ISS Previous Year Paper 2018 GS Solution Question 1(c) Gandhian Policy During the 1940s and the Demand for Independence

ISS Previous Year Paper 2018 GS Solution Question 1(c) Gandhian Policy During the 1940s. Detailed answer explaining the circumstances, objectives, and outcomes of Gandhi's policy during the final phase of the freedom struggle.

ISS Previous Year Paper 2018 GS Solution Question 1(c) Gandhian Policy During the 1940s and the Demand for Independence

ISS Previous Year Paper 2018 GS Solution Question

Q.1(c) During 1940s Gandhiji said, “We do not seek independence out of British ruin.” Explain the circumstances and outcome of the Gandhian policy in this context.

Answer :

Gandhiji's statement reflected his moral and political philosophy during the Second World War. While Britain was facing severe challenges due to the war, Gandhi believed that India's demand for independence should not be based on Britain's destruction or defeat but on the principle of justice and self-determination.

The immediate context was Britain's unilateral decision to involve India in World War II without consulting Indian leaders. The failure of constitutional negotiations, including the Cripps Mission (1942), increased dissatisfaction among nationalists.

Gandhi opposed both fascism and imperialism. He believed that India should achieve freedom through non-violent means rather than taking advantage of Britain's wartime difficulties. However, when it became clear that Britain was unwilling to grant meaningful political concessions, Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement in August 1942.

The movement demanded immediate British withdrawal from India and became one of the most powerful mass movements in Indian history. Although it was suppressed by the colonial government, it demonstrated the strength of Indian nationalism and weakened British authority.

The policy ultimately contributed to the acceleration of the independence process. After the war, Britain recognized that continuing colonial rule in India had become increasingly difficult, leading to India's independence in 1947.

Conclusion

Gandhi's policy during the 1940s combined moral principles with political realism. While he rejected the idea of seeking freedom through Britain's ruin, he firmly asserted India's right to independence. His leadership during this period played a crucial role in the final phase of the freedom struggle.