1942 so Indian could help the British in World War II as they did in World War I because the British did not want Japan to invade India. In return, the Indian National Congress Party demanded: immediate power transfer, Complete Independence after World War II. But the British only offered them Dominion Status, making a Constitutional Assembly, the power of army under Britain and any state can leave India. So the Congress Party declined this offer and stated it is like a “post dated cheque”. This started the “Quit India Movement” and Gandhi gave the “Do or Die” Speech. He stated in the speech “The mantra is ‘Do or Die.’ We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery. Every true Congressman or woman will join the struggle with inflexible determination not to remain alive to see the country in bondage and slavery.” British arrested the many top leader of the Congress Party including Gandhi and Nehru. These arrests’ started violence and the Indian public took over British Official building’s. So this British blamed Gandhi for this and he started a “Fast until death”, but only took place for 21 days. From this movement the British learnt they can not rule over India for a long time.
Lastly, in March 1946 the British sent “Cabinet Mission” to India to consult with Congress Party and Muslim League and published a proposal to divide India into 2 nations. This proposal got rejected and caused clash between Hindu’s and Muslim’s. In June 1947 Lord Mountbatten submitted an Independence plan to the Congress Party and Britain that India should divide into two new countries; India and Pakistan. The Congress leader, Jawaharlal Nehru became the first president of India. In his famous speech, “Tryst with Destiny” he stated “Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny; and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom”
In conclusion, after analyzing the Indian National Congress Party movement between 1920 and 1947, I believe they were responsible for India’s Independence to a great extent because of their non-violence and peaceful movement. Gandhi became a big role model in the world for his peaceful movement. He states in a quote “Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him with love.”