Freedom Struggle Class 5 Notes SST

Introduction

• Imagine people across India—soldiers, farmers, and villagers—saying, “We want to be free!”
• That’s what happened during the Revolt of 1857.
• Even though they didn’t win, the dream of freedom started growing.
• After this, the Queen of England took control of India from the East India Company.
• But something had changed—people began thinking, “We are one nation!”
• And this was just the beginning of India’s exciting journey to freedom!
• Let's learn about all that happened as India struggled to gain freedom. 

Cultural Awakening in India

• Some great people realized that India couldn’t fight the British unless society became fairer and stronger.
• Reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, and Narayana Guru worked to remove social evils like sati, child marriage, and the caste system.
• They also promoted widow remarriage and worked to improve the lives of women.
• Reformers established educational institutions and fought social evils.
• Scholars highlighted India's rich cultural history to boost morale.
• Newspapers in Indian languages exposed British misrule.
• Indian publications shed light on the challenges faced by the people.
  

Indian National Congress

A.O. Hume, a British Civil Servant, established the Indian National Congress in 1885.

• The first Congress session took place in Bombay, presided over by W.C. Banerjee. 72 delegates from various parts of India attended the inaugural session.
• Annual Congress sessions were held to demand Indian self-governance. Key Presidents included Dadabhai Naoroji, S.N. Banerjee, G. Subramaniya Aiyer, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Badruddin Tayabji, Pheroz Shah Mehta, and Surendranath Banerjee.
• Initially, Congress leaders were moderate in their requests, believing in peaceful appeals to British authorities.
• The British became angry, thinking the Congress was against them, which made the leaders even more restless.
• Three prominent leaders emerged advocating stronger action—Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Lala Lajpat Rai.
• Tilak, known for his fiery stance, edited Kesari and famously proclaimed, "Freedom is my birthright, and I shall have it."
• These leaders, termed "Extremists," differed from the earlier "Moderates" within the Congress.
• As Congress became more popular, the British rulers introduced laws to limit freedom of speech and press.  Despite these efforts, they were unable to stop the growth of Congress. 

Partition of Bengal 

• British rulers aimed to weaken opposition by dividing Indians along religious lines.
• Lord Curzon tried to break the unity between Hindus and Muslims by announcing the Partition of Bengal on October 16, 1905. 

Although he claimed it was for easier administration, the real reason was to divide people by religion—East Bengal had more Muslims, and West Bengal had more Hindus. 

• Both Hindus and Muslims opposed the partition, leading to the start of the Swadeshi and Boycott movements.

Swadeshi Movement 

The Indian people became more aggressive in their fight for independence. Therefore  Congress initiated the Swadeshi movement, advocating the boycott of British goods.

• The British-made cloth was publicly burnt across the country to symbolize resistance.
• Citizens were urged to avoid purchasing British products and instead support Swadeshi goods.
• The boycott of British goods had a significant negative impact on British interests.
  

Government Response

The British rulers reacted strongly, using force against the leaders of the movement. Protesters in processions were subjected to beatings and police brutality.

Spread of Movement

• Initially starting in Bengal, the movement quickly expanded to other regions like Bombay, Pune, and Madras.
• Due to the widespread resistance, the plan to partition Bengal in 1911 had to be abandoned.
  

The Revolutionaries

• Revolutionaries were Indians who thought that the British oppression needed to be fought back with resistance and even violence.
• A notable young revolutionary, Khudi Ram Bose, was executed by the British when he was only 15 years old for his actions.
• Even though the Revolutionaries had some success in killing British officers, they were often overpowered and outgunned by the British forces.
• Many of the Revolutionaries faced harsh punishments, including the death penalty.
• Some Indians living abroad showed their support for the revolutionary cause by providing help and resources.
• The British government offered some political reforms to Indians, but they continued to exploit divisions between Hindus and Muslims.

After World War I

• Indian forces fought for Britain hoping for freedom post-war.
• British response post-war was stricter with harsh treatment of protesters.
  

Rise of the Muslim League

• Formed in 1906 due to the British divide-and-rule policy.
• Supported by the British, eventually led to India's partition on communal lines.
  

Gandhiji's Return to India

• Gandhi returned to India in 1915 after working as a lawyer in South Africa.
• His time in South Africa influenced his beliefs about British oppression and discrimination.
• After coming back to India, Gandhi became involved in the Independence Movement.
• He brought new leadership and guidance to the movement.
• His efforts played a significant role in achieving India's independence in 1947.