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Mangarh Massacre

Context
A horrifying tragedy occurred in Mangarh (Banswada, Rajasthan) killing more than 1,500 Bhil tribals on 17^th November, 1913.

• The Mangrah hillock, situated at the Gujarat-Rajasthan border, is also known as the Adivasi Jallianwala.

What led to the Mangarh Massacre?

• The Bhils, a tribal community faced great troubles at the hands of the rulers of the princely states and the British.
• By the end of the 20th century, the Bhils living in Rajasthan and Gujarat became bonded labour.
• The great famine of 1899-1900 across the Deccan and Bombay Presidency, which killed over six lakh people, only made the situation worst for the Bhils.
• Mobilised and trained by social activist Guru Govindgiri, also known as Govind Guru, the Bhils placed a charter of 33 demands before the British by 1910 primarily relating to forced labour, high tax imposed on Bhils and harassment of the guru’s followers by the British and rulers of princely states.
• The Bhils rejected the British’s attempt to placate them and refused to leave Mangarh Hill, vowing to declare freedom from British rule.
• The British then asked the Bhils to leave Mangarh Hill before 15 November 1913.
  • But that didn’t happen and on 17 November 1913, the British Indian Army fired indiscriminately on Bhil protesters and it is said that over 1,500 people, including women and children died in the tragedy.

Who was Govind Guru?

• Govind Guru was a revolutionary leader of the tribals of Mangarh that included present-day Udaipur, Dungarpur and Banswara in Rajasthan, Gujarat’s Idar and Malwa in Madhya Pradesh.
• Guru was a living legend among the Bhil and Garasiya tribal communities, a man who united thousands of tribals with his voice.
• Before Govind Guru became a leader in India’s freedom struggle, he played an important role in India’s renaissance movement.
• At the age of 25, he impressed Swami Dayanand Saraswati, a central figure of that movement in north India.
• He along with Swami Dayanand Saraswati initiated a wave of social reforms in the tribal areas.
• In 1903, Govind Guru pledged not to drink alcohol, shifting his focus to eradicating social evils, boycotting foreign goods, ending forced labour, educating girls, and resolving mutual disputes among tribes instead of taking them to the courts.
• This led to the creation of a Sump (Unity) Sabha, whose first meeting was held on the hilltop in Mangarh.
• This historical event solidified Mangarh’s significance in Indian history as it became central to the tribal movement in this area.
• Bhagat movement initiated in 1908 by Govind Guru where tribals gathered around the fire to reaffirm their oath was seen by the British as a threat.
• The consequence of the Mangarh massacre was cruel. Govind Guru was given a death sentence, and his wife was arrested.
• But fearing that the movement of tribal Bhils would turn violent, the British postponed his execution and sentenced him to 20 years of imprisonment on an isolated island.
  • When he was released from jail, all the princely states came together to exile him.
  • He lived his last years in Kamboi, Gujarat, where he died on October 30, 1931.

What is Bhil Tribe?

About:

• Bhils are commonly referred to as Rajasthan's bowmen. They are India's most widely dispersed tribal communities.
• As per Census 2011, Bhils are India's largest tribe.
• They are broadly classified into two types:
• Central or Pure Bhils
• Eastern or Rajput Bhils.
• The central Bhils can be found in the mountain regions of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan in India, and also can be found in Tripura's northwestern regions.
• They are considered as Schedule Tribe in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tripura.

Historical Perspective:

• Bhils are members of the pre-Aryan race.
• The term 'Bhil' is derived from the word villu or billu, which is known as Bow in the Dravidian language.
• The name Bhil is also mentioned in the ancient epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Rani Lakshmibai

Context
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remembered Rani Lakshmibai on her Jayanti. Shri Modi said that her courage and monumental contribution to our nation can never be forgotten.

