A Qualitative change took place in the nature of the freedom movement in Punjab in the twentieth century and consequently their came about a change in the way it contributed to the freedom movement of India also.

In the late nineteenth century, the freedom movement In Punjab made a small but significant induction. A branch of the Arya Samaj was established. Many young men like Lajpat Rai, Hans Raj and Gurdatta, who later became prominent leaders of the freedom struggle came under its sway. Indian National Congress was also formed in 1885 and there was increasing political awareness amongst the people all over the country.

Maharaja Dalip Singh died a disappointed man in Europe in 1893, the same year in which a winter session of Indian National Congress was held in Lahore at the invitation of Dyal Singh Majitha. Dada Bhai Naoroji presided over this congress. Seven years later another session was held at Lahore with C.G. Chandervarkar as the president. It was at this session that Bal Gangadhar Tilak for the first time gave a clarion call that " Swaraj is my birthright".

A students, strike, perhaps for the first time in Punjab was staged in 1904 by the students of the Government College, Lahore, against the orders of the Principal to wear 'College Blazers' made out of imported (English) cloth only. But the deeper cause, which unnerved them, was the restriction imposed on employment of Indians in the government service.

The Peasants in Punjab were suffering in the hands of the moneylenders. The Land Alienation Act 1900 had failed in its objective of saving the agriculturist from the clutches of the moneylenders. At the top of it Plague had taken a toll of nearly four million people in Punjab which was followed by famine and earthquake in 1905. Instead of sympathetic considerations land revenue and irrigation rates were increased which each settlement. Above all this, Land Colonization Bill 1906 provided enough fodder to accentuate unrest in the State. There were protest meetings. The Punjab Swadeshi Association was formed on 17th October,1905. At this point Danzil Ibbetson in a letter to the Viceroy Lord Minto described the Punjab situation as exceedingly serious and extremely dangerous.

The students of the Khalsa College, Amritsar staged hostile demonstration under the leadership of Tara Singh at the farewell function organized for Lt. Governor, Chales Rivaz. Ajit Singh, the well known revolutionary also visited Amritsar and addressed the student community. It was the general feeling that the government had started interfering in the working of the College, which undermined its national character. The Government had reconstituted the College management in 1908 as a result of which Harbans Singh Attari resigned in protest from its committee. A pamphlet "Ki Khalsa College Sikhan Da Hai (does the Khalsa College belongs to the Sikhs) was widely circulated which reflected the resentment of the Sikhs. In 1908, Gopal Krishna Gokhale visited the College. He was given a rousing reception. Infact there was so much excitement that the students took away the horses from the carriage and dragged it themselves to the Dharmasala where Gokhle was schedule to lecture. "Referring to this incident, Petrie (Director, Criminal Intelligence Department) writes that the "embers of sedition were 'smoldering' and that Sikhs are not immune from the disloyal influence which have been at work. Songs like Paggari Sambhal Jatta (Oh peasant protect your turban) were on the lips of many people.

The Ghadar movement originated in the United States among the enthusiastic Punjabi immigrants who had settled on the Pacific Coast of the U.S.A. and Canada. The headquarters of the party for a propaganda campaign were established at San Francisco. Its central office was called Yugantar Ashram. Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna was elected the president of the party, Lala Hardyal as Chief Secretary. The association adopted Bande Mataram as its slogan and tricolor flag – red, yellow and green representing Hindus, Muslims and the Sikhs.

Khalsa Diwan Society was founded in 1907 in Vancouver Canada, which later merged with the Hindustani Workers Association of the Pacific Coast along with some other associations. Canadian Government exercised strict vigilance over the activities of the Indian immigrants. Immigration Law was made more stringent. Instead of accepting the unjust law, the Indians protested, consequently some of them had to be deported. In 1914 Baba Gurdit Singh, a prosperous Indian immigrant chartered a Japanese Ship, "Kamagata Maru" and sailed for Canada with 376 passengers. The Indians were not allowed to land on the soil of Canada. The ship had to return back. On reaching Calcutta, the passengers were not allowed to go to Calcutta, they were asked to board the train. The government orders were defied and all of them marched towards the city of Calcutta. The police fired at them 23 people were killed, Gurdit Singh along with 30 others escaped and the rest of them were imprisoned. This was not the end. After a fortnight another ship "Tasa Maru", with 173 passengers including Sohan Singh Bhakna were not allowed to sail.

