Chapter 9: South Asia in Transition Section 1: Freedom and Partition

Lesson Questions Why did Gandhi help India win independence from Britain? Why did Gandhi help India win independence from Britain? How did WWII affect the struggle for independence? How did WWII affect the struggle for independence? What cultural differences led to the partition of India? What cultural differences led to the partition of India?

Growing Unrest from the British Empire - Indian nationalists demand freedom in 1919, hoping their cooperation from WWI would grant them freedom - G.B. responded by limiting their freedom of press, furthermore General Dyer banned their rights to public gatherings after 5 British officials were killed

Unrest continued April 13 th, 1919: the Amritsar Massacre April 13 th, 1919: the Amritsar Massacre 10,000 Indians gather for protest in northwestern India, General Dyer and his troops open fire 10,000 Indians gather for protest in northwestern India, General Dyer and his troops open fire 379 dead, 1100 wounded 379 dead, 1100 wounded The incident increased violence from both sides and led to the distrust of G.B. The incident increased violence from both sides and led to the distrust of G.B.

Mohandas Gandhi Gandhi led the Indian nationalist movement from around 1914 Gandhi led the Indian nationalist movement from around 1914 His leadership skills allowed him to attract all types of different classes from rich to poor His leadership skills allowed him to attract all types of different classes from rich to poor The congress party of India was mainly middle class, but he managed to get poor people and Indians who benefited from British rule on his side The congress party of India was mainly middle class, but he managed to get poor people and Indians who benefited from British rule on his side

Gandhi’s Principles He studied law in London and had little success as a lawyer when he returned to India He studied law in London and had little success as a lawyer when he returned to India He developed his satyagraha or “truth force” from his experience in South Africa He developed his satyagraha or “truth force” from his experience in South Africa Gandhi said his teachings were from Hinduism and Christianity Gandhi said his teachings were from Hinduism and Christianity Hinduism stressed nonviolence and respect for life Hinduism stressed nonviolence and respect for life Christianity taught forgiveness of one’s enemies Christianity taught forgiveness of one’s enemies He was influenced heavily by American philosopher Henry David Thoreau, whom practiced civil disobedience, or the refusal to obey unjust laws He was influenced heavily by American philosopher Henry David Thoreau, whom practiced civil disobedience, or the refusal to obey unjust laws Gandhi hoped to make the world aware of British injustice by accepting punishment without striking back. Gandhi hoped to make the world aware of British injustice by accepting punishment without striking back. He hoped to awaken in the British a sense of their own wrongdoing He hoped to awaken in the British a sense of their own wrongdoing

Gandhi’s Appeal He gained appeal by drawing on the rich heritage of India He gained appeal by drawing on the rich heritage of India He gave up western ways and encouraged traditional Indian industries such as spinning cotton He gave up western ways and encouraged traditional Indian industries such as spinning cotton Gandhi dressed simply in white garments much like the India’s poor people Gandhi dressed simply in white garments much like the India’s poor people He stressed morals and ways of life such as virtue, self-discipline, fasting, and being a vegetarian; which are all values of devout Hindus He stressed morals and ways of life such as virtue, self-discipline, fasting, and being a vegetarian; which are all values of devout Hindus Mahatma or “Great Soul” became his name Mahatma or “Great Soul” became his name The Mahatma wanted reforms for the lower castes and political power for Muslims The Mahatma wanted reforms for the lower castes and political power for Muslims

Campaign of Civil disobedience The early 1920’s: the Mahatma travels around the country supporting worker strikes and protests He calls for a boycott on British made goods 1930: Salt March: the Satyagraha movement to protest the tax on salt led by Gandhi, followers go on a 200-mile march to the coast to harvest salt They also broke the British ban on manufacturing salt by making it from sea water The result was the arrest of Gandhi and 50,000 followers Furthermore, it gained worldwide support for India and Britain’s government began to debate if holding onto India was worth it

Pictures of the Salt March

Moving Toward Independence WWII started in the west in 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Germany WWII started in the west in 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Germany The Indian National Congress refused to support the war and Gandhi organized a “Quit India” movement The Indian National Congress refused to support the war and Gandhi organized a “Quit India” movement 20,000 Congress members and supporters are arrested 20,000 Congress members and supporters are arrested 1945: war-weakened Britain realized it can no longer maintain India 1945: war-weakened Britain realized it can no longer maintain India Nationalist forces became too strong and British popular opinion opposed keeping their colonies Nationalist forces became too strong and British popular opinion opposed keeping their colonies

Hindu- Muslim Conflict Hindus and Muslims had cooperated in the nationalist movement Hindus and Muslims had cooperated in the nationalist movement G.B. encouraged their divisions to weaken their grip over the region G.B. encouraged their divisions to weaken their grip over the region The Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, asked for a separate Muslim state The Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, asked for a separate Muslim state Religious differences caused a clash between the Muslims and Hindus Religious differences caused a clash between the Muslims and Hindus Also, some Muslims feared for their rights to be dominated by a Hindu majority Also, some Muslims feared for their rights to be dominated by a Hindu majority Gandhi thought the groups could live together, if they respected each other and treated each other as family Gandhi thought the groups could live together, if they respected each other and treated each other as family Hindus distrusted the Muslims and looked at them as foreign conquerors Hindus distrusted the Muslims and looked at them as foreign conquerors Economic and political differences also increased the tension Economic and political differences also increased the tension

The Subcontinent Divided 1946: Rioting breaks out between Hindus and Muslims 1946: Rioting breaks out between Hindus and Muslims 1947: the British Parliament tried to prevent civil war by passing the Indian Independence Act 1947: the British Parliament tried to prevent civil war by passing the Indian Independence Act This act partitioned the Indian subcontinent into two independent nations This act partitioned the Indian subcontinent into two independent nations Pakistan- Muslim ruled by Governor General Jinnah Pakistan- Muslim ruled by Governor General Jinnah India – Hindu ruled by Prime Minister Nehru India – Hindu ruled by Prime Minister Nehru Jinnah Nehru

Partition The division led to increased violence The division led to increased violence Both governments on each side stressed a policy of religious toleration, however distrust was deeply rooted Both governments on each side stressed a policy of religious toleration, however distrust was deeply rooted 500,000 people would die as a result 500,000 people would die as a result To escape death on both sides, roughly 15 million people migrated to their religious majority country To escape death on both sides, roughly 15 million people migrated to their religious majority country Gandhi refused to celebrate the independence and in prayer services he recited from the Koran, the Bible, and the Bhagavad-Gita Gandhi refused to celebrate the independence and in prayer services he recited from the Koran, the Bible, and the Bhagavad-Gita A Hindu extremist assassinated Gandhi because he believed he betrayed his own people A Hindu extremist assassinated Gandhi because he believed he betrayed his own people