Model Answer

Evolution of the Working Class in India

The working class in India began to take shape in the latter half of the 19th century, primarily due to the growth of modern industry under British colonial rule. This evolution was closely tied to the broader Indian national movement.

Evolution of the Working Class

The destruction of the traditional village economy, driven by British free trade policies, forced many impoverished rural workers to migrate to urban areas in search of employment. This migration laid the foundation for the industrial working class, particularly in cities like Bombay and Calcutta, where demand for cheap labor surged (Source: “The Working Class of India: History and Perspective” by R. K. Sharma). Initially unorganized and exploited, especially women and children, the working conditions began to improve with the introduction of legislation like the Factories Act of 1881 and the Factories Act of 1891.

As the working class became more organized, they shifted focus from purely economic issues to broader political concerns. This transformation was evident in significant strikes and protests, such as the Ahmedabad mill strike. The establishment of trade unions post-World War I, exemplified by the formation of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920, marked a consolidation of the working class. During the 1920s and 30s, communist ideologies began to influence the working class, promoting political activism (Source: “Trade Union Movement in India” by A. K. Sen).

Involvement in the Freedom Struggle

The working class actively participated in key national movements, including the Swadeshi Movement, Non-Cooperation Movement, and Quit India Movement. For instance, railway workers protested during the Rowlatt Agitation, showcasing their commitment to the national cause (Source: “The Role of Working Class in India’s Freedom Struggle” by P. S. Gupta).

Strikes and hartals became common as workers sought to address both economic and political grievances, exemplified by strikes in government presses and textile mills. Lala Lajpat Rai, president of AITUC, notably critiqued the link between capitalism and imperialism, positioning the working class as a vital force against colonial rule.

Trade unions proliferated in 1919-20, further embedding workers in the national political landscape. Many prominent leaders, including C.R. Das and Subhash Chandra Bose, collaborated with the AITUC, urging workers to engage in political activism.

Though the emergence of a strong leftist movement in the late 1920s caused some tensions with the Congress Party, the working class remained essential to the freedom struggle, particularly in the post-World War II period during the INA trials and the naval ratings’ mutiny in 1946 (Source: “The Indian National Movement: A History” by B. R. Nanda).

In summary, the working class evolved from a fragmented group into a politically conscious force, playing a pivotal role in India’s struggle for independence.

Model Answer

The First World War (1914-1918) caused significant socio-economic disruptions in India, which contributed to the rise of mass mobilization for the independence movement. Some of the key disruptions included:

1. Economic Hardships

• Rise in National Debt: To fund the war, the British government significantly increased defense expenditure, leading to a rise in national debt by over Rs. 3 million between 1914 and 1923. This debt burden was passed on to the common people through heavy war loans and increased taxes. This economic strain was compounded by the rise in prices, leading to widespread hardship for the Indian populace.
• Food Shortages and Famine: The export of food grains to support the war effort, along with crop failures in 1918-19, led to food shortages and famine. The underproduction of crops during this period disproportionately affected vulnerable groups, such as women and children.

2. Distress Among Peasants and Workers

• Farmer Distress: Rising prices of industrial goods and food crops during the war were not matched by a corresponding increase in the prices of Indian agricultural raw materials. This led to severe distress among farmers, sparking protests like the Kisan Sabha movement in Uttar Pradesh (1918).
• Working-Class Discontent: Low wages, long working hours, and harsh working conditions, compounded by the demand for overtime to increase war production, led to widespread dissatisfaction among industrial workers.

3. Spread of Pandemic

• The return of Indian soldiers from the front lines in Europe facilitated the spread of the Spanish Flu (1918-1919), which claimed millions of lives and overwhelmed India’s already strained healthcare system.

Contribution to Mass Mobilization for Independence

The socio-economic impact of WW-I fueled the Indian independence struggle in several ways:

1. Political Awareness

Indian soldiers who fought in the war returned with heightened political awareness and a sense of injustice about colonial rule. This sense of empowerment contributed to the spread of nationalist ideas.

2. The Home Rule Movement

In response to the hardships caused by WW-I, the Home Rule Movement, led by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant, gained momentum. It called for self-governance and rallied public opinion against British policies.

3. Repressive British Policies

The British response to growing discontent included the imposition of martial law and the Rowlatt Act (1919), which restricted civil liberties. These oppressive measures further united Indian society, leading to Gandhiji’s Rowlatt Satyagraha.

4. The Khilafat-Non-Cooperation Movement

The harsh post-war Treaty of Sevres and the treatment of the Turkish Sultan (Khalifa) sparked the Khilafat Movement. Gandhiji’s Non-Cooperation Movement, which combined the Khilafat cause with the broader nationalist struggle, mobilized peasants, workers, and women.

Thus, the socio-economic disruptions caused by the war, alongside oppressive British policies, led to mass mobilization across various sections of Indian society for the independence movement.