The Indian National Movement was an organised mass movement concerned with the

interests of the people of India and affected by both internal and external factors. It led
to the formation of Indian National Congress in 1885 and several revolts broke out
across the country. Formation of Muslim League in 1906, Swadeshi Movement 1905 etc.
which spearheaded the freedom struggle in India from 1885 to 1947.

Summary of Indian National Movement

It has been observed that the struggles for Freedom in India had been a merger of a series of Political,
Socio-Cultural and Economic factors that led to the rise of Nationalism.

 On 28 December 1885 Indian National Congress (INC) was founded in the premises of Gokuldas
Tejpal Sanskrit School at Bombay. It was presided over by W.C Banerjee and attended by 72 delegates.
A.O Hume played an instrumental role in the foundation of INC with an aim to provide Safety Valve to
the British Government.
 A.O Hume served as a first General Secretary of INC.
 Real Aim of Congress is to trained the Indian youth in political agitation and to organise or to create
public opinion in the country. For this they use the method of annual session where they discuss the
problem and passed the resolution.
 The first or early phase of Indian Nationalism is also termed as Moderate Phase (1885-
1905). Moderate leaders were W.C Banerjee, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, R.C Dutt, Ferozeshah Mehta, George
Yule etc.
 Moderates have full faith in British Government and adopted PPP path i.e. Protest, Prayer and
Petition.
 Due to disillusionment from Moderates methods of work, extremism began to develop within the
congress after 1892. The Extremist leaders were Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipinchandra
 Pal and Aurobindo Ghosh. Instead of PPP path they emphasise on self-reliance, constructive work and
swadeshi.
 With the announcement of Partition of Bengal (1905) by Lord Curzon for administrative convenience,
Swadeshi and Boycott resolution was passed in 1905.
Congress Sessions during Swadeshi Movement:
1. 1905 – Congress session in Banaras. Presided over by Gopal Krishan Gokhale.
2. 1906 – Congress Session in Calcutta. Presided over by Dadabhai Naroji.
3. 1907 – Congress Session in Surat on the bank of the river Tapti. Presided over by Pherozeshah
Mehta where due to the differences between Moderates and Extremist first split in Congress
occurred.
 Muslim League was founded in 1906 by Agah Khan III and Moshin Mulk.
 Separate electorate was introduced by the Act of 1909 Morley- Minto Reform Act.
 Gadhar Movement was started by Lala Hardayal in 1913 and founded the Gadhar party on
1st November 1913 at Kotland. Its headquarter was set up in the form of Yugantar Ashram at San
Francisco and started the publication of Gadhar Journal.
 Komgata Maru incident took place on September 1914 and for this Indians set up a committee
named as Shore Committee to fight the legal battle of the passengers.
 In 1914 First World War broke out.
 Tilak on April 1916 started Home Rule Movement and it’s headquarter was at Poona and demanded
Swaraj.
 Annie Besant on September 1916 started Home Rule movement and it’s headquarter was at Adiyar near
Madras.
 Lucknow Session of Congress 1916 presided over by Ambika Charan Majumdar (Moderate leader) where
both Extremist and Moderate leaders were united.
 Government of India Act 1919 or Montagu- Chelmsford Reform Act was passed to establish a
responsible Government in India.
 On 9th January 1915 Gandhi ji return to India from South Africa at the age of 46.
 In 1916 Gandhi Ji founded Sabarmati Ashram at Ahmadabad (Gujarat) to preach the idea of truth
and non-violence.
 Champaran Satyagraha – 1917
 Kheda Satyagraha – 1917
 Ahmadabad Mill Strike – 1918
 Rowlatt Act Satyagraha February,1919
 Gandhi ji founded the Satyagraha Sabha in February, 1919. In this movement student, middle class,
labour and capitalist participated and congress as an organisation was nowhere. This was the first mass
movement of Gandhi ji.
 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre – 13 April, 1919. People were gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar
to protest against arrest on Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satyapal on 13 April 1919.
 On 1st August 1920 Khilafat Committee launched a Non-Cooperation movement on triple issues- Punjab
wrongs, Khilafat issue and Demand for Swaraj.

 Therefore, Non-Cooperation Movement was started on 1920.