About Rani Lakshmibai 

• Early Life: She was born on 19 November 1828 in Kashi. 
  • Lakshmibai’s childhood name was ‘Manikarnika’. She was affectionately addressed as ‘Manu’.
  • Manu’s father used to work with Peshwa Sahib of Bithur. 
  • From childhood, Manu started learning about using weapons. 
  • She became proficient in horse riding and fencing under the guidance of Nana Saheb and Tatya Tope.
• Married Life: In the year 1842, Manu got married to the King of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rao and after marriage, she got the name ‘Lakshmibai’. she gave birth to a son. 
  • Her son lived for a few months and then passed away. 
  • After some time, the king of Jhansi died, and state management’s responsibility fell to Rani Lakshmibai, which she managed efficiently.
• Conflict with the British:  The British, under the doctrine of Lapse, ordered the merger of Jhansi into the British Empire and assured the queen of pension. 
  • Rani Laxmibai did not agree to this contract in any way. 
  • She made it clear to the Britishers that she will never surrender Jhansi to them. She took this pledge. 
  • The brave queen guarded the pride of Jhansi until her last breath
• Legacy : The devotion of the queen towards the motherland, awakened the spirit of freedom among thousands of people. She inspired many women to participate in the freedom movement. She sacrificed her life for the dignity and freedom of her people. No doubt, She was a true queen and a brave fighter

Doctrine of Lapse

• Lord Dalhousie who was the Governor-General from 1848 to 1856  devised a policy that came to be known as the Doctrine of Lapse. 
• The doctrine declared that if an Indian ruler died without a male heir his kingdom would “lapse”, that is, become part of Company territory. 
• One kingdom after another was annexed simply by applying this doctrine: Satara (1848), Sambalpur (1850), Udaipur (1852), Nagpur (1853) and Jhansi (1854).
• Finally, in 1856, the Company also took over Awadh.

General Lachit Borphukan of Ahom Kingdom

Recently, the Prime Minister called 17^th century Ahom general Lachit Borphukan a symbol of India’s “Atma Nirbhar military might”.

Key Points

• Lachit Borphukan:
• Born on 24^th November, 1622, Borphukan was known for his leadership in the Battle of Saraighat, 1671 in which an attempt by Mughal forces to capture Assam was thwarted.
• He was the inspiration behind strengthening India’s naval force and revitalising inland water transport and creating infrastructure associated with it due to his great naval strategies.
• The Lachit Borphukan gold medal is awarded to the best cadet from the National Defence Academy.
• The medal was instituted in 1999 to inspire defence personnel to emulate Borphukan’s heroism and sacrifices.
• He died on 25^th April, 1672.

Ahom Kingdom:

• Founder:
  • Chaolung Sukapha was a 13^th century ruler who founded the Ahom kingdom that ruled Assam for six centuries. The Ahoms ruled the land till the province was annexed to British India in 1826 with the signing of the Treaty of Yandaboo.
• Political Setup:
  • Ahoms created a new state by suppressing the older political system of the bhuiyans (landlords).
  • The Ahom state depended upon forced labour. Those forced to work for the state were called paiks.
• Society:
  • Ahom society was divided into clans or khels. A khel often controlled several villages.
  • Ahoms worshipped their own tribal gods, yet they accepted the Hindu religion and the Assamese language.
  • However, the Ahom kings did not completely give up their traditional beliefs after adopting Hinduism.
  • Intermarriage with local also increased assimilation processes of Ahoms in Assamese culture.
• Art and Culture:
  • Poets and scholars were given land grants and theatre was encouraged.
  • Important works of Sanskrit were translated into the local language.
  • Historical works, known as buranjis, were also written, first in the Ahom language and then in Assamese.
• Military Strategy:
  • The Ahom king was the supreme commander of the state as well as the Military. The Ahom king himself led the state forces in the time of wars. The Paiks were the main army of the state.
  • There were two types of Paiks i.e. serving and nonserving. The non-serving Paiks constituted a standing militia which could be mobilized at a short notice by the kheldar (an expert military organizer).
  • The full contingent of the Ahom Army consisted of infantry, navy, artillery, elephantry, cavalry and spies. The main war weapons consisted of bows and arrows, swords, Javelins discus, guns, match-locks and cannons.
  • The Ahoms sent spies to the enemy’s camp to study the strength and the war strategies of the enemies before leading an expedition.
  • The Ahom soldiers were experts in guerilla fighting. Sometimes they allowed the enemies to enter the country, then cut off their communications and attack them in front and rear
  • Few important forts: Chamdhara, Saraighat, Simlagarh, Kaliabar, Kajali and Pandu.
  • They also learnt the technique of constructing boatbridges in the Brahmaputra.
  • Above all, the mutual understanding among the civil and military wings, unity among the nobles always worked as strong weapons of the Ahoms.

