9. Last Phase of Struggle for Independence

(1) In November 1939, provincial ministers of Indian National Congress gave their resignations.

• The Second World War began in Europe in 1939.
• The then Viceroy, Lord Linlithgo, unilaterally declared that India had joined the war on the side of the British.
• England claimed that it was fighting the war to save Democracy in Europe.
• The Indian National Congress demanded that if this claim was true, England should immediately grant freedom to India.
• Since England refused to fulfill this demand, the provincial ministers of the Indian National Congress resigned in November 1939 in protest.

(2) The Indian National Army had to lay down their arms.

• In 1944, the Indian National Army captured the Aarakan province in Myanmar and several posts on the eastern border of Assam.
• However, the campaign of Imphal remained incomplete because Japan stopped providing help and supplies to the Indian National Army.
• In the same period, Japan accepted defeat in the Second World War.
• Additionally, on 18 August 1945, Subhash Chandra Bose died in a plane accident.
• Due to this sequence of adverse circumstances, the soldiers of the Indian National Army eventually had to lay down their arms.

(3) The Parallel Government became a source of inspiration to the people.

• At some places in the country, British officers were completely driven out, and a 'People's Government' or Parallel Government was established.
• This government successfully carried out essential work such as the collection of taxes, maintenance of law and order, and punishment of criminals.
• People started trusting and accepting the verdicts passed by the People's Court appointed by the Parallel Government.
• Furthermore, it engaged in constructive social work like opposing money lenders, prohibiting liquor, spreading literacy, and fighting against caste distinctions.
• Because of these positive actions and their ability to run an administration independently of the British, the Parallel Government became a massive source of inspiration for the public.

(1) How do you find the contribution of Shirishkumar to be inspirational?

• Even school children actively contributed to the freedom movement. At Nandurbar, a group of school children carried out a procession holding the tricolour flag under the leadership of a young boy named Shirishkumar.
• When the police became furious and mercilessly opened fire on these small children, they did not flee; instead, they bravely shouted the slogan 'Vande Mataram'.
• In this firing, brave school children like Shirishkumar, Laldas, Dhansukhlal, Shashidhar, and Ghanashyam became martyrs.
• Their fearless sacrifice for the nation at such a tender age serves as a profound inspiration to everyone.

(2) Why did the British Prime Minister send Sir Stafford Cripps to India?

• During the Second World War, England supported America against Japan.
• The Japanese army had advanced rapidly and reached the eastern borders of India.
• The British realized that if Japan attacked India, they would desperately need the cooperation of the Indian people to defend the territory.
• To secure this cooperation, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India in March 1942 to put forward a proposal to the Indians.

(3) What kind of reaction was seen during the spread of news of arrest of main leaders of the Indian National Congress?

• As soon as the news of the arrest of important leaders of the Indian National Congress spread, an intense wave of anger swept all over the country.
• The angry mob took out processions at various places to protest the arrests.
• Even though the police resorted to severe lathi charges and opened fire on the public, the people remained unafraid.
• The agitators attacked places that symbolized the suppressive policy of the British, such as jails, police stations, and railway stations, and attempted to take control of Government offices.