August Offer

Background of the August Offer:

• England's conciliatory mood after the fall of Belgium, Holland, and France led to the August Offer in 1940.

• The Congress was ready to compromise and form an interim government during the war period, but the British government was not interested.

The August Offer Proposals:

• Dominion status as the objective for India.

• Viceroy's executive council to be expanded and would have a majority of Indians.

• Constituent assembly to be set up after the war.

• No future constitution to be adopted without the consent of minorities.

Responses to the August Offer:

• The Congress rejected the offer, saying the Dominion status concept was dead.

• Gandhi said the declaration had widened the gulf between the nationalists and the British rulers.

• The Muslim League welcomed the veto assurance given to the League, and reiterated its position that partition was the only solution.

Evaluation of the August Offer:

• The inherent right of Indians to frame their constitution was recognised.

• Dominion status was explicitly offered.

• In July 1941, the viceroy's executive council was enlarged to give Indians a majority, but the British remained in charge of defence, finance, and home.

• A National Defence Council was set up with purely advisory functions.

Individual Satyagraha

Background of Individual Satyagraha

• Government's action like Issuing of ordinances to restrict freedom of speech and press agitated the people.

• Congress asks Gandhi to take command.

• Gandhi initiates individual satyagraha on a limited basis.

Aims and Demands of Individual Styagraha

Aims of Individual Satyagraha

• To show nationalist patience.

• To express people's lack of interest in the war.

• To give government another opportunity to accept demands.

Demands of Individual Satyagraha

• Freedom of speech against the war through an anti-war declaration
• Satyagrahi to move into villages and start a march towards Delhi if not arrested

Participants in Individual Satyagraha

• Vinoba Bhave and Nehru.

• 25,000 people convicted for individual civil disobedience by May 1941.

End of Individual Sayagraha ?

• The Individual Satyagraha was called off by Mahatma Gandhi on 15th January 1941.

• Gandhi called off the movement after the British Government made some concessions, including the release of political prisoners and the lifting of some restrictions on the press.

• Gandhi also felt that the movement had achieved its purpose of showing the British Government and the Indian people the strength and determination of the Indian people in their struggle for freedom.

Who was 1st ,2nd and 3rd participent of individual sayagraha ?

• 1st participant: Vinoba Bhave
• 2nd participant: Acharya Kripalani
• 3rd participant: Jawaharlal Nehru