Nature, Characteristics and Assessments of Students’ Movements in 20th Century India

Introduction: The student community in 20th century India played a dynamic and crucial role in the anti-colonial struggle, often at the forefront of social and political movements. This discussion will explore the nature, characteristics, and assessment of students’ movements during this period, specifically in relation to the Anti-Partition Movement, Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement. Furthermore, it will briefly examine the role of students in armed revolutionary struggles, highlighting the contributions of organizations like the Anti-Circular Society and Bengal Volunteers, and revolutionaries such as Surya Sen, Bina Das, and the significance of the Rashid Ali Day.

Nature and Characteristics of Students’ Movements in 20th Century India

Students’ movements in 20th century India were characterized by a potent mix of idealism, nationalism, and a desire for social justice. Key features include:

Idealism and Patriotism: Young students were often driven by a strong sense of idealism and patriotism, readily responding to the call for national liberation.
Social Critique: Students often questioned existing social norms and the injustices of colonial rule, becoming vocal critics of the established order.
Organizational Capacity: Students formed their own organizations and networks to mobilize and coordinate their actions.
Active Participation: They actively participated in protests, demonstrations, strikes, and boycotts, often facing severe consequences for their activism.
Link to National Movements: Students’ movements were closely intertwined with the broader nationalist struggle, providing crucial support and often initiating local actions.
Diverse Ideologies: While nationalism was a unifying factor, students were also influenced by various ideologies, including Gandhism, socialism, and revolutionary nationalism.
Sacrifice and Dedication: Many students displayed remarkable courage and dedication, sacrificing their education and even their lives for the cause of independence.

Students’ Movements and the Anti-Colonial Struggle

Students played a significant role in the major anti-colonial movements of the 20th century:

1. Anti-Partition Movement in Bengal (1905-1911)

Early Political Awakening: The partition of Bengal ignited a strong sense of outrage among students, marking an early phase of their active political involvement.
Formation of Student Organizations: Organizations like the Anti-Circular Society emerged, specifically mobilizing students against the partition and the government’s attempts to suppress their protests (through circulars restricting their participation).
Boycott and Swadeshi: Students actively participated in the boycott of foreign goods and the promotion of Swadeshi (indigenous) products.
Public Demonstrations: They organized and participated in numerous public meetings, processions, and protests against the partition.

2. Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922)

Gandhi’s Influence on Youth: Mahatma Gandhi’s call for non-cooperation resonated deeply with students, who saw it as a moral and effective way to challenge colonial rule.
Boycott of Educational Institutions: Many students left government-affiliated schools and colleges to join nationalist institutions or actively participate in the movement.
Spreading the Message: Students played a crucial role in spreading the message of non-cooperation to rural areas and mobilizing wider sections of society.
Volunteer Corps: Student volunteer corps were formed to organize protests and maintain discipline during demonstrations.

3. Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1934)

Active Participation in Satyagraha: Students actively participated in various forms of Satyagraha, including the Salt Satyagraha and the defiance of other unjust laws.
Picketing and Protests: They organized picketing of foreign goods, government offices, and educational institutions.
Dissemination of Nationalist Ideas: Students played a key role in disseminating nationalist literature and ideas, raising awareness and mobilizing support for the movement.
Facing Repression: Students faced arrests, lathi charges, and expulsion from educational institutions for their participation.

4. Quit India Movement (1942)

Frontline Activists: Following the arrest of national leaders, students often found themselves at the forefront of the Quit India Movement.
Underground Resistance: Many students went underground, forming secret organizations, distributing nationalist literature, and participating in acts of sabotage against colonial infrastructure.
Local Leadership: Students often took on leadership roles at the local level, organizing protests and mobilizing communities.
Martyrdom and Sacrifice: Numerous students laid down their lives during the intense repression that followed the launch of the Quit India Movement.

Students’ Role in Armed Revolutionary Struggles

A significant number of students, driven by a more radical nationalist ideology, actively participated in armed revolutionary struggles, believing that force was necessary to overthrow British rule.

Formation of Revolutionary Groups: Students formed and joined various armed revolutionary groups, often operating in secrecy.
Training and Ideology: These groups provided training in the use of arms and instilled a strong sense of revolutionary nationalism.
Direct Action: Student revolutionaries participated in bombings, assassinations of colonial officials, and armed uprisings.

Anti-Circular Society

Formation: The Anti-Circular Society was formed in Bengal in 1905 as a direct response to the British government’s circulars aimed at preventing student participation in the Anti-Partition Movement.
Objective: Its primary objective was to defy these restrictive circulars and encourage students to actively participate in the nationalist movement.
Mobilization and Advocacy: The Society played a crucial role in mobilizing students and advocating for their right to participate in the freedom struggle.

Bengal Volunteers

Revolutionary Organization: Bengal Volunteers was a prominent revolutionary organization in Bengal that attracted many students.
Armed Activities: Members of Bengal Volunteers were involved in various armed actions against the British administration.
Leadership: It produced notable revolutionaries who played significant roles in armed resistance.

Surya Sen (সূর্য সেন)

Teacher and Revolutionary: Surya Sen, popularly known as “Masterda,” was a school teacher who became a leading figure in the armed revolutionary movement in Chittagong.
Chittagong Uprising: He led the famous Chittagong Uprising of 1930, where a group of young revolutionaries, many of them students, attacked the armories and other government installations.
Inspiration for Youth: Surya Sen’s courage and leadership inspired countless students to join the revolutionary movement.

Bina Das (বীণা দাস)

Revolutionary Activist: Bina Das was a student who attempted to assassinate the Governor of Bengal, Stanley Jackson, in 1932 during a university convocation.
Symbol of Defiance: Her courageous act, though unsuccessful, made her a symbol of defiance against colonial rule and inspired many young women to join the struggle.

Rashid Ali Day (রশিদ আলী দিবস)

Context: Rashid Ali was an Indian National Army (INA) officer who was court-martialed by the British in 1946.
Student Protests: His conviction sparked widespread protests, particularly among students in Calcutta.
Significance: Rashid Ali Day (February 11, 1946) witnessed massive student demonstrations that turned violent in Calcutta, highlighting the continued anti-colonial sentiment among students even in the final years of British rule and their solidarity with the INA.

Assessment of Students’ Movements

Students’ movements in 20th century India were a powerful force for social and political change. Their contributions include:

Injecting Radicalism: Students often brought a radical edge to the nationalist movement, pushing for more assertive action.
Mobilizing the Youth: They effectively mobilized a significant segment of the youth population into the freedom struggle.
Providing Leadership: Students often stepped up to provide leadership at local and regional levels, especially during periods of mass arrests.
Raising Social Awareness: Their activism raised awareness about the injustices of colonial rule and inspired wider participation.
Challenging Authority: Students fearlessly challenged colonial authority, demonstrating the strength and determination of the younger generation.
Contributing to Revolutionary Activities: A dedicated group of students contributed to the armed revolutionary struggle, displaying immense courage and sacrifice.

However, it is also important to acknowledge that:

Not a Homogeneous Group: Students held diverse ideologies and their participation varied across different regions and social backgrounds.
Occasional Internal Conflicts: Differences in ideology sometimes led to internal conflicts within student organizations.
Impact on Education: Active involvement in political movements sometimes disrupted students’ education.