These events coupled with other invited Ghadar Party members to reach India. Thousands of Ghadarities came to Punjab. These were the war years (1914 -1918). The desire of the national leaders to help the war efforts instead of taking advantage of the difficult hour of the British Raj, changed the situation. The revolutionaries found it difficult to make a dent. The Ghatiarities however made desperate efforts to woo some people through their visits to religious festivals and also made contacts with other terrorist organizations in other parts of the country. Timely information to the authorities shattered their plans of an organized revolution. But it may also be said, tremors of their fervor were felt all over the Punjab. As a result, many revolutionaries were imprisoned or shot dead. Kartar Singh Sarabha and Pinglay were sent to the gallows in the central jail, Lahore. As many as 82 persons were hanged. In Mandley, the Punjab revolutionary of the fame of Sohan Lal Pathak and Dr. Mathura Singh in Mehshad (Iran) and Balwant Singh in Singapore also faced the gallows. By the end of the year 1918, the revolutionary movement had become insignificant.

ROWLATT BILL.

India had helped the British Government with men, money and material throughout the first world war (1914 -18). The Punjabis in particular contributed very liberally to the war efforts. Indians were naturally looking at a new political beginning in the country. The British were obliged to repeal the defense of India act by which it had acquired extra-ordinary powers for the duration of the war. Instead of rewarding the Indians for their efforts and help to the British in the war, they replaced that act by placing two notorious bills, described as Rowlatt Bills, after the name of the Home Minister who had initiated them for consideration of the Central Legislative Assembly. These bills would give the government even more autocratic powers. Immediately after the Rowlatt Bill in January 1919, a meeting was convened by the Indian National Congress in Gandhi Ashram (Ahmedabad) wherein a resolution was passed to disobey this Act, if passed. One of the Bills was 'however' passed in the teeth of opposition and criticism of the people. It enabled the government in cases of emergency to judge cases without trial and suspected terrorists could be imprisoned. The passing of the Bill came as a great shock to the Nation as whole. Gandhiji gave a call for hartal throughout the length and breadth of the country and announced his intention of launching a Satyagraha movement on 6^th April, 1919. Under the leadership of two young Punjabis, Saif-u-Din Kitchlew and Dr Satya pal, a complete Hartal, the likes of which was never seen before, was organized at Lahore and Amritsar, first on 30^th March and then on 6th April.

JALLIANWALA BAGH .

As a consequence of the success of these Hartals, Saifuidin Kitchlew and Dr. Satya Pal were arrested in Amritsar and sent to Dharmsala. The situation in the districts of Lahore, Gurdaspur and Amritsar became serious . People came out in mobs, railway carriages, telegraph wires, the government buildings, the post offices in few places were set on fire as well. In the riots, five English men were killed and an English missionary was assaulted. To control the situation at Amritsar, the town was handed over to General Dyer on the 12^th April 1919. Martial Law was proclaimed. On 13^th April 1919, a public meeting of about twenty thousand people was held at Jallianwala Bagh. Without any warning the General blocked the only exit and ordered his troops to fire at the people. The panic stricken people ran to save their lives but the firing continued till General Dyer's ammunition exhausted and their lay the corpses of people who had met in the Jallianwala Bagh to voice their resentment against the draconian Rowlatt Act. Exact count was never established, but most records give the figure of the dead and wounded at about 2000. It was a massacre of a most non-violent gathering.

Instead of being terrorized as India had been after the Mutiny, the very horror of Punjab gave fresh courage and made her resolve to put an end to the conditions, which could permit such happenings. According to the Hunter Inquiry Committee Report, some four hundred people were shot dead and twelve hundred injured. Over and above this, many people were humiliated in a variety of ways. The women had to suffer as well and there are instances of the modesty of women having been outraged. The country as a whole demanded redress of the Punjab atrocities and all India congress committee endorsed these demands. An inquiry committee with Sir Hunter was constituted. The Indian National Congress also appointed an inquiry Committee. Hunter committee Censored General Dyer. This did not satisfy the Indians. Demand for redressal of Punjab wrongs was stepped up. The Montagul Chemsford report on constitutional reforms had been made. Based on this report, Government of India act, 1919 on constitutional reforms was passed.

