A teenager in India today, when asked who granted the nation its independence, will most likely say, "Mahatma Gandhi." Inquiring further about how India achieved this independence, they will probably respond with "non-violence." These answers, while not incorrect, do not encompass the full story. India's independence was the outcome of numerous factors, myriad characters, diverse ideologies, and a bit of fortune. To say that non-violence alone secured freedom oversimplifies the complex history involved.

Since those pivotal events, clarity has been elusive, even to this day. Many questions remain unanswered, and some are too uncomfortable to voice. Yet, questioning our past is vital for a mature and evolving democracy. Hence, we delve into four critical questions from India's independence movement. We know what the history books say; now let's explore what truly transpired and why the focus remains so much on Gandhi and Nehru, overshadowing other significant freedom fighters.

One of the most divisive elements that compelled Britain to leave India was the realization that the status quo was unsustainable. Gandhi, with his non-violent strategy, and Subhash Chandra Bose, with his more militant approach, represented two different paths to the same goal. Gandhi's Quit India movement in 1942 marked a significant moment, while Bose revived the Indian National Army the following year. Gandhi implored Britain to leave peacefully; Bose was determined to force them out.

In 1944, Gandhi proposed a truce, offering to halt civil disobedience on one condition, which Lord Wavell, the Viceroy, rejected outright. Meanwhile, Bose's efforts with the Indian National Army faced defeat in World War II, and he died in 1945. However, the trials of the INA soldiers later that year galvanized the nation. These soldiers, who had fought for Imperial Japan, were put on trial by Britain, sparking widespread support and leading to a massive naval mutiny in Mumbai, involving 20,000 sailors and 78 ships. Similar revolts occurred in Chennai and Pune, with riots breaking out in Karachi and Kolkata.

This unrest revealed to the British that controlling a rebellious army was impossible. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar noted in 1955 that the British realized they could no longer rely on the loyalty of their troops. The British Army was decimated by the end of World War II, with 384,000 soldiers lost and a debt of 21 billion pounds. With their resources stretched thin, they could no longer hold on to India. Thus, they left, not out of goodwill or because non-violence had won them over, but because they had no viable means to control India’s vast and restive population.

Clement Attlee, the British Prime Minister at the time, years later cited the erosion of loyalty among the armed forces as a key reason for granting India independence. This revelation came in a private chat with Justice P.B. Chakravarti, underscoring that Britain's departure was a pragmatic decision rather than a moral one.

Gandhi's opposition to Bose’s politics is another crucial aspect of this history. Gandhi tried to prevent Bose's election as Congress president in 1939. When Bose won, Gandhi saw it as a personal defeat. Bose, desiring swift independence, feared Gandhi might settle for less, perhaps Dominion status. This ideological rift led to rivalry. Gandhi, seen as petty in this episode, engaged in political maneuvers to undermine Bose. Arrested for his radical tactics, Bose fled British India in 1941, seeking support from Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.

The British branded Bose a collaborator. Despite supporting the Quit India movement in 1942, Bose’s provisional government of Free India, set up in 1943 and recognized by Axis-aligned nations, was never embraced by Gandhi or the Congress. They preferred to see Hitler defeated, and they were ideologically aligned with Britain. After the war, Nehru, initially opposed to Bose, defended the INA soldiers in their trials, a political move reflecting the changing dynamics within the freedom struggle.

World War II also reshaped India's freedom struggle significantly. The war devastated Britain and exposed Indian soldiers to new ideas of liberty and democracy. By 1947, many demobilized soldiers, once part of a 2.5 million-strong force, had returned home, bringing with them a heightened sense of rights and freedom. These veterans, who trained fighters, became instrumental in local defense units, influencing the independence movement further.

Lastly, the question of how Jawaharlal Nehru became India's first prime minister reveals the interplay of politics and personal influence. Gandhi preferred Nehru, believing he was better suited to negotiate with the British. Nehru, educated at Cambridge and articulate in English, was seen as an international statesman. Despite Sardar Patel winning the majority of state committee nominations, Gandhi persuaded Patel to withdraw, ensuring Nehru's ascension.

So, why are Gandhi and Nehru so prominently remembered, while other freedom fighters are often overlooked? The answer lies in their strategic roles and the narratives that have been propagated post-independence. Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence and his ability to mobilize the masses created an enduring image of peaceful resistance. Nehru's position as the first Prime Minister and his long tenure helped shape the initial direction of the independent nation, ensuring his legacy was solidified in public memory.

Other freedom fighters, like Bose, Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, and countless others, played equally crucial roles but did not fit as neatly into the narrative of peaceful transition favored by early independent India's leadership. Their contributions were indispensable, and recognizing their efforts is essential for a comprehensive understanding of India's struggle for freedom. Embracing the full spectrum of this history, acknowledging both the non-violent and the militant efforts, is the hallmark of a mature democracy, recognizing the intricate web of actions and ideologies that ultimately led to India's freedom.

To read more:

1: How to justify the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi vs. Subhash Chandra Bose

2: The Cowardice and Complicity Behind Gandhi Ji and Pandit Nehru Avoiding Kaala Paani

3: Clash of Titans: The Divergent Paths of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi