Colonialism and Nationalism in Modern India
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COLONIALISM AND NATIONALISM IN MODERN INDIA STUDY MATERIAL II M A HISTORY Dr. R. Kanchana Devi Assistant Professor, Department of History, Periyar Arts College, Cuddalore. CONTENTS 1. Colonialism and Nationalism 2. South Indian Rebellion (1801) and Vellore Munity (1806) 3. Revolt of 1857 4. Civil Rebellions and Tribal Uprisings 5. Peasant Movements and uprisings after 1857 6. Birth of Indian National Congress and National Movement 7. Moderate and Extremist programme of congress 8. The Roll of Press 9. Rise and Growth of Communalist 10. The impact of First World War and Home Rule Movement 11. Non co-operation Movement and Swaraj Party 12. Peasant Movements and Nationalism in the 1920’s 13. Civil Disobedience Movement 14. The Crisis at Tripuri to the Cripps Mission 15. Quit India Movement and Dawn of Independence COLONIALISM AND NATIONALISM Historical Background For centuries India remained under the influence of Mohammedans and Britishers. Though India has a rich past and at the height of its glory she was one of the most advanced nations of the world yet with the passage of time her glory faded. Not only this but due to internal disunity the invaders could rale over India for centuries together. History is a witness that even at the darkest period of her history Indians continued their struggle for independence in one way for the other and did not agree to accept the fate to which they had been so unfortunately placed. Out modern Indian political thought Practically began with Gokhale who can be called the pioneer of our national movement and subsequently India produced very many political thinkers who continued their struggle against British Imperialism both under the flag of Indian National Congress and even outside that. These thinkers were moderates as well as extremists but both had one common end to achieve, namely that of seeing India developing, prospering and getting her due honourable and respectable place in the family of nations. Thus these thinkers tried to mould public opinion to mould that to their ideology. They also tried to lead the nation in a particular manner for speedily achieving the goal they had fixed for themselves. In this brief survey an attempt will be made to discuss the political philosophies of some of the prominent Indian political thinkers of modern India with special reference to Nationalist movement which dominated Indian political scene for at least two centuries. Definition of Nationalism Nationalism is a very vague and in fact it is very difficult to define it precisely and accurately. According to Gooch “Nationalism is an Organism, a Spiritual entity and all attempts to penetrate its Secrets by the light of Mechanical interpretations break down before the test of experience.” Barker has defined it by saying that, “ A nation is a body of men in habiting a definite territory who normally are drawn from different races but possess a common stock of thoughts and feelings acquired and transmitted during the course of a common History, but on the whole are the men though more in the past than in the present, include in that common stock a common religious belief who generally and as a role use a common language, as the vehicle of the thoughts and feelings and who besides common thoughts and feelings all so cherish a common will and accordingly from or did not form a separate state for the expression of that will.” In India Aurobindo Ghosh gave a new interpretation to nationalism when he said, “ Nationalism is a religion that has come from god. Nationalism is a creed in which you shall have to live. It is an attitude of heart, of the soul. What the intellect, could not do this mighty force of passionate conviction bon out of the very faiths of national consciousness, will be able to accomplish.” Thus it will be safe to say that, on the whole, Nationalism is a political sentiment whereas for the people of India it was both a religion and a creed. Both the masses as well as leaders of modern India aroused these national feelings for seeing Mother India from foreign yokes and once again India’s Occupying the pride place of being called the leader and teacher of the whole world. Orgin of Nationalism in India Most of our Indian historians have spared no pains to establish that our struggle for freedom continued even during the darkest period of our slavery. There are many historical evidences to show that Indian moderates and revolutionaries struggled hard to tell their rulers that they had not been in a position to reconcile themselves to their rule. The death of Harsha Brought disintegration in Indian Empire and Muslim traditions dominated the Hindu Civilization, but the basic concepts of Hindu civilization namely those of joint family system, Panchayat Raj or Village autonomy and even caste system continued to be the basis of our civilization. It is usually believed that in India Nationalism was a deep-rooted institution and it always inspired the Indian masses. He has also tried to establish that the Indian National struggle of 1857 was not a National Struggle and was also not fought with a sense of relieving India from British supremacy. He has said “Thus in the ultimate analysis the so called Indian or National war of Independence was neither Indian, or National and not even a war to achieve independence of particular region.” According to him, there for, up to 1857 nationalism in India did not exist to gather. Though it may be very much under estimating our national sentiments but fact remains that for long, ours was not a struggle at national level. The most unfortunate aspect was that where as who had national leaders who could inspire the confidence of the masses, our universities failed to produce and political philosopher of the caliber of either Laski, Dante, Hobbes who could expounded a new national philosophy. Philosophers and this was very unfortunate for consolidating nationalism in our country. Growth of Nationalism in India. We have already said that Indian political thought developed in the background of Indian National struggle or in other words our struggle for nationalism was against Brtish.) colonialism It is therefore, most imperative to study the nature of our struggle for national freedom. Briefly speaking Indian struggle for freedom started even before Hume founded Indian National Congress. We find that as early as in nineties of 18th century Raja Ram Mohan Roy came to fore-front but even before 'him persons like Surendra Nath Banarje and others had set the ball rolling though not with great momentum. It was, however, ID 1885 that Hume founded Indian National Congress which subsequently became one of the most leading organizations of our national struggle. Outside the Indian National Congress even there were other individuals and organizations which were struggling for arousing nationalism. There was also Hindu nationalism and Muslim nationalism and if we agree with Majunidar, Wahabi Movement was the first Muslim war of independence. But real and earnest national struggle started as the people began to come under the fold of Indian 'National Congress and gradually Ibis organisation began to assume the role of a popular organization. Prior to the revolt of 1857, the British treated India as one nation and one state because it suited them. They were attempting to conquer India and, therefore, they pleaded that the conquest of the entire sub-continent would alone provide administrative and political unity to this country, state and nation. Thus, the conquest of India was justified on the ground of benefitting the people of this country. But, after the revolt of 1857, they reversed their stand. They left the policy of annexation because the existence of the native state was found useful for them. Thus, the concept of the Indian nation was against their interest. After the revolt, the policy of dividing the Indians was pursued and, therefore, it became necessary to discard the concept of one Indian nation. The British historians and scholars then upheld that India was never a nation. It was a land ol different languages, dresses, social customs, religions, races, idea etc. Politically too, it was never united. Rather, the attempts to unite it politically always failed miserably. The Indians development the concept of nationalism only during the British rule. Thus, the British scholars have maintained that Indian nationalism is the heritage of the British. Causes of the Rise of Nationalism in India The causes which contributed towards the rise and growth of nationalism were primarily as follows: (i) Political unity - India was united politically and administratively again under the British rule and remained so for a long period than it had ever been before. One rule, one set of laws, administrative officers which were transferred from one place to another all over India etc. provided concept of one citizenship and one nation among the Indians. (ii) Economic exploitation by the British - The one particular feature of the British rule in India was the economic exploitation of the Indian people of all classes. Many foreigners looted the wealth of India even prior to the British but the Indians were able to make up the loss. But the British drained the resources of India in a most systematic and unjust way. They came as traders and always remained traders in India whose primary motive was always financial gain. India, therefore, lost its economic resources not only in the form of revenue, salary and other emoluments to the British officers, Investments etc. but mostly because of unfavourable balance of trade which was primarily a creation of the British. The Industrial Revolution in England necessitated import of raw materials from foreign countries and an extensive market for its manufactures outside.