 In October 1920 All India Trade Union Congress was founded in Bombay by N. M Joshi, Ray Chaudhary.
Presided over by Lala Lajpat Ray
 Akali Movement was started in 1920.
 In 1925, SGPC (Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee) was founded.
 Congress Khilafat Swaraj Party was formed by CR Das and Motilal Nehru. Also famous for the second
split in the congress.
 In 1927, Workers & Peasant Party (WPP) was formed at Bombay by S.S Mirajkar, K. N Juglekar and S.V
Ghate.
 In 1924, H.R.A (Hindustan Republican Association) was formed at Kanpur. Its members were CS Azad,
Sachin Sanyal and Ramprasad Bismil.
 In 1929, HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republic Association) was formed at Firozeshah Kotla Delhi. Bhagat
Singh joined HSRA.
 On 9 Aug, 1925 Kakori Train Dacoit, in this conspiracy case Ram Prasad Bismil, Rajendra Lahiri, Roshan
Lal and Asafaqullah khan were hanged to death.
 On 23rd March, 1931 Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged to death in Lahore Conspiracy
Case.
 On 8 November, 1927 Simon Commission was appointed by the British Conservative Government
under Stanley Baldwin. To inquire in the working system of Government in the country after the reform
act of 1919.
 Nehru Report- 1928 for dominion status, universal adult franchise, etc.
 Jinnah’s 14 point programme on 31st March, 1929.
 1929 Lahore Session of INC presided by Jawaharlal Nehru where the resolution of Purna Swaraj was
passed by the congress and decided to launch a Civil Disobedience movement under the leadership of
Gandhi ji.
 On 26th January, 1930 Independence Day was celebrated for the 1st time.
 Civil Disobedience Movement was started with the Dandi March. From 12 March to 6 April , 1930
Gandhi ji along with his 78 followers marched from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi and broke the salt law
by making salt on 6th April 1930.
 On 12 November, 1930 First Round Table Conference was held.
 On 5th March, 1931 Gandhi Irwin Pact was signed.
 On 23rd March, 1931 Trial of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.
 On 29 March, 1931 Karachi Session of INC, presided over by Vallabh Bhai Patel. In this session
first time a resolution of Fundamental Rights and Economic policy was passed.
 On 7th September, 1931 Second Round Table Conference was held in which Gandhi ji
participated on the behalf of congress.
 On 16th August, 1932 Communal or Ramsay Macdonald Award was announced.
 On 26th September, 1932 Poona pact was signed.
 On November, 1932 Third Round Table Conference was held.
 In 1935, Governmnet of India Act was passed to create All India Federation, Provincial Autonomy
and Diarchy should be there in the centre.
Towards Quit India Movement
Important Congress Sessions:
√ 1936 – Lucknow (UP) – Presided by J.L Nehru
√ 1937 – Faizpur (Maharashtra) – Presided by J.L Nehru ( First session held in
village)
√ 1938 – Haripura (Gujarat) – Presided by S.C Bose
√ 1939 – Tripuri (M.P) – Presided by S.C Bose
 On September, 1939 IInd World War broke out and India was declared an ally without its
consent.
 In 1939 S.C Bose founded Forward Bloc. It was a left party.
 On 10th August, 1940 – August Offer was announced by Lord Linlithgow viceroy to get the support of
Indians in the Second World War.
 On 11th March, 1942 Prime Minister Winstill Churchill announced for sending a mission under the
chairmanship of Sir Stafford Cripps to find out the solution of constitutional deadlock and problems of
Indians.
 With the failure of Cripps Mission Quit India movement was started in 1942 by the Indian leaders
and the resolution of Quit India was drafted by Gandhi Ji. Gandhi ji gave a call for Do or Die.
 In 1942 - Indian National Army was founded by Captain Mohan Singh and Niranjan Gill at
Singapore. S. C Bose took over its command of 2nd Headquarter at Singapore and Rangoon.
 On 21st October, 1943 – Azad Hind Government was set up at Singapore under S.C Bose. There was a
women regiment known as Rani Jhansi.
 In 1945, Second World War was ended.
 In 1945 – Shimla Conference or Wavell Plan was proposed by Lord Wavell to solve the political
deadlock.
 In 1946, Cabinet Mission Plan was announced by PM Clement Attlee.
 On 2nd September, 1946 - Interim Government was set up under J.L Nehru.
 On March, 1947 – Lord Mountbatten was send to India with an aim to find a way to transfer of
power. Also known as Plan Balkan.
 On 3rd June Independence of India Act 1947 was passed by which powers were transferred to two
Dominion States India and Pakistan.