tMDIA^S FREEDOM STRUGGLE 83 rest the Indian castes, these decisive impediments to Indian progress and Indian power. Marx in these two passages was describing the process of capitalist development—the condition for the formation of a nation in India. In dealing with the freedom struggle of our country we are dealing with one of the most outstanding events of the 20th century, a historic event of world importance. The Russian Revolution of 1917, the anti-Nazi victory of the USSR in the Second World War, the successful Chinese revolution and the liberation of India have contributed to changing the political landscape of the world. The first three events of course had much more far-reaching effects on world history. The first two victories contributed in a big way to the achievement of Indian independence, and this achievement by the Indian people further unleashed such huge forces which weakened the enslaving forces of world imperialism and contributed to the collapse of the colonial system. A proper assessment of all those who contributed to this achievement and of those who with justification claimed the leadership of the struggle is necessary to understand the growth and maturing of this historic event. Further, a correct historical perspective on the national struggle will emerge only if it is taken in conjunction with its sequel—the post-independent history of India, characterised by the immiserisation of our people, the monstrous rise of unemployment, pervasive corruption, the growing collapse of all the values assiduously nurtured during the national struggle, the rise of communal and divisive forces and threats of dismemberment and disruption. The disappointment of the people is exploited by reactionaries to denigrate the achievements of freedom ; to belittle the sacrifices of the people. There are scribes who portray as if freedom was a gift of the rulers and not the triumph of the Indian people. The concerted attempt to kill national patriotic sentiments is indirectly helped by the ruling Congress party when it denies the role of the masses and gives credit only to certain leaders for achieving Indian freedom. II 1857 War of Independence The 1857 War of Independence was an inspiring story of armed resistance against British enslavement and misrule. Through the 18th and 19th Century a series of struggles against the British occurred. This period of militant struggles started with the Sanyasi Rebellions (1763-1800) round which centered Bankim Chatterjee's famous novel Anand Math and continued till the Birsa Rebellion ((890-1900^. From Garo to Lushai Hills to Trivandrum in the South, from Cutch in the West to Rajamundhri on the Eastern Coast, people were involved