1946 Royal Indian Navy Mutiny: Last War of Independence

In 1946, approximately 20,000 non-commissioned sailors of the Royal Indian Navy mutinied, driven by poor service conditions, racism, and unfulfilled recruitment promises, alongside inspiration from the Azad Hind Fauj. Within 48 hours, the sailors seized 78 ships and 21 shore establishments, replacing British flags with the flags of the Congress, the Muslim League, and the communists. The mutiny prompted Indian troops to refuse orders to fire on the ratings and sparked revolts across other armed forces branches. The ratings issued a charter of demands while engaging in combat with British forces. Public support manifested in hartals and street clashes between civilians and British soldiers, resulting in over 400 deaths and 1,500 injured. The British deployed HMS Glasgow from Trincomalee and ordered Royal Air Force fighter sorties. In response, the ratings aimed ship-mounted guns at shore targets, threatening the Gateway of India, Yacht Club, and dockyards. As violence intensified, the British concluded they could no longer maintain control by force. While communists continued supporting the ratings, the Congress and Muslim League persuaded them to surrender with promises of protection—promises later broken by independent India and Pakistan. The mutiny caused public disagreements between Gandhiji and Aruna Asaf Ali, and between Sardar Patel and Nehru. Historians credit it with accelerating the transfer of power, though it has been largely omitted from mainstream Freedom Movement narratives despite inspiring songs, art, and theatre.