NON COOPERATION MOVEMENT.

These were turbulent times. Following the passing of Government of India Act, 1919, elections were held. The Indian National Congress boycotted the election for it was not satisfied with the political reforms envisaged. On 1st August 1920 Mahatama Gandhi launched the Non -  cooperation Movement and appealed to the people to surrender titles, honorary posts and observe hartal. A special session of the Indian National Congress under the Presidentship of Lala Lajpat Rai was held on 4^th September, 1920. In this session an appeal was made to the public servants to resign from administrative posts, Government educational institutes and to Leaders to boycott Councils, to the People in general to boycott foreign textiles. At an annual session in December 1920 at Nagpur, the decision of non-cooperation with the government was ratified with the declaration "Swaraj by all peaceful and Legitimate means". The new policy of Non cooperation and the crop failure gave a new momentum to the freedom movement in Punjab.

On 14^th December 1920, the Shiromini Akali Dal was organized with a view to work for the reforms in the Gurudwaras.

GURUDWARA REFORM MOVEMENT.

The objective of Gurudwara reform movement was to purify their places of religion from the evil practices and to liberate them from the vested interest of the Mahants and government appointed managers. The movement became political, once the Government started to support the vested interest in the Sikh Shrines and the nationalist forces lending active sympathy and support to the Akalis in their struggle against the foreign Government. This, thus broadened, the scope of the movement. Two pronged struggle was directed against the Mahants and other vested interests in the Sikh shrines on the one hand and against British imperialism in the Punjab on the other. Akali Jathas were formed all over the State to free the Gurudwaras which had fallen under the hands of the disrupted Mahants who refused to abdicate them.

The Akali Jathas increased in numbers and successfully took over the management of a large number of Gurudwaras. Attention was now devoted to Harmandir Sahib, the Center of Sikh activities. While the Sikhs were anxious to have the Gurudwara vacated of the vested interest, government did its best to forestall any move on this, as they wanted their own stooges in these places. Government used the priests of the Akal Takht who were made to issue Hukamnamas against the Ghadrite heroes describing them as Thugs and calling upon the Sikh masses not to give them shelter. Later after the tragedy of Jallianwala Bagh when the whole country was busy condemning the brutal inhuman action of General Dyer, Arun Singh, the Government appointed Manager of the Golden Temple honored him with Saropa. The agitation over the Golden Temple continued with almost cold response from the Government. The taking over of the Golden Temple became easy when the priest of Akal Takht made an exist over the entry of the newly baptized low cast members of the Khalsa Birdari into the premises of the Golden Temple.

The Sikh struggle for taking over the Gurudwaras was attended by some tragedies. The most ghastly one occurred on 20^th February 1921, when the Mahant of Nankana Sahib Gurudwara got the Akalis, gone under the leadership of Lachhman Singh massacred in a brutal manner. Over 160 Akali reformers were done to death. For the murder of the innocent people three were sentenced to death and two including the Mahant were imprisoned for life. It was alleged that the commissioner of Lahore had supported the Mahant secretly with whose permission he had purchased arms. Gandhiji's visit to Nankana Sahib following this tragedy and the Hunter Committee report created further complications. The government instead of regretting the death of so many people adopted a hard line. The government’s objective being to suppress or else weaken the Akali agitation.

After taking over the management of the Golden Temple and the Akal Takht, a provisional committee was formed to look after the affairs of the temple. Sardar Sunder Singh Ramgarhia was asked to hand over the keys to the President of SGPC. But before this could be done, the Deputy Commissioner sent an Extra Assistant Lala Amarnath to take over the keys. Consequently, an intense agitation both in the press and the platform ensued. Government ordered the arrest of Dhan Singh and Jaswant Singh, while they were addressing the Diwan (religious gathering) at Ajnala. On hearing the news of their arrest, 50 of the SGPC members reached Ajnala to continue the proceeding. The Assembly was declared illegal and SGPC members were arrested. These measures did not enable the government to check the movement SGPC gave a call to the Sikhs to hold Diwans everywhere.

