ICSE STD X HISTORY Growth of Nationalism

The First War of Independence

·         The Indians resisted the British rule in India from the beginning.

·         This resentment found expression in a number of civil rebellions, tribal uprisings and peasant movements which were precursors to the First War of Indian Independence

·         Millions of Indians participated in the First War of Independence in 1857 which shook the British rule in India.

Ø  The suppression of the war and the resentment aroused among the Indians a feeling of nationalism. They felt that an opposition based on modern political ideas can do away the colonial rule.

 

Economic exploitation of India

India became an economic colony of Britain, i.e., it became a source of raw materials for British industries and market for its finished goods.

The economic system of India was adjusted to the needs of the British at the cost of welfare of the Indians.

·         Peasants

The British exploited the peasants by taking a large part their produce in the form of land revenue and taxes that led the peasants into the clutches of landlords and moneylenders

·         Artisans and craftsmen

The British exploited the artisans and craftsmen by destroying Indian handicraft industry which crippled them and left them without any source of livelihood

·         Working class

The British factory owners exploited the working class by paying them low wages and making them work in inhumane conditions.

·         Educated Indians

The British exploited the educated Indians by giving them low salaries, low posts with bleak chances of promotion and backward economic policies

Ø  This made Indians realize that the salvation lay in uprooting the British rule

Unification of the country

·         The British  brought the whole country under one government with native states under indirect rule and Indian provinces under the direct rule

·         They established a strong central government and introduced a uniform system of law and administration in the country.

·         A uniform system civil and criminal law was enforced throughout the country

Ø  Common institution and common law shaped India into a common mould. The Indians achieved a new sense of political unity

Ø  The modem trade and industries on all India scale brought  about the economic unification of the country

 

 

Influence of western education

The introduction of modern Western education led to

 The assimilation of modern western ideas of democracy and nationalism gave a new direction to the Indian political thinking and national awakening

·         Opened to the newly educated Indians floodgates of liberal European political thought, economic ideas and ideals of liberty, nationality, equality, rule of law and self-government

·         The spread of English language gave the Indians

o    a common language in which they could communicate

o     a common platform to organize the movement of an all India character

Ø  Thus the influence of western education became a relevant factor to the growth of nationalism

Development of means of communication and transport

·         The British developed modern means of transport and communication by building a network of roads and railways as well as Post and Telegraph for the need of economic exploitation, administrative convenience, military defence and commercial interests.

·         Means of transport and communication knit together the vast country and enabled Indians

o    to easily connect to one another

o    to transmit exchanges of messages speedily

o    to come in contact with one another and discuss problems facing the country

Ø  Thus development of means of communication and transport was relevant factor in the growth of Nationalism

The Rise of the middle class

The introduction of western and the innovations brought about in the administrative and economic system gave rise to new urban middle class in towns.

·         These newly educated class became lawyers, doctors teachers

·         Some of them visited England for higher studies

·         They saw the difference between the working of political institutions there and in India

·         India they were not given a chance of higher employment

Ø  This realization turned them into nationalists which provided leadership to the Indian political association.

Impact of Contemporary European Movements

·         The Contemporary Nationalist Liberation Movements and in Europe in Greece, Italy and Ireland the French revolution provided concepts of nationalism and self-determination initiated

Ø  They were a great stimulus to the growth of India nationalism

The Press and the Patriotic literature

A large number of English and vernacular newspapers and magazines were started. Prominent English ones were

1.    Amrit Bazar Patrika	2.    The Bengali	3.    The Hindu
4.    The Tribune	5.    The Pioneer	6.    The Statesman
	7.    The Times of India

