In the previous post, we read about Cabinet Mission 1946. We have seen that Muslim League members refused the Cabinet Mission, they adhered to their demand for a separate state. After Quit India Movement the nationalist sentiment was growing at its peak. Everyone was seeking independence from the oppressive government.
Subhash Chandra Bose led the Indian National Army(INA). There were three upsurges- one on 21st November 1945 in Calcutta, the second on 11th February 1946 in Calcutta to protest against the seven-year sentence to the INA official, Rashid Ali. The last one was the Naval Mutiny of 1946.
Naval Mutiny 1946
Actually in the initial phases of the National Freedom Struggle Indian Masses particularly the educated middle class and capitalists were the seeker of Independence and the Indian Military Forces under the banner of the British Government oppressing their own people. But it seems the enthusiasm among people for independence spread like waves and these waves stimulated Indian Military Men also.
So, likewise in the 1857 Revolt, Royal Indian Navy stood against the oppressive policies of the Government. The Naval Mutiny started on 18th February 1946. The naval officials of Bombay’s post went on strike. It started when 1100 naval ratings of HMIS Talwar struck work at Bombay to protest against the problems faced by them.
There was racial discrimination between British and Indian Officials. Though there were not many Indian Official ranks Indian officials face salary discrimination. The British Government was paying more to the British Officials than Indian officials. There was also an issue of unpalatable food and abuses to boot.
HMIS TALWAR And HMIS HINDUSTAN
The navy Sepoys resented the arrest of BC Dutt of HMIS Talwar during the Quit India Movement. Other ratings from Castle and Fort Barracks also joined this strike. The Sepoys never supported the Indian Masses but always suppressed their Freedom movement. But Indian masses showed ultimate support to the navy sepoys. People from Bombay city joined the Navy Official and stayed with their strikes.
The Naval Mutiny and popular fury in Bombay alone accounted for the destruction of thirty shops, ten post offices, ten police chowkis, sixty-four foodgrains shops and 200 street lamps. The normal life of Bombay city was completely ruined.
In the last phase of the Naval Mutiny, the Karachi post also stands with the HMIS Talwar. HMIS Hindustan(Karachi) along with one more ship and three shore establishments went on strike in support of HMIS Talwar. Soon on every military establishment like Madras, Vishakhapatnam, Calcutta, Delhi, Cochin, Jamnagar, the Andamans, Bahrain and Aden strike took place.
Significance of Naval Mutiny
The military, which was the power of the British Imperialistic government, stood against the government for the second time. Actually, during the revolt of 1857, the Indian Sepoys were not well equipped and trained. Because they were working as subsidiary forces. But after the 1940s, the situation changed and now the Indian Sepoys, Officials have participated in two world wars(World War I, and World War II) on behalf of the British Government.
So, in the 1940s our soldiers showed their arms and ammunition against the imperialist government. The same incident took place during the French Revolution of 1789. The Army of France sided with the local masses and stood against the malevolent Louis XVI’s Government.
The Naval Mutiny almost decided the fate of the British government in India. Now, only formalities were left. The day would be arriving, when the tricolour flag was going to be hoisted in Independent India.
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