The government realized its folly and began to negotiate with the moderate Akalis. Prisoners were released. The Akalis however, refused to go to Deputy Commissioner to collect the keys; a government officer was sent to hand over the keys to Baba Kharak Singh, President, SGPC at a specially arranged Diwan in the Golden Temple. The defeat of the Government was seen as the decisive victory of the forces of nationalism in the country. Gandhiji sent the following telegram to Baba Kharak Singh, President of the SGPC.

"First battle of India's Freedom Won. Congratulations."

The Akali Movement brought the Sikhs in the National Movement. Boycott of Councils, Courts, Schools, and Foreign Cloth and above all the boycott of the visit of the Prince of Wales to India in December 1927 and the Hindu-Muslim unity shook the Government. This resulted in the stamping of repressive measures by the official machinery. Twenty-five thousand persons were imprisoned. By the end of 1921, various movements throughout India and the Non-cooperation Movement of the Congress threatened the very existence of the British Empire. The tragedy at Chauri Chaura were 22 policemen were burnt alive in a police station, greatly shocked Mahatma Gandhi who then withdrew the movement to avoid further violence. Gandhiji was arrested and later sent to long term imprisonment. The Government had hoped that with Gandhiji in Jail, the Akali movement might become weak.

It took this opportunity to hastily pass the Gurudwara Reform act. The Akalis not only rejected it but started on other struggle know as Guru Ka Bagh Morcha. Sunder Dass the Mahant of the Gurudwara Guru Ka Bagh objected to the cutting of the wood for the Langar (meal) in the Gurudwara. On 9^th August, 1922 five Sikhs were arrested on the charge of trespass and sentenced to six months of rigorous imprisonment.

The Akalis protested against the high handedness of the Government and started to send Jathas of 100 Akalis daily, to assert their right to cut wood for use in the free kitchen, from the land attached to the Gurudwara. The government closed all roads leading to Gurudwara Guru Ka Bagh. In spite of these measures, Akalis continued to pour in at Guru Ka Bagh. They were severely beaten till they became unconscious. This continued for nineteen days and for nineteen days the Akalis were treated in the same manner. The Indian National Congress of 1923-24 passed a resolution, 'This Congress declares that the attack made by the Government on the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee and the Akali Dal is a direct challenge to the rights of free associations for non-violent activities and being convinced that the blow is aimed at all movements of freedom, resolves to stand by the Sikhs and calls upon all Hindus, Musalmans, Christians, Parsis and all people of India to render possible assistance with men and money.'

The Guru Ka Bagh Morcha ended when the Lt. Governor of Punjab after visiting the Gurudwara ordered the police to stop beating the Satyagrahi Akalis. Later a Hindu Philanthropist Sir Ganga Ram, purchased the land and handed it over to the Akalis.

Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha was a Nationalist at heart. He supported the cause of the freedom fighters and openly supported the Akalis in their struggle for Gurudwara reforms. He also voted against the Press Bill in the Legislative Assembly of which he was a member. The British wanted to dethrone him. So on a complaint of the Maharaja of Patiala, the boundary dispute between the Patiala and Nabha states was referred to the British Court of inquiry. The decision went against the Nabha State as was expected.

In a dramatic action, the Government deported Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha. This came as a rude shock to the Sikhs. They organized a protest march and offered special prayers. The SGPC passed a resolution demanding the restoration of the Maharaja and asked the Sikhs to observe 9^th September, 1923 as Nabha day. The Government felt threatened and in its bid to curb the activities, may arrests took place. The Sikhs of Nabha State organized Akhand Paths on the occasion. One such Akhand Path was held at Gurudwara Gangsar in village Jaitu. The police entered the shrine, interrupted the recitation of the Holy Granth and arrested some Akalis. The Government declared SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal as unlawful bodies. Prominent Akali leaders like Master Tara Singh were arrested on the charge of waging war against the King and were taken to Lahore for trial. Inspite of all this the Jathas continued to march towards Jaitu. They were severely beaten and many of them were arrested. On February 21, 1923 a Jatha of 500 was fired upon which resulted in considerable loss of life. There were around 300 causalities.