The Role of newspapers

            i.        Spread the message of patriotism and modern ideals of liberty, equality, freedom, home rule and independence among the people

           ii.        Carried on daily criticism to expose the unjust policies of British government

          iii.        Facilitated exchange of views among different social groups from different parts of country and organizing political movement

          iv.        Created awareness among Indians

o    to understand the political and social development of the outside world

o    to shape their own policies and programme

           v.        National literature in the form of essays, novels and patriotic poetry promoted the spirit of nationalism. The prominent writers who stirred national consciousness through their writings

o    Hindi       Bharatendu Harishchandra

o    Tamil      Subra Mnaya Bharti

o    Marathi    Vushnu Shastri Chiplunkar

o    Bengali    Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

               Rabindra Nath Tagore

o    Urdu       Altaf Hussain Hali

Socio-religious reform movements

The socio-religious reform movement initiated by the reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda created a consciousness of a new liberal society devoid of privileges based on caste, creed and religion

·         In the social sphere they worked for the abolition of Caste system, child marriage, dowry system, purdah system, sati system and female infanticide social and legal inequalities

·         In the religious sphere they worked on combating religious superstitions, idolatry, polytheism  and heredity priesthood

Ø  These reform movements drew inspiration from India's rich cultural heritage and promoted a feeling of pan- Indianism and a spirit of nationalism.

 

 

Rediscovery of India's Past

The rediscovery of India’s national heritage in literature, philosophy, science, arts and politics by both the Europeans and the Indians helped the growth of nationalism their efforts gave rise

·         to a sense of cultural unity and pride among the Indians

·         to restore peole’s self-confidence and self-respect

·         to counter the western propaganda that the Indians had never been able to rule themselves and that they were destined to be ruled by foreigners

 

Racial Discrimination

·         The British looked down upon Indians with contempt, tried to maintain distance from them

·         After the First War of Independence of 1857 they considered Indians as inferior race.

Ø  The racial discrimination and arrogance of British towards the Indians made the Indians feel humiliated and led them to be united

 

Repressive Policies of Lord Lytton

The Vernacular Press Act 1878

·         The Vernacular Press Act forbade vernacular papers to publish any material that might excite the feelings of dissatisfaction against the British Government.

Ø  This Act led the people to resent the British policies and accelerated movement against British rule.

The Arms Act 1879

·         The Arms Act of 1879 made it a criminal offence for Indians to carry arms without license

·         This Act was not applicable to the British

Ø  This repressive Act led the people to resent the discriminatory policies of the British and accelerated movement against their rule.

Delhi Durbar

Organizing a Grand Delhi Darbar in 1877 to proclaim Queen Victoria as the Empress of India costing lakhs of rupees disregarding the welfare of Indians who were in the grip of famine

Age in Civil Services Examination

Reduction in the maximum age limit for the civil service examination from 21 to 19 years for Indians

Elimination of import duties on British textiles

 

Ilbert Bill Controversy

Introduced by Viceroy Council Member Sir C.P. Ilbert

·         The Bill sought to abolish judicial disqualification based on racial distinctions

·         This was resented by the British and they started Defence Associations to defend their special privileges

·         This caused counter agitation by educated Indians

·         The government withdrew the Bill

·         The moderate measure of vesting power of trying Europeans by a sessions judge and a district judge who might be an Indian

Ø  This made it clear to the Indians that justice and fair play could not be expected where the interest of European community were involved

The precursors to the Congress

·         Raja Rammohan Roy was pioneer of political movement on India

o    Liberty of press

o    Appointment of Indians in Civil courts and other higher posts

o    Codification of laws

·         The first political association in India – Landholders society in Kolkatta

·         Others that followed

o    Bengal British Indian Society

o    British Indian Society

o    East India Association

o    Indian Association

·         These associations served as a base for formation of the Congress the All India Political organization

 

London Indian Society

·         First organization to be formed in England by Indian students under the direction of Dadabhai Naroji

·         It voiced the grievances of Indians

·         It opposed the misinterpretation of Indians in English press

·         Pherozeshah Mehta W.C. Banerjee

 

Poona Sarvajanik Sabha

·         Political organization of Western India

·         Founded by Justice Ranade

·         Made people aware urged them to fight constitutionally for their political rights 

