Know how World War Two affected India

New Delhi: Wars have always ruined the people of this earth, putting them back by several decade. World War Two, the last big global war, was one of these wars and its impact and repercussions on South Asia were terrible. World War Two started on September 1, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, and Britain and other powers declared war on the Axis Powers, that consisted of Germany Italy and Japan. It lasted till August 1945, with the dropping of two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing lakhs of people. More than 100 million people died in this world war.Let's have a look at the repercussions on South Asia:1. Quit India CampaignStafford Cripps was sent to India to avoid India's support to Axis forces and to negotiate a deal with Congress for India's full cooperation during the war. He offered full Dominion status with right to leave the Empire and Commonwealth when the war was over. Nehru and Congress rejected the offer and instead demanded a full cabinet government with full power and decisions taken by Indians in India but British government rejected this offer. On rejection of these offer Congress decided to support Gandhi's non-violent ‘Quit India' campaign, which was announced on 9th August 1942. British rulers actively suppressed the movement with over 1,00,000 arrests. It was one of the largest movements led for Indian independence, and laid the seeds of Partition.2. Expansion of Indian ArmyBritish Indian army numbered just around 2,20,000 troops before World War II. Over the course of the war, it expanded 10 folds with creation of further naval and air force units. By the end of World War II Royal Indian Army became the largest volunteering army in the history with over 25,00,000 men serving in infantry, airforce and naval regiments over Africa, Asia and Europe. 3. Japanese Occupation of AndamanJapanese Army occupied Port Blair on March 23, 1942. The Port Blair garrison consisted of 300 Sikh militia, who were later enrolled in Indian National Army. Some unpublished accounts by British officers shed some light into the atrocities committed by the Japanese Army on the local inhabitants from 1942-45. Hundreds of locals were brutally tortured and killed on the suspicion of being spies while thousands of civilians were tortured and murdered for no specific reason. In 1945, between 250-700 people were forcefully deported on boats to an uninhabited island to grow food. A rescue mission sent to save them after Japanese occupation found only 12 survivors and the beach was littered with skeletons.4. Bengal Famine of 1943Bengal famine of 1943 was a manmade famine, it was one of the worst famines of India. This manmade famine killed around 4 million Indians. In 1943, bad harvests were a nationwide thing due to WW2. Bengal's main source of food (Burma) fell to the hands of Japanese and therefore food stocks started running low. The other provincial governments in the West denied any food supply to Bengal. This with the added effect of diversion of food stocks in Bengal to British soldiers and England, made the situation even worse.5. Muslim League sided with the British The Muslim League supported the war on Germany. By doing so Jinnah was able to advance Muslim interests. In 1940 Jinnah spoke of a separate Muslim state for the first time in what became known as the Lahore Declaration. He used the name ‘Pakistan'. During the war the League became increasingly powerful increasing its membership to over 2 million people.6. Congress and War Gandhi pressed the British Government to negotiate with Hitler. Many Congress members, however, did not support such a policy. Nehru, for example, had just returned from Europe. He believed that India should stand with Britain against fascism. Congress supported Nehru and rejected the announcement that India was at war with Germany without consultation. All the Congress-led state governments resigned in protest. In 1940 Congress laid down the condition that Indian support of the war would come with a National Government. The Viceroy refused, and Quit India movement was launched. With most of the Congress leaders and workers in jail, the power and influence of the Muslim League increased, due to its support of the British Government, and the ground for Partition was laid.7. Battle of Imphal and KohimaThe battles of Imphal and Kohima were one of the most decisive battles of WW2. In fact, British considered it one of the greatest battles fought by British Army. Battle of Kohima broke out on April 3, 1944 when 15000 men of Japanese army with the assistance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Azad Hind Fauj attacked a British garrison against just 1500 men. Outnumbered 1:10, British forces stood their ground and defended for nearly two weeks before reinforcements arrived. The battle continued longer than the Japanese had expected. Running low on food supplies and incurring heavy losses from British reinforcements, they had to retreat back. The battle of Imphal was fought on an even larger scale than Kohima. It waged for about five months and heavy losses were incurred on both sides, but Japanese incurred 2.5 times more losses than the allies. The defeat at Kohima and Imphal was the largest defeat in Japanese history. The huge losses the Japanese suffered in the Battles of Imphal and Kohima crippled their defence of Burma. For Japan, the loss of South Asia marked the end of its era of aggression and the end of its imperialist ambitions. 8. Indian IndependenceAfter WW2 ended, it had taken an immense toll on the British Empire. Britain had lost a lot of money due to WW2 and they were looking to their colonies to help them get their money back, but Gandhi at this time organized Indians against the British. WW2 broke out to contain Hitler's intention of having German colonies beyond its borders with intention of colonial occupation that Britain had already been practicing for centuries. After WW2, people all over the world started supporting voices against British occupation over its colonies. When Labour Party came to government in 1945 in Britain it inclined towards internationalism and racial equality, among other liberal principles. Soon after coming into power, Prime Minister, Clement Attlee (Labour Party) began the process of dismantling the British Empire granting India its independence in 1947.9. Partition of India with millions displaced, killed Half a million people perished and twelve million became homeless in the violent migration across the Indian border as a result of Indo-pak partition.In February 1947, the British government announced that India would be granted independence by June 1948. As India slowly progressed towards independence, tensions grew between Hindus and Muslims along the lines of proposed Muslim state of Pakistan. on July 15, 1947 Mountbatten advanced the date of transfer of power to August 15, 1947 . With just one month left for Independence, Cyril Radcliffe, was given just a few weeks' time to demarcate a clear boundary between India and Pakistan. The lines were drawn in haste with little to no thought given on religions majority and minorities on either sides of the lines.

Know how World War Two affected India

New Delhi: Wars have always ruined the people of this earth, putting them back by several decade. World War Two, the last big global war, was one of these wars and its impact and repercussions

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