The Indian National Congress declared its full support to the Akali Morcha at Jaitu. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Principal Gidwani and Mr. Santanam were arrested on their way to Jaito. They were taken to the jail after being paraded on the streets of Jaito chained and in handcuffs. In his statement before the court, Nehru had explained his position thus," I do feel that the restrictions imposed by the present administration in Nabha on our undoubted rights are indefensible and raise a wider issue. On that issue my duty is clear. If that results in a conviction and sentence I shall gladly welcome it."

The trial lasted for several days. Nehru was sentenced to two years imprisonment besides another six months term for defying the ban on his entry. Later the orders were withdrawn.

The Government negotiated with some moderate Akalis and a way was found to have Gurudwara Act, 1925 passed to the satisfaction of all concerned. Peace was restored and the prisoners were then released.

During these years Babbar Akalis, a militant group also started their terrorist activities under the leadership of Kishan Singh and Master Tara Singh. Most of these terrorists were drawn from the Ghadar party and soldiers on leave. The activities of the Babbar Akalis were intense though of short duration. Soon they were rounded up. 62 of them were put on trial. Six men including Kishan Singh were condemned, 23 were acquitted and the rest were sent to Jails.

SIMON COMMISSION.

In 1926, Bhagat Singh formed the Nau Jawan Sabha with a view to inspire the Punjabi youth for the revolutionary activity. With the help of Kedar Nath Sehgal, Sardul Singh, Anand Kishore Mehta, Pindi Dass Sodhi and Ram Chandra, the Nau Jawan Sabha soon became powerful. Eminent national leaders like Jawahar lal Nehru spoke from its platform. In 1927, with the efforts of Bhai Santokh Singh and Abdul Majid, the Kirti Kisan Party was formed. In 1928, in association with Nau Jawan Party, a "Tract Society" was established with the primary objective of publishing revolutionary literature to be distributed among the students at Lahore.

Meanwhile the political struggle all over India and Indians started asking for more constitutional reforms. Simon Commission was appointed to study the question of reforms. Simon Commission arrived in India on 3^rd February 1928. It was boycotted by the nationalists for no Indian was represented on it. In Punjab protest marches were organized. It was in one such procession at Lahore that Lala Lajpat Rai who was the undisputed leader of the Punjab Congress received fatal blows of police lathis and died due to injuries on 17^th November, 1928. The young members of the Nau Jawan Sabha, decided on an instant revenge. The task of avenging the death was entrusted to Bhagat Singh and his associates Rajguru, Suhkdev,  Chadra Shekhar Azad  and Jai Gopal. The target identified was J.A. Scott, the Superintendent of Police. The officer they killed infact was J.P. Saunders, the deputy Superintendent of police.

After this incident the Punjab Revolutionaries went underground and formed Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs in the central Assembly Hall with a view to apprise the British administration of the national sentiments of the Indian People.

On one hand Bhagat Singh was being tried for his daring act and on the other hand Sohan Singh Josh was being tried for the Meerut conspiracy case. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were sentenced to death in October, 1930. The British Government did not commute the sentence of death into life imprisonment despite nationwide appeals. Pandit Nehru wrote about this event thus.. "Whether I agree with him or not, my heart is full of admiration for the courage and self sacrifices of a man like Bhagat Singh. Courage like that of Bhagat Singh. is exceedingly rare. If the Viceroy expects us to refrain from admiring this wonderful courage and the high purpose behind it, he is mistaken. Let him ask what he would have felt if Bhagat Singh had been an Englishman and had acted for England". Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and Sukhdev were hanged on 23rd March, 1931. There were Hartals, mourning processions and there was gloom spread all over the country especially in Punjab, the land of the birth of these heroes.

The Simon Commission though rejected by all parties indirectly urged the Indian leaders to draft a constitution of their own to which all parties agreed. The climax was reached when the constitution for Dominion Status (popularly known as the Nehru Report) was not accepted by stipulated date. Therefore the Indian National Congress which met in December, 1929 on the bank of Ravi at Lahore decided on the midnight of December 31st,1929, the goal of the Congress to be complete Independence instead of Dominion Status. The Congress boycotted the election and 26th January,1930 was declared as Independence day.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT-1930 .

