•   Royal Indian Navy Revolt began at Bombay harbour on 18^th February 1946 by the non commissioned officers and sailors against the British.

•   While the immediate trigger was the demand for better food and working conditions, the agitation soon turned into a wider demand for independence from British rule.

•   They demanded the following:

o  Release of INA prisoners

o  Freedom of all other political prisoners

o  Withdrawal of Indian troops from Indo China and Java

o  Better food

o  More civilised treatment

o  Equal pay for European and Indian Sailors alike

•   By 22^nd February, the revolt had spread to all the naval bases in the country.

•   Soon, ordinary people joined the ratings (revolting Naval officers), and life came to a virtual standstill in both Bombay and Calcutta, as there were meetings, processions, strikes, and hartals.

•   This revolt was different from the other revolts in the sense that, after 1857 it was the first time that the British realized that the Royal Indian forces were no more obedient to the British commands.

•   Thus, the RIN revolt was seen as an event marking the end of British rule.

•   The mutiny hastened the process of transfer of power to India.

•   The revolt was called off following a meeting between the President of the Naval Central Strike Committee (NCSC), M. S. Khan, and Vallab Bhai Patel of the Congress with a guarantee that none would be persecuted.

•   But, arrests were made, followed by courts martial and the dismissal of 476 sailors from the Royal Indian Navy.