Battle of Saraighat

• The battle of Saraighat was fought on the banks of the Brahmaputra in Guwahati in 1671.
• It is considered as one of the greatest naval battles on a river which resulted in the victory of Ahoms over the Mughals.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Context

Recently, the Prime Minister of India paid tributes to Maulana Azad on his birth anniversary.

Key Points

• Born: November 11, 1888
• Place of Birth: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
• Association: Indian National Congress
• Movement: Indian Nationalist Movement
• Political Ideology: Liberalism; right-winged; Egalitarian
• Publications: Ghubar-e-Khatir (1942-1946); India Wins Freedom (1978);
• Passed Away: February 22, 1958

Political Career

• Early Revolutionary Activities:
  • In Egypt, Azad came into contact with the followers of Mustafa Kemal Pasha who were publishing a weekly from Cairo. 
  • In Turkey, Maulana Azad met the leaders of the Young Turks Movement. 
  • After his return to India from an extensive visit of Egypt, Turkey, Syria and France, Azad met prominent Hindu revolutionaries Sri Aurobindo Ghosh and Shyam Sundar Chakraborty. 
  • They helped in developing radical political views and he began to participate in the Indian nationalist movement. 
  • Azad fiercely criticized the Muslim politicians who were more inclined towards the communal issues without focusing on the national interest. 
  • He also rejected the theories of communal separatism advocated by the All India Muslim League.
• Publications:
  • Azad, inspired by the passion of Indian as well as foreign revolutionary leaders, started publishing a weekly called "Al-Hilal" in 1912. 
  • The weekly was a platform to attack the policies of the British Government and highlight the problems faced by the common Indians. 
  • The paper became so popular that its circulation figures went up to 26,000 copies. 
  • The unique message of patriotism and nationalism blended with religious commitment gained its acceptance among the masses. 
  • But these developments disturbed the British Government and in 1914, the British Government put a ban on the weekly. 
  • Unfazed by the move, Maulana Azad, a few months later, launched a new weekly, called "Al-Balagh". Failing to put a prohibition on the writings of Maulana Azad, the British Government then finally decided to deport him off Calcutta in 1916.

Pre-Independence Activities

• As an activist demanding the reinstatement of the Caliph in Istanbul, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad came onboard with the Khilafat movement during 1920. 
• He became involved with the Indian freedom struggle through the Non-cooperation movement initiated by Gandhi, of which the Khilafat issue was a big part of. 
• Although initially skeptical of Gandhi’s proposal to launch an intensified drive against the British Raj demanding independence, he later joined the efforts. 
• He wholeheartedly advocated the principles of the non-cooperation movement and in the process became drawn to Gandhi and his philosophy. 
• He worked closely with Vallabhbahi Patel and Dr. Rajendra Prasad. 
• On August 9, 1942, Maulana Azad was arrested along with most of the Congress leadership. 
• Their incarceration lasted for four years and they were released in 1946. 
• During that time, the idea of an independent India had solidified and Maulana headed the Constituent Assembly Elections within Congress as well as led the negotiations with the British Cabinet mission to discuss the terms of independence. 
• He vehemently opposed the idea of partition based on religion and was deeply hurt when the idea went forward to give rise to Pakistan.

