74 years ago on February 18, 1946, about 1,100 Indian sailors or ships of HMIS Talwar and the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) declared a hunger strike, influenced by the conditions and treatment of Indians in the Navy. This strike, also known as a "slow down" strike, meant that the ships would slowly perform their duties.
- The commander of HMIS Talwar, F M King reportedly addressed the naval ships abusing them, which made the situation even more aggressive.
1946 Naval Mutiny: Strike and Demand
- About 10,000-20,000 sailors gradually joined the strike that started on 18 February, the reason being that due to the established ports in Karachi, Madras, Calcutta, Mandapam, Visakhapatnam and Andaman Islands, a large section was affected by this strike. came.
- Although the immediate demand for this strike was only better food and working conditions, it did not take long for the movement to turn into a broader demand for independence from British rule, and it quickly took on a wider scale.
- Soon the release of all political prisoners of the Indian National Army (INA) of the protesting sailor Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, action due to the abuse and use of abusive language by Commander FM King, the salary and allowances of RIN employees to their British counterparts. They began demanding issues such as parity, the release of Indian forces stationed in Indonesia, and better treatment of subordinates by officers.
1946 Naval Mutiny: The Rise of Nationalism
- The RIN strike came at a time when Indian nationalist sentiment had reached its peak across the country. The winter of 1945–46 saw three violent ups and downs: the hearing of the INA officers' case in Calcutta in November 1945; INA officer Rashid Ali was again punished in Calcutta in February 1946 and in the same month a naval mutiny in Bombay.
- The strike got a setback when BC Dutt, a RIN frigate, was arrested, who raised the 'Quit India' slogan on HMIS Talwar. From the very next day after the start of the strike, ships started protesting in vehicles in the vicinity of Bombay, waving the Congress flag.
- Soon the general public also joined these ships, leading to a virtual standoff in both Bombay and Calcutta. Countless meetings, processions and strikes took place in both the cities. In Bombay, the workers took part in a general strike at the call of the Communist Party of India and the Bombay Students' Union. Students in several cities across the country boycotted classes in a show of solidarity.
- The state's response to these strikes and demonstrations was quite brutal. According to an estimate, more than 220 people were killed in the police firing, while around 1,000 were injured.
Congress' stand on the rebellion
- Historians generally believe that the rebels had neither the support of the Congress nor the Muslim League. The strikers called for a city-wide strike in Bombay.
- By 22 February, a large part of the city had been affected by the strike, although violent incidents occurred at various places in the city.
Importance of events
- The RIN rebellion remains a legend today. It was an event that strengthened the determination of the Indian people to see the end of British rule. The revolt was a testament to the deep solidarity and harmony between religious groups, which appeared as a response to the communal hatred and animosity that was spreading in the country at that time. However the sad part is that this was a time when communal unity was more organizational in nature than the unity between the two major communities. Its culmination was also visible within a few months, India became a witness to one of the most terrible communal conflicts of history.
