A century of distressed living, rising poverty, negligible standard of living and meagre income led to the rising of Indians against the British. The struggle for independence of India was a heated agitation that derailed the Raj.
Indians were made to do the dirty jobs and were ill-treated. Even women were not spared, they had to do the household chores for the British and a slight mistake would lead to sheer hollering and thrashing. Men were whipped mercilessly on an order carried out in an improper fashion. Regardless of age and religion, people were used and misused.
Many reasons like these founded the thought of freedom. A country that did not have to be run by foreigners. It had been ignited in the hearts of a few but it spread to thousands because of the oppression had gotten worse. The fist mutiny was in 1857 when a handful of soldiers raged against the British. The mutiny was suppressed, and the British began their policy of divide and rule. They made the Hindus hate the Muslims and vice and versa.
But Hindus and Muslims had joined hands by then. The battle was to be fought by them all. They planned, strategised and closed every loop hole. They printed newspapers, so across the country the word could be spread, they met underground to discuss issues and they kept going this way, until they knew they were finally prepared. Then the mutiny began, Indians fought the British across the country. The upheaval lasted for more than a century. In 1942 the Quit India movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi, a movement that left the British helpless, because this was one movement that did not involve any violence. It was a movement where Indians disobeyed the British but in a harmless way. More and more people embraced this style of disobedience and talks were called in with Gandhi.
He demanded the rights of Indians and fought for it by fasting to death. The British tried to pull every rope but it did not work as Gandhi exemplified what he spoke by following it rigidly. No doubt Gandhi and the independence of India are directly related.
Now the freedom struggle was in full form, with streamlined organisations and struggles leaving the British no option but handing over the government.
Since 1942, the struggle had gotten intense but India got its freedom only five years later on 15th August, 1947 which is celebrated as the independence day of India. This day is celebrated with pomp and grandeur in every part of the country, commemorating the freedom strugglers and instilling pride in each and every Indian.
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