The freedom struggle was perhaps the greatest mass movement in the world history. After 1919, it was built around the basic notion that the people had to and could play a decisive role in politics and in their own liberation. It succeeded in politicizing and drawing into political action a large part of Indian people. Mahatma Gandhi was of the opinion that it is the people and not leaders who create a mass movement through the quality of leadership is an important criterion for its success:

Satyagraha that is urging for truth which was fashioned by Gandhiji as a means of active participation of the people, achieved precisely the objectives of the mass movement. Unlike a violent movement which could only be waged by.a handful of committed cadres and fighters, a non-violent revolution required the political mobilization of millions and the support of a vast majority. It was this faith in the participation of the masses that led to the support for a representative democracy and universal adult franchise.

The national movement from the very beginning popularized democratic ideals and institutions among the people and struggled for the introduction of parliamentary institutions on the basis of popular elections. Much attention was also paid to the deference of civil liberties and freedom