The Role of the Masses in India\'s Struggle for Freedom : Undivided Midnapur 1905-1944: A Case Study

In this micro study on the freedom movement in the district of undivided Midnapur, West Bengal, efforts have been made to higlight the gravity and extent of the different phases of movement namely anti-partition and Swadeshi, non cooperation and no tax, civil disobedience especially the salt Stayagraha and quit India, leading to the establishment of Jatiya Sarkars by challenging the British Government. It is to noted that no such Jatiya Sarkars was established in any district of undivided Bengal. This study has been made against the background of the nation wide movement. besides the revolutionary activities aiming at paralyzing the British administration increased to a great extent in the concerned area in comparison with any other places of India. While narrating the history of the different phases of the movement, special attention has been focused on the involvement of the masses which so far has not been taken into consideration by any explorer writing on the history of freedom movement of our country. This is the first work of its kind on the very interesting topic and therefore, an important contribution to the existing historical literature. (jacket)