Highlight the importance of new objective that got added to the vision of Indian independence since the twenties of the last century. (UPSC IAS Mains 2017 General Studies Paper – 1)
The history of the Indian National Movement can be divided into three important phases:
- 1885-1905: The phase of moderate nationalism when the Congress continued to be loyal to the British crown.
- 1906-1916: Rise of Swadeshi Movement, militant nationalism and the Home Rule Movement.
- 1917-1947: The Gandhian era.
The new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian independence in the twenties of the last century include:
- Social and Economic Justice: Aiming to address issues like poverty, inequality, and discrimination, this objective sought to create a more equitable society by providing equal opportunities and rights for all citizens.
- Communal Harmony: Recognizing the need for unity among diverse religious and ethnic communities, the importance of promoting communal harmony became central to the independence movement.
- Women’s Empowerment: The vision for Indian Independence expanded to include women’s rights and gender equality, with women participating in various capacities and challenging traditional gender roles.
- Secularism: Emphasizing secularism as a fundamental principle, the vision aimed to ensure that India would be an inclusive and pluralistic nation, accommodating its diverse religious and cultural traditions.
- Democratic Governance: The vision evolved to include the establishment of a democratic system of governance, allowing citizens to participate in the decision-making process and fostering accountability and transparency.
- Self-Reliance and Economic Independence: This objective aimed to break free from the colonial economic system and develop a self-sufficient economy, reducing dependence on foreign resources.
These new objectives had significance as evidenced by the following:
- All these inclusive movements inform constituent assembly debates and led to the formation of one of the most inclusive constitutions of that time.
- Women got the universal right to vote from start itself
- SC and ST got constitutional safeguards against untouchability and also got the promise of affirmative action in articles 15, 16 and 46
- Farmers got the promise of self-rule in form of panchayats (Article 40), cottage industries (article 43) and animal husbandry along modern and scientific lines (article 48)
- Articles 38, 39 and 43 ensure a socialistic pattern of society and secure a living wage, a decent standard of living and social and cultural opportunities for all workers
- Formation of linguistic states in 1956
Thus new forces added colours to the polyphony of the Indian national movement and enriched times to come with their diverse and universal concerns.
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