The first World war I (1914-1918) was fought by the imperialist powers to save their colonies. Around 1.3 million Indian soldiers served in World War I.For decades the Indian contribution to the Allied war effort in the First World War has received little interest. This is slowly changing as the centenary of the war has brought renewed interest in the experience of colonial Indian soldiers, especially amongst the Indian diaspora in Britain. Yet, while the story of Indian troops in battle is one that is generating interest, what is harder to piece together is the impact the war had on India itself.

Political Impact

When the war broke out in July 1914 , a large number of Indian nationalists declared their support to British war efforts . many extremist leaders changed their hard stance towards British Government and now complete Independence was not their agenda instead they demanded Home rule similar to Britain’s white dominions. For this purpose Home rule movement was launched .
From the side of British there was some political payback for this support. In August 1917 Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State for India, announced that British policy in India was now aimed at “increasing association of Indians in every branch of the administration, and the gradual development of self-governing institutions, with a view to the progressive realisation of responsible government in India as integral part of the British Empire.”Despite the statement of intent from Montagu, the move towards self-government was slow to get off the ground in India.
During war years and after, New ideologies like Marxism and Socialism inspired many Indians. Many socialist and communist groups attracted peasants and workers and made them an integral part of national movement.

Impact on revolutionary activities during war years and aftermath

Emboldened with the presence of small number of troops in India during war years, Ghadar revolutionaries decided to launch a violent attack on British Rule in India and for this purpose Kartar singh Sarabha, Raghuwar Dayal and many other Ghadar leaders arrived in India ,Bengal revolutionaries were also contacted and a date was fixed( in February 1915) for the armed revolt in Ferozpur ,Lahore and Rawalpindi Garrisons ,but it was failed due to treachery .To curtail an anti-government propaganda the British reacted with a number of repressive measures that were given legal standing through the Defence of India Act, which was passed in 1915. Under the act, local authorities had given more power to prevent rumours, deal with incitement of ‘hatred’ and make wholesale arrests.
As discontent in India continued after war ,British government enacted the repressive Rowlatt Act in March 1919. It was the extension of Defence of India act 1915.This Act extended war time restrictions on civil liberties and allowed detention of political leaders for two years( maximum) without trial. In reaction Mahatma Gandhi launched First Nationwide Satyagraha –Rowlatt Satyagraha ,During satyagraha infamous Jallianwala massacre took place . The massacre was crucial in spreading unrest of a sort that British hadn’t seen since the 1857 rebellion across the country. World War I marks the last instance where India willingly cooperated in British endeavors.

World war- 1 and Hindu Muslim Unity

The impact of world war -1 on Hindu- Muslim unity was positive. It was the outcome of many factors.In world war when Ottoman empire joined Germany against Allied powers there was some kind of uneasiness among muslims all over the world and this reflected in India also .Now Muslim league gradually started adopting the ideology and methods of Congress .Congress was also hoping for a strong bond between Hindus and Muslims . Therefore a sense of unity prevailed. By the Lucknow Pact of 1916, the Congress and the Muslim League agreed to fight for the one cause of independence of the nation.After the war when treaty of Sevres was imposed on Ottoman Empire Muslims felt betrayed by the British Government and with the support of congress Khilafat Movement was being launched in which Hindu Muslim unity was unparallel .
But unfortunately this unity was short lived.

Economic Impact

There is, of course, the economic impact of the war on India. Requisitioning of food supplies, particularly cereals, led to rampant food inflation. Meanwhile, rising military demand for jute products compensated for the decline in civilian demand with jute mills in Bengal establishing monopolies; skewed income distribution grew even more so, shifting from jute farmers to capitalists. And as Amiya Kumar Bagchi has noted in “Indian Economy and Society during World War One”, the drain on the Indian economy in the form of cash, kind and loans to the British government came to about 367 million pounds.
There were upsides as well. Domestic manufacturing sectors such as cotton benefited from the decline in British goods that had dominated the pre-war market. The steel sector—so crucial after independence—benefited as well. For instance, the ailing Tata steel mills were handed a lifeline in the form of a contract to supply rails to the Mesopotamian campaign. British investment was rerouted to the UK, creating opportunities for Indian capital. In short, the war economy boosted Indian capitalism in some ways at least.

Conclusion

So We can say Indian national movement, and the country’s socio-economic development did not take place in isolation. World War I linked India to global events in profound ways with far-reaching consequences.