The First World War began in June 1914, with the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Russia, Japan, and the United States of America on one side and Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey on the other. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the world's industrialized capitalist countries began to compete for, and struggle for, exclusive markets and colonies. This struggle had become very intense and bitter by the beginning of the twentieth century, as the area of the world still available for conquest began to shrink. Very quickly, the powers were divided into hostile alliances or power blocs. Finally, the war began in August 1914, and world politics began to shift rapidly. The years of war in India marked the maturation of nationalism. In this article, we will discuss the Indian Freedom Struggle amid World War 1 and its economic hardship which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

World War 1 – Background

• Powers such as Germany and Italy, who arrived late on the world stage were unable to seize as much as the early starters, such as Britain and France, now demanded a redistribution of the colonies.
• They were willing to use force to achieve such a division.
• Every major country in the world began to prepare for a possible war in order to keep or acquire new possessions.
• The powers engaged in a fierce armament race in the early years of the twentieth century.
• The people of these countries became emotionally involved in the struggle for colonies after their rulers told them that a nation's prestige, power, and fame depended on the extent of its colonial holdings.
• Finally, the war began in August 1914, and world politics began to shift rapidly.

India’s Support to British during World War 1

• When World War I broke out, the British were taken aback by the outpouring of sympathy, loyalty, and goodwill for them.
• They had feared that the Indians would seize the opportunity to revolt. India generously supplied the British with men and resources.
• Nearly 1.3 million Indian soldiers and laborers served in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
• The Indian government, as well as the princes, provided massive amounts of food, money, and ammunition.
• However, the high rate of casualties, rising inflation fuelled by heavy taxation, an influenza outbreak, and trade disruptions increased suffering in India. The nationalist movement experienced a resurgence.
• The moderate and extremist factions in Congress put aside their differences to form a unified front.
• Initially, Indian nationalist leaders, including Lokmanya Tilak, who had been released in June 1914, decided to back the war.
• The nationalists adopted an actively pro-British stance, erroneously believing that a grateful Britain would repay India's loyalty with gratitude, allowing India to take a significant step forward on the road to self-government.
• They were unaware that the various powers were igniting the First World War precisely to protect their existing colonies.
• These were also temporary alliances formed in 1916 by the Congress and the Muslim League. The Lucknow Pact was the name given to the alliance.
• The alliance was formed over the issue of political power devolution and the treatment of Islam in the Middle East.
• When it came to acknowledging India's support during the war, the British used a "carrot and stick" strategy.
• In August 1917, Edwin Montague, the Secretary of State for India, was 'increasing the association of Indians in every branch of administration and the gradual development of self-governing institutions with a view to the progressive realization of a responsible government in India as an integral part of the British Empire.'
• The methods for implementing the proposed measure were later incorporated into the Government of India Act of 1919.

Reforms and Agitation

• In India, the return of Punjabi soldiers after the war sparked political activity against colonial rule in that province, which sparked further wider protests.
• After the war, Punjab, which supplied a large proportion of the troops, became a hotbed of nationalism.
• When the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms failed to deliver on the expectation of home rule that had led to popular support for the British war effort, there was a surge of nationalism and a rise in mass civil disobedience.
• As the war dragged on, casualties piled up, and recruitment methods became more coercive, resentment grew, fuelling nationalism.
• Gandhiji called for satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act, which the British had just passed, in 1919. The Act restricted fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and increased police powers.
• Another cause was the Khilafat dispute in which the British imposed a harsh treaty on the Turkish Sultan, or Khalifa, in 1920. People were outraged, just as they had been after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
• Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, the leaders of the Khilafat agitation, now wished to launch a full-fledged Non-Cooperation Movement.
• During 1921-22, the Non-Cooperation Movement gained traction.
• Muslim traders and peasants in Sind (now Pakistan) were ecstatic about the Khilafat call.
• The Khilafat-Non-Cooperation alliance provided enormous communal unity and strength to the national movement in Bengal as well.
• The Sikh Akali agitation in Punjab sought to remove corrupt mahants – supported by the British – from their gurdwaras. This movement became inextricably linked with the Non-Cooperation Movement.
• Patidar peasants in Kheda, Gujarat, organized nonviolent campaigns against the British's high land revenue demand.
• Liquor stores were picketed in coastal Andhra Pradesh and the interior of Tamil Nadu.
• Tribals and poor peasants in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district staged a number of "forest satyagraha," sometimes sending their cattle into forests without paying grazing fees.

Post War Economic Hardship

Following the war, the conditions in India, combined with foreign influences, created a situation ripe for a national uprising against foreign rule:

• India provided both Manpower and money to the British war effort. Thousands of Indian men died on various fronts during the war.
• The money raised by taxing Indians was used to pay for food, ammunition, and the army's keep. When the war ended, all segments of the Indian population were facing hardships on multiple fronts.
• Price increases, followed by a recession and increased foreign investment, pushed many industries to the brink of closure and loss. In addition to government assistance, they now demand protection from imports.
• Artisans and workers - This segment of the population was affected by unemployment and high prices.
• Peasants Faced with high taxes and poverty, waited for a leader to protest.
• Soldiers who returned from foreign battlefields shared their experiences with the rural populace. They were also taken aback by the fact that they had returned to a country that was impoverished and had less liberty than before.
• Urban Educated Classes were facing unemployment as well as an acute awareness of racism in the British attitude.
• It resulted in a significant increase in the Government of India's defense spending.
• In turn, the government raised taxes on individual income and business profits.
• Increased military spending and demand for war supplies resulted in a sharp rise in prices, causing great hardship for the general public.

