What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated the anti-colonial struggle in India? (UPSC 2014)

The anti-colonial struggle in India was shaped by global political, economic and social changes that weakened empire and inspired Indian nationalists.

• Political: Ethiopia’s victory at Adwa and Japan’s defeat of Russia showed that European powers were not invincible. Irish Home Rule, the Bolshevik Revolution, and the World Wars promoted ideas of nationalism, self-determination and anti-imperialism.
• Economic: Industrial capitalism turned India into a supplier of raw materials and a market for British goods, sharpening the critique of the drain of wealth. The Great Depression, wartime inflation and unemployment deepened rural distress and anti-colonial resentment.
• Social: Modern education spread liberal ideas of liberty and equality. Labour, peasant and women’s movements broadened the national agenda, while Gandhi’s South African experience highlighted the effectiveness of satyagraha against racial oppression.

Together, these developments transformed Indian nationalism from elite protest into a mass movement against colonial rule.