Meerut Conspiracy Case (March 1929) - UPSC notes

The Meerut Conspiracy Case (March 1929) was a famous case during British rule in India where several trade union leaders and communists were arrested and tried for spreading communist ideas and trying to overthrow British rule. What Happened? Why the Case? The British government was afraid of the growing influence of communism in India, especially after the Russian Revolution (1917). Indian workers were forming trade unions and demanding better wages and working conditions. The British saw this as a threat and wanted to suppress the movement. Who Were Arrested? 31 people, including important leaders like Muzaffar Ahmad, S.A. Dange, Shaukat Usmani, and P.C. Joshi , were arrested in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) on 20 March 1929 . They were accused of trying to spread communist ideology and overthrow the British government. The Trial The trial took place in Meerut and lasted for about four years (1929-1933). The British government used this case to create fear among Indian workers and stop the communist m…