World War 1 and Growth of Mass Nationalism

• After 1919, the struggle against British rule grew into a mass movement, involving large numbers of peasants, tribals, students, and women, as well as factory workers on occasion.
• In the 1920s, certain business groups also began to actively support Congress.
• The war also prompted the British to increase the size of their army.
• Villages were coerced into supplying soldiers for a foreign cause. A large number of soldiers were sent abroad to serve.
• Many returned from the war with a better understanding of how imperialist powers exploited the peoples of Asia and Africa, as well as a desire to oppose colonial rule in India.
• In addition, Russia experienced a revolution in 1917. News of peasant and worker struggles, as well as socialist ideas, spread widely, inspiring people.
• The contribution of Indians to the British war effort was enormous, though it went unnoticed.
• Gandhi and most nationalists lent their support to the war effort, and a large number of Indian troops died on the battlefields.
• As a result, there were high expectations of political gains from the British government following the war, which contributed to the country's charged atmosphere.
• In these circumstances, Mahatma Gandhi rose to prominence as a mass leader.

Conclusion

Towards the end of World War I, a variety of forces were at work in India and on the international stage. After the war, there was a resurgence of nationalist activity in India and many other Asian and African colonies. With the emergence of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on the Indian political scene, the Indian struggle against imperialism took a decisive turn toward a broad-based popular struggle.

FAQs

MCQs

1. What was the primary reason for India’s support to Britain during World War 1?

A) To gain independence
B) To maintain British colonial power
C) To secure a political concession
D) To support the Ottoman Caliphate

2. The Rowlatt Act of 1919 was intended to:

A) Grant more powers to Indian states
B) Allow for greater Indian participation in government
C) Provide for the arrest of individuals without trial
D) Promote civil rights and freedoms

3. Which movement played a key role in uniting Indian Muslims during the British colonial period?

A) Non-Cooperation Movement
B) Khilafat Movement
C) Civil Disobedience Movement
D) Quit India Movement

4. What was the main outcome of the Non-Cooperation Movement?

A) End of British colonial rule
B) Establishment of independent states
C) Widespread participation of Indians in anti-colonial activities
D) Creation of a new political party

5. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 led to:

A) Increased support for the British among Indians
B) A sharp increase in nationalist sentiment in India
C) The end of the First World War
D) Strengthened the British government's commitment to reform

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Examine the role of the Khilafat Movement in the Indian Freedom Struggle during World War 1.

Answer: The Khilafat Movement, led by the Ali brothers, played a significant role in mobilizing Indian Muslims during World War 1. The movement aimed to protect the Ottoman Caliphate from disintegration following the end of World War 1. It gained widespread support among Indian Muslims, as they felt a strong religious and emotional connection to the Caliphate. The movement not only brought Muslims into the fold of the broader nationalist struggle but also strengthened the ties between Hindus and Muslims through the Non-Cooperation Movement. The Khilafat-Non-Cooperation alliance became a crucial element of the mass movement for independence, marking a united effort against British rule.

Q2: Discuss the impact of World War 1 on the Indian economy and its contribution to the growth of nationalism.

Answer: The impact of World War 1 on the Indian economy was profound. India contributed significant resources, both human and material, to the British war effort. The war led to inflation, rising prices, and economic hardships, which affected all segments of Indian society. The rising taxation, coupled with food shortages and a declining standard of living, led to widespread discontent. This economic distress, combined with the failure of the British government to deliver on promises of greater autonomy, fueled the growth of nationalism. The hardships and the unfulfilled expectations contributed to the rise of mass political movements, such as the Non-Cooperation Movement, which sought to address both economic and political grievances.

Q3: Analyze the impact of the Rowlatt Act on the Indian independence movement.

Answer: The Rowlatt Act, passed in 1919, was a significant turning point in the Indian independence movement. The Act gave the British authorities sweeping powers to arrest Indians without trial and to suppress civil liberties, including freedom of expression. The Act was widely seen as oppressive, and it sparked protests across the country. The crackdown on these protests, particularly the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, ignited a wave of anger and resistance against British rule. The Act galvanized the Indian population, leading to a widespread boycott of British goods and institutions. It marked the beginning of mass political mobilization under leaders like Gandhi, who called for non-cooperation with the British government in response to the Act's repressive measures.

Previous Year Questions on Indian Freedom Struggle during World War 1

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021:

Question: The Khilafat Movement was primarily aimed at:

A) Securing self-rule for India
B) Restoring the Ottoman Caliphate
C) Promoting Hindu-Muslim unity
D) Ending British colonial rule in India

Answer: (B)

Explanation: The Khilafat Movement aimed to restore the Ottoman Caliphate, which was under threat after World War 1, and to mobilize Indian Muslims in support of this cause.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 1):

Question: Evaluate the impact of World War 1 on the Indian economy and its role in the emergence of mass nationalism.

Answer: World War 1 had a severe economic impact on India, leading to inflation, food shortages, and economic distress, which fueled resentment against British colonial rule. The economic hardships, combined with the British failure to offer political concessions, led to the growth of mass nationalism, with movements like the Non-Cooperation Movement gaining widespread support. These movements marked a new phase in India’s struggle for independence, focused on both political and economic demands.