Second World War
Topic: The National Movement: Gandhian Era · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 3 "Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement"
Meaning
The Second World War was a global war fought from 1939 to 1945. Britain dragged India into it without consulting Indians. The Congress offered support if Britain promised independence. When Britain refused, the Congress ministries resigned in October 1939. The war then shaped Indian politics: individual satyagrahas (1940–41), the Cripps Mission (spring 1942) and the Quit India movement (August 1942). During these years the Muslim League also grew stronger.
Example
In spring 1942 the Cripps Mission failed. One reason was that Britain would not agree to an Indian Defence Member. Soon after, on 8 August 1942, the AICC in Bombay launched Quit India with Gandhi's call of "Do or Die".
Don't confuse with
- First World War (1914–18): it brought income tax, doubled prices and forced recruitment in India. It came before Gandhi's mass movements, not during them.
Related concepts
- Provincial elections of 1937
- Congress ministries 1937-39
- Wardha scheme of basic education
- Congress Socialist Party
- Haripura session 1938
- Tripuri crisis 1939
- Forward Bloc
- Lord Linlithgow
- Resignation of Congress ministries
- Day of Deliverance 1939