6. Beginning of Freedom Movement

6. Beginning of Freedom Movement English education made mixed effects of western education, new ideas such as on the Indian society. The seeds of Justice, Liberty, Equality, Democracy etc. nationalism were sown by the reforms of were introduced to the Indians. Rationalism, newly educated society. Due to various Scientific attitude, humanity, nationalism movements in different parts of India a these principles were accepted by the favourable situation was created to build Indians. Therefore there inculcated a a political organisation on an all India feeling that we are capable of carrying out level which will bring together the various the work of the country and its progress provincial political organisations, different is possible by following these principles. groups of politically aware people and to India is a country of diverse languages but express the aspiration of the nation by with the introduction of English language diverting the public attention towards the India got a new medium of communication. questions of the nation. Study of Ancient Indian History : Centralisation of administration The ‘Asiatic Society’ during British rule : Due to the British was established at administration, its implementation on India Bengal by the British. brought the nation under one roof in its Many Indian and true sense. Due to identical reforms all western scholars started over the country and equality before law, study of Indian culture. the feeling of nationalism developed among The manuscripts in the people. For the convenience of Sanskrit, Persian and administration and swift movement of the other languages were army the British built network of roads examined and research and railways. But these facilities benifited Dr. Bhau Daji Lad was published. the Indians as well. People from different Dr.Bhau Daji Lad, Dr. R. G. Bhandarkar parts of India came in contact of each these Indian scholars made intensive study other, there was increase in communication of ancient Indian culture. After and the feeling of nationalism grew up. understanding that we Economic exploitation : The Indian are blessed with wealth was flowing towards England by all glorious ancient means. Due to the imperialist policy of tradition, the Indians England there was beginning of economic were awakened with exploitation of India. Farmers were a sense of Identity. compelled to take cash crops, burden of The ‘Bhandarkar land taxes, continuous famines all this Oriental Research broke down the backbone of Indian Institute’ is working agriculture. Traditional industries declined since last 100 years in which led to rise in unemployment. The Pune. Dr. R. G. Bhandarkar Capitalists exploited the worker class. Contribution of Newspapers : During Various new taxes were imposed on the this period, English and Vernacular middle class. This led to growth of discontent newspapers and periodicals came to be among the people. published. Through these newspapers, Western Education : Due to spread political and social awakening took place. Newspapers like Darpan, methods. They had a hope that if we Prabhakar, Hindu, Amrit demand through constitutional methods Bazar Patrika, Kesari, then the British will give justice to our Maharatta started demands. Gopal Krishna Gokhale, criticising the Government. Ferozshah Mehta, Surendranath Banerjee Establishment of were all moderate leaders. In the session of Indian National Indian National Congress : On 28 Wyomesh Chandra Congress different resolutions were put December 1885, the first Banerjee forward by them such as, to get session of Indian National Congress was representation in provincial legislature, held at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit School in jobs for educated Indians, cutting down the Mumbai. 72 delegates from different increasing expenses on military, Legislature provinces of India participated in this and Judiciary should be seperated for session. Wyomesh Chandra Banerjee, a safeguarding legal rights of Indians etc. renowned lawyer from Kolkata, was the To cause a split in the national President of this session. In this session movement the British implemented the they established the Indian National policy of ‘Divide and rule’. Congress. Allan Octavian Hume, a British Extremist Phase officer, took lead in the establishment of the (1905-1920) : All Indian National Congress. Increased Indian leaders who proportion of Indians in the administration, were politically aware reduction of military expenses by the British kept aside their government such statements were sent to differences of caste, the British. religion, language, Objectives of the Indian National province and gathered Congress : To make the people from on a single platform of Indian National different parts of India forget the differences Lokmanya Tilak in religion, race, caste, language, Congress. There were geographical territories and bring them on unanimous decisions regarding the a common platform, to understand each objectives of the Congress and taking others problems and views, to increase the forward the movement by constitutional feeling of oneness among the people, to means, but there were differences regarding take efforts for the development of the the working system. These were ideological country were the objectives of the Indian differences. From these differences two National Congress. main political groups were formed. The Moderate Phase (1885-1905) : The Moderates who advocated peaceful and constitutional manners and the Extremist early ten years after establishment of Indian National Congress their contribution who believed in severe struggle for was very slow but consistent. The leaders attainment of freedom. Lala Lajpat Rai, of Indian National Congress were realistic Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra and highly educated. They were aware that Pal were believed to be extremist leaders. through organised work a strong foundation In the early period, the Extremist needs to be built up. Western thinker’s, leaders, for bringing political awakening philosophy of liberalism, freedom, equality, among the Indians used methods like fraternity these values had an impact on newspapers, national festivals and national them. They believed in constitutional education. ‘Kesari’ and ‘Maratha’ were the newspapers through which Lokmanya Partition of Bengal : The British Tilak made severe criticism on the decided to use the policy of ‘Divide and suppressive policy of the British. In Bengal Rule’ to create a rift between Hindu-Muslim province, ‘Amrit Bazar Patrika’ was a community. The then Viceroy Lord Curzon mouthpiece of extremist ideology. By contributed to it. Bengal was a very large forgetting the internal differences people province. To carry out the work of this should come together and exchange their province was difficult from administrative ideas, common people should get point of view. By putting up this reason, in inspiration from contribution of national 1905, he declared the partition of Bengal personalities, with these objectives Tilak province. With this partition, arrangement started organising of Shiv Jayanti and was made such that majority Muslims will Ganesh Utsav. For political reasons if remain in East Bengal and West Bengal for people come together then government majority of Hindus. The hidden strategy of will ban them, but for religious reasons the British was, if the Hindu-Muslims were if people come together the government divided, due to partition, then the freedom will not ban them was his opinion. In the movement will be weakened. Mandalay prison, Tilak wrote Anti Partition Movement : There ‘Geetarahasya’. Its core was philosophy of was public awakening against partition not karmayoga and stressed that people should only in Bengal but all over India. 16 always be in action. The extremist leaders October, the day of partition was observed established education institutions for as National Mourning Day. All over India creating a generation concerned about own there were protest meetings to condemn the language and tradition. The extremist Government’s decision. ‘Vande Mataram’ leaders were of the opinion that if lakhs came to be sung everywhere. As a symbol of people take part in the freedom of unity, ‘Raksha Bandhan’ programmes movement and challenge the British were held. Students in large number government by struggling against them boycotted government schools and colleges only then success will be achieved. They and participated in the movement. The unanimously believed that the movement leadership of this movement was in the should be made more severe. But they did hands of Surendranath Banerjee, Anand not adopt the means of armed revolution Mohan Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and rather insisted for an extensive public such other leaders. The extent of Indian agitation. The moderates laid the foundation National Congress increased due to the of freedom movement and the extremists anti partition movement. It became a carried forward the movement. national movement. Owing to the severity of dissatisfaction, the British anulled the In 1897, in Pune, the epidemic of partition of Bengal. Plague had spread on a large scale. Four point programme of Indian Hundreds of people died due to it. An National Congress : Gopal Krishna officer named Rand was appointed. The Gokhale was the President of Indian plague patients were searched out and National Congress session of 1905. He oppressive measures were adopted. As a supported the anti partition movement. revenge, the Chapekar brothers assasinated Dadabhai Nowrojee was the President of Rand.

Load more