The second world war and National movement
- In 1937 elections were held under the provisions of the government of India act of 1935.
- Congress ministries were formed in seven states of India.
- On 1 September 1939 the second world war broke out.
- The British government without consulting the people of India involved the country in the war
- The congress vehemently opposed it as a mark of protest the congress ministries in the provinces resigned in 12 December 1939.
- The Muslim league celebrated that day as the Deliverance Day.
- In March 1940 the Muslim league demanded the creation of Pakistan.
Individual Satyagraha
- During the course of the second world war in order to secure the cooperation of the Indians, the British government made an announcement on 8 August 1940, which came to be known as the ‘August offer’.
- The August offer envisaged that after the war a representative body of Indians would be set up to frame the new constitution.
- Gandhi was not satisfied with is offer and decided to launch Individual Satyagraha.
- Individual Satyagraha was limited, symbolic and non- violent in nature and it was left to Mahatma Gandhi to choose the Satyagrahis.
- Acharya Vinoba Bhave was the first to offer Satyagraha and he was sentenced to three months imprisonment.
- Jawaharlal Nehru was the second Satyagraha and imprisoned for four months.
- The individual Satyagraha continued for nearly 15 months.