1. Indian National Congress becomes a mass movement
Gandhi transforms the INC from a group of elites to a mass movement
Salt March - a mass movement to show non-violent opposition to British monopoly and taxes on salt
Why did non-violence work in India but not in South Africa or Vietnam or Algeria? Why does it work in Egypt but not Libya?

2. Gandhi as spiritual leader
Raises self-esteem, show moral superiority, reject British civilization
Violence might have been faster, but…Non-violence becomes a form of nation-building
“A national culture is not a folklore…it takes its place at the very heart of the struggle for freedom.” (Fanon)

3. British exhaustion and political change
India too big, too far; Britain cannot muster enough armed force after WWII
Few British settlers to “protect” – fewer emotional ties
Labor Party victory in Britain (1946)
Churchill: “I have not become the King's first minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire”

4. Possibility of violence always lurked in the background
Not all Indians accepted the INC’s non-violence policy; continued to be attacks on British
Many Indians fought with the Japanese during WWII
Gandhi and Nehru were able to present themselves as “reasonable men” whom British should negotiate with

5. Hindu areas

6. Muslim Areas

7. Sikh and Jain areas

8. Decision of the All-India Muslim League
Fight for equal rights, continued “special” political status within one India?
Demand a Muslim “Pakistan”?
“Land of the Pure” = Pakistan
Punjab, Afghan, Kashmir = Pakistan
Note that this idea left out majority Muslim, but not contiguous “East Pakistan” K A P

9. From British Empire to Partition (1947)
British draw new borders, Hindus flee to India, Muslims to Pakistan
Millions die, tens of millions homeless in ethnic violence
Gandhi’s assassination ends worst violence
Today 150 million Muslims remain in India
The problem of Kashmir

10. 1947: Can India stay united and remain democratic
1947: Can India stay united and remain democratic? Does “India” make sense?