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Significance of Royal India Navy (RIN) mutiny

In what ways the Naval Mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India? (200 words, 10M)
The Royal India Navy (RIN) mutiny took place in February 1946, in the aftermath of the Indian National Army (INA) trials and the revolt of Royal Air Force. The Indian masses were already in agitated state over these events, the naval mutiny was the breaking point..

The Navy (also the Air Force and the Military Forces) had been a part of World War-II, and they were greatly dissatisfied over the treatment meted out to them on their return. They were also getting a sense of nationalism and heavily sympathized with the masses and the freedom fighters.

 The RIN Mutiny began in Bombay, and spread throughout British India, covering 78 ships, 20 shore establishments and 20,000 sailors. The mutiny also found widespread support among the people who were already discontent with the British establishment. Also, as the mutiny grew, member of the Royal Indian Air Force and the armed forces also joined in the rebellion.

British had systematically adopted a policy of division and segregation of the armed forces to keep them out of touch and synch with the masses. This aided them to insulate them from the growing nationalist sentiments. However with the Royal India Navy (RIN) mutiny it became clear to the British that the armed forces have also entered the freedom struggle of India.

Hence this mutiny can be considered as the last nail in the coffin of the British colonial aspirations in India as, British got realized that, now it is impossible to hold on to India as their main weapon that is the armed forces had also entered the freedom struggle of India. 

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