09-11-2008, 09:23 PM
I think a big take away is that the Indians fighting agaisnt the British developed an idea of India that was nationalist and comprising of non-British subjects. The non-participants and collaborators did not identify with the idea of a India as a nation and more so with that idea of India of those fighting to restore Mughal rule.
The curious thing is the freedom struggle that led to 1947 was very strong in Punjab especially in the Sikh community and the leaders of INC in the South were the Tamils, Andhras and Malayalis with Kanndigas playing a role in the Madras Presidency areas. The Brits did play the same caste card in the Madras Presidency by supporting the Justice party and the DK movement.
The curious thing is the freedom struggle that led to 1947 was very strong in Punjab especially in the Sikh community and the leaders of INC in the South were the Tamils, Andhras and Malayalis with Kanndigas playing a role in the Madras Presidency areas. The Brits did play the same caste card in the Madras Presidency by supporting the Justice party and the DK movement.