Post-Independence Activities

• During the violence that erupted following partition of India, Maulana Azad assured to take up the responsibility for the security of Muslims in India. 
• Towards this, Azad toured the violence-affected regions of borders of Bengal, Assam, Punjab. 
• He helped in establishing the refugee camps and ensured uninterrupted supply of food and other basic materials. 
• It was reported that in the crucial Cabinet meetings both Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Maulana Azad clashed over the security measures in Delhi and the Punjab.
• The role and contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad could not be overlooked. 
  • He was appointed as India's first Minister for Education and inducted in the Constituent Assembly to draft India's constitution. 
  • Under Maulana Azad's tenure, a number of measures were undertaken to promote primary and secondary education, scientific education, establishment of universities and promotion of avenues of research and higher studies.

Association with the Indian National Congress

• While extending his support to Mahatma Gandhi and the non-cooperation movement, Maulana Azad joined the Indian National Congress in January 1920. 
• He presided over the special session of Congress in September 1923 and was said to be the youngest man elected as the President of the Congress.
• Maulana Azad emerged as an important national leader of the Indian National Congress Party. 
• He also served as a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and in the offices of general secretary and president on numerous occasions. 
• In 1928, Maulana Azad endorsed the Nehru Report, formulated by Motilal Nehru. 
• Interestingly, the Motilal Nehru Report was severely criticized by a number of Muslim personalities involved with the freedom movement. 
• As opposed to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Azad also advocated for the ending of separate electorates based on religion and called for a single nation committed to secularism. In 1930, Maulana Azad was arrested for violation of the salt laws as part of Gandhiji's Salt Satyagraha.

Legacy

• Maulana was a firm believer in the co-existence of religions. 
• His dream was that of a unified independent India where Hindu and Muslims co-habited peacefully. 
• Although this vision of Azad was shattered post partition of India, he remained a believer. 
• He was the founder of the Jamia Milia Islamia Institution in Delhi along with fellow khilafat leaders which has blossomed into a renowned University today. 
• His birthday, November 11, is celebrated as National Education Day in India.

Death

• On February 22, 1958 Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, one of the foremost leaders of the Indian freedom struggle passed away. 
• For his invaluable contribution to the nation, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was posthumously awarded India's highest civilian honor, the ‘Bharat Ratna’ in 1992.

Jawaharlal Nehru

Context
India is celebrating Children's Day on 14^th November 2022 to commemorate the 133^rd birth anniversary of the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

• World Children’s Day is celebrated on 20^th November each year.

Who was Jawaharlal Nehru?

About:

• Birth: 14^th November 1889 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
• Father’s Name: Motilal Nehru (a lawyer who held the office of Indian National Congress as President two times.)
• Mother’s Name: Swarup Rani

Brief Profile:

• Author, politician, social activist, and lawyer who rose to prominence as the face of Indian national movement against British rule of India.
• Education:
• Nehru received his education at home from English governesses and tutors until the age of 16.
• He attended Harrow, a prestigious English school, in 1905, where he spent two years.
• He spent three years at Trinity College in Cambridge where he earned a degree in natural science.
• He qualified as a barrister from the Inner Temple, London.

