- Initial Indian Response: When the war broke out in 1939, the British government, without consulting Indian leaders, declared India a belligerent without India’s consent. This decision was met with widespread opposition from Indian leaders, including the Congress Party led by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
- Congress Party’s Response: The Congress Party initially opposed India’s involvement in the war unless India was granted full independence. They demanded that Britain declare India as an independent nation. However, when Britain refused to meet these demands, the Congress Party resigned from provincial governments in protest.
- Quit India Movement: In 1942, the Congress launched the Quit India Movement, demanding an end to British rule in India. This was a significant civil disobedience movement, and it aimed to force the British to leave India immediately. However, the British responded with force, arresting thousands of Indian leaders, including Gandhi, Nehru, and other Congress leaders.
- Indian National Army (INA): The most significant impact of World War II on the Indian independence movement was the emergence of the Indian National Army (INA) under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose. Bose, who had earlier escaped house arrest in India and sought support from Axis powers, particularly Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, formed the INA with Indian prisoners of war captured by the Japanese in Southeast Asia. The INA aimed to free India from British rule by force.
- Impact of INA on Indian Independence Movement: The INA’s formation and activities had a profound impact on the Indian independence movement. It captured the imagination of many Indians, especially in the context of British defeats in Southeast Asia. Bose’s rallying cry of “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom” resonated with many Indians who were disillusioned with British rule.
- Post-War British Policy Shift: The British Empire, weakened by the war, could not sustain its control over its colonies. The post-war economic and political landscape also contributed to Britain’s inability to maintain its colonial possessions. The Labour Party, which came to power in Britain after the war, had a more sympathetic view towards Indian aspirations for independence.
- Mountbatten Plan and Partition: The end of the war saw a rapid decline in British power and the emergence of India as an independent nation. Lord Mountbatten, the last British viceroy of India, proposed a plan for partition and the transfer of power to Indian hands. This led to the partition of British India into two separate nations, India and Pakistan, in 1947.
In conclusion, the Second World War served as a catalyst for the Indian independence movement. It led to increased political consciousness among Indians, the emergence of the INA as a symbol of resistance, and ultimately contributed to the weakening of the British Empire’s hold on India, leading to its independence.
