Features of freedom struggle of India

Features of freedom struggle of India

Describe the main features of the freedom struggle of India that were originally introduced.

The freedom struggle of India is considered to be one of the biggest mass movements of and by the modern society. A number of new concepts showed up in this movement.

Modern values and ideals of the leaders
They had broad socio-economic and political vision it included democratic, civil libertarian and secular India, based on a self- reliant, egalitarian social order and an independent foreign policy. The movement popularized democratic ideas and institutions.

Ideal of democracy
The nationalists struggled for the introduction of a representative government through popular elections and demanded adult franchise as the base of decision. To set an example, Indian National Congress was organized on a democratic basis .

Freedom of expression
Free expression of opinion was encouraged . Freedoms of the Press, expression and association were parts of it.

Economic viewpoint
It was also a struggle for economic development. Industrialization independent of foreign capital and utilizing the indigenous capital goods sector was being propagandized.

Socialist nature
The movement had a pro-poor inclination since the beginning. It was strengthened when Gandhi came into the forefront and the leftists rose, who emphasized on the movement having a socialist outlook.

Secularism
Since the starting the national movement was fully committed to secularism. The leaders, regardless of their religion, were secular in their thoughts and fought hard to inculcate the same values among the people and opposed the growth of communalism. It was so deep rooted that despite the partition of India on the basis of religion and the communal destruction that accompanied it, secularism was retained as a prime element in the Constitution of free India.

Progressive outlook
It was a progressive movement. Since the days of Raja Rammohan Roy, Indian leaders had developed a broad international outlook.

Opposition to imperialism
The simple policy of opposition to the government evolved into a policy of opposition only to imperialism over the years. It matures to the principle that Indians should hate British imperialism but not the British people. This made them secure the supported of a large number of English men, women and political groups.

In the purely traditional Indian society these features were never seen till an outside force, the British imperialism, came and introduced or made the logical Indians realize the value of these concepts.