Return

• In 1912, when he returned to India, he immediately entered in to politics.
• Contribution in Indian Freedom Movement:
• Nehru participated in the Bankipore Congress as a delegate in 1912.
• In 1916, he joined Annie Besant’s Home Rule League.
• He became Secretary of the Home Rule League, Allahabad in 1919.
• When the Non-Cooperation Movement began in 1920, he interacted with Mahatma Gandhi and joined the national independence movement.
• In 1921, he was detained on suspicion of engaging in anti-government activity.
• Nehru was appointed as General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee in September 1923.
• Since 1927, he has twice served as the general secretary of the Congress party.
• Nehru was lathi-charged in Lucknow in 1928 while leading a protest against the Simon Commission.
• Nehru was elected as president of the Lahore Session of Indian National Congress in 1929.
• Nehru advocated for India's complete independence in this session.
• In 1929-31, he drafted a resolution called Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy, which outlined the congress's main goals and the nation's future.
• The resolution was ratified by the Congress party during the Karachi Session in 1931, which was presided over by Saradar Vallabhai Patel.
• He participated in the Salt Satyagraha in 1930 and was put in jail.
• Nehru became a more prominent leader within the Congress and grew close to Mahatma Gandhi.
• In 1936, he presided over the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress.
• Nehru was arrested for attempting to organize an individual satyagraha to oppose India's forced participation in the war.
• He took part in the civil disobedience movement in 1940, for which he received a four-year jail term.
• Nehru introduced the historic 'Quit India' movement at the All-India Congress Committee session in Bombay in 1942.
• Nehru along with other leaders was arrested on August 8, 1942 and taken to Ahmednagar Fort.
• He was released in 1945 and went on to arrange legal defence for officers and troops accused with disloyalty in the Indian National Army (INA).
• He was chosen to serve as the president of Indian National Congress fourth time in 1946.
• To recommend a strategy for the transfer of power, the Cabinet Mission was dispatched to India in 1946.
• An interim government headed by Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister was formed.
• On August 15, 1947, India attained independence but also suffered the pain of partition.

First Prime Minister of India

• A princely state must join in the constituent assembly, according to Nehru, who also affirms that there would be no princely states in an independent India.
• He assigned Vallabhbai Patel to oversee the effective integration of the states.
• India became a sovereign democratic republic on January 26, 1950, when the new Indian Constitution came into effect.
• In order to divide up states according to languages, Jawaharlal Nehru created the states reorganization committee in 1953.
• In addition to promoting democratic socialism, he promoted India's industrialization by carrying out the first five-year plans.
• The Non-alignment movement (NAM) is regarded as his greatest geopolitical accomplishment.
• India decided to not align with any superpower during the cold war era after World War II.
• His final term as prime minister was troubled by the Sino-Indian War, 1962.
• He promoted democratic socialism during his 17 years as prime minister, highlighting the necessity for India to attain both democracy and socialism.
• His internal policies were founded on the four tenets of democracy, socialism, unification, and secularism. He was able to incorporate these pillars into the construction of new independent India.
• Books Written: The Discovery of India, Glimpses of World History, An Autobiography, Letters from a Father to His Daughter.
• Death: 27^th May 1964.

Acharya Kriplani

Context

• Recently, the Prime Minister has paid tributes to Acharya Kripalani on his Jayanti.

More about Acharya Kripalani

About:

• Birth:
  • Jivatram Bhagwandas Kripalani, also called Acharya Kripalani was born November 11, 1888, in Hyderabad, India (now in Pakistan).
• Acharya:
  • He earned the moniker ‘Acharya’ around 1922 when he was teaching at the Gujarat Vidyapith, founded by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Contribution to India’s freedom struggle:
  • Acharya Kripalani was a prominent Indian educator, social activist, and politician in both pre-and post-independence India.
• Pre-independence:
  • Kripalani was prominently involved over a decade in top Congress party affairs, and in the organisation of the Salt Satyagraha and the Quit India Movement. 
  • He was a close associate of Mohandas K. Gandhi and a longtime supporter of his ideology.
  • Kripalani served in the interim government of India (1946–1947) and the Constituent Assembly of India.
• Congress presidency:
  • He was an Indian politician noted particularly for holding the presidency of the Indian National Congress during the transfer of power in 1947.
• Post-independence:
  • Kripalani was a harsh critic of both Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. 
  • He opposed Nehru’s policies, which he thought were against Gandhian values, and later opposed Indira’s policies too.
  • He joined the economically right-wing Swatantra Party later in life.
  • He was also the husband of Sucheta Kripalani.
  • Sucheta Kripalani was an Indian freedom fighter and politician. 
  • She was India's first female Chief Minister, serving as the head of the Uttar Pradesh government from 1963 to 1967.
• Death:
  • Acharya Kripalani died on 19 March 1982 in Ahmedabad at the age of 93.