Source: TH
Subject: History
Context: February 18, 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the 1946 Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Revolt, a major uprising against British rule.
About 80th Anniversary of the 1946 Royal Indian Navy Revolt:
What Was the 1946 Royal Indian Navy Revolt?
- The Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Revolt was a five-day armed uprising (February 18–23, 1946) by Indian naval ratings against British colonial authority.
- It began as a protest over poor conditions but soon evolved into a wider anti-colonial rebellion involving sailors, workers, and civilians.
Historical Background:
- Indian ratings faced racial discrimination, poor food, low wages, and harsh treatment.
- Inspired by the Quit India Movement (1942) and the trials of the Indian National Army (INA).
- Appointment of openly racist officers, such as Arthur Frederick King at HMIS Talwar, further fuelled anger.
Leaders Associated:
- Prominent leaders of the uprising included: B. C. Dutt, M. S. Khan, Madan Singh, Salil Shyam, and Rishi Dev Puri.
- A Naval Central Strike Committee was formed to coordinate actions and present demands.
Events of the Revolt:
- Beginning at HMIS Talwar (Bombay):
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- Started with a hunger strike over poor food quality on February 18, 1946.
- Raised nationalist slogans such as “Quit India” and “Jai Hind.”
- Rapid Spread:
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- Spread to 78 ships and 20 shore establishments across Bombay, Karachi, Madras, Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata, and the Andamans.
- Nearly 20,000 naval ratings participated.
- Popular Support:
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- Workers, students, and civilians joined in solidarity.
- Hindu-Muslim unity was visible as Congress, Muslim League, and Communist flags were hoisted together.
- The Bombay Uprising of 1946 – refers to the mass protests and street battles that erupted in Bombay (now Mumbai), in support of the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) revolt against British rule.
- Armed Confrontation:
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- British troops opened fire in Bombay.
- Street battles erupted in mill districts like Kamatipura and Madanpura.
- Around 200 civilians were killed during suppression efforts.
End of the Revolt:
- Political leaders, including Congress and Muslim League leadership, urged restraint.
- Naval ratings surrendered on February 23, 1946.
- Leaders were arrested, and the uprising was militarily suppressed.
However, the revolt deeply shook British confidence in maintaining control over India.
Significance:
- The revolt signalled that even the armed forces, the backbone of colonial control, could no longer be fully trusted by the British, accelerating their decision to transfer power.
- At a time of growing communal tensions, the uprising witnessed rare solidarity across religious lines, with joint protests and shared nationalist symbols.
- The movement extended beyond naval ratings, drawing workers, students, and civilians into coordinated street resistance against colonial authority.