Independence Day celebrations were followed by the famous Dandi March by Gandhiji to break the Salt Laws on 6th April, 1930 as a symbol of concern for the poor. This was a signal for people all over the country to start the Civil Disobedience Movement. In Punjab, it started by picketing at liquor shops and foreign cloth shops. Men, women, Congress, Bal Bharati Sabha, Akali Dal and many others participated actively. By August, 4000 persons had already been arrested. When the leaders amongst the men were in the jail, the women took their place and guided the movement. Amongst others were the leaders like Mrs. Lado Rani Zutshi and Poonam Devi. The Government did not stay still, it continued with its repressive measures. Two ordinances namely, the Unlawful Instigation Ordinance and. Prevention of Intimidation Ordinance besides the Press Ordinance were passed. The repressive measures further intensified the desire to break the chains of slavery. The Government in the light of the Round Table Conference, started negotiations. Gandhi-lrwin Pact was signed. The Civil Disobedience Movement was suspended. This dampened the spirit of many people including the Punjabis. In the meantime, however, two Muslim organizations the AHRARS and the KHAKSARS founded in 1931 worked ceaselessly and excited the Muslims and perhaps the other Punjabis as well to continue the struggle for freedom. In the absence of a specific goal, these organizations went into oblivion. But it must be mentioned here that these left a legacy which came handy to Muslim League. The British Government introduced in December, 1934 a bill for the future Government of India. The excitement, debates, discussions continued all over the country, more so in the Punjab. Government of India Act, 1935 became a reality. In its first part, the Act had envisaged a federal form of Government at the Center with two House of Parliament. This part of the Act never came into operation as almost all the political parties of country opposed it. Six provinces were to have two Houses of the Legislative Assembly, the rest including Punjab had only one. Under this Act, 11.5 per cent people were enfranchised giving 30 million people the right to vote. Besides limited voting rights the Act also had many other handicaps. It was rejected by the Congress, denounced by the Sikh political parties and the Muslim League partly rejected it. After prolonged negotiations, elections were held to the Provincial Assemblies. The Congress swept the polls except in Bengal, Sindh and Punjab. The Unionist Party came into power in Punjab. Basically a party of the landlords and agriculturist had a tilt towards the Muslim but at the same time it was not in favor of organizations of parties on communal lines. The Unionist Party, which had got 86 seats out of 172, formed the Ministry with three Muslims, two Hindus and one Sikh Minister. The Ministries were hardly in office for about two years, when the Second World War broke out in Europe. Great Britain declared war on 3rd September, 1939 on Germany. The Viceroy of India without consulting the Indians followed suit. The Congress Ministries as a mark of protest resigned from their offices. the Punjab Ministry chose to remain in office and support the war efforts. The Congress Working Committee demanded from the Government a clear declaration of its war objectives and a promise for independence for India after the war. India would be ready to render help to the British Government if their demands were accepted. The Government rejected these demands. Mahatma Gandhi launched an individual Satyagraha "to carry on nonviolently and openly antiwar propaganda and to preach non-cooperation with the Government in their war efforts." Individual Satyagraha was started by Vinobha Bhave in 1940. The Satyagraha in Punjab started little late on 29th November instead of the 26th. President of the Provincial Congress Committee M. Iftikhar-ud-Din was the first chosen one to offer Satyagraha after addressing 30,000 people. He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment and was also fined. President's arrest was followed by many others including Gopi Chand Bhargava, M.L.A., Pratap Singh M.L.A., Master Nand Lal, Bhim Sen Sachar, Dev Raj Sethi, Mrs. Duni Chand (Ambala) and Akali Leaders. Participation of the Akalis in the movement added to its strength. Political conferences, meetings, pushing of Khadi sale further accelerated the activities of the movement. A total of 2987 people were convicted. The campaign continued till the end of the year 1941 when the Government had to release the political prisoners in view of the prevailing situation. The Japanese were at the very door of India and the fate of the British was in delicate balance.

 QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT .

Sir Stafford Cripps, a socialist and a friend of Jawahar Lal Nehru was sent to India in March 1942, with seemingly new proposals and with a view to winning over the popular support. But Cripps's proposal was rejected by all parties. All hopes of a settlement receded to the background and Cripps Mission instead of leaving goodwill and calmer atmosphere behind, left ill-will and bitterness among the Indian people. Due to the frustration in the country and the growing pressure of the Japanese on the British, Mahatama Gandhi Launched Quit India Movement in 1942. In a mood of desperation, the Congress Working Committee passed a resolution in July 1942 calling upon British to withdraw from India. Gandhiji was arrested on 9th August 1942, and he left a brief but significant message to the Nation in three words "Do or Die". This message became a symbol of sacrifice at the altar of freedom. After the suspension of the Individual Satyagraha, Punjab went into slow slumber only to be shaken by the arrest of the leaders following the decision of the Congress to launch the Quit India Movement. Processions, meetings to protest the Government policies became a daily affair. The student community joined the movement by observing strikes. Student unrest spread to all districts Punjab. Meetings were held daily. Processions were also organized. Many students, both men and women, were arrested. Government imposed an education Code. This equipped the Government to expel and resticate the student for one year. The Government also could debar the students from taking examination if they were reported to have taken part in the processions and demonstrations. Each district had devised its own methods of promoting the movement. While in Amritsar district, it was planned to send two persons regularly every day, one of them an Akali to court-arrest, in Lahore it was planned to send group of Akali leaders through busy streets shouting slogans. This enabled the Satyagrahis to reach the message to the people. The propaganda continued through the distribution of pamphlets and posters etc. The Indian National Congress was declared an illegal institution. The Army was alerted. Many people were detained and prosecuted. The people were in a defiant mood and the British reverses at the Japanese hands further encouraged them.

At this time, Indian National Army commonly known as I.N.A. had also been established to free India from the clutches of the British Under the able leadership of Netaji Subhash Chandera Bose and General Mohan Singh. Netaji Subhash Chandera Bose was against the Gandhiji’s technique of Satyagrah and advocated Militancy. He escaped from India for Berlin and from there proceeded to Saigon and Rangoon. As the Japanese established a puppet government in Burma, Netaji formed the Govt. of free India in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Indian National Army fought many battles for the country. The I.N.A. was disbanded after the 2^nd world war.

The leaders of the major parties were in jail for about two years during the war days. By the end of year 1944, the victory of the British was certain in the war. As the situation improved, the government released the congress leaders. The Government though was still reluctant to open negotiations with Indian leaders on constitutional set up. The Labour Party of England became critical of the policy of the British Government for failure to arrive at some workable solution. In December 1944 the Labour Party urged the Government for the resumption of negotiations with Indian leaders so as to secure a place for India as a self-governing member of the British Commonwealth. The war ended and Labour Party came to power in Great Britain in July 1945. Clement Attice had replaced Winston Churchill the wartime Prime Minister.

The new Labour Government ordered general elections In India. In these elections the Muslim League fared better because the majority of the Muslims voted for the League. In Punjab the League captured 79 of the total 179 seats. No single party had won so many seats, not even the Congress. In Bengal and Sindh the position of the league was even better. The Congress, the Sikhs and the Unionist party joined hands to prevent the Muslim League from coming to power. The Congress whose position was not as strong as in 1937 was in majority in most of the provinces.

A cabinet mission comprising of Lord Pathick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A. Alexander was sent to effect a political settlement among various political parties of India. However no settlement could be reached because of the mistrust between the Congress and the Muslim League. Thus the mission could not fulfill its objective. The Labour party in England decided to establish an interim Govt. in India comprising of all major parties.

As the division of the country became inevitable Lord Mountbatten was sent to India to effect the peaceful partition of India. On 2^nd June 1947 the plan for the partition of the country was announced and after the approval from the Congress and the Muslim League, 15^th August 1947 was fixed as the deadline for the transfer of power. The Indian Independence Act was passed by the British Parliament on 18th July 1947. The color went up and replaced the Union jack in the midnight of 14th- 15th, August 1947.