Three Upsurges—Winter of 1945-46

1. Overview
Three major nationalist upsurges occurred during the winter of 1945–46:
• 21 November 1945 – Calcutta, over the INA trials.
• 11 February 1946 – Calcutta, against the seven‑year sentence to INA officer Rashid Ali.
• 18 February 1946 – Bombay, revolt by Royal Indian Navy (RIN) ratings.

These movements reflected deep anti‑imperialist sentiment and widespread anger against British repression.

2. Three‑Stage Pattern of All Upsurges
Stage 1: Group Defies Authority and Faces Repression
• 21 November 1945: Students from Forward Bloc, Student Federation of India (SFI), Islamia College, Congress and League marched to Dalhousie Square holding united flags.
• 11 February 1946: Muslim League students led a protest; Congress and communist student groups joined.
• 18 February 1946 (RIN Revolt):  
  – 1100 ratings of HMIS Talwar went on strike against racial discrimination, poor food, abuses by British officers, arrest of a rating for writing “Quit India”, anger over INA trials and use of Indian troops in Indonesia.  
  – They hoisted tricolour, crescent and hammer‑and‑sickle flags on naval ships.  
  – Ratings drove around Bombay with Congress flags, warning Europeans and policemen.

Stage 2: City People Join In
• Massive anti‑British mood paralysed Calcutta and Bombay.
• Hartals, strikes, processions, blocking of railways and roads.
• Attacks on Europeans, police stations, tram depots, rail stations, and government buildings.

Stage 3: Sympathy Actions Across India
• Students boycotted classes, marched in solidarity.
• Sympathy strikes at military establishments in Karachi, Madras, Vishakhapatnam, Calcutta, Delhi, Cochin, Jamnagar, Andamans, Bahrain and Aden.
• RIAF strikes in Bombay, Poona, Calcutta, Jessore and Ambala.
• Sardar Patel and Jinnah persuaded ratings to surrender on 23 February, promising no victimisation.

3. Evaluation and Impact of the Upsurges
• Displayed fearless militancy among the masses and deep resentment against the British.
• Revolt in armed forces had a liberating effect; the RIN revolt symbolised the approaching end of British rule.
• British introduced some concessions:  
  – 1 December 1946: Only INA men accused of murder/brutality would be tried.  
  – January 1947: Sentences on first INA batch were remitted.  
  – February 1947: Indian troops withdrawn from Indonesia and Indo‑China.  
  – Decision to send Parliamentary Delegation and Cabinet Mission (Jan 1946).

Potential and Limitations
• Violent direct conflict had limited participation—mostly militant sections in urban areas.
• Short‑lived, limited geographically compared to INA agitation which reached villages.
• Communal unity was organisational, not deeply social.  
  – Muslim ratings went to League; others to Congress/Socialists.
• British repressive machinery still intact.
  – A Maratha battalion crushed the naval revolt.

4. Congress Strategy and Stand
Leftist View:
• Congress avoided supporting the revolts fearing:  
  – Loss of control over masses.  
  – Need for disciplined armed forces in free India.  
• They argued that Congress compromise prevented a more revolutionary path.

Congress Stand:
• Congress had already mobilised opinion through:  
  – Election campaign,  
  – INA advocacy,  
  – Exposing brutality of 1942 repression.  
• But Congress did not endorse these violent uprisings due to timing and method.
• Negotiations were essential as British were preparing to leave.

5. Election Results (1945–46)
Congress:
• Won 91% of non‑Muslim votes.
• Won 57 of 102 Central Assembly seats.
• Majority in most provinces except Bengal, Sindh, Punjab.
• Notably, won in NWFP and Assam—areas claimed for Pakistan.

Muslim League:
• Won 86.6% of Muslim votes.
• Won all 30 Muslim seats in the Central Assembly.
• Formed governments in Bengal and Sindh.
• Became the undisputed representative of Muslims.

Punjab:
• A coalition of Unionists‑Congress‑Akalis under Khizr Hayat Khan took power.

6. Key Features of Elections
• Communal voting was dominant despite earlier anti‑British unity.
Reasons:
• Separate electorates encouraged religious division.
• Limited franchise:  
  – Less than 10% eligible in provinces.  
  – Less than 1% eligible for Central Assembly.  
• British constitutional structure deliberately strengthened communal boundaries.

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Subject: Modern History

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