Vision of Indian Independence

13. Highlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian Independence since the twenties of the last century. (250 words) 15M

Ans. The objectives of the Indian independence movement got transformed from time to time depending upon the prevailing circumstances and the kind of leadership.

These objectives had underwent a profound change after the 1920s especially because of the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi at the center-stage of the independence movement.

Mahatma Gandhi added the element of mass participation and mass mobilisation to the freedom struggle, which was absent till that period. He also added that the objectives of the movement would be fulfilled by the way of non-violence and Satyagraha. He also provided new ways to achieve self-government like non-cooperation, civil disobedience etc. The importance of these objectives was that India achieved independence without complete anarchy and with less casualty.

After this in 1928, Indian freedom fighters through Nehru Report added the objective of dominion status to India. This prompted the British Government to give concessions to Indians at the front of constitutional reforms and various commissions had been established to think over this demand.

After couple of years, the objective was changed to Purna Swaraj, which increased the spark of the freedom struggle and led to the Civil Disobedience Movement.

After this, India added to objectives of social reforms, economic planning and socialism to the freedom struggle, which resulted in the origin of a welfare state like India after independence.

Then the element of communal-ism was also being observed in the freedom struggle. It resulted in the demand of a separate state on the lines of religion. This demand ultimately led to the division of India.

In the later part of the freedom struggle, the objective of Quit India was added, which strengthened the freedom struggle by providing a hidden energy to the masses. This forced the Britishers to move out of the country at the earliest.

So, each objective of the freedom struggle which added in the process resulted in providing the direction to the movement.