Background of the Royal Indian Navy Mutiny
This happened when Indian nationalist sentiments were at their peak across the country. The three violent outbreaks in the winter of 1945–46:
- Firstly, after the INA tests in Calcutta in November 1945;
- Secondly, in connection with the conviction of INA officer Rashid Ali in Calcutta in February 1946;
- And in the same month – an increase in the uprisings in Bombay.
This chain of events “raised the fever in the political atmosphere”, and the ordinary people soon joined the ratings, and life almost came to a standstill in Bombay and Calcutta with meetings, parades, strikes, strikes. The Communist Party of India and the Bombay Student Union organized a general strike in Bombay, besides this in various cities of India, students boycotted their classes to support the workers. Such an atmosphere ultimately took a brutal shape killing 1000 men and women.
Royal Indian Navy Mutiny – Causes and Significance
The Royal Indian Navy Rebellion (RIN), also known as the Royal Indian Navy Revolt or Royal Indian Navy Mutiny, was started on February 18, 1946, at Bombay port by the ratings (NCOs and sailors) against the British. The Rebellion of the Royal Indian Navy began as a ranking strike (referring to sailors subordinate to officers) by the ratings of HMIS Talwar, a beach company, demanding better food and accommodation. It was seen that the Indian seafarers were ill-treated by their British commanders, and there were differences in salary, lifestyle, and working conditions of the workers. It soon spread to other parts of British India, involving 10,000 to 20,000 sailors, who were violently suppressed by the British. This Movement holds an important position in India’s struggle for Independence.