 

Indian Association

·         Meant to be an all India Movement Branches in Bengal and outside Bengal

·         Headed by Surendranath Banerjea

·         Members were lawyers, professionals and educated middle class

·         Objectives

o    Creation of strong body of public opinion

o    Integration of Indian people on the basis of common political interests

o    Promotion of friendly relations between Hindus and Muslims

o    Mass participation in public movements

·         Achievements

o    Agitations against oppressive License Acts, The Arms Act, The Vernacular Press Act and lowering the age limit from 21 to 19 years for ICS examinations

o    Took up the cause of the workers on British owned plantations

East India Association

·         Founded in London by Dadabhai Naroji

·         Branches in Mumbai, Kolkatta and Chennai

·         Provided information on Indian subjects to British citizens and Members of Parliament

·         Voiced grievances of Indians and suggested remedial measures

·         Dadabhai Naroji’s opinion

o    British were basically just and good

o    Wanted to place the true state of affairs of India before the people of England so that problems of Indians may be resolved

Formation/foundation of the Indian National Congress

The precursors of the Congress were local in character.

They prepared the ground for creating an all India political association.

·         Surendranath Banerjea, Dadabhai Naroji, Justice Ranade were working towards founding a formation of an all India political body.

·          A. O. Hume, a retired British member of the India Civil service wanted to set up an organization that would draw the government's attention to the administrative drawbacks and suggest means to rectify them.

·         Hume wrote an open letter to the graduates of the Calcutta University asking them to dedicate themselves to the service of the people by forming a union to organize well-defined course of action.

·         This appeal produced the desired result. In 1884 Hume, in consultation with the Indian leaders, laid the foundation of Indian National Union.

·          The conference of the representatives of different parts of India was convened by the Union at Pune on December 25, 1885.

·         Plague broke out in Pune. So the meeting of the Union was held at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Mumbai from December 28 to 31, 1885 under the presidentship of Womesh Chandra Bonerjee. It was attended by 72 delegates.

·         On the suggestion of Dadabhai Naroji the name of the Union was changed to the Indian National Congress.

Ø  Thus, the foundation of the Indian National Congress was laid on December 25, 1885.

The Viceroy, Lord Dufferin, favored the formation of the Congress because he wanted it to act as a 'safety-valve' for popular discontent, thereby, safeguarding the British interest in India.

The Congress stood for the hopes and aspirations of the people of India who accepted its leadership in launching the freedom movement. It achieved the goal of freedom in 1947.

In the presidential address of the first session of the Indian National Congress held Mumbai in December, 1888 WC. Bonerjee declared the following as the aims of the Indian National Congress:

1.    To promote friendly relations between nationalist political workers from different parts of the country

2.    To develop and consolidate the feelings of national unity irrespective of caste, religion or province

3.    To formulate popular demands and present them before the government

4.    To train and organize the public opinion in the country

Sessions of Congress

The Congress held its sessions every year in December to chalk out programme to achieve its aims.

Ø  The First session of Congress was held in 1885 at Mumbai under the leadership of W.C. Bonerjee.

Ø  It was attended by 72 delegates from across the country including Dadabhai Naroji and Justice Ranade

Ø  The Second session of Congress was held in 1886 at Kolkatta under the leadership of Dadabhai Naroji. 

Ø  The delegates were received by Lord Dufferin as distinguished visitors to the capital.

 

Ø  The twenty third session of Congress was held in 1907 at Surat under the leadership of Rash Behari Ghosh.

Ø  There was a dispute between the moderate and assertive wing of the Congress regarding the methods of agitation in Bengal after its partition.

Ø  The Congress split for a decade.

 

Ø  The Thirty first session of the Congress was held  in 1916 at Lucknow under the presidentship of Ambika Charan Mazumdar.

Ø  The Moderate and Assertive wing of the Congress united back after a decade.