The Untold Stories of India's Independence

In light of India’s recent 77th birthday, it is important to recognize that its quest for independence from British colonial rule spans centuries. This journey consists of a multifaceted narrative woven with threads of resistance, resilience, and sacrifice. From the earliest days of colonial expansion to the epochal events leading to independence on August 15th, 1947, the path toward self-rule is a history rich with the complexities of India's socio-political landscape.

The seeds of resistance took root amidst the backdrop of British colonialism in the Indian subcontinent. The advent of European powers, notably the British East India Company, in the early 17th century ushered in an era of exploitation and domination. Initially motivated by economic ambitions, the Company's trading outposts gradually evolved into territorial conquests as it extended its control over vast swathes of Indian territory. However, beneath the facade of colonial prosperity lay a simmering discontent among the Indian populace, fueled by grievances ranging from economic exploitation to cultural imperialism.

The turning point in India's struggle for independence came with the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, a watershed moment in the nation's history. At first, this event was noted as a mutiny and rebellion but Veer Savarkar, a political revolutionary, renamed it the First War of Independence glorifying what the Indians had done to combat the British oppression. This was triggered by the harsh British-style societal reforms, oppressive taxation, and Britons forcing conversion to Christianity, the mutiny erupted into a widespread rebellion across northern and central India. Indian soldiers, known as Sepoy, rose against British authority, leading to months of intense conflict and bloodshed. The battle ended on June 19, 1858, when the British recaptured Gwalior and put the fighting to an end. At the end of the mutiny, the East India Company had dissolved as the British Raj had started, and the land still belonged to the British. 

Life during the colonization of India was not pretty. Despite being the crown jewel of the British and having valuable natural resources and industry, the conditions grew worse and worse. Poverty rates increased 23 percent to more than 50 percent from 1810 to the 1950s, death rates increased as the life expectancy rates fell to only 22 years, and more resistance and rebellions ensued. Indians strived for more and more representation in the nation, that's when Allan Octavian Hume brought together a group of Indians to represent in the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885. This marked a significant milestone in India's journey towards self-rule. Initially conceived as a platform for dialogue with British authorities, the INC gradually evolved into a crucible of Indian nationalism, advocating for self-determination and greater autonomy. At the forefront of the nationalist movement was Mahatma Gandhi, whose philosophy of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience inspired millions across the subcontinent, such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Junior. Gandhi's leadership during pivotal campaigns such as the Salt Satyagraha and the Quit India Movement demonstrated the transformative power of peaceful protest in challenging colonial hegemony.

That's the story that everybody knows because school textbooks were censored and made in a way to show that Gandhi’s nonviolent movement is why India gained independence. But that's false, alongside Gandhi's philosophy, there existed a parallel narrative of violent movements and revolutionary fervor. Figures like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru emerged as icons of armed resistance against British colonialism. Their daring acts, including the assassination of British officials and revolutionary activities, captured the imagination of the Indian populace and inspired a new wave of nationalist fervor. Despite their divergent approaches, both nonviolent and violent movements played a crucial role in eroding the foundations of British colonial rule and hastening India's journey towards independence.

Few months ago, a movie came out called Swatantra Veer Savarkar (Directed by and starring, Randeep Hooda). This movie talked about the dark side of the Indian Revolution and gave a different perspective on what had happened during this struggle. The film depicted Veer Savarkar’s life story and the struggles a political revolutionary had to go through. Savarkar was a pivotal political figure; he started his political oppression against the British when he went to London to study law. He became a part of an organization called the Abhinav Bharat and came under the influence of other revolutionaries: Shymaju Krishna Verm and Madam Bhikaji Cama. Savarkar was the person to make the first Indian flag. During his time in London, he encouraged other students to also come underneath his ideologies as revolutionarys, and they assassinated a lot of British officials both in India and London. Savarkar also wrote the book on the First War of Independence (the Mutiny I talked about earlier) and publicized it in a way that was not censored by people in power.

Following Savarkar’s protests from London and influence on the people of India, he and his brother were arrested and sent to Kaala Paani. This was a jail where they sent the worst of the worst criminals such as murderers and rapists, but alongside them, they sent revolutionaries who had unfair trials. In this prison, the human rights of the 300–400 revolutionaries were taken away. They were brutally tortured, sent into solitary confinement, were given bad food that sometimes contained reptile pieces, no clean drinking water, and sometimes no toilets. Sometimes the inmates had to do their business on the floor of their jail cells and sleep amongst it. A majority of the time they had to take baths using the ocean water. One of the most infamous torture methods in the prison included the Kollu ka bell. This punishment consisted of prisoners extracting oil from the seeds by moving in circles. This was usually done by bulls and if they did not take out at least 30 lbs of oil they would get punished. 

Savarkar spent 14 years in prison, enduring brutal conditions in Kaala Paani. Following his release from this notorious prison, he was placed under house arrest in Rathna Giri for another 13 years. Despite his imprisonment, Savarkar remained steadfast in his commitment to the revolutionary cause. He continued to advance the movement by writing petitions advocating for the release of prisoners held in the Kaala Paani Cellular Jail. Another significant figure in the Indian independence movement was Subhas Chandra Bose. Bose played a pivotal role in creating and leading the Indian National Army, which became a major catalyst for revolutionaries. During World War II, Bose sought support from Japan, which was opposed to British rule, similar to how the US sought French support against the British during their own struggle for independence. Ultimately, amidst protests, efforts from leaders like Gandhi and Nehru, and the strain of World War II on the British Empire, India gained independence. The British, weakened by the war, lacked the resources and finances to sustain their rule over India, leading to the culmination of India's struggle for independence.

The culmination of India's struggle for independence came with the partition of the subcontinent in 1947. Amidst escalating communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims, British colonial authorities acceded to demands for a separate Muslim state, leading to the creation of Pakistan, which was led by Mohamad Ali Jinnah. The partition unleashed unprecedented violence and mass migrations, resulting in immense human suffering and displacement. Despite the trauma of partition, India emerged as a sovereign nation on August 15, 1947, marking the culmination of decades of struggle and sacrifice. Jawaharlal Nehru assumed office as the first Prime Minister of independent India, heralding a new dawn of hope and optimism for the nation.

However, the legacy of independence is fraught with complexities and contradictions. While figures like Gandhi, Nehru, and Jinnah are celebrated as architects of freedom, the contributions of lesser-known revolutionaries often remain overlooked or marginalized. Heroes like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, who made invaluable sacrifices for the cause of independence, are relegated to the peripheries of history, their legacies obscured by dominant narratives and labeled as revolutionary terrorists. A major reason this censorship happened in textbooks is because the people who came into power after India’s independence wanted to show the light side of the Indian revolution. Moreover, the post-independence period has been characterized by debates over the interpretation of history and the legacy of various leaders.

At the end of the day, schools will continue to teach us about Gandhi, and his peaceful non-violent methods that also ended up inspiring Martin Luther Junior, Nelson Mandela, and numerous other leaders around the world. He was the one responsible for uniting the people of India against the Britons. He is remembered for his huge contribution to India’s struggle for independence. However, we cannot undermine the contribution of many revolutionaries, unsung heroes who were responsible for kindling fear in the minds of the English rulers. We should not label them as revolutionary terrorists but as revolutionary heroes.