Indian freedom struggle

MOTILAL NEHRU : ARCHITECT OF EARLY INDIAN CONSTITUTIONAL THOUGHT

Motilal Nehru was a prominent lawyer, nationalist leader, and constitutional thinker who played a crucial role in India’s freedom struggle. Beginning as a constitutional moderate, he gradually aligned with mass nationalism under Gandhian influence while continuing to believe in constitutional methods. As Congress president, Swarajya Party leader, and chairman of the Nehru Report (1928), he significantly shaped early Indian constitutional ideas. His life reflects the transition of the national movement from elite politics to broader political mobilisation.

Chauri chaura incident and its impact on freedom movement

The Chauri Chaura incident of February 1922 was a significant turning point in India’s freedom struggle. During a protest linked to the Non-Cooperation Movement, a clash between demonstrators and police escalated into violence, resulting in the burning of a police station and the death of 22 policemen. The episode shocked Mahatma Gandhi, who believed that the national movement must remain firmly rooted in non-violence. As a result, he called off the Non-Cooperation Movement, despite its growing momentum across the country.

Although the incident led to a temporary halt in mass political action, it had lasting consequences. It reinforced non-violence as the core principle of India’s struggle for independence, highlighted the difficulties of controlling large-scale popular movements, and prompted a phase of organisational rebuilding and constructive work. In the long run, Chauri Chaura shaped the strategy, discipline, and moral direction of future Gandhian movements.

MAHATMA GANDHI AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS

Mahatma Gandhi was the central figure who transformed India’s freedom struggle into a mass movement based on truth and non-violence. After returning from South Africa, he led early local struggles like Champaran, Kheda, and the Ahmedabad Mill Strike, which established Satyagraha as an effective method of resistance. He later spearheaded nationwide movements such as Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, and Quit India, mobilizing millions against British rule. Beyond political freedom, Gandhi promoted social reform, self-reliance through Swadeshi and Khadi, communal harmony, and upliftment of the weakest sections. His principles of Ahimsa, Sarvodaya, and Trusteeship continue to influence ideas of ethical governance, social justice, and peaceful conflict resolution worldwide.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

Subhas Chandra Bose, popularly known as Netaji, was one of the most dynamic and radical leaders of India’s freedom struggle. Born in 1897 in Cuttack, he resigned from the Indian Civil Services to join the national movement and later rose to become President of the Indian National Congress in 1938 and 1939. Due to ideological differences with Mahatma Gandhi, he formed the Forward Bloc and pursued a more militant path to independence.

During World War II, Bose reorganized the Indian National Army (INA) and established the Provisional Government of Azad Hind with foreign support, inspiring Indians with slogans like “Delhi Chalo” and “Give me blood, and I will give you freedom.” His courage, leadership, and spirit of sacrifice gave a powerful international and military dimension to India’s struggle for freedom, leaving behind an enduring legacy of patriotism and determination.

RASH BEHARI BOSE

Rash Behari Bose was a revolutionary nationalist who played a pivotal role in extending India’s freedom struggle beyond its borders. From early militant activities in India to organising overseas resistance through the Ghadar Movement, Indian Independence League, and Azad Hind Fauj, he laid the foundation for organised armed struggle abroad and left a lasting legacy in India’s independence movement.

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA AT 100

The Communist movement in India grew out of global socialist ideas and Indian anti-imperialist conditions, formally taking organisational shape in 1925 at Kanpur. It played an active role in organising workers and peasants during the freedom struggle, faced repression through conspiracy cases, and later led major agrarian movements like Tebhaga and Telangana. After Independence, the movement debated between armed revolution and parliamentary democracy, eventually becoming a major force in electoral politics in states such as Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. The 1964 split between CPI and CPI(M) marked a major ideological division, and although the Left later faced electoral decline and new socio-economic challenges, it continues to remain relevant by highlighting issues of inequality, labour rights and social justice in contemporary India.

LEGACY OF VANDE MATARAM

Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, emerged as a powerful cultural symbol of India’s freedom struggle. First sung by Rabindranath Tagore in 1896, it inspired patriotism and unity among freedom fighters. Adopted as the National Song in 1937 and reaffirmed in 1950, it continues to represent national pride, sacrifice, and devotion to the motherland, holding an honoured place in India’s historical and cultural identity.

BATUKESHWAR DUTT: CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE

Batukeshwar Dutt was a committed Indian revolutionary best known for carrying out the 1929 Central Legislative Assembly bombing with Bhagat Singh to protest British repression. A member of the HSRA, he spent long years in jail, joined hunger strikes for prisoner rights, and participated again in the Quit India Movement. Despite his courage and sacrifices, he lived in hardship after independence and remains one of the most overlooked heroes of India’s freedom struggle.

PRESS AS THE FOURTH PILLAR : HISTORICAL & CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES

The press in India has played a pivotal role from the freedom struggle to the modern democratic era. During colonial times, newspapers shaped nationalist consciousness, mobilized masses, and exposed British policies despite severe censorship. After Independence, the press expanded with constitutional protections, institutional reforms like the PCI, and growing diversity across languages and mediums. Today, the media continues to be essential for transparency and accountability but faces challenges such as misinformation, political pressure, commercialization, and threats to journalist safety. A strong, ethical, and independent press remains vital for sustaining India’s democracy.