Struggle for Freedom

A NINE- DECADE TRYST WITH DESTINY
( A Protracted Epic Struggle for Freedom)
1857
The Great War of 1857 (The First Flare-up of Indian Independence)
1885, Dec 28
First Session of Indian National Congress( INC) held in Bombay
1905
Partition of Bengal announced to come in force from October 15,1906
1906, Dec 31
Muslim League founded at Decca
1907
The Surat Split
1907
Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh deported to Mandalay
1908, Apr 30
Khudiram Bose executed
1908, July 22
Tilak sentenced to six years transportation on charges of sedition
1909, May 21
Minto- Morley Reforms of Indian Councils Act, 1909
1911
The coronation or Delhi Durbar held at Delhi in which the partition of Bengal was cancelled.
1912
Delhi becomes the new capital of India
1912, Dec 23
Bomb thrown on Lord Hardings on his state entry into Delhi
1913, Nov 1
Ghadar party formed at San Fransisco to organise a rebellion in India to overthrow the British Rule
1914, Aug 4
Outbreak of the First World War
1915, Jan
Gandhiji arrives in India
1915, Feb 19
Death of Gopal Krishna Gokhale
1916, Apr 28
Bal Gangdhar Tilak founds Indian Home Rule League with its headquarters at Poona
1916, Sept 25
Another Home Rule League started by Annie Besant
1917, April
Mahatma Gandhi launches the Champaran campaign in Bihar to focus attention on the grievances of indigo planters
1918, April
Rowlatt( Sedition) Committee submits its report.
1919, Feb 16
Rowlatt Bill introduced
1919, April
All India Hartal over Rowlatt Bills
1919, April
General Dyer passses the curfue orders, Jalliawala Bagh tragedy and the great Amritsar massacre
1919, Dec 5
The House of Commons passes the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms or the Govt. of India Act, 1919. The new reforms under this Act came into operation in 1921.
1920, Dec
The Indian National Congress (INC) adopts the Non-cooperation resolution.
1921, Aug
Moplah rebellion on the Malabar coast
1922, March 13
Mahatma Gandhi arrested
1923, Jan 1
Swarajist party formed by Motilal Nehru
1924
The Communist Party of India starts its activities first at Kanpur
1927, Nov 8
The British Prime Minister announces the appointment of the Simon Commission to suggest the future constitutional reforms in India. The INC decides to boycott the Commission as it had no Indian member.
1928, Feb 3
Simon Commission arrives in Bombay
1928, Feb 3
All India Hartal
1928
Nehru Report recommends principles for the new constitution of India
1928 Aug 28-31
All parties Conference considers the Nehru Report
1929 Apr 8
Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt drop bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly
1929 Sept 13
Jatin Das dies in jail after 64 days of fast
1929 Oct 31
Lord Irwin announces the goal of British policy in India - the grant of the Dominion status.
1929 Dec 31
The Lahore session of the INC adopts the goal of complete independence (poorna swarajya) for India.
1930 Jan 1
Jawaharlal Nehru hoists the tricolor flag of Indian independence on the banks of the Ravi at Lahore
1930 Jan 26
First Independence Day observed
1930 Feb 14
The Working Committee of the INC meets at Sabarmati and passes the Civil Disobedience resolution
1930 Mar 12
Mahatma Gandhi launches the Civil Disobedience Movement with his epic Dandi march to manufacture salt against the law.
1930, Nov 12
First Round Table Conference begins in London to consider the reports of the Simon Commission for the future constitutional set-up in India.
1931, March 5
Gandhi - Irwin pact signed. Civil Disobedience movement suspended
1931, March 23
Bhagat Singh, Sukh Dev, and Raja Guru executed
1931 Sept 7
Second Round Table Conference begins.
