Question #
What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated the anti-colonial struggle in India?
Answer by Chad #
The anti-colonial struggle in India was primarily motivated by several major political, economic, and social developments in the world. These include:
1. Political Developments:
- Rise of nationalism: The emergence of nationalist sentiments across the globe, particularly in Europe and America, inspired Indians to push for freedom and self-rule.
- World Wars: World War I and II exposed the contradictions of European colonialism, as colonies were expected to contribute to the war efforts while not being granted equal rights or representation.
- Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points: US President Woodrow Wilson's post-World War I proposal for self-determination and the right to govern themselves inspired Indian nationalists to demand the same for their country.
2. Economic Developments:
- Exploitative colonial policies: British colonial rule in India was characterized by economic exploitation, including taxation, monopolistic trade practices, and deindustrialization, which led to widespread poverty and inequality.
- Global economic changes: The rise of capitalist economies in Europe and America, along with the Industrial Revolution, created a demand for raw materials and markets. Colonies like India became vital sources of resources, leading to increased resistance against colonial economic exploitation.
3. Social Developments:
- Education and awareness: The spread of education and the growth of a middle class in India exposed the discriminatory nature of British colonial rule, inspired by the ideas of equality and justice from the Enlightenment and European thinkers like Rousseau, Voltaire, and Marx.
- Nationalist movements in other colonies: The successful anti-colonial struggles in countries like Ireland, Egypt, and China, among others, served as inspiration and motivated Indians to fight for their own independence.
- Racial discrimination and cultural suppression: The British policy of racial discrimination against Indians, as well as the suppression of Indian culture and traditions, led to a growing sense of national pride and the need to reclaim and assert Indian identity.
These major political, economic, and social developments in the world provided the necessary impetus for the anti-colonial struggle in India, culminating in its eventual independence in 1947.