1931 Sept 12
Mahatma Gandhi arrives in London to attend the Second Round Table Conference
1931 Dec 28
Gandhiji returns from London after the dead-locked Second Round Table Conference The British Govt. launches repressive measure against the INC and its leaders. The INC declared illegal
1932 Jan 4
Gandhiji arrested and imprisoned without trial
1932 Aug 16
British Prime Minister Ramsay Mc Donald announces the infamous "Communal Award" giving separate electorate to Harijans.
1932 Sept 20
Gandhiji in jail, begins his epic "fast unto death" against Communal Award and ends the fast on Sept 26 after the Poona Pact by which the Harijans get reserved seats in place of separate electorate
1932 Nov 17
The 3rd Round Table Conference begins in London (Nov 17 to Nov 24)
1933 May 9
Gandhiji released from prison as he begins fast for self-purification. INC suspends Civil Disobedience movement but authorises satyagraha by individuals
1934
Gandhiji withdraws from active politics and devotes himself to "constructive programmes" (1934-39)

The 1st HARIJAN PADYATRA of Gandhiji launched in Orissa commencing from Puri
1935 Aug 4
The Govt. of India Act (1935) passed
1937
Elections held in India under the Act of 1935 ( Feb 1937). The INC contests election, and forms ministeries in seven provinces (July 1937)
1938 Feb 19-20
Haripura session of the INC. Subhash Chandra Bose elected the Congress President
1939 Mar 10-12
Tripura session of the INC
1939 April
Subhash Chandra Bose resigns
1939 Sept 3
2nd World War (Sept 1) Great Britain declares war on Germany; Viceroy declares that India too is at war
1939 Oct 27- Nov 5
The Congress ministries in the provinces resign against the war policy of the British Govt.
1939 Dec 22
The Muslim League observes the resignation of the Congress ministries as Deliverance Day.
1940 March
Lahore session of the Muslim League passes the Pakistan Resolution
1940 Aug 10
Viceroy Linlithgow announces the British Policy towards India 'August Offer'
1940 Oct 17
Congress launches individual Satyagraha movement
1941 Jan 17
Subhash Chandra Bose escapes from India
1941 Mar 28
Subhash Chandra Bose arrives in Berlin
1942 March 11
Churchill announces the Cripps Mission
1942 March 23
Sir Stafford Crips arrives in Delhi
1942 Apr 10
INC rejects Crips proposals and breakdown of the Cripps negotiation
1942 Aug 7-8
The INC meets in Bombay; adopts 'Quit India' resolution
1942 Aug 9
Gandhiji and other Congress leaders arrested
1942 Aug 11
Quit India movement begins; the Great August Uprising
1942 Sept 1
Subhash Chandra Bose establishes the Indian national Army (AZAD HIND FAUJ)
1943 Oct 21
Subhash Chandra Bose proclaims the formation of the Provisional Govt. of Free India
1943 Dec
Karachi session of the Muslim League adopts the slogan " Divide and Quit"
1944
Lord Wavell as governor-general and viceroy (1944-47)
1946, Feb 18
Mutiny of the Indian naval ratings in Bombay
1946, Mar 15
British Prime Minister Attlee announces Cabinet Mission to propose new solution to the Indian deadlock; Cabinet Mission arrives in New Delhi (Mar 24); issues proposals (May 16)
1946 July 6
Jawaharlal Nehru takes over as Congress President
1946 Aug 6
Wavell invites Nehru to form an interim government;
1946 Sept 2
Interim Govt. takes over office
1946 Dec 9
1st session of the Constituent Assembly of India started, but boycotted by Muslim League
1947 Feb 20
British Prime Minister Attlee declares that the British Govt. would leave India not later than June 1948
1947 Mar 24
Lord Mountbatten, the last British viceroy and governor general of India sworn in (Mar 24 1947 to June 21 1948)
1947 June 3
Mountbatten Plan for the partition of India and the announcement that transfer of power will take place on Aug 15
1947 July 4
Indian Independence Bill introduced in the House of Commons and passed by the British Parliament (July 15)
1947 Aug 15 INDIA WINS FREEDOM